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TRANSCRIPT
CoveredIssue 4
In this edition...
How effectively are you managing your contractors?
TL Dallas acquire Buckingham House brokerage
Up Helly Aa - a different kind of tradition
Demolition
Connected Cars & Insuring Gifts
Personal Insurance:Sector:
RiskManagement:
tldallas.com
BusinessInsurance:
2.2.
Welcome to the first ‘Covered’ of 2018 We were delighted to start the New Year with theannouncement of the acquisition of a book ofspecialist demolition insurance business, whichadds to our existing expertise in the constructionsector – we welcome new clients and staff.
This book of specialist business fits very well withour strategy of offering our clients a fully bespokeservice in terms of their insurance and riskmanagement requirements – we are a ‘one stopshop’ for all the insurance needs, both Personal &Commercial of owner managed and family runSME businesses in particular, and unlike many ofour competitors who will direct SMEs to their callcentres, we recognise that just because you arean SME doesn’t mean you fit in a box in terms ofthe risks that face your businesses. With 10 officesthroughout the UK we are able to offer a local &personal service to our clients and the fact that all our claims are managed in house further sets usapart from many of our competitors.
As usual this edition of ‘Covered’ includescomment and articles from across our networkand specialisms – including both Personal &Commercial Insurance, Risk Management &Health & Safety - please do not hesitate to contactany member of the team to find out more.
Polly StaveleyManaging Director
TL Dallas Group Limited. Registered Office: Dallas House, Low Moor, Bradford, BD12 0HF. Registered in England No: 02434450
3.
The recent acquisition by TL Dallas of thespecialist book of demolition insurance businessof Buckingham House (London) Ltd, will tradefrom our City office as TL Dallas (City) Ltd t/aBuckingham House.
The founder of Buckingham House, John Norburyhas over 30 years experience as a qualifiedinsurance broker and has specialised in insurancefor the demolition contractors and alliedindustries since 1991. Buckingham House hasalso been an active Industry Service Providermember of the National Federation of DemolitionContractors since they were established.
We are pleased to extend our service offeringthrough this acquisition and particularly pleasedthat Mark Clements who has worked with JohnNorbury for 25 years, has joined the team in Cityoffice with John continuing to act as a consultant.
TL Dallas’ Managing Director, Polly Staveleycomments, ’We are delighted that John has agreed to sell hisbook of business to TL Dallas – it fits very well with
the existing construction sector expertise that wehave within the team in our City office and isfurther enhanced by the fact that Mark Clements,who has worked with the clients for over 20 years,has joined our team. We are looking forward toworking with the clients and developing thebusiness further.’
If you would like more information regardingdemolition insurance please contact:
Mark Clements – [email protected] call 07881 934054/0207 426 5347Mike Mitchell – [email protected] orcall 07496 888411/0207 426 5343
Alternatively, email [email protected]
TL Dallas acquireBuckinghamHouse brokerage
4.
TL Dallas provides insurance solutions for a diverse range of clients all over the UK. One of our more unusual risks is for Up Helly Aa; an annual event which takes place in Lerwick, Shetland and involves a series of marches and visitations, culminating in a torch-lit procession and the burning of a Galley.
We spoke to Ivor Cluness, the 2014 Guizer Jarl, to learn more about this annual tradition, which takes place on the last Tuesday in January.
A tradition that originated in the 1880s, Up Helly Aa evolved from the burning of tar barrels that were part of festive celebrations from around the 1840s.
A group of young Lerwick men devised a series of new ideas for the proceedings, including the name Up Helly Aa. The elaborate element of disguise - “guizing" - was brought to the new festival, along with the torchlight procession and a little later, towards the end of the 1880s, the
burning of the ‘Galley’ - a Viking long ship - wasintroduced.
Today, not much has changed since those earlydays. Celebrations consist of a ‘Guizer Jarl’, theChief Guizer and his squad, plus another 46squads taking part in the event. There is also ajunior squad who attend an earlier processionand even have their own Galley.
The Jarl Squad start their day early, around 6am,with a meeting followed by breakfast. They thenmarch along the streets stopping at the Bill.
The first ‘Bill’ was produced in 1899. Its mainpurpose was to indicate where and when thefestival would take place. However, it was soonelaborated with the addition of local jokes andsatire, usually at the expense of the Guizer Jarl.The bill head, painted each year by a local artistchosen by the Jarl, usually depicts a scene fromthe Jarl’s saga.
Up Helly Aa - a different kind of tradition
5.
From here, the Jarl Squad head to the BressayFerry Terminal for photos, followed by a civicreception. Throughout the rest of the morningand early afternoon there are a series of visits tothe Primary Schools, Hospitals and RetirementHomes, as well as a visit to The Shetland Museum.
