UK Business Insurance

Nursery Insurance – How to Get the Very Best Deal

2009-12-08T12:24:00.003Z

The way in which people source and buy insurance has changed in recent years and the education sector is no different. This article looks at how day nurseries and businesses in the pre school sector can make sure they get the very best deal when they look to buy nursery insurance.

Nursery Insurance is essential for any nursery, pre school or kindergarten as it makes sure their staff, premises, contents and children are covered in the event of a loss occurring or accident happening. And whilst the education sector is heavily regulated with health, safety and risk management of vital importance to most nursery owners and staff, the fact is the unexpected will happen from time to time. And when it does, making sure you have the right nursery business insurance cover will be essential.

So as someone responsible for getting protection for your nursery in the form of insurance for nurseries, what steps do you need to take to sure you get the cover you need at a price that is right?

To begin with it is important to remember that not all insurance brokers or insurance companies are the same. I know it is extremely easy to assume they are as most insurance providers do not seem to do anything that differentiates from their competitors. However, when it comes to buying day nursery insurance, you need to be aware that there are some insurance brokers and insurance companies who actually specialise in providing it.

But what exactly does this mean you to when buying day nursery insurance? Well, what it means is that these people will be able to provide you with expert advice. They will be able to explain things in a language you understand as they understand the pre school sector. And perhaps equally as important, because they specialise in providing nursery insurance, they will in many cases be able to provide you with additional benefits. And these benefits could include you getting more cover for less money.

Let me say that again as this is an important point. By using an insurance broker who specialises in providing day nursery insurance, you could actually get more advice and more cover but for less money.

Bearing in mind the changes the world has seen in recent years, news like this is no doubt going to be highly beneficial to nurseries. So the main advice when looking to get the very best deal on your nursery insurance is to find a broker who actually knows what they are talking about and who can help you get the cover you need for less than you are currently paying.

The truth is, this broker might not be right on your doorstep but because they are experts in providing insurance for nurseries, you are still very likely to get levels of service and cover that exceed your current arrangement. Seek an expert and make sure you get the very best deal on your nursery insurance.

Nursery Insurance – The Questions to Ask When Buying It

2009-12-08T12:11:00.003Z

If you work in the pre school education sector you will know the importance of health and safety. This article looks at how nursery owners and managers can make sure they get all the protection they need by asking the right questions when buying their nursery insurance policies.

Before we look at the importance of asking questions when buying insurance, let us first look at what many peoples experience of buying insurance is like. It might go something like this. Firstly, you realise you need to get insurance and you either ask someone for a recommendation, look online or flick through a magazine or yellow pages to see who is offering what you need. You need visit their website and fill out a form or give them a call and are faced with question after question. You are then given a price and you decide whether to take it or not with the price being perhaps the number one factor in your decision. Is this process is familiar to you then welcome to the new and improved way to buying nursery insurance.

To begin with, if you really want a new and improved service, you need to find someone who specialises in nursery business insurance. You can do this by looking through a trade magazine, speaking to someone in the pre school sector or by searching online for a phrase such as nursery insurance, day nursery insurance or nursery insurance broker.

This part of getting a nursery insurance quote is pretty similar to what currently happens but this is where what you do should change as when you make contact with the nursery insurance expert or experts you have identified, you need to make sure you ask questions. Here are just some of the questions you might consider asking along with the reasons for asking them.

Question 1. How long have you been providing nursery insurance for? This question can establish the level of experience they might have and can give you the peace of mind of knowing that they must be doing something right. The insurance sector is extremely competitive and businesses who have been around for a long time are generally still around because of the high levels of service and quality products they provide.

Question 2. How many similar clients do you have? Whilst for data protection purposes they might not be able to name names, if they specialise you would certainly expect them to have numerous clients in the pre school sector already as clients.

Question 3. What can you provide me that my current nursery insurance provider cannot? This is a great question as whilst many people might just considering moving for a cheaper premium, you no doubt will want more than that. A nursery business insurance specialist should be able to provide you with service levels and cover that others cannot because of the deals they have negotiated with the insurance companies. And as someone looking for nursery insurance you should be able to take advantage of these deals and end up with more cover for, in many cases, less money.

If you want to make sure your nursery gets the cover, service and premium you are happy with then the next time you are looking around for insurance make sure you ask just some of the questions above. If you do, the chances are you could get expert advice and cover tailored to your needs whilst at the same time as saving money on your nursery insurance premiums.

NCi Nursery is Nursery Insurance Specialists and for details of their Nursery Insurance facilities or to get a nursery insurance quote simply visit the UK Nurseries Insurance Experts at http://www.ncinsurance.co.uk/nurseryinsurance.html

Charity Travel Insurance Facility Launched

2009-11-12T09:32:00.008Z

Charity Travel Insurance is a highly specialist purchase and the UK Charity Insurance Brokers, NCi Charity are pleased to announce the launch of their new and exclusive Travel Insurance for volunteers and charities.

With cover available Worldwide including Afghanistan, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, DR Congo, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Eastern European Countries. NCi Charity can also provide cover for North and South America, Western Europe and Australasia.

And with exclusive cover available including:

Employee replacement expenses

Personal liability

Political evacuation

Hijack, kidnap and detention

It has never been easier to make sure your charity and your volunteers and employees are protected whenever and wherever they do your work.

For further information of NCi Charity Travel Insurance call NCi Charity Now on 0800 046 1446 or visit http://www.ncinsurance.co.uk/charitytravelinsurance.html

Charity Trustee Indemnity Insurance - Why You Need It

2009-11-02T11:44:00.004Z

As a charity trustee you help others but who will help you in the event of a claim being made that you could be liable for? This article looks at why charities trustees need insurance and the consequences of not having it.

To begin it is perhaps worth looking exactly what charity trustee indemnity insurance is. Put simply, it is an insurance policy that covers a charities trustee against personal liability when legal claims are made against them. And it is important to point out that a claim against a trustee could be made by either the charity itself or a third party.

And so if we now understand what trustee indemnity insurance is: who or what is a trustee? When we talk about a charity trustee, we mean someone who is responsible for the management or general control of the charity.

So if you are a trustee of a charity, is it vital that you make sure that you are protected personally should a claim be made against you. This is in the main difference between a trustee indemnity insurance policy and a charity insurance policy that your organisation is likely to have. Charity Insurance protects the charity, charity trustee insurance protects you.

And there are numerous circumstances which could result in a claim being made against an individual trustee rather than the charity directly. Circumstances including breach of trust, alleged unfair dismissal, discrimination, defamation and the misuse of trust funds to name but a few.

The truth is, we now appear to be living in a more litigious society and as a trustee of a charity, you should really take the necessary steps to make sure you are protected against the unexpected. And the good news is that providing the cost of the trustee indemnity insurance you purchase is reasonable, it is likely that the insurance could be paid for out of charity funds. However, because the purchase of charity trustee insurance will be seen as a personal benefit, you will need to have the proper authorisation before the charity can buy it for you.

It is important to remember that if you are responsible for the general control and management of the administration of your charity then you should really consider getting yourself protected through purchasing trustee indemnity insurance. This can easily be done by a search online for a charity insurance specialist as they are very likely to have access to policies and premiums that a normal insurance broker might not have. Simply visit a search engine like Google, Yahoo or MSN and type in charity trustee insurance, trustee indemnity insurance or even charity insurance and let the experts help you get the protection and peace of mind you require.

NCi Charity are Charity Insurance, Charity Liability Insurance and Charity Trustee Indemnity Insurance Experts. For details of how you charity can benefit from hard to beat charity trustee insurance visit the Charity Insurance Broker at http://www.ncinsurance.co.uk/trusteeindemnityinsurancequote.html

The Top Tips When Buying Community Group Insurance

2009-10-30T11:00:00.004Z

The number of community groups is growing as local residents, businesses and communities get together to help make where they live and work safer and better places. This article gives community groups some top tips when buying community group insurance so they can make sure they are protected at all times.

The truth is community groups and other voluntary organisations are seldom set up to make money. Instead, they are run and managed with the aim of making a specific community a better place to live. This means that money is often tight and therefore essential purchases like insurance need to be kept to an absolute minimum. This does not however mean that community groups should assume the cheapest is best as getting the insurance cover they actually need is the most important thing.

So with the right but affordable community group insurance policy required, what do groups need to do to make sure they get the cover they need at a price that is right?

The first tip is really to make sure you understand what cover you actually need. As someone not working in insurance this is not always the easiest thing to establish so you could do this by actually getting in touch with a community group insurance specialists who should be able to point you in the right direction. If you are not sure what you need, find a specialist and ask them for their expert opinion. If you choose the right company, they should be able to tell you what you need, what you do not need and they should be able to give you an immediate indication of what level of premium you might expect to pay.

So if finding an expert is top tip number 1, how do you actually find a broker or insurance provider who specialises in community group insurance? Traditionally, if a community group or voluntary organisation was looking for an insurance quote, they would either walk up and down the high street or search through the yellow pages. However, all this pretty much guaranteed was you dealt with someone local and not someone necessarily an expert in your type of insurance.

The internet has changed how insurance is sourced and purchased so to find a community group insurance expert, a broker who specialises in charity insurance or any other specific type of insurance provider, simply get access to a computer, visit a search engine like Bing, Yahoo or Google and type in the sort of insurance you are after. You will be presented by a list of companies who offer exactly what you are after.

The final tip when looking to buy community group insurance is to make sure the company you do opt for is someone you are happy to look after your groups cover. The truth is we all prefer to do business with people we like and who we have a rapport with. If you ring a company up and get on well with the person you are speaking with and they give you good advice and are keen to help you then there is every chance you will deal with them providing they obtain a competitive premium and the right cover for you.

For any group looking to make a positive change to their community, getting the right level of community group insurance is vital. Follow these simple tips and you and your group can get the protection and peace of mind you need for less.

NCi Charity is Charity Insurance and Community Group Insurance Specialists and for details of their Community Group Insurance facilities or to get a charity insurance or community group insurance quote simply visit http://www.ncinsurance.co.uk/communitygroupinsurancequote.html

The Essential Tips When Buying Small Charity Insurance

2009-10-26T09:52:00.004Z

Small charities account for the vast majority of charitable organisations. This article gives small charities some top tips to make sure they get the protection they need for less.

Insurance comparison websites can dress it up all the want but before we look at some top tips when buying small charity insurance let us be totally honest and up front about insurance. Insurance is not fun, insurance is not sexy and for most people and businesses, insurance is something they only really see the importance of when they have suffered a loss and need to make a claim.

The truth however is that insurance and insurance for small charities is essential as it gives them the peace of mind of knowing that they are firstly, lawful and secondly, protection in the event of a loss or accident occurring. Without the correct level of cover in place, a loss could otherwise leave a small charity in a position whereby they simply would not be able to carry on their sterling work.

What is clear is that many small charities have extremely small budgets and expenses such as charity liability insurance have to be kept to an absolute minimum. With this thought in mind, it would be very easy for charity trustees or managers to assume that the cheapest insurance premium is the best. If you are responsible for the purchase of small charity insurance then the first tip when it comes to buying your policy is not to assume that the cheapest premium is best. It can be but make sure your purchase decision is based on much more than price.

What you really need to make sure is that the policy you are purchasing is giving your small charity the protection it actually needs. You can actually make sure this is the case by tracking down a small charity insurance expert and ask them questions. Ask them if they think you need trustee indemnity insurance, ask them what level of public liability insurance they think you need and ask them what steps you could take to reduce your premiums. The second essential tip is therefore to ask questions.

The final tip when buying small charity insurance is to make sure the company you are the right company for you. By asking them questions you will be able to check how knowledgeable they are but more than that, do you like them, do you feel confident in what they are saying, are they well established and do they have a good credit rating?

Insurance for small charities is vital to make sure you, your volunteers, your trustees and your organisation is protected. Follow these essential tips and make sure the road to buying small charity insurance is a smooth one.

NCi Charity are Small Charity Insurance and Community Group Insurance Experts and for details of their Charity Insurance facilities or to get a charity liability insurance quote simply visit the Small Charity Insurance Experts at http://www.northerncounties.com/smallcharityinsurancequote.html

Making the ordinary, extraordinary

2009-01-09T11:20:00.007Z

Michael Mitten is an entrepreneur and wannabe philanthropist from Newcastle upon Tyne. Inspired by his Dad's life sadly lost to lung cancer in 2007 and the amazing people at Macmillan Cancer Support who were there throughout, Michael decided to do something extraordinary to make sure this fantastic charity continues to make a difference to the lives of cancer patients. Michael has set up True North as a charity to enable him and all True North's team and contributors to fund and support other ordinary people who want do something extraordinary and raise significant sums of money for charity.

Northern Counties Insurance is proud to be associated with such a worthwhile cause and would like to wish Michael every success with the North Pole Expedition 2009 and beyond.

