Tag Archives: insurance

Kitsune Insurance Added To Our Panel

We are pleased to announce that Kitsune Associates Ltd has been added to our closely vetted panel of motor insurance providers. The business has come a long way since it was established as recently as 2016 and forms part of the Brightside Group.

Kitsune Associates, by pure coincidence, is located close to our offices and has a team of individuals who have many years’ experience in the manufacturing and underwriting of insurance products for the motor sector. It is currently focused on car and commercial vehicle products with the aim of producing products that are priced competitively and offer value to the customer

In adding Kitsune Associates to our panel, we believe this will prove to be of benefit to many of our customers looking to insure their motor vehicles as the more options that we have in terms of insurance providers the better for our valued clients.

Kitsune Managing Director Trevor Bowers said “We know and have worked with the team at AIB previously and have always been impressed with the work they do in the Non-standard motor market. We look forward to working closely with the team and joining their panel of carefully selected insurers.”

AIB Branch Manager Kirby De-Gray Birch commented: “We were extremely pleased with the quality of product and professional service we saw from the team at Kitsune Associates. This wasn’t a surprise as our management team have known Trevor (Kitsune Managing Director Trevor Bowers pictured) both on a professional and personal level for many years and even locked horns on the cricket field regularly in the 90’s.”

“They are passionate about providing a high-quality service at a competitive price and together with Bruce (Kitsune Underwriting and Pricing Director Bruce Coxwell), they have assembled an exciting team. Whilst it is early days in our partnership, we are sure that we have made the right decision in adding them to our panel. We look forward to a long and successful business relationship with them for the benefit of all concerned including, of course, our valued customers”.

To find out more about Kitsune read here: https://www.brightsideinsurance.co.uk/kitsuneassociates/

AIB Joins BIBA – The Interview Everyone Wanted

Insurance Business recently interviewed our Risk and Compliance Director, Karen Manley, read the full interview below:

Can you tell me a little bit about your company?

AIB has an interesting story since its inception in 1993. Originally it was created by the BHPA (British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association) to provide travel, third party damage and equipment cover for its members whilst flying abroad whether it be a hang glider, sky diver or paragliding pilot. At the time the BHPA were struggling to find an insurance provider that understood its members unusual insurance requirements, and with an active pilot involved in the insurance industry Airsports Insurance Bureau was created as a limited company.

The BHPA sold the business in 2004, largely due to the increased compliance and regulatory requirements to insurance specialists and it has evolved into a niche personal lines and high net worth specialist with links to various enthusiast clubs, garages and financial institutions. We also have a number of commercial insurance brokers who refer their personal lines business to us but still have strong links to the BHPA providing specialist airsports for members today.

Can you outline how the decision to join BIBA came about and how long have you been thinking about joining BIBA?

The company I worked for previously was a member of BIBA and I was a committee member of SE region compliance forum. I found it useful to maintain and share best practises and I found the regulatory benefits and networking particularly useful.

Joining BIBA is part of AIB’s ongoing commitment to supporting good practice and an important step in our passion to promote the interests our clients in the provision of good sales advice.

As BIBA maintains a dialogue with the government, the FCA, and the ABI, specifically in their role acting as the voice of the insurance industry in the UK. Our business will gain a head start on learning about new legislative proposals, policy developments, market changes and developing trends.

Thus, ensuring that AIB can react with marketing strategies and business plans in a timely manner assuring our clients gain the benefit of the highest quality of advice and receive genuinely positive outcomes for their insurance needs.

What do you consider the key opportunities associated with your BIBA membership?

BIBA works closely with the FCA to help ensure a fair, equitable and workable regulatory regime for the broking industry, thereby keeping their members updated on matters affecting the industry, including regulation, legal issues, through their website, email alerts, conferences, workshops, seminars and subject specific working groups and panels.

BIBA is an excellent benchmark to understand the current thinking within the insurance market.

The regulatory benefits, and the technical support through the templates played a part. As did backing the voice of the industry. Networking with likeminded individuals and companies to achieve best practise and common goals, especially with the uncertainty and ramifications of Brexit.

Are there any particular BIBA events that you are looking forward to?

Lots! Although a small company we intend to be active members of BIBA and I am looking to attend the compliance forums to understand current topics, but I have historically found the Webinars particularly useful.

Do you feel that such memberships are necessary for brokers in the current climate?

It’s not necessary but it’s important that we as broker support the insurance market. Ultimately Biba are the voice of the industry and when debating points with the FCA on various consultation papers surely it makes sense to stand shoulder to shoulder with our industry colleagues, especially in these challenging times?

What are your plans for development in 2020 and beyond?

