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Haggie Dev

Seventeen Group purchase Torbay Insurance Services

Seventeen Group purchase Torbay Insurance Services 1920 1280 James Hallam

Seventeen Group has completed the purchase of Torbay Insurance Services at the end of April. TIS handles £1.4M GWP and is led by John Stott out of offices in Torquay.

Paul Anscombe, CEO of Seventeen Group, comments:

“We are delighted to welcome John and his team on board with Seventeen Group. TIS is not only an excellent local broker in the Torbay area but also complements our South West presence. Our broking subsidiary James Hallam now has offices in Plymouth, Penzance and Torquay through which we can offer a number of our specialist products and services relevant to the South West region including Hospitality, Events, Fish Processors and Marine/Marine Trades”.

The business will continue to operate out of its existing Torquay offices and trade under the TIS brand.

For more information contact Jackie Knight, Head of Marketing and Media Tel 07824 486319
Email Jackie.knight@seventeengroup.co.uk

ReBuild Cost Assessment

ReBuild Cost Assessment 1920 1280 James Hallam
Don’t fall victim to underinsurance, we can help

We’ve all seen the rise in building costs reported in the press, with building materials and labour at an all time high, but have you considered the effect this could have on your buildings insurance? How can you make sure you don’t suffer the consequences of underinsurance?  The only reliable way to do this is use a ‘Regulated by RICS’ property professional.

James Hallam can help

We are working with RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, the UK’s affordable and professional provider of buildings insurance valuations. They will calculate how much your building would cost to completely rebuild without even visiting your property.

They can produce a reliable and perhaps more importantly, an insurance industry trusted assessment of your building’s rebuild cost. We are pleased to offer the discounted price of £160 per property to all James Hallam customers.

To take advantage of this offer contact your James Hallam client manager or call 0330 024 0755.

Put your buildings insurance right by arranging a Rebuild Cost Assessment today.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

James Hallam Limited will introduce customers to RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com who provide a rebuilding cost valuation service. This service is not regulated by the FCA and therefore does not benefit from the protection offered by FOS or the FSCS.

This service does not apply to Grade 1 and Grade A properties. Grade 2 properties can be valued however we would recommend an on-site survey as certain materials or characteristics of a property may not be evident digitally.

Don’t fall victim to underinsurance. We can help.

Don’t fall victim to underinsurance. We can help. 1920 1280 James Hallam
We’ve all seen the rise in building costs reported in the press, with building materials and labour at an all time high, but have you considered the effect this could have on your buildings insurance?

79%

Underinsured
79% of the UK properties are underinsured. This can severly reduce the amount paid out following a property damage claim.

14%

Overinsured
14% of UK properties are overinsured. If this is you, you are paying more than you need to for your insurance.

How can you make sure you don’t suffer the consequences of underinsurance?

The only reliable way to do this is use a ‘Regulated by RICS’ property professional. James Hallam can help

We are working with RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, the UK’s affordable and professional provider of buildings insurance valuations. They will calculate how much your building would cost to completely rebuild without even visiting your property.

They can produce a reliable and perhaps more importantly, an insurance industry trusted assessment of your building’s rebuild cost.

We are pleased to offer the discounted price of £160 per property to all James Hallam customers.

To take advantage of this offer contact your James Hallam client manager or call 0330 024 0755

Put your buildings insurance right by arranging a Rebuild Cost Assessment today.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
James Hallam Limited will introduce customers to RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com who provide a rebuilding cost valuation service. This service is not regulated by the FCA and therefore does not benefit from the protection offered by FOS or the FSCS.

This service does not apply to Grade 1 and Grade A properties. Grade 2 properties can be valued however we would recommend an on-site survey as certain materials or characteristics of a property may not be evident digitally.

Preparing your holiday home for the high season – your contents checklist

Preparing your holiday home for the high season – your contents checklist 1920 1280 James Hallam

With another busy season ahead, if you have a holiday home – in the UK or abroad – that you let out to guests, it’s a good idea to make sure you’ve taken stock of all your contents so that you can make sure nothing goes missing and that you can keep an eye on the condition of your furniture and other items over the course of the year. It will also help you to make sure you have the right levels of contents insurance in place.

Why create a contents check list for your holiday home?