Around 7.00pm, the Guizer Jarl Squad passes up the ranks of the Guizers before the worldfamous torchlit procession commences.Consisting of nearly one thousand Guizers, theprocession carry flaming torches through thetown, following the Galley along the routetowards its fiery end at Valhalla. The route is linedwith spectators, often over five thousand strong.The town is in darkness, making the red glow at‘light up’ a truly phenomenal sight. Theprocession will march along the route beforefinishing in the (enclosed) burning site* at theKing George V playing field.
Following this, each of the squads, visit all the
local halls to put on their entertainment, involvingmuch hilarity, throughout the night. Each squadhas a theme which is generally reflected in boththeir costume and their chosen entertainment.There is a specific order of attendance at each hallwhich must be strictly adhered to.
Partying continues throughout the night with thefollowing day marked as a public holiday. You canread more about this spectacular event athttp://www.shetland.org/things/events/culture-heritage/up-helly-aa/ or visit the official website,www.uphellyaa.org.
TL Dallas is proud to have been working with UpHelly Aa for more than 20 years and we’d bedelighted to discuss insurance solutions for yournext event. Contact your Account Executive orlocal TL Dallas office for more information.
*public access is not permitted.
6.
The automotive sector is currently going throughits most significant upheaval for a century. Thisranges from the advent of autonomous driving, toUber and its disruptive taxi services to ‘self-driving’ lorry convoys and includes the upcomingban on combustion engines.
All of these technologies rely on a level ofconnectivity the like of which we have not seenbefore with vehicles. Today’s car has thecomputing power of 20 personal computers,features about 100 million lines of programmingcode and processes up to 25 gigabytes of data anhour. In the past, the computing power wasfocused on the vehicle’s internal functions,however attention is now turning to developingthe car’s ability to connect with the outside worldand enhance the in-car experience.
This is the connected car — a vehicle able tooptimise its own operation and maintenance aswell as the convenience and comfort of
passengers using onboard sensors and Internetconnectivity.
This brings a new age of risk to the running of yourpersonal car. This is reflected in new car buyers’attitudes towards the issue of connectivity andcars.
Whilst 13% of new car consumers would notconsider the purchase of a car without internetconnectivity, a recent study by McKinsey suggestsmore than a third of consumers are concernedabout the safety and identity security of a fullyconnected car.
Earlier this year, Alex Moiseev, Managing Directorof the European arm of software securityspecialist Kaspersky Lab, pointed out thepotential pitfalls for the every day use ofconnected cars we will soon be living in.
‘It’s a sunny April morning in 2020 but, as you start
Driving forward with Connected Cars
7.
your car for the morning commute, something iswrong. The 20” touchscreen is dead. Suddenly itflickers into life but, instead of the usual map,there is a message:
“Your car’s computer has been locked. We controlyour data, brakes and steering. To unlock yourcomputer you’re obliged to pay a fine of $200.”’
Moiseev continues, ‘It might sound like fantasybut this could happen.’
There is clearly a safety aspect as well, with carsrelying increasingly on software to control keyelements such as brakes.
What is clear, is that the next 10 years will seemore drastic development within the automotivesector than has occurred over the last 50 years.
At times such as these it’s important to entrustyour important decisions to experts. The
Pike+Bambridge Private Client Concierge teamspecialise in helping professionals save time andhassle when it comes to the purchase of their newcars.
For further information please contact:John Brebner, Business DevelopmentDirector at Pike+Bambridgewww.pikeandbambridge.co.uk
Article supplied by Pike + Bambridge
8.
Accidents involving contractors (includingfatalities) are not uncommon and subsequentinvestigations have identified the joint legal dutiesof the contractor and the business engaging themhad not been fully understood by both parties.
Contractors are generally engaged to carry outactivities which you are not able to, or chose notto, deliver yourselves. In doing so there is acommon misconception that while the risksarising from that activity have been transferred tothe contractor, sole responsibility for the activityhave transferred also. This is simply not the case.
In 2015 an electrical contractor was fined £20,000following an incident in which two employees
suffered severe electrical burns after acomponent which they were replacing on a clientsite came into contact with a live conductor. Inthis case the court not only punished thecontractor but also fined the client £24,000 forfailing to effectively manage their contractor.
How then do you ensure that their legal duties tomanage contractors are being effectively met?
Before any works start you must clearly define theactivity to be delivered, identify the hazards andassess the risks arising from the activity andconsider the measures required to control theserisks. But do you actually understand the activityand the risks arising from it?
How effectively areyou managing yourcontractors?
9.