To make a donation to True North please visit http://www.justgiving.com/truenorth

For information and updates on Michaels’ extraordinary expedition visit the North Pole Expedition Blog at http://truenorth2009.blogspot.com/

What Does 2008 Hold For The Motor Industry?

2007-11-29T12:06:00.000Z

Rising fuel prices, unstable financial markets and taxation changes with the apparent aim of getting us to use our cars less often (or at least pay more to use them) have been just some of the issues that have affected the automotive industry in the past 12 months.

This article looks at what 2008 may hold for the automotive industry and road users in general.

The US economy and the resulting weakness of the dollar looks like it may well contribute to the price of crude oil continuing to rise as investors have been holding the commodity instead of dollars. This means that as the cost of a barrel of crude oil comes close to the $100 figure then so fuel prices have also continued to rise.

So do higher fuel costs mean we are likely to buy or use cars, vans and Lorries less in 2008? Well seemingly not based on a latest poll of motorists. Despite fuel prices increasing at alarming rates a whopping 79 percent of motorists questioned said they had not changed their petrol and fuel buying habits and had no plans to do so. In fact the motorists questioned said petrol prices would have to increase at even more alarming rates to stop them from filling up.

Environmental issues would it seem not be as important as governments throughout the world as over 1 in 3 motorists confirmed they had no plans to replace their vehicles for more environmentally friendly cars before 2010.

And so if motorists are seemingly unaffected by rising fuel costs and are prepared to continue driving despite increased road tax and the impact on the environment surely positive times are ahead for the industry in 2008?

Well before car manufacturers and dealers start doing cartwheels, caution would certainly be advised as whilst General Motors can seen promising performance in emerging markets they have seen big losses in both American and European markets.

And with the world economy in such an uncertain state as 2007 draws to a close 2008 could well see new car sales fall with used car sales increasing. Car sales and indeed sales of all types are also likely to increase via the internet in 2008 so car dealers (new and used) without an internet presence should really be looking at establishing themselves in this emerging marketplace.

And what of the actual motorist, what does 2008 have in store for us? Well how about further increases in vehicle tax, more toll roads, increased congestion charges and still a seeming lack of a viable alternative to road use through reliable, clean and safe public transport.

The good news for some motorists on one front is that whilst the government is seemingly do all they can to penalise the motorist, insurance premiums including car insurance, van insurance and motor trade insurance are pretty stable. In fact with such competition in the insurance industry the cost of insurance like combined motor trade insurance could even fall and savings could be made.

And motor traders who are looking to make savings on their motor trader insurance premiums in 2008 using a specialist insurance broker could well be the route to take to make sure they get the protection they need at a price that is right.

Childcare Providers and the Search for the Best Protection

2007-11-29T11:59:00.001Z

With child safety and care never too far from the media and the minds of parents and educators this article looks at what nurseries and schools can do to make sure they get the right protection.

And in particular what they can do to get the right cover and premium looking for business insurance for their nursery or school.

In part 1 of this post we looked at 2 secrets that childcare providers could use to make sure they got the right insurance at the right price and in part 2 we look at 2 final tips to making sure they get the protection and peace of mind they need without paying too much for it.

Secret number 3 nurseries, schools and other childcare providers can use to get the best protection is ask questions. So many people ring around looking for Nursery insurance, Pre-School Insurance or Kindergarten Insurance and spend the entire conversation answering questions. The third secret is therefore ask questions to find out if the insurance broker or insurance company you are speaking to provides not only the right cover and premiums but also the right level of customer service and support.

Types of question you might want to ask include, if you suffer a loss and need to claim what will they do to help? Will they just give you a telephone number and leave you to deal with it on your own or will they help you so you claim is dealt with quickly and your claim is settled quickly and favourably? You might also want to find out if the insurance provider is experienced or specialises in nursery insurance or school insurance. You can do this by asking how long they have been trading and if they are an insurance broker, which insurance companies do they use. Finally, if they are insurance brokers you may want to find out if they are independent. That is, do they have access to different types of insurance policies and insurance companies or are they tied into using just one? And if they have access to just one, is this right for your school or nursery?

By getting answers to these types of questions you can then a make a decision on whether you would like to deal with them (and whether you trust them to act on your behalf.)

The final secret to making sure you get the best from your insurance provider is another which Nurseries, Pre-Schools or Kindergartens who are focusing just on price may neglect.

Nurseries, Pre-Schools and Kindergartens who make the decision on where to place their insurance on price alone should bear in mind that the cheapest premium is not always the best.

Whilst getting a low nursery business insurance or school business insurance premium is one of the most important things to look for, a really cheap premium without a combination of other factors is probably cheap for a reason. Things you may want to know about the insurance provider as well as their ability to get a cheap premium include, are they local? Are they friendly and approachable (we all like to do business with people and businesses we trust and like). Which insurance company will your be insured with? Have you heard of them? What is the excess or deductible? Making sure you know the excess and that it is affordable in case you do suffer a loss is vital.

A couple of other things you want to know and look for are do they have a good reputation and do they communicate the benefits of their products and service to you in a way you understand.

If you follow these 2 simple secrets as well as the 2 in part 1 of this article there is every chance your experience when dealing with Insurance for your Nursery, School or Kindergarten will improve. And whilst Insurance is unlikely to become your number 1 hobby there is every chance the cover you get will be what you want, the premiums you pay will be less than your nursery or school has paid previously and the service you receive will be one you would be happy in giving and one you would be happy to recommend.

There is nothing more important than making sure our children are protected at all times so good luck in your search for the best protection for your nursery or school.

Protecting Our Children Doesn't Have To Cost The Earth

2007-11-29T11:50:00.000Z

What is the most important thing in your life? This could very well be different depending on where you live, your age and your personal circumstances but if you are a parent then the safety and welfare of your children is likely to be at the very top of your list.

This post looks at what nurseries and schools can do to protect our children without it costing the Earth.

When you drop your children off at nursery, kindergarten or school in the morning you are very much reliant on the teachers, staff and establishment making sure they a safe and protected until you pick them up at home time. The good news for parents and children alike is that the vast majority of nurseries and schools do in excellent job in making sure health and safety is paramount to them. And by performing such risk management tasks the chances of accidents occurring are reduced as can their nursery insurance and school insurance premiums.

Part 1 of this post looks at 2 other secrets that nurseries and schools can use to reduce their premiums with a further 2 secrets covered in part 2.

With literally thousands of insurance companies, insurance brokers and providers, nurseries, schools and other childcare providers are faced with a massive choice. So faced with decisions at every turn finding the right insurance cover is sometimes difficult.

This post will therefore give you some free advice that insurance providers rarely share with their customers. These few steps could help you find the cover that is best for you at the right premium and with the best service.

The first secret to making sure you get the nursery insurance and school insurance cover at the right premium is perhaps the one that most people will find hardest to believe but it really works.

When ringing around for nursery insurance quotes the chances are you will be asked what is your current premium or what is the best price you have had elsewhere.

The mistake most people make when asked this question is to not tell the person asking the question. However if you are asked the best price you have had, tell them.

Most people assume that by telling an insurance broker or insurance company your premium you are at a disadvantage. The truth is the opposite is true. Let me explain.

If you tell a good insurance provider the premium you have elsewhere they should have a good idea straight away whether the premium is too expensive, too cheap or about right. And knowing this information they can give you an immediate indication if they can get a lower premium for you. If the insurance broker or insurance company know they will not be able to help you they can tell you and save you time.

Another reason you should give them your premium is because most insurance companies will not give you the best price unless they have a premium to beat. Let me say that again, if you do not give your insurance broker or insurance company a price to beat, there is every chance you will not get the best premium. However, if you do tell them, they can often use this information when dealing with the insurance company which can ultimately save you money.

One final tip on this matter is, do not be tempted to make up a premium. For example, Mrs Buzz is looking for a Nursery Insurance quote and she has a best price of £2000.00. She wants to save some money so when asked the question of what is the best price you have had so far she decides to go in low at £1000.00. By Mrs Buzz doing this most companies will know the price seems low and because of this many will not provide a quote because they know they will not be competitive. However, had Mrs Buzz been honest and said £2000.00 there is every chance she could have saved some money on her nursery insurance.

Therefore Secret Number 1 when looking for nursery business insurance, school insurance or indeed any type of business insurance is be totally honest. Give it a go...it really works.

Secret number 2 is common sense but so many Nurseries and school fail to make sure it happens because they are focusing on the premium. Tip number 2 to ensure you get the right cover is therefore to use an insurance broker or company who has an understanding of your requirements.

You can often establish this by listening to what, how and how many questions they ask you. And how they react to what you are saying. If they enter into a conversation about your nursery or school it is very likely to be because the more information they have about your premises and needs, the better cover, premium and service they can provide you.

If the conversation is very scripted and they fail to understand what you are looking for or do not ask the type of questions you would expect there is every chance it is because they do not really understand what your school or nursery needs. If this is the case you risk not getting the right cover and ultimately not being correctly insured.

These first 2 secrets alone could save you time and save you money on your nursery insurance and school insurance premiums. And yet in part 2 of this article we will also give you 2 further ways in which you make sure have cover in place that can protect your children for less.

Northern Counties Insurance Brokers are The UK Leading Nursery Insurance Experts and Nursery Insurance is available from them by visiting http://www.northerncounties.com/nursery-insurance.php

Construction Industry Attacked Over Safety

2007-10-31T15:46:00.000Z

With the construction industry being criticised from union leaders for its inability to act to prevents accidents and avoidable deaths this article looks at what the construction industry are doing and can do in response to this attack.

The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) has recently accused the industry of costing workers their lives with this criticism coming on the back of the launch of an investigation into an accident which occurred at Heathrow’s Terminal Five in which a building worker was fatally injured.

The UCATT, which represents 125,000 workers in the construction industry, suggests that companies who appoint a dedicated director to be in charge of health and safety can see a 25% on average reduction in accidents. In some cases a proactive approach has seen up to an 80% fall in accidents.

So if appointing a dedicated person to be in charge of health and safety can make such massive differences what else can companies do?

As with most things careful planning is often the key to a job being done well. And when it comes to working in the construction industry this is even more important if the figures shown above are anything to go by. Someone once said if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Unfortunately for people working in the construction industry not taking the time to plan your work could result in not just failure but injury and death.

Using the right equipment is also particularly important when it comes to working in the construction industry. With builders, roofers, scaffolders and many other types of worker often working high up a slip, trip or accident due to the wrong equipment being used can be fatal. For example, workers might be tempted to save time by just using a ladder when for example scaffolding should be used. Ladders and stepladders are likely to be the most misused pieces of equipment for people working at height and as with any equipment you need to make sure that anyone using them has been trained and are competent using them.

And remember if the use of a ladder is appropriate then you should ensure it is in good condition, it placed on level and firm ground, it is secure and it is of the correct type (the HSE recommend class 1 industrial or EN131).

Northern Counties Insurance Brokers, the UK Insurance Broker and experts in risk management have produced these Top Tips on how construction workers can reduce their exposure to risk and with it their construction insurance, scaffolders insurance and roofers insurance premiums.

Planning. By having an effective management system in place the key areas of risk can be identified and goals can be set to make improvements. This should include selecting equipment and work practices that contain slip and trip hazards and if possible prevent them occurring.

Organisation. Get workers involved in and committed to reducing risks. This should involve giving people responsibilities to ensure that areas of the workplace are kept safe and then making sure everyone is aware who is responsible for each area.

Control. Keep a record of cleaning and maintenance work and encourage good health and safety.

Monitoring and Review. Keep an accident log and re-examine it on a regular basis to learn from incidents that have occurred.

The Health and Safety Executive also recommend a 5 step approach to risk management when dealing with slip and trip risks and these are:

Step 1 – Look for slip and trip hazards around the workplace (e.g., uneven floors, trailing cables, areas that are sometimes slippery due to spillages)

Step 2 – Decide who might be harmed and how. Are the people who come into your workplace at risk?

Step 3 – Consider the risks – do you already have precautions to deal with the risks?

Step 4 – Record your findings if you have 5 or more employees

Step 5 – Regularly review the assessment. If any changes take place make sure that precautions are in place to deal with the risks

The safety of workers in the construction industry and indeed all industries should be paramount so hopefully the UCATT’s observations won’t fall on the deaf ears and construction companies will ensure their workers follow good health and safety practice and remain safe at work.

The F Word and Insurance

2007-10-23T11:20:00.000+01:00

The F word in this case is Fraud and Insurance Fraud means that the average premium paid by policyholders is increased by £40 per year, according to a recent report.

With 1 in 11 claims reported to be in some way fraudulent, false claims are costing the insurance industry £4 million a day. And with 11% of adults (or around 5 million people) having committed insurance fraud in the past 12 months, fraud is on the increase according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

So who are these 5 million people?

And what can be done to stop them taking money indirectly out of our bank accounts?