If you regularly let out your holiday home, your contents are likely to get a lot more use, and therefore wear and tear. With a checklist, you can make notes on the condition of your contents at regular intervals, meaning you can keep track of damage deposits and make sure your guests are more careful with your things.

Your checklist is also a great way of showing your holiday homes extra features and benefits to your guests – even if that’s just as an aide memoire for you to use when you are marketing your property.

What to include on your holiday home contents checklist

As well as listing each of your contents, it’s a great idea to include some notes on each of the items, including any features and existing damage. You could include the cost or worth of each item on your personal copy. Photographs are also a great addition, especially if you need to make an insurance claim.

Your checklist will be easier to manage if you separate it into zones – living, sleeping, kitchen, bathroom and outdoor. Remember to include the smaller items, as well as larger and more expensive items, as well as fire alarms, extinguishers, hose pipes outside, etc.

How often should you check the list?

It’s probably not feasible to run through your checklist between every let, but it’s a good idea to schedule in a full inspection every quarter, or at least every six months.

Hygiene is top of the agenda for holiday lets, hostels, hotels and any other accommodation that checks guests in and out regularly. It always has been. But now, more than ever your customers will be looking for good hygiene measures to be in place.

If you’re looking for insurance options for your holiday home, or if you’re looking to buy a property abroad and want to check what cover is available, contact our Private Clients team on 020 7977 7846 or PCL@jameshallam.co.uk.

Newest addition to our Appointed Representative Partnership Programme

Newest addition to our Appointed Representative Partnership Programme 1920 1280 James Hallam

James Hallam welcomes Trelawney Insurance Solutions to their Appointed Representative Partnership Programme

James Hallam Limited (the insurance broking arm of Seventeen Group) are delighted to announce Trelawney Insurance Solutions (“TIS”) as the latest addition to their Appointed Representative Partnership Programme. TIS will continue to provide bespoke solutions to a variety of clients in a number of business sectors from across the South West and beyond, accessing a wide range of insurance companies and Managing General Agencies as well as specialist insurance products via Lloyds of London.

TIS were formed in 2013 and have experienced substantial growth through the provision of excellent, efficient service and sound advice to contented clients. Commenting on TIS’s new direction, Managing Director, Richard Stevens, said ” We are delighted to be in Partnership with James Hallam, one of the UK’s leading independent Insurance brokers, as we know that they share our belief that insurance is not a service for which ‘one size fits all’ and who see the value of offering a personalised and professional service.”

Paul Anscombe, Seventeen Group CEO, said “We are really delighted to welcome Richard and Trelawney Insurance Solutions on board as part of our expanding Partnership Programme. It was very clear from our earliest discussions with Richard that we are very closely aligned culturally and share an absolute focus on client service. Like all our Partners, TIS will undoubtedly add value to the broader Group and I know that in return we can support them in achieving their plans and aspirations.”

Protecting your Workforce

Protecting your Workforce 1920 1280 James Hallam

It has been widely reported that staff are fleeing the hospitality industry, following the uncertainty of Covid, Brexit and long working hours. Protecting your staff will always have been a priority, but now holding on to a good loyal team is more important than ever.

Everyone has the right to feel safe in their working environment, but sometimes when tempers are running high or customers are experiencing longer than intended wait times, it can be your team that bear the brunt of their anger.

The James Hallam team have been looking at ways to protect your team’s personal safety in the workplace.

Working Environment

It is important you are committed to creating and maintaining an environment within your hospitality business, that is healthy and where your employees are shown respect and dignity by others.

Where it is expected that all staff, guests, visitors, contractors and any other persons who are on your premises behave in a respectable manner.

You could display a poster for staff and customers making it clear what behaviour is not tolerated. You could include the following:

  • Bullying of any kind
  • Violence of any kind in the workplace
  • Abusive or aggressive behaviour of any kind
  • Harassment, especially of a sexual nature

If any of this behaviour is brought to your attention, take immediate action to investigate and deal with the relevant parties. If employees are found to be guilty of any wrong doing they should be disciplined. If other parties are at fault then the appropriate actions must be followed, this may involve criminal proceedings being brought against an individual.

Violent or Abusive Customers

Whilst we’re sure on the whole your customers are friendly and respectful, it is wise to offer some ‘best practice’ guidance should an incident occur.

Occasionally customers may become embroiled in altercations with other customers or aggressive to staff especially at busy times or when alcohol is involved.