Selecting a competent contractor to undertakethe activity is of vital importance.
Competency may be defined as having sufficientknowledge of, training in and experience of theplanned activity. Again, if you do not fullyunderstand or appreciate the risks involved in theactivity how would you know if the contractor youhave selected is competent? Are you sufficientlycompetent to make an informed decision onwhether to use a particular contractor or not?
If the answer to these questions is ‘no’, thenspecialist advice should be sought to assist in thedecision making process. A subsequent review ofthe contractors submitted evidence to undertakethe activity should also be considered.
This evidence of contractor competency could bechecking:• Are they a member of an accredited scheme which has assessed how they manage health and safety?• Have they provided specific risk assessments and method statements relevant to the activity they have been asked to deliver? • Are their staff sufficiently trained to safely carry out the activity?
When the contractor has been selected, the twoparties must agree the ‘rules of engagement’ suchas, the site rules or for example how accidents willbe reported.
Once the activity commences you should monitorthe performance and conduct of the contractor toensure safety precautions as agreed are beingobserved.
On completion of the activity a review of how itwas delivered will help in deciding whether thecontractor would be used again, or to determineif all applied controls were adequate, or if furthermeasures are required when undertaking similarfuture activities.
This may seem like a lot of work but given thepotential for legal action should things go wrongwhen engaging contractors, can you afford not toapply a sufficient degree of due diligence?
If you would like to discuss this topic in more detail please contact the TL Dallas Risk Management team by [email protected]
10.
The whole of the TL Dallas team continually striveto go above and beyond customers expectationsto deliver the very best service they can. They arealso continually developing by achievingqualifications to improve knowledge and skills.
Gareth James from our Belfast team is noexception. Joining his father, Stephen James(who has had a long and distinguished career inthe industry), Gareth has completed his CharteredInsurance Institute Certificate and Diploma withintwo years - quite an achievement when youconsider he only joined the insurance industry atthe start of 2016. He is now set on achievingAssociateship.
TL Dallas opened the Belfast office in January2016, introducing the TL Dallas values to theNorthern Ireland market. Since then the business
has gone from strength to strength and the Belfastteam is well qualified to meet the modern dayneeds of clients in a customer focused manner.
From their base on Malone Road, they provideinsurance and risk management solutions acrossthe Province to a broad range of Commercial and Personal clients. The team has access tospecialist and bespoke products, in particular forChurches, Charities, Community Organisationsand Jewellers.
For more information, contact the Belfastoffice on 02890 380980.
Branch Spotlight
Belfast
11.
Whilst never at the top of anyone’s ‘to do’ list, it isimportant to remember any new presents youmay have given or received, that are now withinyour home, are added to your insurance policy tobe adequately protected.
New items - particularly jewellery, watches andworks of art - should be notified to your broker.Some policies provide a contingency cover fornewly acquired valuables, although it is importantto remember that this tends to be limited to apercentage of the existing ‘specified’ sum insuredfor that category of valuable. Typically, this is 25%
with a requirement that the new items arenotified to your insurer within 60 days.
It is also important to review your overall ‘generalcontents’ sum insured after the festive period to ensure that this remains adequate to reflectnew acquisitions such as clothing, electricalequipment, furniture and so on. Remember – anyitems bought in the sales should be insured forthe full replacement value!
If you would like more information pleaseemail [email protected]
Insuring Gifts and Purchases
12.
In the Winter months, the maintenance andprotection of buildings are put to the test. Weoffer some practical advice for a couple of themost common issues.
Keeping Pathways Clear
You have a duty of care to ensure that any visitorsare safe; this is particularly relevant over theWinter period.
Unfortunately, slips and trips can happen,particularly when there is ice and snow on theground.
You should take actions that are ‘reasonable inthe circumstances’.
This can include ensuring that entry and exitroutes are kept free of anything which may causea person to slip and taking preventativemeasures, such as clearing and gritting paths.It is not necessary to clear every available pathimmediately, as long as there is one safe routeavailable to access the building. The longer thesnow and ice remains on the ground, the greaterthe risk of an accident occurring.
Protecting Water Pipes
• Ensure your pipes are in good condition and your heating system works properly and efficiently • Have the boiler and heating system serviced on a regular basis• Familiarise yourself with the location of the stopcock
If you discover a frozen pipe DO NOT WAIT! Turnoff the water supply and slowly allow the pipe tothaw.
Should you discover a burst pipe, turn off thewater supply and seek to catch any excess waterin a suitable container and then call a plumber.Do not use electrics if you believe they have beenaffected, they should be checked over by anelectrician.
For more information about protecting yourbuildings during the Winter months, pleasespeak to your local TL Dallas branch.