Well if you’re a male, aged under 45 and are paying under £500 a year for your insurance whilst living in rented accommodation in the North of England then maybe it’s you as based on the average, the report says that:

- People over 45 are less likely to commit insurance fraud

- If you pay over £500 for your insurance you are 50% less likely to commit insurance fraud

- Homeowners are less likely to commit insurance fraud

- Males are 1.6 times more likely to commit insurance fraud

- If you live in the North of England you are 1.7 time more likely to commit insurance fraud

- If you have unsecured debt over £1,000 you are twice as likely to commit insurance fraud

- If you have a household income of less than £10,000 a year you are 2.6 times more likely to commit insurance fraud

Of the 7,000 people questioned in the ABI survey, 85% of the fraudulent claims involved the exaggeration of the value of a genuine loss with 15% of claims relating to a totally made up loss.

“Insurance fraud means that honest people and businesses throughout the UK are being punished through no fault of their own”, said Mark Burdett, the Marketing Manager for The UK’s Business Insurance Brokers, Northern Counties.

“The cost of insurance fraud is on the increase and I believe the government should be doing more to discourage fraudulent behaviour. Tougher penalties in the form of criminal prosecutions as well as highlighting the seriousness of insurance fraud could both help reduce the number of fraudulent claims and ultimately reduce what we all pay for insurance.”

Traders Combined - The Easy Way For Business Owners To Save Time & Money

2007-09-27T15:43:00.000+01:00

As a business owner or manager, you more than most will know that customers nowadays are demanding more, for less. And if your business also demands this from your suppliers and service providers, here are some ways you can get it from your Insurance Broker.

Depending on which industry you work in you will no doubt have your own individual needs, concerns and worries.

For manufacturers these could be falling sales, competition from abroad or Government policy changes over CO2 emissions.

For retailers it could be increased competition from supermarkets or the internet.

And for someone with an out of town factory it could be trying to increase sales at the same rate taxes or interest rates appear to be rising.

The bottom line is whatever type of industry or trade your business is in you have numerous issues to deal with on a daily basis before you even start to think about your customers and suppliers.

And yet despite this apparent need for people in business to make their lives easier it is surprising to see many traders still choosing to have their numerous Insurance policies with many different insurance brokers and companies rather than under a single Traders Combined Insurance policy.

The result of this is that many Traders and business owners pay too much for their insurance and they spend time (that they simply cannot afford to waste) on looking after them.

Here a just a couple of reasons why business owners should seriously consider a Traders Combined Insurance policy when their insurance is next due for renewal:

1. All your risks together. By opting for a combined policy your vehicles, your staff, your premises and your profits can all be protected under one policy. No longer do you need your buildings insured with one Broker, your Business Interruption and Liabilities with another and your Fleet with yet another. Just all your risks under a Commercial Combined Insurance policy.

2. Time Savings. Gone are the days of many different types of cover with different renewal dates and provided by different companies. Just your Combined Insurance policy with a single renewal date. If you need to make a change you just need to ring one broker rather than hunt around your paperwork to find out who it is insured with. And if you chose the right broker they should ring around all the main Insurance companies to find you the best deal.

3. Money Savings. By putting all your risks under a Traders Combined Insurance policy you can very often benefit from savings on your premiums as many providers offer discounts. At a time when getting value for money from your service providers then making savings by getting a policy that is easier to administer could be just what you need.

Traders Combined Insurance can save you time and save you money and that is why it works.

Construction Safety in the Modern World – Your Responsibility as a Client

2007-09-17T14:49:00.001+01:00

For people and businesses in the construction industry safe and efficient working practices should always have been at the forefront of your mind. Recent changes in the law have now seen the onus for safety extend to the client or persons having construction or building work carried out.

This article looks at the implications the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 may have on clients, contractors and workers in the construction industries. And the first part of this article looks at Your Responsibilities as a Client.

To begin with it’s perhaps worth looking at what the CDM regulations are and put simply they have been introduced to ensure construction projects are safe to build, use and be maintained whilst delivery good value to the client. As well as this they have also been put into place to ensure through good health and safety planning projects are well managed and problems and unexpected costs are kept to minimum levels.

For some this may seem like yet more regulation and unnecessary paperwork and processes but in reality the CMD 2007 regulations have been introduced to ensure construction and building work is done by competent people who work safely and efficiently.

When it comes to requirements of clients (or the person having the work carried out) the regulations don’t apply to domestic clients. A domestic client is defined as being someone who will or does live in the premises where the work is being carried out. The premises at which at work is being done must not also relate to any trade, business or other undertaking for the client to be deemed as domestic.

So if you’re a non domestic client under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 you have to:

1. Appoint the right people – trade associations are a great way to find designers and contractors who are competent, have sufficient resources and will carry out work safely.

2. Allow enough time for your project – failing to allow for adequate time for the design, planning and construction is likely to mean more chance of it being unsafe or of a poor quality.

3. Information is vital – to ensure your project runs smoothly you have to ensure that your construction team is told what you want, how you will use it as well as details of the site, structures and hazards as this will allow them to plan, budget and work to your exact requirements.

4. Communication and co-operation – injuries, overspending at a later stage and misunderstandings can all be kept to a minimum if you, your contractors and your designers communicate and co-operate as much as possible.

5. Management – having adequate and suitable management in place is vital for construction projects as they can be extremely complex due to the various types of contractors and tradesmen all working together. And as some of these contractors are involved in high-risk activities (for example, roofing contractors and scaffolding contractors) then it is important that management arrangements are in place to ensure all work done is safe and is completed in a timely manner. Clearly contractors like roofers and scaffolders will have their own ways of working and protection in the form of construction insurance, roofers insurance, scaffolders insurance and contractors insurance but management of all parts of the project and checks should be done to ensure all parties are working with safety in mind.

6. On site Welfare facilities – you should ensure that workers on your site have been provided with adequate welfare facilities before work starts including any information needed for the health and safety file.

7. Workplace design – it is up to you to make sure your design team complies with the standards set out in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 if your project is for changes to an existing workplace (e.g. office or factory) or if the project is for a new workplace.

In addition to the above requirements as a client you also have to make sure you do the following for notifiable construction projects with the definition of notifiable construction work being that which lasts longer than 30 days or involves 500 person days of work.

For these projects you also have to ensure that:

8. You appoint a CDM co-coordinator – although CDM 2007 doesn’t mean your Construction Design and Management co-coordinator has to supervise or monitor work on site you should appoint one before the initial design and preparation stage. Their role will range from helping you select competent designers and contractors to making sure the Health and Safety Executive is notified of your project.

9. You appoint a main contractor – a main or principle contractor will plan, co-ordinate and manage work on notifiable jobs whilst construction work is being done

10. You have health & safety plans – Work shouldn’t commence on site until the principal contractor has produced a construction phase health and safety plan that ensures that work will be carried out safety

11. You keep a health & safety file – the health & safety file should contain a record of health and safety information and should be given to your at the end of your project by the CDM co-coordinator. This file should be used in the future by anyone who is looking to maintain, repair or demolish the building.

Failure to comply with CDM 2007 from a clients’ point of view could result in construction work being stopped by HSE or your local authority. Likewise failure to take the necessary steps to ensure good health and safety procedures are in place could dramatically increase the chances of a dangerous or fatal incident occurring whilst your construction work is carried out. And in the most serious cases you could even find yourself open to prosecution.

Make sure your site is safe – you have a duty to do so.

4 Reasons Why Childcare Has To Improve

2007-09-05T12:24:00.001+01:00

According to the latest results released by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (or OFSTED) 4% of childminders, nurseries and creche facilities were deemed as inadequate for inspections carried out between April 2006 and March 2007.

The good news of course is that 96% of childcare providers inspected were deemed as adequate or better with 3% rated as outstanding, 54% good and 39% satisfactory.

However for the 4% of childcare providers in the Getting on Well: Enjoying, Achieving and Contributing report who were judged to provide inadequate childcare some of the reasons citied for their rating included:

1. Insufficient range of toys and activities, so that children wander aimlessly

2. Adults with lack of knowledge of how to guide children's learning

3. Lack of regular observation

4. Lack of opportunities to engage children's interest

5. Poorly-organised environment

Another piece of good news from the report seems to be that once a childcare facility has been rated as inadequate steps are often put in place to bring it up to a satisfactory standard. This is highlighted by the fact that inspectors returned to almost 300 childcare providers who were previously deemed as unsatisfactory and upon re-inspection 85% of these had improved.

Clearly however the bad news is that 4% is 4% too many when it comes to inadequate childcare and therefore OFSTED, the Government and Childcare providers are working together to make sure standards improve.

The fact is most childcare facilities are run extremely well with hard working, dedicated and totally professional staff who love what they do and are good at their job. For the 4% of nurseries, childminders and crèches who remain unsatisfactory lessons could certainly be learnt from the vast majority who do such an excellent job in educating and looking after our children.

And for the good of our society as a whole it is imperative that standards amongst carers and educators of children continue to improve. This is because research shows that there is in many cases a direct link between high quality early years learning and care and improved intellectual, social and behavioural development in the future.

Mark Burdett, Marketing Manager of The UK Nursery Insurance Brokers Northern Counties had this to say about OFSTED’s latest results, “We provide Nursery Business Insurance and other types of Business Insurance to many different types of childcare providers and what strikes me most is how hard people in the childcare industry actually work. It is clear that if 4% of childcare providers aren’t meeting certain standards then improvements will need to be made but I don’t think the vast majority of parents should feel the need to unduly worry as the childcare facilities in the UK are amongst, if not the, best in the world.”

Mark went on to add, “Northern Counties provide protection and peace of mind in the form of Nursery Insurance and I know the vast majority of childcare providers are also doing all they can to make sure the children in their care are happy, safe and develop in the right way.”

Childrens Safety in the Education & Childcare Industries

2007-08-23T12:36:00.000+01:00

Whether you are a parent or not most people would I’m sure agree that a child’s safety is paramount. This article looks at what our childcare providers can do to help make sure the risk or chance of an accident occurring in Schools, Nurseries, Kindergartens and Day Care Centres is reduced.

Before we look at what steps childcare providers can actually take to reduce exposure to risk we should first perhaps look at what risk actually is. Risk can be defined as a hazard, a source of danger, the possibility of incurring a loss or misfortune or put another way an accident waiting to happen.

So what can Nurseries, Schools and other childcare providers actually do then to manage risk and make sure our children’s safety is always at the forefront of their minds?

Well to begin with they can carry out a risk assessment at their premises and this is perhaps best organized, arranged and co-coordinated by the person who is ultimately responsible for the health and safety at the nursery or school.

And whilst the actually risk assessment doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated it can be time consuming as it involves looking at each area of the premises and noting any potential hazards or risks. It also should involve looking at the existing safety measures in place and make recommendations on how implementing additional safety measures could reduce these risks even further.

The fact is accidents do happen in nurseries, schools and in all types of business but by following some simple checks the chances of an accident happening can be reduced. And as the owner, manger or person responsible for health and safety has a duty of care to employees, children, visitors or indeed anyone visiting the premises risk assessment and ultimately risk reduction is vital.

Here are just a few areas that nurseries, schools and other childcare providers should be looking at to firstly see if a risk exists and then to put preventative measures in place to reduce it.

Trips, slips and falls – do you have leads trailing across the floor or any other obstructions? Are there any spillages of water or any other liquids? And if so what steps are there to address these once they occur and to warn others? Are there any loose rugs, mats, carpets or other flooring including floorboards or tiles? Is the lighting within the school or nursery adequate (especially on stairs and in cellars or basements)?

First Aid and Accidents – do you have suitable first aid equipment on the premises? Do you have employees with first aid training? Do you have systems in place to deal with accidents including transport arrangement to the hospital if deemed necessary?

Safety of Personnel – are staff likely to work alone or handle cash? Do they have a facility to summon assistance and raise an alarm?

Outside Areas – will your outside play areas be adequately supervised? Has the play equipment you provide been suitably tested and is suitable for the children using it? Will the children be playing near plants that could be poisonous? Do you have systems in place to prevent or deal with sunburn and insect bites and stings?

These are just a few examples of potential risks that may exist within a nursery, school, kindergarten or other child day care facility. If you make sure you carry out a risk assessment with the intention of reducing your exposure to risk not only can you make sure your employees and children are protected but you could also see a reduction in your nursery insurance, school insurance or other business insurance premiums. This is because many insurance providers reward providers of child care facilities with discounts and premium savings who have good risk management procedures.

There really is no excuse for modern nurseries, schools and kindergartens to fail to make sure their premises is as safe as possible so make sure you do your best to protect the children in your care – failing to do so really isn’t worth the risk.

Why Scaffolders and Roofers Are Most At Risk

2007-08-17T15:37:00.001+01:00

The latest figures released by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) show a slight increase in the number of workers fatally injured from 2005/06 to 2006/07. This article looks at why workers in the scaffolding and roofing industries are seemingly most at risk and what they can do to help reduce risk.

