The Top Tips When Buying Community Group Insurance

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

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

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

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.

Useful Tips for Avoiding Flooding

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.

Childcare Costs continue to rise but what about Nursery Insurance?

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.

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

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/

Motor Trade Insurance - Is The Price Right?

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!

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

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.

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

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 Parts 1 and 2 of Avoiding the common mistakes when starting up in the Nursery World we looked the importance of market research and sorting out your finances by using experts like accountants, financial advisors and nursery insurance brokers. We also looked at nursery business plans and importance of knowing your customers.

In this final article we will provide you with some top tips to make sure the opening and long term prospects for your new nursery go to plan:

Rules and regulations – with nurseries being regulated by OFSTED and with any breach of rules likely to be frowned upon by them and your potential customers make sure you know your stuff in relation to child ratios, staffing qualifications and the new fire risk assessments that came into force recently.

Buy an established nursery – although your dream maybe to set up a brand new nursery you may want to consider the easier option of buying an existing and well established nursery and putting your own stamp on that. Not only will this mean that you will most likely have existing children to attend but staff issues and all the regulations may already be in place. Whilst it may cost more up front the long term benefits could be huge and it may certainly help with your first year stress levels.

Marketing – the final tip is one that people businesses (not just nurseries) sometimes take for granted and don't dedicate enough time or money to. Marketing and getting bums on seats is really going to make or break your new nursery. Simple things you can do include telling everyone about your new nursery (word of mouth and recommendations are likely to bring in more new children than anything else).

There are numerous other ways in which you can use marketing to gain exposure and fill places. Some of these include:

- Have an open day and invite local children, parents and the media. The press love stories relating to children so get them on board and become their expert in the nursery industry. This may give you exposure in the press without having to spend money on advertising and long term they may come back to you again for other news stories. Put a twist on such days and make the media's job easier by making it a newsworthy story. Public relations can be a great way to get exposure for your new nursery – and it can be free!

- 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

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