Helping you throughWinter - hints andtips for buildings
13.
Nothing is more important than our health.
babylon is the UK's leading digital healthcarecompany, on a mission to place accessible andaffordable healthcare into the hands of everyoneon earth. They are disrupting the healthcare industryby delivering primary healthcare to everyone withthe assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Launched in 2014, the service now covers over 1.2million people globally, with local servicesoperating in the UK, Europe and Africa.
Through the babylon app, users are able to:• book face-to-face video consultations via smartphone or desktop• check symptoms quickly and easily• receive fast and safe health information wherever they are• monitor overall health indicators (including pulse, stress, blood pressure)
In the UK, the service is available 24 hours a day,7 days a week, 365 days a year.
“The majority of digital healthcare companiessimply connect people to doctors through a mobilephone, but developments in technology mean wecan now achieve a great deal more, this is the areawe are focusing on. Our next generation app willharness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) andMachine Learning (ML) to not only prevent ill health,but also predict it and intervene when necessary.”Dr. Ali Parsa, Founder and CEO of babylon.
babylon’s unique advantage lies in an AI platformdeveloped by a team of doctors, engineers and
scientists. Combined with data gathered on apopulation’s health, the AI platform is an integralpart of babylon’s delivery of high-qualityhealthcare information to a global population,helping babylon to achieve their mission. Whencombined with broader advances in medicineand technology, babylon is uniquely positionedat the forefront of health innovation.
To further support their stated mission, babylonare joining forces with partners across the worldto provide their employees, customers, clientsand members easy access to virtual and physicalmedical services with an award-winning experience.
Enrich your employee benefits programme byputting trusted doctors, expert advice and healthmonitoring tools at the fingertips of your entireworkforce. GP appointments are available 24/7,whether they are at the office, working from homeor on a business trip.
Speak to babylon’s Employee Health & Wellbeingexpert, Zoe Puckering, to see how they can keepyour workforce happy and healthy. Enquire withthe promotional code TL DALLAS, to receive anexclusive offer for your business.
E: [email protected]: +44 (0)7557789633 babylonhealth.com
Article supplied by babylon
Client Insight
babylon
14.
Free ALPS Road Rescue AppDid you know… As a TL Dallas private insurance client you canreceive a free ALPS road rescue app if you havepurchased car breakdown insurance.
The free ALPS road rescue app, which is availablefor both iPhone and android smartphones,provides a fully integrated approach combiningroad rescue assistance with the ability to captureservice and maintenance requirementsthroughout the life of the vehicle.
Features include:My CarBy entering the car registration and mileage thedriver has a suite of vehicle information at theirfingertips such as the vehicle’s MOT and tax duedate, MOT advisory information and serviceschedule details. The user can even purchasetheir road tax straight from the app.
My Journey & Driving For each completed journey, the driver is given ascore based on speeding, acceleration, breakingand cornering results. This information is used tobuild a driving profile which can contribute toimproved safety. The data is used as a driverreward system. The latest live traffic updates arealso available.
Roadside Assistance - SOS Button The app provides a simple and convenient way toaccess help by using GPS tracking. By simplypressing a button the app automatically connectsyou to the Road Rescue assistance centre and
with the vehicle locator map, you can easilyexplain your exact location.
For existing breakdown assistance policyholders,the link to the free app will be included with your renewal documentation but if youwould like details now please [email protected] or call one ofthe team on 01274 465500. If you do not haveroadside assistance cover and would like tofind out more please email or call as above.
15.
1. What is your role at TL Dallas?
My role at TL Dallas is Group Broking Manager. I have responsibility for managing andmaintaining (sometimes troubleshooting) ourInsurer relationships.
I also have responsibility for leading the Group’sConstruction & Demolition Sector Work, whichmeans I often support colleagues and their clientsaround the country.
2. How did you get into working in insurance?
I decided a uni course in “Industrial Measurementand Control Engineering” was even more boringthan Insurance and joined Legal & General as anunderwriter.
3. What part of your role do you find mostrewarding?
Educating clients as part of the process. Not allpolicies are created equal and seeing prospectiveclients faces when you explain the inevitablefailings of the policy they already have and whatcover is actually available (with the right advicefrom us) is always good.
4. What motivates you outside work.
What drives me or who do I drive? I secretly aspireto be a chauffeur, so the opportunity to ferry mychildren between events at the weekend is ablessing. I’m a Manchester United fan, from afamily of United fans, so you’ll understand I can
have more fun watching the children play footballat obscure grounds around Cambridgeshire andEssex.
5. Name a person that inspires you.
MC Escher – he always had great perspective.
Staff Spotlight
Mike Mitchell
16.