The Heath & Safety Executive (HSE) has just announced the provisional figures for worker fatalities in 2006/07 is 241 with workers in the agricultural and construction industries having the highest rates of fatal injury. In fact agricultural and construction workers accounted for 46% of all fatal injuries.

And scaffolders and roofers would seemingly be most at risk as falling from height accidents continue to be the most common type of accident, accounting for 19% of all fatal injuries in 2006/07.

So with such numbers of fatal injuries in addition to the hundreds and thousands of everyday accidents by people working at height here are just a few tips to help you reduce your exposure to risk and the likelihood of an accident occurring:

Plan ahead

As with most things careful planning is often the key to a job being done well. And when it comes to working at height this is even more important if the figures shown above are anything to go by. Someone once said if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Unfortunately for people working at height not taking the time to plan your work could result in not just failure but injury and death. Therefore when planning to work at height make sure the equipment you use is suitable for the job and the people assembling and using the equipment are trained and competent to do so.

Use the right equipment

When it comes to deciding on the best equipment for the job it is also important to remember not to try and save time by just using a ladder when for example scaffolding should be used. Ladders and stepladders are likely to be the most misused pieces of equipment for people working at height and as with any equipment you need to make sure that anyone using them have been trained and are competent using them.

And remember if the use of a ladder is appropriate then you should ensure it is in good condition, it placed on level and firm ground, it is secure and it is of the correct type (the HSE recommend class 1 industrial or EN131).

If you follow these simple yet highly effective tips then your chances of accidents and injuries should be greatly reduced. And the good news for scaffolding firms and roofers is that not only will this reduce your exposure to risk but it also could reduce your insurance premiums.

Scaffolding Insurance and Roofing Insurance often incur higher than normal premiums due to the fact that many of the accidents that happen are more serious than with other professions.

Therefore make sure you follow good health and safety procedures and make sure the only thing that falls are your Scaffolders Insurance and Roofers Insurance premiums.

Is it worth risking it all for cheap insurance?

2007-08-14T10:47:00.000+01:00

Picture the scene, you wake up early one morning with the sound of the wind blowing and rainfall bashing against you bedroom window. You ease yourself out of bed, walk down your stairs and are faced with your home under 6 feet of flood water.

And so begins the long and distressing process of recovering from flood damage. And imagine your shock and horror when you call your insurance company only to be told you don’t have the cover you thought and your claim is rejected!

This horrific scenario whilst uncommon could well be on the increase as home and business owners seek the cheapest possible insurance premiums without first looking into the cover they actually provide.

Mark Burdett, Marketing Manager of Gateshead based Northern Counties Insurance Brokers had this to say, “The recent flooding many parts of the UK has seen is likely to have an adverse affect on insurance premiums with insurance companies like Norwich Union already announcing price increases. One of the problems with increased insurance premiums is that people will naturally look to cut costs by shopping around for the best deal. The potential downside to this is that they then opt for the cheapest premium quoted without actually looking into the cover it provides. And unfortunately this could well result in cover not being in place which may only come to light when a loss occurs and they find out they aren’t covered.”

So with flood claims seemingly on the increase for many home and business owners, Mark suggests people when looking to buy home or business insurance make sure they:

1. Get the cover actually required. For home owners this could mean accidental damage whilst for business owners’ business interruption could be more beneficial. Many of these types of cover are often sold as optional extras so don’t just be tempted with the lowest premium without understanding what it does (and perhaps more importantly) what it doesn’t cover you for.

2. Know what excess they will have to pay in the event of a loss occurring. One of the ways insurance companies can quote lower premiums is by increasing policy excesses. Make sure your policy has an excess you can afford.

3. Ask for advice and help if in any doubt. Insurance Brokers are a great source for this as they can use their experience to find you the right cover, at the right price whilst making sure you, your home and your business are protected

As a victim of flood damage in the past himself, Mark summed up the risks involved in buying the cheapest insurance possible, “Many people see insurance as a grudge purchase and one which only produces a benefit when a claim needs to be made. I was lucky enough to have the right insurance cover in place when my home was flooded and I would urge anyone looking to cut costs on their insurance to make sure they know the potential consequences of buying the cheapest policy.”

Fancy earning more money every month?

2007-08-13T12:19:00.000+01:00

They say that "money makes the world go around" so how would you like to earn more, every month, for next to no work?

Stupid question right? I mean, who wouldn't?

Well with the brand new Northern Counties Insurance Partner facilities you could find yourself receiving a sizeable monthly payment into your bank account for just referring friends, family or people you know who need Business Insurance to Northern Counties Insurance Brokers.

There's every chance we all know someone who needs Business Insurance so now is the perfect opportunity to refer them to The UK Business Insurance Broker and if they take a policy, you will benefit from a generous share of Northern Counties commission. Up to 5% in fact of the total premium could be yours for Business Insurance and Travel Insurance introductions and a massive 10% of the total premium for Landlord Insurance premiums.

If you're in a position to introduce people looking for highly competitive business insurance and you want to earn more money yourself every month then help is now at hand.

Types of business who maybe in a position to take advantage of the Northern Counties Insurance Partner scheme are:

Lettings Agents and Property Management companies - do you have clients who need Landlord Insurance?

Travel Agents - with the sale of Travel Insurance will holidays and flights set to be regulated in 2009 now could be the perfect time to introduce customers in need of Travel Insurance whilst earning a share of commission on each policy sold.

IFA's - as well as offering your clients financial advice you can now offer them another valuable service by introducing them to one of the UK's Leading Insurance Brokers. Your clients then benefit from highly competitive Business Insurance and you earn extra money.

To see how you can benefit by becoming an Insurance Partner of Northern Counties Insurance Brokers simply call Northern Counties on 0191 482 1219 or visit the Northern Counties Insurance Partners section on their website at www.northerncounties.com/insurance-partners.php

Is this the best insurance comparison tool ever?

2007-07-26T14:49:00.000+01:00

As modern living becomes ever busier it is little wonder that more and more people are looking to internet comparison sites to find them the best deals on utilities, services and various other types of goods. This article looks at what the insurance industry and specifically business insurance providers are doing (or not) to address this need.

Let’s be totally honest before we look at what could be the best insurance comparison tool ever, people don’t like buying insurance. Yes it is without doubt one of the most essential purchases a business can make (the recent flooding in the UK has once again highlighted this) but it’s hardly an exciting process is it?

You may trawl the internet, fill our numerous forms, make several phone calls and answer the same questions over and over and over again. However this can be long and drawn out process which takes time and costs business owners money.

Therefore why aren’t there business insurance comparison tools on every search engine or insurance website? Well the truth is business insurance is a little more complex than buying a CD as believe it or not getting the cheapest price isn’t necessarily the only thing you want. Yes getting the cheapest premium is of course important as nobody likes to pay over the odds but when it comes to business insurance getting other things like the right cover, an affordable excess (or deductable) and help and advice can be just as important.

So this leads us onto what could indeed be the best comparison tool over for businesses looking for business insurance. This tool has been around for years and for businesses looking to compare different types of insurance it could save them time and money. Ladies and gentleman could in fact the best insurance comparison tool ever be an insurance broker?

Insurance Brokers have been around for years but for businesses who want to compare many different insurance companies and insurance products they could still well be the best tool around. For those insurance brokers who don’t like to be referred to as a tool I’m very sorry but the fact remains they do the same job (plus much more) than any online insurance comparison site.

So if you’re a business owner or someone who is responsible for the purchase of business or commercial insurance for your company you really have 3 options when it comes to buying your insurance. You could go direct to an insurance company who will quote their premium or you could go to an insurance broker who isn’t independent and they will quote you a premium from the one insurance company they deal with.

Alternatively, you could go to an independent insurance broker to help you with your business insurance. Find a good one and they will search the market to help you find the right insurance cover, the right excess and the right premium. Not only this because they are independent and aren’t tied into using just one insurance company, they can often find you more cover for less money.

If you want to compare business insurance why not take advantage of what could the best insurance comparison tool there is?

Useful Tips for Avoiding Flooding

2007-07-02T10:38:00.001+01:00

The summer of 2007, in the United Kingdom at least, hasn't exactly been what many people and businesses would have hoped for. With record rainfall in many parts of the UK, people and businesses have had to deal with flooding, storm damage and in some cases fatalities.

So is Climate Change anything to do with this unusual summer weather and is it indeed something we should get used to on a more regular basis? Or is summer 2007 just a freak occurence that isn't likely to hit our homes and businesses more often?

If you read the press or watch the news then unfortunately there seems no definative answers to these questions so whilst the "experts" are looking into why these storms and flooding has occured, Northern Counties Insurance Brokers have come up with these useful tips on how you can help avoid flooding for your business.

PRE LOSS

1) Ensure where possible all electrical equipment and stock is stored at least four feet above ground
2) Turn off electrical equipment apart from burglar alarms
3) Turn off the supply to central heating units if at ground floor
4) Move vehicles to high ground if possible
5) Sand bag the premises if there is a high exposure to potential flooding
6) Consider constructing gullies to funnel water to drains
7) Clear all drains and gutters on and around the premises
8) Move high value items away from unmanned premises

POST LOSS

1) Remove debris where possible. If the debris is in any way contaminated, you may need to contact the emergency services
2) Save items of value for inspection
3) If stranded, contact the emergency services immediately
4) Allow ventilation to the premises if possible
5) Consider up to £500 of emergency repairs to mitigate future losses
6) Take all appropriate and reasonable measures to protect the premises from future damage or theft
7) Notify your insurance broker or insurance company as soon as possible

2007 has so far seen many people and businesses suffer due to storm and flood damage so hopefully these few tips will help try and prevent this happening to you in the future.

Solicitor Insurance - The 2007 Solicitor Professional Indemnity Insurance Season Has Begun

2007-06-26T14:27:00.001+01:00

For the vast majority of people October 1st every year has no particular significance. In fact it’s just another day of the year. For Solicitors and legal professionals in the UK though the date is a little more memorable. October 1st is when (for most) if they haven’t sorted their Professional Indemnity Insurance for the coming year they simply cannot trade.

So with their very livelihood dependant on an insurance policy it seems with summer (yeah right!) now upon us a few signs that the Solicitor Insurance season is under way have started to show.

Solicitor Insurance season is with us reason 1 – Go to your favourite search engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN, ASK etc) and type in Insurance Solicitor (according to Yahoo in May 2007 this was the most typed in phrase or keywords for Solicitor Professional Indemnity or Insurance for Solicitors).

What you’ll find is a whole host of insurance companies all advertising or promoting their facilities for the current season. Insurance brokers and insurance companies alike all fighting to get the best position and get their name ahead of their competitors. A sure sign indeed that the Solicitor PI season is well underway.

Solicitor Insurance season is with us reason 2 – Pick up your favourite legal magazine or visit your favourite legal website (Solicitors Journal, The Lawyer, Legal Week, Legal Day etc) and like with the search engines you’ll notice a few changes in the type of advertisement contained within the publication or on the site. These will range from companies you’ve heard of and with a global brand or smaller, independent companies who all ultimately want the same thing – to quote for your forthcoming Solicitor Insurance and hopefully to place your business.

Solicitor Insurance season is with us reason 3 - This applies if you’re actually working for one of the insurance brokers or insurance companies looking to provide Solicitor PI Insurance. You’d have noticed the start of the PI season as there’s every chance you’d have been contacted by magazines in recent months asking if you wanted to advertise your services with them. In fact you may continue to be contacting right up until October 1st with that offer of a last minute deal that is only available until the end of the day and that if you don’t sign up by then you’ll never get that rate again! Like the DFS sale yeah?

The truth is that unless you’re a solicitor the above will have no real relevance or indeed interest to you. And if truth be known even if you are a solicitor there’s still every chance it’s of little interest to you at this precise moment in time. After all with holidays, work, family, flooding, Wimbledon and a million and one other things to occupy your mind and time, insurance (and even your vital solicitor insurance) is only really important when you’re either looking to buy it (so perhaps round about now but maybe not quite yet) or when you’re looking to make a claim.

If neither of these apply to you then thanks for getting this far and have a great summer (if it ever arrives). If you need to make a claim I suggest you contact your current insurance provider. If however you need a quote for your solicitors professional indemnity insurance then pick up your favourite legal magazine, get on the internet and search or maybe, just maybe visit http://www.solicitorpi.com/ and see how they can help you.

The 2007 Solicitor Professional Indemnity Insurance Season Has Begun so Happy Shopping.

Childcare Costs continue to rise but what about Nursery Insurance?

2007-06-21T13:09:00.000+01:00

Protection, safety, education and care for children seemingly comes’ at a price as childcare costs for pre-school children continues to rise. This article looks at what nurseries, day cares, kindergartens’ and out of school clubs can do to help keep their costs under control by saving money.