We are very lucky. We are well supported by some of the UK’s leading insurers who believe in what we do. We also enjoy a management team that want to grow aggressively for the long term, looking after our insurer partners and clients along the way. We expect another year of significant growth especially in the non-standard motor market and high net worth arena, where buying on-line is more challenging but training and developing the team, with as many resources, including Biba, at our disposal is key to our success.

ABI Encourages Homeowners To Make Sure Properties Are In Good State Of Repair

With winter quickly approaching, the Association Of British Insurers (ABI) is recommending that both owners of homes and businesses make sure that there properties are in a good state of repair. This should help reduce the number of claims being made by people on their buildings and contents insurance policies here in the UK.

Apparently, on a daily basis, insurance companies pay out in the region of £14.3 million to owners of homes and businesses to meet claims from people in respect of replacing damaged content and carry out repairs due to adverse weather conditions resulting in properties suffering burst pipes and floods.

You may find the following suggestions made by the ABI of benefit to help ensure that your property is better able to cope with the ravages of winter: –

Arrange for your roof on your home or business premises to be checked to make sure that it is watertight and that there are definitely no loose or missing roof tiles. This sort of job is best left to a professional for safety reasons.
Find out where the stopcock is in the property and that it is working correctly.
Make sure that the gutters are free of debris and that they are not overflowing due to their being a blockage.
Check that the smoke alarm is working correctly.
Make sure that there are no visible damp patches in your property such as damage to a ceiling.
Make sure that water tanks in the loft and pipes are insulated.

Whilst it is not a legal requirement to have building and contents insurance in place covering your home and/or business premises as well as the contents and plant/machinery in them, it is a sensible course of action so that you can claim on such a policy when necessary.

In this respect, why not get in touch with a member of our team who has many years experience in arranging suitable, affordable cover who will be pleased to discuss your requirements and arrange for you to receive a competitive quotation without any obligation.

Fatalities Caused By Drink Driving Increase

A Department for Transport publication produced on the 28^th August 2019 has revealed that the number of deaths caused by drink driving in 2017 in Great Britain increased when compared with the previous year. Needless to say, we are sure that our readers will agree this is concerning.

Apparently, the central estimate of the number of people killed when either at least one driver or a rider was above the drink drive limit in 2017 was 250. In 2016 the figure was 230 so that is an increase of almost 9% – a worrying increase.

It is estimated that 8,600 people were either injured or killed in Great Britain in 2017 in road traffic accidents due to at least one driver or rider being above the drink drive limit. In 2016 the figure was 9,040 so that is a drop of 5%. Back in 1979 there were in the region of 19,470 road traffic accidents caused by drink driving.

In 2017, Wales had the biggest percentage of casualties due to road traffic accidents caused by drink driving at 5.3%. In England it was 5.1% and in Scotland it was 4.3%.

On a regional basis in England in 2017, the percentage of casualties due to road traffic accidents caused by drink driving was: –

East Midlands 2%
East 8%
South West 8%
North East 8%
South East 7%
West Midlands 3%
North West 8%
Yorkshire & Humberside 5%
London 6%

When you look at the gender of drivers or riders involved in drink driving accidents in 2017 where they were above the legal drink drive limit, male drivers and riders make up for 79% and females account for 21%.

The penalty for someone being convicted of a drink driving offence can vary depending upon a number of factors that may include the likes of points on a driving license, being banned from driving for a period of time, a fine and imprisonment. It may also result in having to pay more for motor insurance as there are fewer insurance companies who will consider providing cover for someone who has a drink driving offence.

Army Parachutist Survives 5,000 Foot Jump That Goes Wrong

Those of you who enjoy the thrill of parachuting will be aware of the dangers and that on rare occasions things can go wrong. Well, that would appear what happened to an Army Parachute Display team member recently here in the UK.

The parachutist, who has not been named, was parachuting over Eastbourne in East Sussex and it was intended that those taking part would land in the sea. Unfortunately, this particular parachutist seemed to get into difficulty whilst participating in a 5,000 foot jump and ended up descending to dry land. Miraculously, the person involved is said to have only suffered a few minor grazes. Apparently, the St Johns Ambulance Service and the police provided assistance.

Let’s hope that the person involved makes a full recovery and is soon taking to the skies again.

Coincidentally, it has also been reported that a female skydiver near Quebec, Canada who is 30 years of age has been involved in a skydiving accident that also involved a jump from a similar height. Apparently, not only the main parachute but also the reserve one failed to open and she plunged to the ground landing in trees. Fortunately, she has survived but has a number of broken bones that will probably not come as a surprise to our readers. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have many years experience in arranging specialist cover for a number of airborne sports including the likes of skydiving and parachuting. If you are looking to take up the sport or your existing cover is shortly due to be renewed then why not get in touch with us on 02380 268 351. One of our experienced members of staff will be pleased to discuss your insurance requirements in detail and provide a bespoke competitive quotation for your consideration without any obligation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Significant Increase In Accident Claims During School Term

It is no secret that the roads are much quieter during rush hours when children are on school holiday and the time taken to get to work tends to drop. Some interesting research has been carried out by Admiral Car Insurance relating to the number of car accidents that take place in school term time when compared to the school holidays.

