by jqm | Aug 4, 2022 | Latest News
The heatwave has been an enjoyable experience for many this summer, but it has also brought a range of major concerns.
Apart from assessments of the longer-term implications for climate change and the immediate concerns about drought in large parts of the country, there is also the risk of wildfires.
Often these are events that occur on moorland, damaging wildlife habitats but being safely out of the way of homes and commercial buildings. However, the extreme heat has extended this risk, so that some fires may occur much nearer to properties and put them at risk.
Greater Manchester business insurance customers might not have reason to worry if they are in built-up areas, but the situation may be different towards the edge of the conurbation, especially close to fields and moorland. Here, having cover against fire damage is vital.
Across the Pennines in West Yorkshire, the dangers of wildfires are all too apparent. Speaking to the BBC, firefighter and wildlife officer at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Richard Hawley called the challenge facing crews this year “unprecedented”.
He added: “It changes on a minute by minute basis. One minute they are knee-high, the next they are above your head. It is one of the most arduous fires our crews face.”
All this can threaten rural business premises, such as farms, tourism premises, cafes and holiday lets. Farms may be particularly threatened, with Richard Lockyer, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue group manager, telling the BBC the county has seen 34 wildfires on farmland so far this year, compared with just two in 2021.
Even edge-of-town areas can be affected by fires. In the July heatwave, the village of Wennington on the fringes of London was devastated by a blaze that spread from a garden to engulf and destroy several properties.
The latest Met Office heat warning revealed that the hot spell will soon break dramatically in many places as electrical storms roll in.
That may bring some much-needed rain, but that could also cause new perils for businesses, as the hard-baked ground will not easily absorb a sudden deluge of water, making flash flooding a significant risk for many.
by jqm | Jul 21, 2022 | Latest News
The impact of climate change was notable recently in the form of a heatwave and there are concerns about low reservoir levels, but an increasingly volatile climate is also expected to see many more floods in the future.
As a result, business insurance in Stafford and other at-risk areas could become significantly more expensive as extreme weather events become more common, according to a report by JBA Risk Management.
It has predicted that costs could rise by as much as 42 per cent between now and 2050 as the chances of a one-in-200 year flood event grow.
This projection is based on a model featuring an intermediate emissions scenario, in which some action is taken to cut global emissions, but not enough. Another projection, based on little or no action being taken, predicts worse flooding and an 87 per cent rise in costs.
Climate Change Commercial Lead at JBA Risk Management Judith Ellison said: “Our latest UK Flood Model has been developed using new methodology and the latest UK Climate Projections from the Met Office.”
As Stafford Council has noted, many parts of the borough are low-lying, close to rivers and at considerable flood risk, so firms will need to seek out the best possible business insurance deals with regards to provisions for flood damage.
The JBA projections indicate the greatest risk in Stafford and other places in the west of the UK will indeed be river flooding, whereas more easterly areas will face a greater peril from coastal floods. This warning about a growing coastal threat echoes the latest report from the Met Office, which has been published this week – the State of the UK Climate 2021.
According to the report, since the start of the 20th century the average UK sea level has risen by 16.5 cm. More significantly, however, the rate of increase has accelerated in recent years, from 1.5 mm a year in the 1900s to between three and 5.2 mm a year – depending on location – in the last 30 years.
by jqm | Jul 8, 2022 | Latest News
Care homes are facing significantly higher insurance premiums now than before the pandemic, putting many at risk of going out of business.
Martin Green of charity Care England stated that some are paying 300 to 400 per cent more than they were prior to Covid-19, reported the Financial Times.
He stated: “Allied to all the other enormous financial pressures, such as energy costs, staffing and a significant increase in the general inflation rate, [these] could combine to destroy many care providers.”
Business insurance is required by care homes to protect themselves against staffing shortages, care, buildings damage and operations.
As there are now fewer insurance providers that offer this protection, those that are can push their premiums up.
Mr Green added: “If you can’t get insurance, you can’t get registered by the [Care Quality Commission] and you have to close down.”
There were more than 20,000 deaths in care homes linked to Covid-19 at the beginning of the pandemic, which concerned insurers that they would incur a surge in claims.
While the NHS received immunity for litigation over Covid-19 from the government, it did not extend this to the social care sector. Consequently, insurance providers raised their prices, despite the surge in claims not materialising.
This could be incredibly damaging for care homes, 70 per cent of which do not feel confident in being able to sustain their business over the next 12 months, according to the National Care Awareness Report.
For business insurance near me, get in touch today.
by jqm | Jun 16, 2022 | Latest News
British firms are among the most likely to be hit by financial crime in the world – and the situation is getting worse.