According to the Daycare Trusts Childcare Costs Survey 2007, childcare costs for pre-school children in England continue to steadily rise. An example being that for a child under the age of 2 in England, the typical cost of a full time nursery place has risen by 6% in the past year to £7900 per year (or £152 per week).

And the typical out of school club is now £38 for 15 hours in England and Scotland with the cost £34 for out of school clubs in Wales.

So if parents are having to pay more for child care facilities it would seem logical that nurseries and other child care providers would look at making sure they remain competitive by making sure their own expenditure is constantly reviewed and kept in order.

On such way in which nurseries can possible make savings (which in turn could be passed onto customers) is to reduce the amount they pay for nursery business insurance. And yet with so many insurance companies and insurance brokers all trying to secure business (with offers of low cost insurance) it can sometimes be hard for nurseries and nursery owners to know in which direction to turn to ensure they not only get the right premium but also the right cover, service and experience from their insurance provider.

Help is now however available to nurseries in the form of specialist nursery insurance products available from the likes of Northern Counties Insurance Brokers. Specialist nursery insurance policies allow nurseries to benefit from business insurance cover tailored to their exact needs. This means that nurseries, day care, pre-schools, kindergartens and out of school clubs can pick and choose exactly what cover they want (rather than having cover they don’t really need). The result being that they can save time (as an insurance broker like Northern Counties will search the market for them) and ultimately save money on their nursery insurance.

Another benefit of using a specialist nursery insurance broker is that because they have experience of the pre-school sector they can offer you advice and guidance on health and safety and risk management that could not only reduce your exposure to risk but once again reduce your nursery insurance premiums.

Nursery Insurance Brokers like Northern Counties often also employ dedicated in-house claims managers so if you and your nursery so suffer a loss and need to make a claim they will work on your behalf to make sure it is settled as quickly and as favourably as possible.

So with fast nursery insurance quotes available online or on the phone it has never been easier for nurseries to see how much they can save on their nursery insurance. A simply visit to a website or phone call could see massive insurance savings, expert advice and a fast and friendly service.

Whilst other forms of insurance are very often only decided on price the benefit of using a nursery insurance expert is that you don’t have to sacrifice quality for a lower premium. If anything the opposite is actually true as many nursery experts have years of experience and knowledge of the pre-school sector so you can quality all the way.

And with parents looking for more in terms of service and quality from nurseries, there is no reason why nurseries shouldn’t also look for the same from their service providers.

Just because the cost of childcare continues to rise it doesn’t mean the cost of your nursery business insurance has to as well so shop around, find an expert and see how you and your nursery can benefit.

Why Parents and Nurseries Want The Same Things

2007-06-21T10:26:00.000+01:00

What’s the most important thing in your life? Depending on your age, sex and general outlook this could range from your house and car to your job or friends. For many people though the most important thing in their lives is their children.

This article looks at what parents look for when in comes to care and education for their kids and why the Nurseries who look after them look for similar qualities from their service providers.

So you’ve had children and they’re now at a stage where you need to look into Nurseries, Day Cares or Kindergartens to help look after them. Here are just a few questions that parents looking for child care facilities for their children may want answering:

- Are they a quality establishment?

- Do they have a good reputation?

- Are they well established?

- Are they local?

- Are their staff friendly and approachable?

- Do you trust them?

- Will they provide you with peace of mind?

And if you’re the owner or manager of a Nursery having a USP (or unique selling proposition) for your Nursery could be the difference between getting parents to trust you with their children’s care needs or not.

Your USP could be that you’ve achieved a good OFSTED rating or it could be that you’re local. And as with other industries, knowing, understanding and acting on the needs of your customers will give you an advantage over other Nurseries.

Here then are just a few things parents may look for when choosing a Nursery:

1. OFSTED registered. If you are make sure your registration certificate and current certificate of insurance are displayed together in a prominent position. This will give parents added peace of mind.

2. Are you a member of a professional organisation? Not only does being a member of organisations like the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) give you and your staff useful information but it also shows parents you are serious about their children’s needs.

3. Nurseries that have received recognition. Has your Nursery gained any kite-marks of excellence? Perhaps Investors in People, Investors in Children or the NDNA’s quality counts. If so make sure the parents of your children and the parents of children looking to use your Nursery know about it.

4. As well as providers of Nursery Insurance rewarding good health and safety parents will also be asking themselves a series of questions about your Nursery. Questions like:

Do you have a clean and safe outside play area?

Is your Nursery welcoming? Is it bright, clean and well decorated?

Is the equipment in the Nursery safe and clean?

What food do you provide? How often are your menu’s updated? Can you cater for special diets?

Do your current children look happy?

Likewise do your staff look happy, calm, confident and relaxed and are they dressed well?

What are your staff to children ratios?

How much will it cost me and what will I get for my money? Will I have to pay extra for meals, nappies etc?

By having answers to these questions readily available to parents there’s every chance they will place their children with you and recommend you to other parents.

Parents look for quality and a Nursery they can trust when it comes to their child’s day care. If their children’s welfare is the most important thing in their life it makes perfect sense that they will undertake research and take on board recommendations to find the very best childcare solutions for their children.

Likewise Nursery owners looking for quality, value for money and a company they can trust when it comes to all types of service provider including their Nursery Insurance should also make sure they do the same.

Nursery owners can find quality service providers like Nursery Insurance Brokers by searching the internet or by talking to other Nurseries to find out which service providers work best for them.

If you’re a parent or nursery owner don’t settle for anything less.

DIY or GSI? You decide

2007-06-14T09:31:00.000+01:00

Whether you love DIY (do it yourself) or are of the GSI (get someone in) generation you need to make sure you do things right. This article looks at differences between DIY and GSI when it comes to building and home improvements.

With the seemingly massive increase in home improvement TV shows and the real desire amongst people to make a house a home it seems modern society is split into 2 distinct camps when it comes to home improvements.

First there’s the DIY brigade who want to do it themselves and can think of nothing better than trawling around DIY stores on a bank holiday weekend for that elusive nail / curtain ring / kitchen drawer handle etc.

There appears to be 2 main reasons why DIY enthusiasts are so passionate about their hobby. The first and main reason why DIY is such big business throughout the UK, USA and indeed across the globe is the sense of achievement of actually designing, planning and completing work on your own home or business.

Afterall what can be more satisfying than knowing the very home you live in is how it is (hopefully in a good way) down to your hard work and effort?

Another reason why DIY is so popular is because of the envisaged savings of actually doing the work yourself as opposed to getting someone in to do it for you. Clearly your actual DIY skills may have a huge impact on whether this is actually true or not as (if you’re anything like me when it comes to DIY) whereas a professional builder, painter & decorator, roofer etc may take a few hours to do a job it could take you several days, weeks or indeed months in work, starting again and even more work.

But with the ease of actually doing DIY – from buying materials online and actually hiring equipment (from paint strippers and sanders to mini-diggers and excavators for bigger jobs) it has perhaps never been easier to undertake and run your own DIY project.

And yet with that in mind recent years has seen a new (or perhaps they’ve always been with us) type of person when it comes to home improvements. The GSI (or get someone in) generation would prefer to hire an expert to do work for them rather than go to the trouble of hiring the equipment and doing the work themselves. You could argue that the GSI brigade are lazy and have too much disposable income. However another argument could be that they just want their home to look as good as possible and therefore hiring a qualified and experienced professional to do work is the best route to go down.

Whatever you think of DIY or GSI there’s every chance you fall into one of the two camps. Or perhaps you like to mix and match depending on your skills and budget.

Either way if you’re doing extensive work at home and are hiring equipment or indeed if you hire equipment to the DIY people of the world you can now make sure you are protected at all time with Plant Hire Insurance. Affordable protection and peace of mind for your Plant Hire Insurance, Liability Insurance and Construction Insurance is now available from Northern Counties Insurance Brokers – The UK Business Insurance Brokers.

How to find low cost Charity Insurance

2007-06-14T09:22:00.000+01:00

If you run, manage or are responsible for a charities budget you’ll know more than most just how important every penny is. And if your job is also to make sure your Charity gets the very best deal on your Charity Insurance then these tips from the UK Social Welfare Insurance Broker could be just what you need.

To start with it’s important to remember that all types of charity, voluntary and not-for-profit organization could be saving money on their charity insurance and liability insurance premiums. From registered charities employing hundreds of staff to community and voluntary groups on a much smaller scale help could now be at hand.

And regardless of your organizations size and budgets if you follow these simple but highly effective tips the amount you pay for your Charity Insurance could be less than ever before. All without having to sacrifice coverage, excess and service.

The first tip when looking for Charity Insurance is therefore to use an insurance provider who actually understands your needs. It’s all very well buying a one size fits all insurance policy but does it actually give you the cover you need? Ultimately that is what your charity or organization actually needs so make sure you use a company or insurance broker who understands what you need, can offer you advice and guidance aimed at reducing your exposure to risk and who has the facilities to tailor a policy to your specific needs and in the process can reduce your premiums.

And if using a Charity Insurance expert is most likely to bring about you getting the right insurance cover for your charity for less, how can you find these so called Charity Insurance experts?

Well the internet has certainly made this job easier as a simple search using a search engine is likely to yield a list of experts in all types of insurance. However a company saying they are experts for charity insurance is no guarantee that they actually are! Therefore it’s probably best to pick up the phone and actually ask them a few questions. That’s right, ask questions rather than just wait for them to ask you. This way you can find out what makes them experts and how you can benefit from using them. Ask things such as, who do they use? How long have they been providing charity insurance? What experience do they have? Do this and your chances of finding the right charity insurance for your organization is likely to increase – and whilst your insurance premiums don’t!

Another tip which could help you save money on your charity insurance is one which at first sight may not seem right but give it a go and there’s every chance it will work. Tip number 2 when it comes to finding low cost charity insurance is therefore to be totally honest when you are asked what you are paying for your insurance at the moment. Most people when asked such a question by an insurance company or insurance broker won’t tell them. They think that by doing so they are somehow unlikely to get the best quote in return. The truth is you are far more likely to get the best quote if the company has a price to beat. That doesn’t mean that you should make up a price as if the price you give is too low there’s every chance the insurance provider will know this and in many cases won’t be able to beat it – or indeed quote.

If you follow these 2 simply but highly effective tips there is every chance the price you pay for your charity insurance will reduce. Give it a go and see if it works.

How to find low cost Charity Insurance has been produced by Mark Burdett, Marketing Manager of Northern Counties Insurance Brokers – The UK Social Welfare Insurance Brokers and Charity Insurance Experts. For further information on Charity Insurance visit www.northerncounties.com/charity-insurance.php

Planes, Trains and Auto....Insurance (well Solicitor Insurance actually)

2007-06-13T15:20:00.000+01:00

There are many historic dates in history ranging from 14 February for lovers to 25 December for Christians and lovers of buying and receiving presents.

So what about 1 October? And why is October 1st significant when it comes to planes, trains and lawyers?

Well let’s start with the planes as on 1 October in 1881 the American Engineer and aviation pioneer William Edward Boeing was born in Detroit, Michigan. The name Boeing remains one of the most recognizable throughout the aviation world even now over half a century since his death.

So what about the trains then? And why is October 1 such an important date in the railway world? This time we have to go back to just October 1st 1964 which is when the world’s first high speed railway, the Tokaido Shinkansen (or the Japanese Bullet train), opened between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. By it’s 40th anniversary in 2004 over 4.16 billion passengers had traveled on the Tokaido route and it today remains the world’s most heavily traveled railway route.

So that brings us onto modern day living and the significance of the date of October 1st on lawyers and solicitors.

Well for UK solicitors and legal professionals the date may not have the same global impact as Boeing or the Bullet Train but October 1st still remains a significant date due to changes in the year 2000 when the Law Society opened the way for Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance to be sold via the Commercial Insurance market when the Solicitor Indemnity Fund (SIF) ended.

This change in the legal profession meant that for the vast majority of UK solicitors the date of October 1st has become surnonimous with their Solicitor Professional Indemnity Insurance renewal.

Since 2000 we’ve seen:

Solicitor fee income increasing by on average 7% per year

Solicitor PI claims increasing by around 5% per year

Premium income falling with 2006 showing a fall of around 10% from £234 million to £211 million

The compulsory limit of cover for solicitors doubling to £2 million from £1 million

So with more fee income, more claims and more cover you might expect premiums to rise but the trend has been for solicitors insurance to fall. For solicitors this of course is great news and no doubt 2007 will once again mean more insurance providers fighting for a slice of the solicitors insurance PI.

For most of us this means very little but for solicitors, lawyers and UK legal professionals this means that in order to continue doing business they have to make sure their firms Solicitor Insurance is in place and renewed by October 1st.

Business Insurance and specifically Professional Indemnity Insurance for Solicitors is a highly competitive market so firms such as Northern Counties Insurance Brokers (The UK’s Solicitor Insurance Brokers) have set up facilities aimed at making the purchase of Solicitor Insurance as simple as possible.