You could ask your employees to look for the potential triggers that could lead to a violent situation:

  • Raised voices, shouting, or use of swearing and offensive language
  • Racial slurs or comments said with the intention of causing offense to others
  • Aggressive gesturing, pushing, to others
  • Veiled or open threats to others

If these potential triggers are identified then there are a number of steps that can be taken with the intention of preventing an actual act of violence or physical abuse occurring.

Firstly, staff should always think of their own personal safety and never try and deal with the situation alone, they should always call for assistance.

  • Advise another member of staff at the earliest opportunity if they sense that there is potential for an incident to occur
  • Talk to the relevant parties and remind them that such behaviour will not be tolerated – advise them not to raise their voice as this may aggravate the situation
  • Instruct that the Police will be contacted if the issues are not addressed

Actual acts of violence and physical abuse are thankfully very rare indeed but it is wise to have procedures in place to make your staff feel protected and safe.

As well as protecting your staff, protecting your business premises, income and liabilities is also key. For more details about insurance for your hospitality business speak to our Hospitality Division today on 020 7977 7856.

Batten down the hatches – severe weather warning

Batten down the hatches – severe weather warning 1920 1280 James Hallam

There’s a storm brewing – two in fact! With Storms Dudley and Eunice heading our way and Met Office severe weather warnings flooding the news, we’re prepared for a busy week at the office. Wind and rain can be perilous to both homes and vehicles, so we wanted to share with you a handy guide to staying safe in the storm. It’s time to batten down the hatches.

View Covea Insurance’s Storm Safety guide here.

The law on fire alarms in Scottish homes has changed – home owner or landlord this is what you need to know…

The law on fire alarms in Scottish homes has changed – home owner or landlord this is what you need to know… 1920 1280 James Hallam

Every home in Scotland must have interlinked fire alarms. Interlinked means if one goes off, they all go off, so you will always hear an alarm wherever you are in your home.

The new law has come about because of the Grenfell fire in London in 2017, and it applies to all Scottish homes.

It is the property owner’s responsibility for meeting the new standard, with any costs to be met by the home owner or landlord, what you need will depend on what you currently have in place and the alarms you choose to install.

What each home needs

Every home must have:

  • one smoke alarm in the living room or the room you use most
  • one smoke alarm in every hallway or landing
  • one heat alarm in the kitchen

All smoke and heat alarms should be mounted on the ceiling and be interlinked.

If you have a carbon-fuelled appliance – like a  boiler, fire, heater or flue – in any room, you must also have a carbon monoxide detector in that room, but this does not need to be linked to the fire alarms

Help with costs

Older and disabled homeowners on low incomes can get help with costs.

If you are a private tenant, your landlord is responsible.

If you are a council or housing association tenant, work is ongoing to make sure your home meets the new standards.

Two types of alarms

You can use either sealed battery alarms or mains-wired alarms.

Both types of alarm are interlinked by radio frequency and do not need WiFi.

What the alarms must have

If you use battery alarms, they must be sealed tamper-proof units and have long-life lithium batteries, which can be up to 10 years. You may be able to fit these types of alarms yourself and they do not need an electrician.

Mains-wired alarms are cheaper but if you use them, they must be fitted by a qualified electrician and must be replaced every 10 years. You may also need to redecorate after fitting them.

If you also need a carbon monoxide alarm and it is battery-operated, it must have a sealed battery for the duration of its lifespan.

You can find full details and further guidance here.

Source: GOV.SCOT
Photo source: GOV.SCOT

Changes to the Highway Code

Changes to the Highway Code 1920 1280 James Hallam

The Department for Transport have announced a raft of changes to the Highway Code, including the introduction of the ‘Dutch Reach’ and the Hierarchy of Road Users, here’s what you need to know…

The changes are designed to enhance safety for all road-users, particularly those most vulnerable, as the Government continues the Build Back Safer campaign.

The changes include 33 rule amendments which are summarised here with the full official Government response available to be viewed here.

In addition to the updated rules there are three further new rules introducing a new hierarchy of road-users and greater priority for pedestrians and cyclists.

Rule H1 introduces a hierarchy of road-users, the purpose of which is that those ‘road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to others’ according to the Department for Transport (DFT). The scale ranks road users from most vulnerable upwards to those who pose most harm – pedestrians, cyclist, horse riders, motorcyclists, cars, vans, large vehicles/HGV’s.