This was the message from consultancy firm PwC, which revealed in its biannual Global Economic Crime Survey that 64 per cent of UK businesses were hit by economic crime in the past two years.
It was the second highest national figure in the world, only exceeded by companies in South Africa and well above the global average figure of 46 per cent.
Moreover, the situation has been deteriorating, as the figure in Britain was 56 per cent in 2020 and 50 per cent in 2018.
The crimes committed include fraud, corruption and other offences, with this year’s survey including supply chain crime as a separate category for the first time.
Explaining how threats were changing, PwC said fraud is “now a greater and more costly threat than ever before” and that firms will need to take action to avoid paying a heavy price.
Among the kinds of steps a firm will be wise to take is comprehensive business insurance, including cover against cyber crime and the interruption of business that such activity can cause.
Curiously, a the findings for the UK revealed cyber crime accounted for a lower share of incidents than two years ago, down to 32 per cent from 42 per cent, something Computer Weekly suggested may be due to greater awareness of attacks like malware.
However, head of digital and forensic investigations at PwC Fran Marwood said this was surprising and might mask a lot of crimes that could have taken place without being detected due to firms not yet bringing their systems in line with increased remote working.
Firms may also be at risk because of cyber criminals targeting data centres and cloud services. For this reason, the government is currently running a consultation on how to improve the security of these services, not least because so many companies rely on them to keep their data safe and systems running.
To find business insurance near me, contact us today
by jqm | May 5, 2022 | Latest News
The UK may not be launching its own moon rockets, running a space station or planning to send a human mission to Mars, but it has a space industry – and one where the insurance market is growing.
Worth £16 billion in total, it mostly consists of sectors such as satellite broadcasting and communication, as well as a nascent space tourism industry. However, there are also many other firms involved in ancillary services, including IT, consultancy and brokerage.
According to City AM, the insurance sector connected with the space industry grew by a quarter in 2020, despite the pandemic shrinking the overall market, according to a study by Brycetech commissioned by the government. This raised its value to £20 million.
Like any other kind of business, those working on the space sector will need their business insurance, not just for the usual earth-bound reasons such as covering their equipment and premises, but also any associated problems that might arise from incidents in space.
These could include a satellite being rendered inoperable due to a collision with a piece of space junk, or the work of rogue states and other agents acting to try to disrupt satellite technology.
Overall, the role of the space industry in the UK economy, currently worth 0.31 per cent of GDP, is expected to increase markedly.
Among the reasons for this will be the first ever launches of spaceships from UK soil later this year. These satellite launches will take off from Spaceport Cornwall, followed by vertical launches from Space Hub Sutherland in the Highlands and SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.
These developments will be taking place in line with the UK’s National Space Strategy, published in September last year. This noted that the global space sector is set to grow in value from a 2019 figure of £270 billion to £490 billion in 2030.
If you are seeking business insurance in Manchester, call us today.
by jqm | Mar 14, 2022 | Latest News
The unique business models, activities and products provided by different companies in the security industry require bespoke security insurance policies to protect the business from any potential issues that could come about.
Along with Employers’ liability insurance, insurance to protect security guards, public and professional liability insurance, there is a range of other policies out there specific to the activities the business usually undertakes.
However, there are always unusual circumstances, and in some cases, a loss adjuster will create a specialist policy with this in mind, just in case the most unlikely potential situation occurs.
Here are some of the most unusual insurance policies ever agreed to and the reasons why.
Space Station Taco Insurance
Whilst this may look like a non-sequitur, American fast-food chain Taco Bell once took out a custom insurance quote for a truly ridiculous publicity stunt.
In 2001, the Space Station Mir was deorbiting Earth and was set to land in the Pacific Ocean near Fiji.
Taco Bell put a sign in the ocean that measured 40ft by 40ft which simply read “Free Taco Here” and promised that if the core of the station hit that target, they would give everyone in the United States a free taco.
This cost, estimated at $10m, was sizeable enough that the chain opted to cover themselves just in case.
The Risks Of Being An England Fan
Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds sang about “30 years of hurt” in 1996 and since then there have been nearly three decades of controversy and near misses for the English national side.
It got so much for some fans that an insurance firm once covered a football fan from the “severe trauma” that would have been caused if England’s national side, then managed by Sven Goron Eriksen, were knocked out early.
Thankfully for the loss adjuster, England reached the quarter-finals and no trauma was claimed for.
The Lloyds Of London Pro Wrestling Tag Team
Lloyd’s Of London, an insurance and reinsurance market that is based in London, has had a range of unique insurance policies, including kidnap and random, protecting against audiences dying of laughter at a comedy show, and all sorts of body part insurance policies.