In the last five years, the number of claims submitted for accidents taking place between the hours of 8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm increased by an average of 32% when children were at school compared to when they were on their summer holiday.

We are sure that you will agree the above is a large increase and is somewhat concerning.

It is interesting that the research by Admiral Car Insurance revealed that during the school rush hour in the morning motorists were most likely to collide with a third party vehicle by going into the back of them whilst in the afternoon a motorist was most likely to have their car hit whilst left unattended or parked.

The research found that 67% of motorists felt it was not as stressful commuting to work when school children were on holiday compared to when children were back at school.

According to the report, when a parent has to drop off a child at school or the nursery on the way to work, the distance travelled rises from 20 miles to 36 miles and the time taken goes up from 32 minutes to 54 minutes.

There is no doubt that driving a car is not as stressful during the school holidays when compared with driving in term time with 66% of motorists believing this to be the case.

It is the opinion of 71% of motorists that far too many parents take their children to school using a car. There are other potential modes of transport such as train, bus, cycling or walking.

A parent can become distracted by their children when driving them to school so it is important that they concentrate on the road to reduce the possibility of being involved in a road traffic accident.

If your car insurance policy is shortly due for renewal or you are looking to arrange cover for the first time then why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and have a chat with one of our friendly, knowledgeable members of staff. He or she will be happy to discuss your requirements in detail with a view to proving you with a tailor-made, competitive quotation for your perusal. You will be pleased to read that we have an extensive panel of vetted insurance companies on our panel. If you wish to go ahead with the cover then we will be able to assist in putting the policy in place as quickly as required.

Lotus Become Official Partners of Norwich City

Lotus and newly promoted Premier League football team Norwich City Football Club have today announced a new multi-year global partnership. The collaboration sees the state-of-the-art training facility renamed The Lotus Training Centre, and the all-new Academy building renamed The Lotus Academy. Lotus branding will feature on the first-team ‘walk-out’ jackets, on all Academy shirts from the Under-23s squad through to the Under-9s, and on pitch-side branding at the Carrow Road stadium.

The partnership is announced on the eve of the Canaries’ first game of the 2019-20 Premier League season against Liverpool at Anfield. The agreement sees two long-standing Norfolk brands coming together as they each enter a new and exciting phase on the global stage, and with the local community at the heart of their ambitions.

Lotus is embarking on a major global transformation. Last month it unveiled the world’s first fully electric British hypercar and most powerful production car, the Evija, which is designed, engineered and produced at Lotus’ headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk.

The launch of Evija is the first visible step in Lotus’ plan that will see the company invest significantly over the next few years, to expand its product range and become a global premium performance car brand. Lotus has been making cars at Hethel, to the south of Norwich, since 1966 and currently employs around 1,200 people in the region.

Lotus and Norwich City Football Club have released an entertaining film featuring owner Delia Smith and former player Darren Huckerby to mark the start of the partnership.

Simon Clare, Executive Director, Global Marketing, Lotus, said: “Lotus is a brand born for and out of performance and competition, so this partnership is perfect for both parties. Together Lotus and Norwich City Football Club share core values – commitment, passion, focus, hard work, a winning mindset – and the success that flows from them.

“This partnership joins two iconic Norfolk brands as they accelerate on to the global stage together. Both share a desire for innovation and, as we herald a new era together, we are incredibly excited about playing a part in the development of Norwich City Football Club and its talent. Today we are investing in that future.”

All Lotus branding reflects the company’s new corporate identity, which features a revised roundel and new typeface for the wordmark. Simon Clare explained: “We’ve looked back at the original Lotus roundel and thought about Colin Chapman’s philosophy – to simplify and add lightness. We’ve applied that to create a new roundel, taking the weight out of the lettering and adapting the spacing. We’ve also straightened the word ‘Lotus’ so it’s consistent with the Lotus wordmark.”

Ben Kensell, Chief Operating Officer at Norwich City Football Club, said: “This is a momentous deal for us. We’re so thrilled to partner with one of the most iconic and high-profile brands, not just in Norfolk, but across the UK and internationally. I’m proud that our resurgent Club is partnering with Lotus at a time when it is relaunching its brand into a new and exciting future. The synergies between our two businesses are striking, and for our Academy players to be proudly wearing a shirt that has such a well-loved logo on is really special.”