The aim of the hierarchy is to encourage a culture of safety and responsibility, it is not intended to give vulnerable road users priority in all circumstances and all road users do remain responsible for their own safety when using the road.

Rule H2 introduces a greater priority for pedestrians at junctions where the onus will be on drivers to look out for and respond to the actions of the pedestrian. Rule H2 imposes an obligation on drivers and riders:

  • At a road junction you should give way to pedestrians who are crossing or waiting to cross a road you are turning into or from which you are turning
  • You must give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing
  • You must give way to cyclists and pedestrians on a parallel crossing
  • You should give way to pedestrians if they are waiting to cross on their respective crossings
  • Cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared cycle/pedestrian tracks
  • Only pedestrians and wheelchair/mobility scooters should use a pavement

This rule will impact drivers and riders, particularly where there is an obligation, rather than merely advice or guidance, on the actions that must be taken in certain circumstances. As an example, under Rule H2, if a pedestrian is standing on a pavement waiting to cross at a crossing, drivers and riders should give priority to the pedestrian.

Rule H3 is in respect of protecting and prioritising cyclists at junctions. Cyclists will now be given right of way when passing on the inside of vehicles turning left. H3 will advise drivers to not cut across cyclists who are continuing straight ahead when the driver intends to turn into or out of a junction or when changing lanes. Drivers must also not turn at a junction if it would cause a cyclist to swerve or stop and safe distance should be maintained from cyclists at junctions, roundabouts or when cyclists are passing slow moving or stationary traffic.

The update to the Highway Code also encouraged motorists to adopt the so-called ‘Dutch Reach’, opening the door next to them with the opposite hand so they look over their shoulder, meaning they’re less likely to injure passing cyclists and pedestrians.

Cyclists will also receive guidance to ride in the centre of a lane on quieter roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions in order to make themselves as clearly visible as possible. Cyclists will be reminded they can ride two abreast, as has always been the case, which can be safer in large groups or with children but must be aware of drivers behind them and allow them to overtake if it is safe to do so.

As part of their work to improve road safety even further, the Department for Transport also recently announced plans to change the laws in relation to the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving.

The law in this area is expected to be tightened further later this year, making virtually any use of the devices behind the wheel illegal, with those caught breaking the law potentially facing 6 penalty points and a £200 fine.

James Hallam welcome NW Risk Solutions to Partnership Programme

James Hallam welcome NW Risk Solutions to Partnership Programme 1920 1280 James Hallam

NW Risk Solutions (“NWRS”) announces the launch of its new insurance broking business to providing bespoke solutions to a variety of clients, including : large AIM Listed firms, boutique businesses and private clients. NWRS will be able to access specialist insurance products via Lloyds
of London, a plethora of insurance companies and Managing General Agencies.

Commenting on NWRS’s emergence, Managing Director, Peter Stevenson, said “For many years I have felt that there has been a void in tailor made insurance policies for businesses with particular requirements and we want to move away from the ‘one size fits all’ approach. We are delighted to be in Partnership with James Hallam one of the UK’s leading independent Lloyds brokers that act internationally with global specialists.

Peter will be joined by Colin Davison who was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of Abbey Protection plc, an AIM listed company which was sold to Markel, a Fortune 500 insurance company in 2014. Peter commented on Colin’s appointment “it will be great working alongside Colin again
and I look forward to us building NWRS into a substantial company with an unerring approach to providing our customers with an absolutely first class service”.

Paul Anscombe, Seventeen Group CEO, said: “We are really excited to welcome Peter, Colin and the NW Risk Solutions team on board as part of our expanding Partnership Programme. We see huge opportunity in the North West, particularly for the unique offering the NWRS team are developing and very much look forward to working together. Like all our Partners, they will undoubtedly add tremendous value to the Seventeen Group and I know that in return we can support them in achieving their growth plans”

Paul Anscombe also thanked Roy Standish Director of Partnerships for overseeing the on-boarding of NW Risk Solutions. “Roy has a huge amount of market experience and this was crucial to help finalise this deal. All of our Partners value the support of Roy and his team throughout their relationship with James Hallam and very much see him as part of their respective team”.

Peter and Colin will be joined by a team of eminent businessmen including Sir James Vernon, from the world of property, finance and commerce who have already introduced highly significant customers and opportunities to NWRS.”