One of the most infamous of these, however, is that Lloyd’s at one point used to insure the bodies of professional wrestlers and pay out if a wrestler was permanently disabled and was forced to retire early.
However, so many of the wrestlers who took this policy, including Ric Flair, Bret Hart, the Road Warriors and “Mr Perfect” Curt Hennig would return to the ring, which caused Lloyd’s to tighten up their policies before refusing to insure pro wrestlers entirely in 2017.
by jqm | Feb 28, 2022 | Latest News
The golden rule of insurance is that no two companies are alike, and this tenant is especially true when it comes to security insurance.
The security industry is a vast set of exceptionally different fields united under the common goal of protected health, wellbeing and property.
To that end, whilst there are some universal coverage packages you need as a security firm, such as Employers’ Liability, general liability, property and car insurance, different industries require a more bespoke slate of insurance packages.
Here are just a few different types of company working in the security sector and the types of insurance they might need.
Security Consultants
One of the most important businesses in the security sector is consultancy and the ability to deliver expert advice on which security measures would be the best solution to help protect businesses, from technological solutions to monitoring to the hiring of security guards.
However, there are cases that an incident occurs and the company blames the consultancy firm for their advice and brings legal action against them, for example for negligence.
Professional liability insurance helps to cover the firm from any action taken against them and ensure that even if a court case does not go the way of the consultancy firm, it does not necessarily lead to the end of the business.
Cyber Security
An ever-growing field in security, cyber security focuses on electronic data and how it is protected from people who wish to destroy or steal that data, which can lead not only to significant reputational damage but also can have significant financial consequences.
Cyber security insurance protects data controllers and data processors and covers the costs of refunds, credit notes, legal costs and consultation with crisis communication specialists.
Security Guards
With security guards being an essential part of protecting businesses across the world, inspecting the property and ensuring that bad actors are not able to compromise a place of business, they require a package of insurance policies that protects them if they are in harm’s way.
This means that policies such as personal injury insurance is a standard part of a security guard insurance package alongside general liability, professional liability and car insurance.
As well as this, however, there are provisions for wrongful arrest, where a guard faces criminal or civil charges whilst on duty, as well as provisions in case keys are lost to pay for any replacement locks or keys.
by jqm | Feb 18, 2022 | Latest News
The last few days have been tempestuous to say the least and, in fact, the Met Office has just issued rare red weather warnings today (February 18th) that Storm Eunice will be bringing extremely strong winds with her and continued disruption for much of the country throughout the day.
Some coastal areas could even see gusts of wind in excess of 90mph, which could have significant impacts for many in these regions, as well as representing a risk to life.
There is also an ongoing risk of disruption to power, travel and other such surfaces. Damage is also expected for buildings and trees, and some parts of the UK could even see possible blizzard conditions. Up to 20cm of snow is possible in the Pennines, for example.
Warnings have been issued that strong winds provide the potential for flying debris, damage to structures and coastal flooding, so it might be a good precaution to check your flood risk and sign up for flood warnings, so you can be properly prepared.
Now’s also a good time for you to check your care home insurance cover to make sure you’ll be compensated if you are affected by Storm Eunice – or other such events in the future.
It could also prove beneficial to go around the perimeter of your site and make sure any and all gates are locked, that fences, trees and bushes are all secure and that any damaged tree branches are removed before the winds hit.
If your care home does sustain damage of some kind over the next few days or so, get in touch with your insurance company as soon as you can. Don’t undertake any repair work or employ a contractor until you’ve been through everything with your insurer.
by jqm | Jan 27, 2022 | Latest News
Those working in the security industry may be interested to find out more about the Security Industry Authority (SIA) grant for good causes, which was set up last year to distribute money recovered through the proceeds of crime confiscation orders.
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the SIA is allowed to investigate the financial activity of those who have committed criminal offences and confiscate the proceeds of that crime, with the individual paying back any money made through their criminal acts.
The portion of this money that is received by the SIA can only be used to fund financial investigation capabilities or distributed to good causes.
Some of the money supports good causes that benefit the private security industry and applications for funding are considered by a grants committee at least once a year, more if the funds allow.
In 2020, the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals decided to take action and support those affected by the pandemic, with a crisis fund set up for security operatives, the police, the armed forces and emergency services.
The fund offers grants of £500 for the family of someone who has died of covid and £250 for someone hospitalised as a result of the virus. People are able to apply for themselves, while businesses are able to apply on behalf of their staff members, with funds then paid directly to the employee.
