Nursery Insurance – How to Get the Very Best Deal

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

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

Childcare Providers and the Search for the Best Protection

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

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

4 Reasons Why Childcare Has To Improve

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

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.

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.

Why Parents and Nurseries Want The Same Things

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.

Is the BBC bucking the trend with its Nursery closures?

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

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

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

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.

So you've finally decided to go it alone and set up your own Nursery. Well congratulations on making this big decision and good luck in your new venture. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

1. Do your research

Market research for any new start business is vital and this certainly applies to people considering setting up in the Nursery World. It may have been your life long ambition to set up and run your own Nursery but is it really a viable option?

In fact is there even a demand for a Nursery, Pre School, Kindergarten or Day Care Centre in the location you're planning on opening one? You can check the census to find out local birth rates and the number of children of nursery age in the area.

The internet, local councils, libraries and speaking to people in the area you're planning on opening your new nursery can all give you valuable information into what is required.

Finally on the matter of research it's important to remember that many new start businesses and new nurseries fail because there is simply no demand for them. Check out your competition and never forget that without enough children actually attending your nursery may well be doomed before you even begin.


2. Get your finances right

So if your dream is to open and run a nursery, pre school, kindergarten or day care centre and you've done your market research to establish a need in the area then getting your finances right from the start is also vital.

Make sure your business plan (we'll look more at business plans for Nurseries in Part 2) is realistic and takes into account that it takes time to establish a good reputation for a new nursery.

And on the subject of finances getting professional advice for your new venture will also come in handy. Accountants and financial advisors can help you with your borrowings and making sure you manage your money effectively.

You might also want to consider using an Insurance Broker for your Nursery Business Insurance. An Insurance Broker who specialises in Nursery Insurance will be able to help you with risk management advice and make sure you only pay for the Nursery Insurance cover your need. Save Money on your Nursery Insurance premiums and get the protection and peace you and your new nursery needs.

In Part 2 of Setting up a new Nursery – Avoid the common mistakes when starting up in the Nursery World we'll look at Nursery Business Plans, Competitors and other common mistakes from new start Nurseries.

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