Zurich Private Clients Cover Improved

Back in 2016, we were pleased to add Zurich Insurance Group to our closely vetted panel of insurers with this including the Zurich Private Clients section catering for high net worth clients wishing to cover the likes of their luxury homes and expensive motor vehicles.

Well, we are pleased to inform our discerning clients that Zurich Private Clients cover has recently been enhanced. Below we provide details of some of the improvements that have been made: –

Home Insurance Enhancements

Home Emergency Cover totaling £1,500 has been added to the policy as standard with this covering emergencies such as water leakage requiring an approved repairer to attend 24/7.
New Acquisitions notification period has gone up from 60 days to 90 days.
Jewellery limit has gone up from £15,000 to £25,000 per item.
Sums insured for specified antiques, fine art and valuables is now index-linked on an annual basis.
Cyber Assistance cover has been added including damage to home systems due to a cyber event up to £100,000.
Antiques and fine arts limit has risen from £25,000 to £50,000 for each item.
Extended cover now includes contract works for up to the lesser of 20% of the sum insured or £1 million.

Motor Insurance Enhancements

Alternative transportation costs limit has risen from £3,000 to £5,000.
Breakdown cover is for named individuals on the motor insurance certificate as opposed to specified vehicles.

Any new customer taking out a Zurich Private Clients policy will benefit from these enhancements immediately. Existing customers with a Zurich Private Clients policy will benefit from the above enhancements immediately with the exception of cyber and home emergency cover that will be incorporated at renewal from around December 2019 onwards.

The above improvements in cover can only be of potential benefit to our high net worth clients so they are most welcome. We are pleased to inform you that, since adding Zurich Insurance Group to our panel, we have been most impressed with the service that they have provided.

Almost 3,000 UK Citizens A Week Claim On Travel Insurance For Medical Treatment Abroad

It is that time of year when people are looking forward to a much needed holiday abroad whether that is a week or two across the English Channel in France or Spain or further afield to the likes of the USA or Mexico. Unfortunately, not everyone bothers to arrange travel insurance that includes medical cover but having read the following statistics published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) we are sure you will agree it would be sensible to do so.

According to the ABI, in 2018 there were 153,000 people who claimed successfully on their travel insurance policy for overseas medical treatment. That is not far off 3,000 people a week – a significant number.

The average amount paid out per medical claim reached a record level – £1,368. That is almost twice what it was 10 years ago when the figure was £768. That equates to around £209 million.

In total, £400 million was paid out last year relating to all sorts of travel insurance claims with an average amount of around £800 per claim with this being a record.

The amount paid out in 2018 for cancellation of holidays amounted to a huge £145 million. This was made up of 167,000 successful claims with the average amount paid per claim reaching a record level of £869.

£17 million was paid out to 79,000 people who had lost money or baggage with the average amount of a claim being paid out totaling £214.

In some cases, claims can run into tens of thousands of pounds so it is important that travellers have suitable cover in place. In one case, a couple on holiday in America were seriously injured having been hit by a drunk driver and the medical bill amounted to £587,000.

So, what has happened to premiums for travel insurance in 2018? Well, you would have thought they had increased but this is not the case as the average cost of travel insurance has fallen by £38 per annum.

You will be pleased to read that, if you are shortly to embark on an overseas trip, either on your own, with your partner or your family here at AIB Insurance we have many years experience in helping arrange suitable, quality, competitive overseas travel insurance to most countries around the world. So, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable, friendly member of our team who will discuss your requirements and obtain a quotation without any obligation.

Chris Moon Joins AIB Insurance

Airsports Insurance Bureau is thrilled to announce strengthening our Eastleigh team further with the appointment of experienced insurance professional, Chris Moon.

Chris joins our busy team as one of our specialist Niche & High Net Worth Insurance Consultants adding his many years’ experience within the insurance broking industry. His previous position was at Savage and Holdsworth in Romsey where he joined after 3 successful years at Aston Scott in Alton. Prior to that he worked for over 12 years at Apex Insurance in Eastleigh (which during his tenure was purchased by Swinton Insurance).

He joins the team where he will deal with every aspect of an expanding, predominantly high net worth personal lines insurance broker, including motor, travel, home and commercial insurance.

A delighted Chris said:” This is a perfect opportunity for me to develop my career further in a fast-paced expanding broker. I’m really looking forward to getting my teeth into and growing the high net worth motor and home book.

At AIB we pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and the professional relationships we are able to build with clients and insurer partners alike. We encourage our team to reach their full potential and give them the tools and resources for a rewarding career in a satisfying but demanding environment. If you are interested in a position with us please send your CV and accompanying letter to info@www.aib-insurance.co.uk

Chris lives locally in Eastleigh with his partner of 19 years and 3 children. Most of his spare time is taken up with the family and his claim to fame is he got to meet Rodd Hull and Emu as a child!