Chair of the organisation Claire Palmer said: “Research conducted early in the pandemic showed that those working in front line security had been particularly affected by COVID-19. We wanted to do something about that. Whilst the sum granted to individuals is relatively small, to those applying for the grants it is a vital form of support.”
In March 2021, £9,372.23 was diverted to the crisis fund by the grants for good causes scheme to help them support those in the industry during the pandemic.
Are you looking for security company insurance at the moment? Get in touch with Just Quote Me today!
by jqm | Jan 26, 2022 | Latest News
Construction is one of the most dangerous occupations to have, with figures showing that the fatal injury rate is four times the all-industry rate. As such, it’s essential that those in the industry have approximately the equipment, skills, knowledge and experience required in order to do their jobs safely.
For those interested in finding out more, here are some of the frequently asked questions about working at height, which is one of the riskiest construction jobs and the main cause of fatal accidents and major injury in the workforce.
What is work at height?
Work at height refers to any place where someone could fall a distance that would result in personal injury if no precautions were taken. You are working at height if you are above ground or floor level, could fall from an edge through a fragile surface or an opening, or if you could fall into an opening in the floor or a hole in the ground.
What are collective fall prevention measures?
Collective protection is equipment such as scissor lifts, guardrails and tower scaffolds, which don’t require those working at height to act to be effective.
What are personal fall prevention measures?
Personal protection is equipment that requires the operator to do something, such as putting on a safety harness properly and connecting it to a suitable anchor point using an energy-absorbing lanyard.
The regulations place duties on employers and those managing any work at height activity, where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury.
All work must be properly planned and organised, all operators involved must be competent and risk assessments must be carried out and appropriate work equipment selected and used. Equipment must also be properly inspected and maintained and the risks of working on or near fragile surfaces properly managed.
Do I need working at height insurance?
Because of the risks involved, a work at height insurance policy is a good idea and there are various different indemnity policies available that cover different heights, as well as more general policies with an unlimited height restriction.
by jqm | Jan 25, 2022 | Latest News
Anyone with ambitions to work as a security operative in the UK would be advised to see whether they need an Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence and, if so, what kind of licence is required for the work in question. Operating in the private security industry without a licence could be illegal.
For example, if the work you intend to do involves a licensable activity and is part of a contract for services, you will need a front line SIA licence. Licensed activities include the likes of manned guarding, key holding and vehicle immobilisation (in Northern Ireland only).
If you are going to be working in-house, however, you do not typically need a licence, as you will be employed directly by the company that’s using your services. That being said, there are two licensable activities where a licence is required – door supervision at a licensed premises and vehicle immobilising (in Northern Ireland only).
There are also some situations where a licence is not required. For example, you don’t need a licence to volunteer as long as there’s a written or spoken agreement that you won’t be rewarded for your work.
You also don’t need one if you’re performing stewarding duties or to check if people have paid for entry to an event or that they’ve been invited. In order to refuse them entry or make them leave, a licence is required, however.
There are two types of SIA licence – front line and non-front line. A front line licence is required if you personally perform a licensable front line activity as part of the job role. These usually come as a plastic photocard that must be worn while working. The key holding licence, however, comes in the form of a letter.
A non-front line is required if you manage or employ anyone who performs licensable activities as part of their job, or if you’re a company director or partner where others in that company or firm perform licensable activities for their job.
Looking for security company insurance? Get in touch with Just Quote Me today.
by jqm | Jan 24, 2022 | Latest News
There is always an element of risk involved for those working within the security industry and security guards in particular often find themselves faced with a wide range of different challenges to deal with while at work.
Physical injury is a concern, of course, and there’s often no way of telling when a situation may escalate, leading to an altercation. For example, one Asda security guard was recently bitten by a dog after he had a confrontation with its owner.
According to YorkshireLive, 39-year-old Steven Tiplady asked dog-owner Christopher Long to tie the animal up outside the supermarket, after which Long became aggressive, started shouting and refused to leave the shop.
Since the incident, Mr Tiplady has been diagnosed with PTSD, following bouts of insomnia and panic attacks related to the event. As a result, Long, 30, was jailed for two and a half years on July 14th 2020.
Incidents such as this highlight just how important it is for businesses in the sector to make sure they have the appropriate security insurance, a policy that is directly tailored to suit their own individual requirements for the work being undertaken and their personnel.
Everything from guarding shops and car parks to installing security alarms carries with it some element of risk, but you can help to mitigate this by investing in a good insurance policy.
Here at Just Quote Me, we’ve created specialist security insurance for our clients, with a policy specific to those working in the industry, designed for use by personnel with SIA certificates and training. Get in touch today if you’d like to find out more.