With online quote facilities, SMS quote request facilities and above all a fast, friendly and reliable service at hard to beat Solicitor Insurance premiums it has never been easier for UK Solicitors to see how much they can save.

For further information on Solicitor Insurance visit http://www.solicitorpi.com/

Talking CCTV – Anti Social Behaviour Just Got a Talking To

2007-05-16T10:18:00.000+01:00

One of the most important jobs when underwriting an insurance policy is assessing the likelihood of a loss occuring.

Therefore the new Talking CCTV Camera schemes that are making news across the UK could be good news for businesses and local communities if as expected their introduction leads to a reduction in vandalism and crime.

Further details can be found here:

“You, Yes you, Stand still Laddie!”

What does the line above (a lyric from Pink Floyd’s classic album The Wall) and anti-social behaviour have in common?

Well the answer lies in the newest crime prevention tool to hit UK streets in the form of Talking CCTV Camera (closed circuit television) systems.

The new Talking CCTV Camera system gives businesses and local authorities the opportunity to take advantage of a simple yet highly effective tool in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour.

Drunkenness, drinking in the street, shouting abuse at passers by, theft, drug taking, vandalism and assaults are just some of the issues facing business owners, the police and the general public so any system which could prevent this is likely to be welcomed.

So what exactly is Talking CCTV?

Well Talking CCTV allows a central CCTV monitoring station to issue instructions and/or warnings via a loudspeaker system that is easily installed with CCTV cameras. The result being that potential trouble can be averted.

If potential trouble makers are told they are being watched and that police are on their way then issues such as vandalism and assaults could well be averted before they begin.

And whilst there is certain to be concern from some that “Big Brother” is watching the fact is that there are already over 4.2 million CCTV camera’s in the UK alone (one for every 14 people) so this method of security is already common place.

Therefore the new Talking CCTV Camera system which uses modern Two Way Radio technology means there is now a new simple to use, easy to install and wireless solution to tackling anti-social behaviour on the streets of the UK.

For information on the new Talking CCTV Camera system and to see how it can benefit your community visit Apex Radio Systems at http://www.apexradio.co.uk/talkingcctv.php

Apex Radio Systems are the UK's Leading Providers of Radio Equipment and Talking CCTV Cameras and are Your Radio Communications Experts.

Solicitor Insurance - 4 Secrets to a Happier October 1st - Part 4

2007-03-09T09:42:00.000Z

As a solicitor, lawyer or someone responsible to sorting out Solicitor Insurance you’ll know the importance of October 1st in the calendar as it’s the date in which you need Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance in force to continue practicing.

With this date firmly in mind you’ll therefore appreciate the importance of getting your solicitor insurance sorted well in advance so you can relax in the knowledge that it’s sorted and out of the way (for another year at least).

This fourth and final secret to getting the best deal on your solicitors insurance is another that at first glance may not seem right but in order to get the best value for money it is one you may want to consider.

Secret number 4 is therefore don’t assume the cheapest premium is the best. Don’t get me wrong getting a good premium (and saving money on your solicitor insurance) is what we’re all looking for but a really cheap premium without a number of other factors is probably cheap for a reason.

Some things you may want to look for in addition to a competitive premium include:

- Have you heard of the insurance broker and/or insurance company?

- Are they local?

- Are they friendly and approachable (remember we all like doing business with people we like and feel we can trust)?

- What is the excess? Make sure the excess is one you agree on and one you can afford and not one just given to you to reduce the premium

- Do they have a good reputation?

- Do they offer you advice or seem to have some understanding of your business and solicitor insurance?

- Do they listen to you and explain things in a way you can understand? The insurance industry is filled with jargon so make sure the company you choose explains things clearly so you know what cover you’ve got, what you have to do in the event of a claim and how they will work for you.

The run up to October 1st can be a stressful time for solicitors as many play the waiting game in the hope that insurance premiums will fall and they can benefit from premium savings.

And whether you and your firm falls into this camp or the other type of firm who prefers to get their solicitor professional indemnity insurance sorted in good time you have nothing to fear.

If you follow any of these secrets to getting the best deal on your solicitor insurance then the chances are your insurance dealings will be easier, the time you save can be put to better use elsewhere and the premiums you pay will be less than ever before.

For further information on Solicitor Insurance visit www.solicitorpi.com or www.northerncounties.com/solicitors-insurance.php

Solicitor Insurance - 4 Secrets to a Happier October 1st - Part 3

2007-03-08T09:57:00.000Z

Pinch punch first day of the month, no returns. Well for solicitors and lawyers looking for Solicitor Insurance on October 1st each year (the date when most policies are due for renewal) the Solicitors Insurance season often brings with it a fight between various insurance brokers and insurance companies fighting for a slice of the Solicitor Insurance PI (well the Professional Indemnity Insurance PI anyway).

One of the UK’s Leading Solicitor Insurance Brokers has however produced 4 Secrets that if followed could mean solicitors and legal firms can benefit from saving time, saving money and not having to deal with any pinches or punches – and no returns!

This article looks at the third secret in a series of 4 which solicitors looking for the best deal on their Solicitor Insurance should read. Here goes:

Secrets 1 and 2 focused on being honest regarding price and making sure you use experts to provide your Solicitor Professional Indemnity Insurance. Secret number 3 though actually looks at something you can do to make sure you find the right insurance provider and ultimately the right policy for the right price.

The third secret is to making sure you get the best deal and service is to ask questions. So many solicitors, lawyers and people in the legal profession ring around looking for solicitor insurance and spend the entire conversation answering questions. Secret 3 is therefore to ask questions to find out if the insurance provider you are speaking to not only offers you the right cover and premiums but also the right level of customer service.

Types of question you might want to ask are:

- In the event of a claim what will they do to help you and to ensure your claim is settled as quickly and as favourably as possible?

- Do they just give you a telephone number and leave you to it or do they offer help when you most need it?

- Are they experienced?

- How long have they been trading?

- If it’s a Broker, which Insurance companies do they use?

- Again, if they are Insurance Brokers are they independent? That is, do they have access to numerous policies and insurance companies or are they tied into just one?

By getting answers to these questions you can then a make a decision on whether you would like to deal with them (and whether you trust them to act on your behalf). We all prefer to do business with people and firms we trust and like so ask question and make sure you and your firm gets the best deal and service possible when buying your Solicitor Insurance.

Solicitor Insurance - 4 Secrets to a Happier October 1st - Part 2

2007-03-07T09:44:00.000Z

For lawyers, solicitors and legal professionals the date of October 1st is perhaps more memorable than for most as it’s the date in which their Solicitors Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance is due for renewal.

And as people in the legal trade are extremely busy people one of the UK’s Leading Solicitor Insurance Brokers have produced 4 Secrets for firms looking for Solicitor Insurance. Secrets that when used can save solicitors and lawyers time and money on their Solicitor Professional Indemnity Insurance.

This article looks at Secret number 2 which is based around making sure you use a specialist or expert to sort out your firms insurance. Here goes:

Secret number 2 to getting the best deal on your Solicitor Insurance really is common sense but you’d be amazed how many law firms and solicitors fail to make sure it happens as they are just focusing on the price.

The second secret for a happier October 1st is therefore make sure you use an insurance broker or insurance company who understands the Solicitor Insurance market and who understands your needs.

You can establish this in a number of different ways including:

- What type of questions do they ask?

- How do they ask them?

- How do they react to what you’re saying?

- Do they enter into a conversion about your business? (it’s good if they do because the more they understand you and your needs the better cover, premium and service they might provide)

- Is the conversation very scripted?

- Do they have a website? And if so does even mentioned how you can benefit by using them for your Solicitors Insurance?

Find the answer to these types of question and the chances are the insurance provider you choose for this years Solicitor Insurance may well be able to save you time, save you money and make sure you and your firm gets the Solicitor Professional Indemnity Insurance protection you need.

For further information on Solicitors Insurance visit www.solicitorpi.com or www.lawyerspi.co.uk

Solicitor Insurance - 4 Secrets to a Happier October 1st - Part 1

2007-03-06T15:06:00.000Z

For most Solicitors and legal firms October 1st each is synonymous with the date in which their Solicitors Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance is due for renewal.

And in the days, weeks and months leading up to October 1st they could well be contacted by numerous insurance providers all wanting a slice of the Solicitors Insurance PI.

These 4 secrets have been produced by one of the UK’s Leading Solicitor Insurance Brokers and are aimed at providing you and your firm with the knowledge, the time and the secrets to getting the best deal on your Solicitor Professional Indemnity Insurance premiums without wasting your valuable time.

The first tip to make sure your get the very best deal on your PI Insurance is one that many solicitors and lawyers may not realise works but it really does so here goes.

In the run up to October 1st you will no doubt be approached by a few alternative insurance brokers and companies all offering to try and get you the best deal. And assuming you would indeed like to save some money then tip 1 number is as follows.

When they ask you what you paid last year or what your best premium is (and they probably will ask this question) then tell them. That’s right, be totally up front with them and tell them exactly what you’ve quoted elsewhere.

This may not sound right but there are 3 main reasons why when buying Solicitor Insurance you would want to do this.

1. If you tell a good insurance provider your premium they should pretty much know straight away whether the premium is too high, too low or about right. Based on this information they can give you an immediate indication if they can get a lower premium. If they know they can’t they can tell you and save you time.

2. Another reason you should tell the person if they ask what premium you’re paying or have been quoted is because many insurance companies won’t give you the best price unless they have a price to beat. Let me say that again, if you don’t give your insurance broker or insurance company a price to beat, the chances are you won’t get the best premium. However, if you do tell them, they can use this information when dealing with the insurance company which ultimately can save you money on your solicitor insurance.

3. The final point on this matter is don’t be tempted to make up a price in the hope that you will save even more money. For example, the law firm of A Solictor & Partners are looking for Solicitor Professional Indemnity Insurance and last year they paid £7000. They’ve seen in the media recently that Solicitor Insurance premiums are falling so they want to see how much they can save.

Therefore when asked the question of “What did you pay last year” they decide to go in low and say £4500. By doing this most companies will know the price seems low and many won’t even provide a quote. Whereas had they been up front and said £7000 there’s every chance they could have saved some money. Therefore secret 1 is be totally honest when looking for solicitor insurance as it’s the best way to make sure you get the best premium. Give it a go...it really works.

For further information about Solicitor Insurance visit http://www.solicitorpi.com/

Motor Trader Insurance - 4 ways in which an Insurance Broker can help your business

2007-03-01T10:57:00.000Z

Before we start to look at why using an insurance broker could be the perfect way to buy your Motor Trader Insurance let’s start off with a few supposed truths about the insurance industry.

Number 1 – Let’s be honest from the beginning and just say it – most people don’t like insurance. For most people losses rarely occur and therefore they are paying out insurance premiums year on year and yet they don’t actually see any real benefit of it.

Number 2 – Most people (even those who have suffered a loss and have made a claim) see insurance as too expensive with actual insurance companies seen as money grabbing and having no purpose other than to make money.

Number 3 – People see insurance as either boring and sold by men in suits or sold using annoying advertising on the television promising cheap or the cheapest insurance and delivering call centres who seemingly have replaced customer service with queues and staff who don’t really know what they are talking about.

If you’re a Motor Trader who needs to purchase Motor Trade Insurance and any of the 3 points above ring a bell with you then you really need to read on and discover just 4 reasons why using an insurance broker could be just what you need when you next buy your business insurance.

The first reason for using an insurance broker is that they can save you time. Yes you could spend time trawling the internet, thumbing through the yellow pages or ringing around a selection of insurance companies but you could also contact just 1 insurance broker and let them do the work for you. As a motor trader I’m sure you’re time could be put to better use elsewhere anyway.

The second reason why you might want to use an insurance broker when purchasing motor trader insurance is that providing they are independent (that is they have access to more than one policy) they can search to find you the very best cover. Cover that in some cases isn’t available anywhere else.

Another reason for choosing an insurance broker is that they can very often provide you with a level of service that you won’t find elsewhere. Go direct with an insurance company and there’s every chance you’ll be faced with queues, call centres and people without a real understanding of your needs. However choose the right insurance broker who understands the motor trade and you can benefit from advice and guidance aimed at reducing your exposure to risk. And in the event of a loss occurring they will even act on your behalf to make sure your claim is settled quickly and favourably.

The fourth and final reason why using an insurance broker could be just what you need when buying motor trade insurance is that they could save you money and we’d all no doubt like to be paying less for our insurance. A good broker will therefore be able to take advantage of the facilities they have with the leading insurance companies so you benefit from the cover, the service, the time savings and the premium savings all from the same source.

Motor Trade Insurance doesn’t have to complicated or expensive so find the right broker and make sure the price is right for your Business Insurance.

For more information about Motor Trade Insurance visit Northern Counties Insurance Brokers at http://www.northerncounties.com/motor-trade-insurance.php

Northern Counties – The UK’s Business Insurance Broker

Is the BBC bucking the trend with its Nursery closures?

