Professionals at Risk
The latest edition of 'Professionals at Risk' provided by Zurich Insurance Company and their partner firms
The Equality Act 2010 & how it applies to Charities
Guidance from the Charity Commission on the Equality Act 2010 and possible implications for Charitable Organisations
Melville Burbage Launch New Website
We're delighted to announce the launch of our brand new website.
ELTO - Employers Liability Tracing Office
ELTO is an idendependent body whose members are Employers' Liability Insurers. ELTO will implement a centralised...
Cherrypicked News
Loss of Profits Insurance
In March 2011, the Tsunami in Japan devastated large areas of its North-East coast line, destroying hundreds of lives and thousands of homes. The devastation wiped out large swathes of Japan’s manufacturing industry and energy systems, crippling its infrastructure. The highly regarded ‘just...
Emerging Careers and jobs for the 21st century
The way we earn a living and the professions we choose as careers can be due to careful planning or, in some cases, by chance or parental influence. What is certain though is that the nature of many jobs is changing along with the types of businesses and the associated environments in which...
The Growing Risk of Metal Theft
Over the last three years, the rise in metal prices has led to thieves stealing lead from church roofs, concern about the risk of precious metal theft and this year cable theft has made the press. Nightmare commuters’ journeys are not unusual – but in addition to the usual ‘reasons’ of l...
Workplace ill health and injury continues to fall
Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggest that workplace ill health and injury has continued to fall. The figures, recorded between April 2010 and March 2011, showed the following reductions in sickness and injury: 6% fall in major injuries to 24,726 (amputations...
Off-site Health and Safety Regulations highlighted
Safety at work has once again been highlighted with the successful prosecution of a cardboard box manufacturer in Kent. A delivery driver, employed by W.E. Roberts (Corrugated) Limited from Northfleet, suffered severe head injuries that have had a life-changing effect after a fall in 2009. ...
Second Company charged with Corporate Manslaughter
A second company, Lion Steel Limited, has been charged under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, with a trial date set for 2012. The charge relates to the death of an employee, Steven Berry, who suffered a fatal fall through a fragile roof panel at the company’s offices ...
Tracing Employers’ Liability Insurers
In the past, individuals who wanted to make a claim against a former employer in relation to injury or disease caused during their employment may have run into difficulties. This was largely due to the nature of industrial disease, such as asbestosis, which can take many years to show symptoms, b...
What’s covered under the Riot Damages Act?
The recent riots in London and throughout the UK have thrown up lots of questions about insurance coverage across different types of insurance policies and subsequent compensation. Due to the nature of the riots this has been of equal interest to businesses and individuals. Many property ...
London Riots - Riot Insurance Cover and Business Continuity Plans
The riots and looting in London and across the UK this August have shown that the social unrest that began in the UK in 2010 is set to continue and spark unpredictably. In 2010 strikes and protests dominated the headlines, with student fee protests causing chaos and major disruption to a number o...
Continuous Insurance Enforcement Law begins with letters to uninsured drivers from June 2011
The new Continuous Insurance Enforcement Law makes it illegal to own an uninsured vehicle unless it has been declared as off-road (Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)), or is exempt from insurance. As part of the crackdown, vehicle owners who have so far been identified as contravening t...
Insurance costs hit by ECJ ruling
This March the European Court of Justice ruled that insurers can not charge different premiums because of a person’s gender as this action would constitute discrimination. Even though women are statistically less likely to make a car insurance claim, they can no longer be charged lower car ins...
TV ad campaign heralds Motor Insurance Law change
Motorists in the UK are being reminded via a TV advertising campaign of new rules regarding motor insurance that come into force on June 20, 2011. The new rules make it an offence to keep an uninsured car rather than the previous rules which just made it illegal to drive an uninsured car. Motor...
Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007
Construction is a dangerous industry with a disproportionate level of fatalities, major injuries and incidents of ill-health. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last year (July 2009 – June 2010) 42 people people died from injuries they received as a result of construction work. ...
Business Travel Insurance
Business travel insurance is an important purchase. Often, it’s not just the case of buying an ‘off the shelf’ product as with family travel insurance – there are plenty of other things you may wish to consider. Check the sums insured limit With some ‘off the shelf’ travel ins...
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance explained
The importance of your duties and responsibilities as a director or officer has reached unprecedented levels. Legislation is driving regulation and increasing the required levels of due diligence within the UK. You are responsible for the management decisions you take, and claims can be brought a...
Do you need Cyber Liability Insurance?
With social networking use increasing at an unparalleled rate many businesses are now taking their first steps into a world that has been dominated by personal use up to now. However, social networking developments at a business level are increasing rapidly. Social networking has been the...
Multi-Trip or Single Trip Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is usually purchased as a standard combined package of covers designed to protect you from a variety of adverse events that could occur while you are on holiday. These typically include: Provision of some financial recompense if your trip is cancelled or curtailed due to cir...
Employers Liability Insurance explained
As an employer, you are responsible for the health and safety of your employees while they are at work. Your employees may be injured at work, or your former employees may become ill as a result of their work while in your employment. They may try to claim compensation from you if they believe yo...
Construction firm prosecuted under Working at Height Regulations
The dangers of working at height have once again been highlighted as a Telford construction firm has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The firm in question, Dodd Group (Midlands) Limited, was fined £20,000 and had to pay £3,511 in costs, after being found guilty of brea...
Young female drivers to pay more for car insurance
As a result of a European Court of Justice Ruling that insurance companies can no longer use gender based risk assessment for calculating car insurance premiums from December 2012, it’s likely that premiums will rise for young women drivers. Previously, young female drivers had been paying si...
First conviction under Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Limited (CGH) has become the first company in the UK to be convicted under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. As a result of the conviction, the business has been fined a total of £385,000 for corporate manslaughter at Winchester Crow...
Event Insurance
Warmer weather is on its way and, with true British optimism, the Summer’s corporate events will soon be organised. Whether the event is as simple as a summer barbecue for clients or as complicated as a concert, it is worth considering the implications if things don’t quite go to plan due t...
Staff Dishonesty Insurance
It’s difficult to imagine running a business without trust in your staff. Unfortunately for some businesses blind trust, especially in long-serving employees, has led to disappointment and financial loss. Fraud currently costs the UK’s private sector £9.3 billion a year*, with business fraud...
Continuous Insurance Enforcement
Latest estimates suggest that around 1.5 million vehicles on the road in the UK are uninsured. It is hoped that Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), a new scheme for 2011, will play a part in reducing the number of these uninsured motorists whose road traffic accidents add on average £30 to e...
Who doesn’t require Professional Indemnity Insurance?
If you are self-employed in a professional capacity or you own or manage a company, the chances are that you will require professional indemnity insurance. Professional indemnity insurance protects the policyholder, company or individual, against a claim due to professional negligence. Pr...