2007-02-28T12:15:00.000Z

In light of the recent news that the BBC will be saving more than £4 million by the closure of its workplace nurseries this article looks at if this fate is likely to hit more nurseries or if the BBC is bucking the trend.

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the BBC’s decision to spend the £4.1 million saved from nursery closures on programming or not, the closure of 7 subsidised nurseries would at first glance appear to be against the norm.

In fact closing of nurseries would appear to be the complete opposite of what is actually required if figures available from the likes of the Department of Education (DfES) are to be believed. Figures such as:

1. The proportion of 3 and 4 year olds in nurseries and pre school education in the UK has risen by nearly 45% since 1970 (in 1970-71 it was 21% compared to 65% in 2003/04)

2. The number of nurseries in the UK continues to rise with now close to 15,000 nurseries

3. There are nearly 1.5 million child care places in the UK with an average of 46 places available per nursery

So with figures such as these combined with people working longer hours, more women working longer than ever (45% of women work over 40 hours a week) and a seemingly lack of childcare providers the trend would in fact be towards more nursery staff, more nursery places and more nurseries.

And of course with an increase in nurseries come with it the need for more service providers to the education and nursery sectors. Included in these will be insurance brokers who specialise in nursery insurance like Northern Counties Insurance Brokers.

So then if you own, manage or run a nursery and you agree that the future for UK nurseries looks good then look no further than Northern Counties for all your Nursery Insurance needs or simply visit http://www.northerncounties.com/nursery-insurance.php for request a quick nursery insurance quote from their website.

Northern Counties – The UK’s Nursery Insurance Broker

Motor Trade Insurance - Is The Price Right?

2007-02-27T14:24:00.000Z

If you’re a Motor Trader you’ll know more than anyone just how price sensitive the automotive industry can be. And as Motor Trade Insurance is likely to be one of your companies biggest outgoings paying the right price for your Motor Trader Insurance is going to be vital.

Whilst the UK has benefited from a pretty stable financial environment in recent years with rising house prices, low interest rates and many companies making money there now maybe signs of a change. During 2006 interest rates rose steadily and with 1 rate rise in 2007 already (and with more forecast as the year progresses) there is every chance that there will be less disposable income in the UK economy.

So what will this mean for consumers and Motor Traders?

Well for consumers it could mean they have less money to spend on new cars, second cars or indeed on the servicing and repair of existing vehicles. There is also every chance that as value for money becomes more of an issue they will shop around to secure the best price and service.

And when Motor Traders Insurance policies come due for renewal there is every chance they too will start looking around to secure the best deal on their Motor Trade Insurance. And if indeed money is an issue it is very easy for companies in the motor industry to opt for the cheapest is best option. After all, isn’t one type of Business Insurance pretty much the same as all the others?

Well for Motor Traders in the UK I would urge you to proceed with caution as whilst low cost motor trade insurance is available from many different insurance providers you don’t want to leave yourself in a position without the right level of cover or the right insurance excess (or deductable).

For many motor traders the best option to take when buying motor trade insurance for the first time or when their current motor trader insurance comes due for renewal would be to consult the services of an insurance broker. An insurance broker who specializes in motor trade insurance can search the market to find you the right cover at the right price so you not only save time – but you also save money.

In the event of you needing to make a claim they can also help you get the claim settled quicker and more favourably. A good insurance broker should give you advice and make sure you only pay for the insurance cover you need and want.

Motor Trade Insurance doesn’t have to complicated or expensive so find the right broker and make sure the price is right for your Business Insurance.

For more information about Motor Trade Insurance visit Northern Counties Insurance Brokers at http://www.northerncounties.com/motor-trade-insurance.php

Northern Counties – The UK’s Business Insurance Broker

Commercial Insurance - Get it right or risk everything!

2007-02-21T16:33:00.000Z

For many businesses buying business insurance or commercial insurance is one of their biggest expenses on the balance sheet. This article looks at what happens if you get it wrong when buying commercial insurance. Or don't buy it at all.

If you own a business there is every chance you will try your very best to make sure it is run in the correct way. From employing the right staff to what service providers to use, you are faced with decisions at every turn to make sure your business runs smoothly and hassle free.

The trouble with running a business (and indeed life in general) is that the unexpected often happens and as a business owner it is your responsibility that if the unexpected does happen your business isn't affected too much.

And that is where buying commercial insurance for your business is so important.

Here are just a few examples of things that can happen to businesses and what might happen in the event of no insurance, the wrong insurance and right commercial insurance being in place.

Landlord Building Insurance Claim

You are a property owner with a portfolio of house, flats, apartments and commercial property. You have decided that the chances of anything happening to your new block of flats is pretty remote as they are currently empty so you have decided to either not insure them or you have not got around to telling your insurance broker.

Over the weekend your newly built and decorated flats are broken into and the brand new kitchen and bathroom suites are ripped out and stolen.

What happens now?

1. With no insurance you basically have to pay for everything

2. If you did actually get around to getting the flats insured but decided to exclude theft cover (what with no tenants and no furniture you may have done this to save some money). As the damage caused was as a direct result of theft then once again it is possible the damage costs will have to met by you.

3. If you have correct level of landlord building insurance in place you ring your insurance broker, they hopefully sort the repairs and replacement of items with your insurance company and the flats are restored to their original state leaving you with just a small excess (or deductable to pay).

So for the sake of a relatively small landlord insurance premium you could be left with a bill for hundreds or thousands of pounds. Hardly worth the risk right?

So maybe you are thinking that if you have a portfolio of properties you would definitely make sure they are covered. What about if you just have one though and money is tight? There is every chance you might take the risk and either have no insurance or insurance that does not meet your needs.

People and businesses do it all the time. When money is tight a service like insurance is often the first thing to be sacrificed.

It maybe that you have just forgotten to renew your commercial property insurance or business insurance policy. With so many other things to think about that could easily happen.

Here is another example of a claim that could be made against you:

Commercial Property Insurance Claim

You own a small business and need commercial property insurance for your factory. You know by law that employers liability insurance is needed so you always make sure this is in place. What about the factory though? The staff are all experienced, you have an alarm and people know what they should be doing (and more importantly what they shouldn't be doing). The risk seems pretty low so when a fire happens overnight you are left with the following scenarios:

1. With no insurance your business is potentially destroyed as the burden of starting all over again is with you.

2. You actually just renewed your commercial combined insurance policy so you are covered. Well done. However to make your premium cheaper you decided on a very big excess (or deductable) and you decided against business interruption insurance. The result being that you are left in a position without the correct cover needed for your business to recover.

3. You got advice from your insurance broker, they discussed the cover you really need and they made sure your excess was at a sensible and affordable figure. The result is they act to make sure you get a interim payment on the claim and that your business continues – just for the sake of a small premium and excess.

Most people do not like insurance but for any business owner, business manager or person responsible for making sure the business is protection it really is a vital purchase.

Get the right business insurance cover and if a loss occurs you will know the business is in safe hands. Risk having no commercial insurance or not getting the right business insurance cover can leave you and your business with nowhere to turn. Is it worth the risk?

Business Insurance – Top 10 Tips to getting the right Insurance for your Business

2007-02-16T15:42:00.000Z

1. Be honest. It may sound the most obvious statement but forgotten or inaccurate information could affect your insurance at a later date. Your motto should be, if in doubt, disclose it. Whether you’ve had a small bump in a supermarket car park or have made a claim against your liability insurance - tell your insurance broker or company up front or when it happens

2. Use an insurance broker if you can’t spare the time to phone or shop around yourself. An insurance broker will search a large number of leading insurers for you so you could save money as well as time. When deciding which insurance broker to use things to look for are:

- Are they well established?

- Do they have facilities with the leading insurance companies?

- Are their staff experienced and do they understand your industry?

3. Choose your insurance provider carefully. A recent survey conducted by Holden Pearmain, the market research company, showed that 63% of small and medium sized businesses (SME’s) preferred using a local supplier when it came to choosing their insurance provider. And 42% surveyed felt using an insurance broker was the best way to get the best deal. When choosing your insurance provider look for a company that understands your needs and has facilities with leading insurance companies to ensure you get the right cover, at the right price.

4. Make sure you are covered correctly. Insurance can be confusing so if you are unsure of anything, ask your broker or insurance company before taking out a policy. They are the experts so take advantage of their knowledge.

5. Increase your excess. If you’re looking to reduce your premium without sacrificing cover, you could opt for an additional voluntary excess on top of your compulsory excess. By increasing your excess you could reduce your premium.

6. Make sure your premises are secure. Many insurers will only offer cover on certain premises if they are fitted with a certain level of security. Find out the exact type of security your premises has as this could reduce your premium.

7. Consider putting all your insurance policies with the same insurance broker or company. Not only will this make your administration far easier, but you may also qualify for discounts for having more than one policy with them. Certain insurance brokers and companies also offer discounts for recommending them to your friends and family. If in doubt, ask.

8. The cheapest isn’t always the best. As insurance isn’t a “sexy” purchase, many businesses opt for the cheapest is best option. Don’t always assume this is the case. Make sure the policy you buy gives you the level of cover you require. Don’t leave it until you make a claim to find out if the policy meets your needs. Make a list of what you need from an insurance policy and make sure the policy you buy includes it.

9. Don’t forget the additional cover. When buying insurance for your business, remember that there are several types of additional cover that maybe offered to you. Whilst not all of these will be necessary, there are certain types of cover that maybe of real benefit to you. Some examples of these include:

- Legal Protection

- Personal Accident

- Directors & Officers Liability

- Public & Employers Liability

- Business Travel

- Key Person Insurance

10. Don’t worry. Buying insurance for your business can be a minefield with so many insurance providers and insurance policies available. However, there is no need to worry as providing you choose the right insurance provider, they should have the experience and expertise to guide you through your options and make sure you get the best deal.

For further information on Business Insurance visit http://www.northerncounties.com/ where you can now get instant online insurance quotes for all types of Commercial Insurance.

Northern Counties – The UK's Business Insurance, Nursery Insurance, Care Home Insurance, Motor Trade Insurance and Liability Insurance Broker.

Landlord Insurance - Top Tips for Property Owners

2007-02-14T15:19:00.000Z

If you are a landlord or property owner you will no doubt face many challenges when it comes to letting your property or properties. From finding the right tenants (or letting agency) to dealing with tenants queries and a multitude of other issues your time is often at a premium.

Here are some tips for landlords along with some answers that many property owners ask on a regular basis about how best you can make sure your properties are protected.

What can I do to protect my property?

Insurance is available so that in the event of a loss (by an insured event) you will be protected and covered. In order to reduce the chances of a loss you can however take certain steps to help. These include:

- Make your property more secure by installing deadlocks on doors and locks on the windows.

- Install an alarm system. Many insurers will offer a lower premium because you have lowered the risk of loss through theft. For certain postal areas a minimum level of security will be required.

- Remove potential fire hazards from around the outside of the house as well as inside - particularly around the kitchen.

- Make sure you have working smoke detectors and a suitable fire extinguisher. Put the extinguisher somewhere handy and make sure members of your household know how to use it.

What should I insure my contents for?

As a landlord, it's quite possible that the property that you are letting contains contents that you own. It is important to note these contents and ensure that you have provided adequate cover for them in your insurance policy. It might be worth doing a room by room inventory and working exactly what level of cover you require. Again though if you are in any doubt, just ask.

How can landlords minimize financial losses related to repairs and maintenance?

You can avoid many problems by maintaining the property in excellent condition.

Here's how:

- Use a written checklist to inspect the premises and fix any problems before new tenants move in.

- Encourage tenants to immediately report safety or security problems such as plumbing, heating, broken doors or steps - whether in the tenant's unit or in common areas such as hallways and garages.

- Keep a written log of all tenant complaints and repair requests with details as to how and when problems were fixed.

- Handle urgent repairs as soon as possible - take care of any safety issues within 24 hours. Keep tenants informed as to when and how the repairs will be made.

- Twice a year, give tenants a checklist on which to report potential safety hazards or maintenance problems that might have been overlooked. Use the same checklist to personally inspect all rental units once a year.

Also, your commitment to repair and maintenance procedures should be clearly set out in the lease or rental agreement.

Owning a property or a portfolio of properties can be very rewarding so follow these simple tips and make sure you and your properties are protected at all times.

For further information on Landlords Insurance or tips on being a landlord or property owner visit Landlord Insurance or www.northerncounties.com/landlord-insurance.php

Setting up a new Nursery - Avoid the common mistakes when starting out in the Nursery World - Part 3

2007-02-13T15:41:00.000Z

- Consider attending local networking events and speak to people. The local chamber of commerce or just a group of people who meet on a regular basis can help you spread the word. Get some brightly coloured business insurance cards printed up and hand these out to people you speak to. Even if they don't have children of their own they may know people who do and are looking for a nursery.

I hope these few tips will help you in setting up your new nursery and that you avoid the mistakes many new nurseries make when setting up in the nursery world.

Visit http://www.northerncounties.com/nursery-insurance.php for more information on Nursery Insurance

Setting up a new Nursery - Avoid the common mistakes when starting out in the Nursery World - Part 2

2007-02-12T11:21:00.000Z

Setting up a new Nursery, Pre School, Kindergarten or Day Care Centre can be a risky business with success not always guaranteed. If you're interested in setting up in business in the Nursery World here is some advice to help you avoid the common mistakes.

In Part 1 of setting up a new Nursery we looked at how important researching the Nursery market was along with making sure you get your finances right from the very beginning.

This next instalment will deal with 2 further issues that anyone looking to open their own nursery, Pre School, kindergarten or day care centre needs to know. They are Business Plans and your Competitors.

1. Nursery Business Plans

Your Business Plan really goes hand in hand with market research and finances. Do your research so you know how many children your new Nursery is going to have as this will have a direct effect on how many staff you need, what size premises you need and how much you can charge parents. And ultimately how much money you need to borrow.

When it comes to writing Business Plans many people over forecast what the first year is likely to bring. You have to be realistic in that if this is your first venture into owning and running your own nursery it will take time for people to become aware of what you have to offer. Work hard in the first 12 months and you could well have a full nursery at the end of year one. Don't assume you're going to full from day one though and make sure this is reflected in your Business Plan.

And how are you actually going to get children into your Nursery? Include in your business plan a simple marketing strategy like a SWOT analysis to show people how serious you are about your new venture.

A SWOT analysis looks at your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Your strengths might be your location or your vast experience of the Nursery World. Your opportunities might be that having checked the census you know there will be a real demand for Nursery places in your location.

Your weaknesses might include that you’re a new start business whilst your threats are likely to include other nurseries, pre schools, kindergartens and day care centres.

Ultimately your goal with be to turn your weaknesses and threats into strengths and opportunities and on that note let's look at one of your main threats – your competitors.

2. Your Competitors

Unless your extremely lucky you're likely to have other nurseries, pre schools, kindergartens and day care centre in the area all wanting the provide a service to the same children and parents as you. So what can you do to make your Nursery stand out from crowd? And what shouldn't you do?

Here are just a few tips:

Make sure you:

a. Focus on the benefits not the features of your Nursery and tell parents and anyone with an interest in your new Nursery how they would benefit from using you. If you have a new purpose built Nursery then explain exactly what this means – your children will be safe and secure and will benefit from the latest learning tools.

b. Have a unique selling point (USP). As a new start nursery standing out from your competitors will be vital. Your USP might be your location, it might be the quality and qualifications of your staff or it might be that your have extremely competitive rates or low staff to child ratios. Whatever it is – tell everyone and make sure you constantly tell them.

And when it comes to your competitors:

c. Don't tell people how bad your competitors are. Instead just focus on the positives of using your new Nursery and let the people decide.

d. Don't forget that you can learn from them. If they do something well then do it as well – but do it better.

e. Remember that to stand out from your competitors you can join trade associations, become involved with the local community, chamber of commerce or make sure the service providers you use are experts in their fields.

One such nursery expert can be your Insurance Broker. They can provide you with risk management advice and make sure your new nursery, your staff and your children are protected and have peace of mind. A fact of life is that accidents can and do sometimes happen. Make sure you get Nursery Insurance that is tailored to your new nurseries needs. Business Insurance for nurseries (even new nurseries) doesn't have to complicated so get advice and guidance from a nursery insurance broker and make sure your new nursery, pre school, kindergarten or day care centre starts as you mean to go on.

In the final part of Setting up a new Nursery – Avoid the common mistakes when starting up in the Nursery World we'll look at some top tips to make sure your nursery opening goes to plan.

Visit http://www.northerncounties.com/nursery-insurance.php for more information on Nursery Insurance

Setting up a new Nursery – Avoid the common mistakes when starting up in the Nursery World – Part 1

2007-02-09T12:54:00.000Z

Solicitors Insurance - Everyone is fighting for a slice of the PI

2007-01-29T14:44:00.000Z

For most businesses the date of October 1st will have no real significance and yet for solicitors this date has become surnonimous with one thing and that is their Professional Indemnity Insurance renewal.

And with most solicitors insurance falling on the same date of the year, the months leading up to 1st October can be a minefield of insurance providers trying to secure business and solicitors attempting to get the best deal possible.

And if recent trends are anything to go by then the 2007 Solicitor Insurance season also seems to be an exciting time for all those involved.

In 2000 the Law Society opened the way for Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance to be sold via the Commercial Insurance market when the Solicitor Indemnity Fund (SIF) ended. Since 2000 we’ve seen:

- Solicitor fee income increasing by on average 7% per year

- Solicitor PI claims increasing by around 5% per year

- Premium income falling with 2006 showing a fall of around 10% from £234 million to £211 million

- The compulsory limit of cover for solicitors doubling to £2 million from £1 million

So with more fee income, more claims and more cover you might expect premiums to rise but the trend has been for solicitors insurance to fall. For solicitors this of course is great news and no doubt 2007 will once again mean more insurance providers fighting for a slice of the solicitors insurance PI.

Business Insurance and specifically Professional Indemnity Insurance for Solicitors is a highly competitive market so in the coming months Northern Counties Insurance Brokers (The UK’s Solicitor Insurance Brokers) will be providing Solicitors with the secrets to getting the best deal on Solicitors Insurance but for more information on professional indemnity insurance for solicitors visit http://www.northerncounties.com/solicitors-insurance.php

The Top Risk Management Tips - Prevent Injury at Work

2007-01-11T16:37:00.000Z

Slips and trips maybe seen by some as funny but they are in fact the most common cause of major injuries at work with over a third of all injuries reported each year caused by slip or trip accidents. In fact slip or trip accidents account for:

- 20% of injuries where the employee is absent for over 3-days
- 33% of all reported major injuries
- 2 fatalities per year
- 50% of all reported accidents to members of the public
- A cost of £368 million per year to employers in lost production and other costs

The highest rate of injuries occurs in the food and drink, repair of consumer goods and vehicle sectors. However with almost all workplaces being affected by this type of injury and with most slips occurring due to poor housekeeping, solutions to the problem are often simple and cost-effective.

Northern Counties Insurance Brokers, the UK's Business Insurance Brokers and experts in risk management have produced these Top Tips on how you can reduce your exposure to risk and with it your insurance premiums.

1. Planning

By having an effective management system in place the key areas of risk can be identified and goals can be set to make improvements. This should include selecting equipment and work practices that contain slip and trip hazards and if possible prevent them occurring.

2. Organisation

Get workers involved in and committed to reducing risks. This should involve giving people responsibilities to ensure that areas of the workplace are kept safe and then making sure everyone is aware who is responsible for each area.

3. Control

Keep a record of cleaning and maintenance work and encourage good health and safety.

4. Monitor and Review

Keep an accident log and re-examine it on a regular basis to learn from incidents that have occurred.

5. Examine slip and trip risks

The Health and Safety Executive recommend a 5 step approach to risk management when dealing with slip and trip risks and these are:

Step 1 – Look for slip and trip hazards around the workplace (e.g., uneven floors, trailing cables, areas that are sometimes slippery due to spillages)

Step 2 – Decide who might be harmed and how. Are the people who come into your workplace at risk?

Step 3 – Consider the risks – do you already have precautions to deal with the risks?

Step 4 – Record your findings if you have 5 or more employees

Step 5 – Regularly review the assessment. If any changes take place make sure that precautions are in place to deal with the risks

Mark Burdett of Northern Counties said, “When it comes to preventing slips, trips and falls happening getting conditions right from the start will make dealing with risks easier. This can include choosing the right flooring, making sure lighting levels are sufficient, avoiding overcrowding and making sure access routes are clear. By doing this the chances of an accident occurring will be greatly reduced and therefore so will your exposure to risk. And with certain insurance companies now offering substantial discounts for good health and safety many businesses could also save money on their Business Insurance premiums”.

For further information on reducing your exposure to risk and your business insurance premiums visit www.northerncounties.com or call Northern Counties on 0191 482 1219.

Is this the end for the Motor Trade?

2007-01-09T16:15:00.000Z

From 1st July 2007 the UK bans smoking in enclosed public places with as many as 600,000 people forecast to quit smoking as a result. This article looks at if charging people to drive will have similar results for the Motor Trade.

In The Beatles classic song Taxman the lyric goes, “We’ll tax your feet”. Whilst the government hasn’t yet decided to do this it seems the introduction of “pay as you drive” schemes may soon be hitting the roads of the UK but what impact (if any) will this have on the UK Motor Trade.

Well there appears to be a few factors that road users might want to consider:

- If you’re a driver who drives infrequently or at less busy times you could end up paying less.

- Or you might drive an average number of miles but due to you driving at rush hours (on you way to/from work or school) you will end up paying more money

- You may want to use public transport more often

- You and your friends may set up a car pool scheme so you take it in turns to drive

- If you spend a lot of time on the road travelling to see friends and family maybe you won’t be able to visit them as often as before

- If you spend time travelling for work maybe you won’t be able to visit customers as much or worse still increased transport costs may mean your less competitive or jobs have to be cut

And what about people in the Motor Trade itself?

If the smoking ban just announced makes people stop smoking then maybe forcing people to pay more to drive will mean people will simply drive less often. Therefore less cars are needed, less people are needed to service and repair them and jobs are lost in the Motor Industry.

Of course these are all what if’s as nobody really knows what impact this decision will have on the transport system, the motor trade or indeed modern life.

If maybe a positive move with a journey to work being halved due to less vehicles on the road. It may mean a change in the opening hours for businesses or schools so not everyone is fighting to get to and from work as the same time as the school run is being done.

It may mean more money is invested in public transport so we have buses, trains, tubes and other forms of transport that are reliable and we’d be happy using.

Or of course it may mean nothing changes apart from the fact that we have less money in our pockets.

Whatever your thoughts are on the governments new “pay to drive” schemes the chances are it will happen and the impact on the motor trade could be massive.

For further information of the new pay as you drive plans visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6160877.stm or for information on Motor Trade Insurance visit www.northerncounties.com/motor-trade-insurance.php

What will 2007 hold for the Motor Industry?

2007-01-09T15:01:00.000Z

As another year begins, businesses throughout the Motor Industry will be wondering what developments await in the year ahead.

With house prices forecast to continue rising and with interest rates also likely to increase further will this mean consumers have less disposable income and therefore less likely to buy new or more cars? And will this have a direct impact on the hundreds and thousands of garages and motor body repairers?

Whatever impact the economy will have on the Motor Trade, businesses of all sizes can take some simple yet highly effective steps to try and make 2007 as successful as possible. These include:

1. Find out what your customers actually want – it’s very easy for businesses to get into the habit of assuming they know what their customers want. However consumers’ needs and expectations are constantly changing and the most successful companies will anticipate these needs and will offer solutions to meet them. And when it comes to the Motor Trade it’s possible that 2007 will mean a shift from customers demanding low prices to an emphasis on customer service. For motor traders who have always focused on providing quality service this can only be a good thing.

2. Being aware of the industry as a whole – from manufacturers being forced east due to over regulation in the motor industry to small garages and body repairers understanding the impact new government “pay as you drive” proposals could have on the future of our roads anyone within the motor trade has a duty to know what is going on. Trade magazines, general gossip and just keeping your ear to the ground can often be used to make sure you stay in touch and have a competitive advantage.

Finally, whatever part of the Motor Trade you work in 2007 promises to be yet another tough but exciting time so I hope 2007 proves to be happy and successful.

Sign of the Times

2006-10-20T11:01:00.000+01:00

Do you remember the days when getting a quote or information on Business Insurance involved trawling up the down the high street or just getting a visit from your friendly local Broker?

Well as modern life gets faster and faster so too has how and where you can now get your insurance. The internet, phone, text, banks, ringing a call centre in some part of the World at 3.15am and many more options are now available to you.

At Northern Counties Insurance we've seen many changes in the way you buy insurance since we started trading in 1928. Throughout all these changes though one thing hasn't changed and that is people don't buy insurance. They buy protection, they buy peace of mind and they buy from people and businesses who look after them.

And that's what this Blog and Northern Counties Insurance Brokers are really all about.

Giving you (whether you're a Northern Counties customer or not) information, advice, tips and the secrets to Business Insurance. Information that will hopefully make your dealings with Business Insurance as simple, straightforward and useful as possible.

Insurance isn't about little red telephones, it isn't about grown men dressed up as elephants and it even isn't about being quoted until you break out into a smile.

No, Insurance is (or at least should be about) just a few things:

1. Making sure the things you care about most are protected

2. Building a relationship with the person who provides your insurance so you trust them to act in your best interests

3. Getting a level of service that you are happy to receive and happy to recommend to others

Welcome to our Blog and welcome to Northern Counties Insurance Brokers.