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Sarah Clements

Fam Trips for Travel Agents: What to Look Out For
Fam Trips for Travel Agents: What to Look Out For 1000 667 James Hallam

A familiarisation trip, also known as a fam trip, allows travel agents to seek out potential new destinations and experiences for their customers while networking with other travel professionals.

In this post, we will discuss some key things you should look out for on your fam trips. We will also explore the insurance implications of fam trips, to help you and your staff stay safe and secure while making the most of the experience.

What is a Fam Trip?

A fam trip is a dedicated excursion for travel agents, usually organised by tour operators, tourist boards, hotel and resort groups, and cruise lines. Often, these groups will organise a fam trip when they have a new package or property to promote. But established destinations may also run a fam trip when they want to improve their experiences or increase awareness among travellers.

How Does a Fam Trip Work?

There are a number of different types of fam trips:

  • Hosted fam trips. This means that the tourist board, resort, hotel, or cruise line will take care of everything. They may partially fund the trip, or they may even fully fund it. Joining such a trip is often by invite only.
  • Self-funded fam trips. You will have to contribute to the costs of such a trip, but you will usually get a significant discount for travel or accommodation. If this results in more bookings in the future, a self-funded fam trip could ultimately provide a significant return on your investment.
  • Virtual fam trips. Rather than travelling in person to a destination, you will join live tours online, and take part in Q&S and other sessions remotely.

What Happens on a Fam Trip?

Most fam trips work in essentially the same way: You will be invited to personally experience the travel experience, whether in person or virtually. There might be a guided tour, or you might be free to inspect things in your own time. Throughout, there will be opportunities to ask questions, and there will likely be hosted dinners and networking events too.

The Benefits of a Fam Trip

  • Increase your portfolio and your expertise. You will be able to offer your customers a broader range of destinations and experiences. And as you will have sampled these locations yourself, you will be able to offer expert advice that could encourage more customers to book.
  • Marketing opportunities. You will be able to take lots of photos and videos which could help you create compelling blogs, email campaigns, and social media content.
  • Networking opportunities. You will meet travel operators, sales reps, suppliers, and other travel agents. Expanding your network in this way could lead to further opportunities in the long-term.
  • Opportunity to identify possible future risks. You’ll be taking the same trips as your customers, so take time to identify any risks they could face that could lead to cancellations or issues you might be able to mitigate.

What To Look Out For on a Fam Trip

Here are some tips to help you make the most of a fam trip:

  • Make sure you are sufficiently prepared. Research the area in advance, including the weather, popular local sites, and important local customs. Also make sure you bring everything you need, including appropriate clothing, notebooks, electronics, and chargers.
  • Ask lots of questions. This will show you are curious about the destination, and genuinely engaged in the experience, which may make suppliers more willing to work with you. It might help to plan your questions in advance, so that you are never floundering for anything to say.
  • Brief your staff. If you will not be taking the fam trip yourself, make sure that whichever employee or employees you send are fully briefed on what you expect to achieve from the experience.
  • Record as much as you can. Take lots of notes, photos, and videos. The more you document, the easier you will find it to create powerful content afterwards.
  • Be nice. Be as polite and courteous as possible with everyone you meet, whether they are a host, a supplier, a sales rep, or another travel agent. Be sure to formally thank your hosts afterwards too, and to follow up on any connections you make.
  • Be transparent. When talking about your experiences, whether in a blog, an email, or on social media, make it clear that you travelled to the destination at the host’s invitation. Tag or link to the hosts directly wherever possible. Your hosts will appreciate the publicity, and your customers will appreciate the transparency.

What Are The Risks of a Fam Trip?

  • Squandered opportunities. If you do not make enough of an impression, or if you do not take enough photos or gather enough information, you may struggle to generate any business as a result of your fam trip.
  • Damaged reputations. If something goes wrong on the trip – if you miss an appointment or inadvertently offend a host or another individual, for example – then it could damage your reputation in the wider travel industry. You may struggle to find further travel or networking opportunities as a result.
  • Damaged trust. If you do not properly disclose the fam trip arrangement when creating content or talking to customers, it may damage the trust they place in you, which could affect your sales.
  • Missing potential issues. There might be issues that cause certain activities or accommodation options to be impractical for your customers. It’s important to use this trip to identify potential hiccups, safety risks or accessibility issues that might impact your customers later down the line.
  • General travel risks. Finally, there are the risks associated with any business travel: Lost baggage, accident and injury, delayed flights, and so on.

Taking the time to prepare for your fam trip will mitigate most of these risks. But when it comes to the general travel risks, it is important to ensure you are fully covered for anything that might happen.

Are You Insured for Fam Trips?

Whether you make the fam trip yourself, or you send an employee or a group of employee, it is important to ensure you have appropriate cover in place should anything go wrong:

  • Employer’s liability insurance. You have a legal duty to get employer’s liability insurance to cover your staff for any accidents or injuries they sustain on the job. If you send employees on fam trips, be sure to tell your employer’s liability insurance provider. A fam trip is not considered “clerical” work, so your insurer will need to be aware that your employees may need cover for certain additional risks.
  • Travel insurance. You will also need a dedicated business travel insurance policy, which should ideally be a corporate group business travel policy. A general “off-the-shelf” holiday travel insurance policy will not provide the cover you need, as these packages will typically not cover you for any time spent working.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We have provided specialist business insurance for tour operators and travel agents for over 20 years.

We provide a one stop shop service for the travel industry, and over 700 travel agents and tour operators depend on us for dedicated business insurance services. Also, we act as the trusted insurance advisor to ABTA and AITO.

Find out how we can help you today.

Do I Need a Landlord Licence?
Do I Need a Landlord Licence? 1000 667 James Hallam

Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently caused controversy when it emerged that she had broken housing rules when renting out her family home. It seems she had failed to obtain a “selective” rental licence when renting out her London home.

This news prompted many to wonder about the specific rules for letting out property in the UK: Do you always need a landlord licence? And if not, when exactly do you need one?

What is a Landlord Licence?

A landlord licence is exactly what it sounds like: A document that gives you the legal right to let property in the UK.

The type of licence you need will depend on the type of property you are looking to let, as well as your location.

When Do I Need a Landlord Licence?

If you are letting property in Scotland or Northern Ireland, then you will need some form of licence or registration no matter what kind of property it is. In England and Wales, it all depends on what sort of property you want to let.

Types of Landlord Licences

Broadly speaking, there are three types of landlord licences:

  • Mandatory HMO Licensing
  • Additional Licensing
  • Selective Licensing

What is Mandatory HMO Licensing?

An HMO is a House in Multiple Occupation. This is a situation where unrelated tenants live in the same property, with their own private rooms, while sharing facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Since 2006, it has been a legal requirement in England and Wales to apply for an HMO Licence when letting out a property to five or more unrelated tenants. This applies to any property where these unrelated tenants form two or more households. And to get your licence, your property will have to meet all applicable HMO standards in terms of room sizes, safety measures, and so on.

Usually, an HMO licence will last for five years. But if the council has any particular concerns about your property, then your licence may be shorter. Depending on your specific location, and the specific size of your property, an HMO Licence may cost between £600 and £1,200.

What is Additional HMO Licensing?

As we mentioned above, it is a legal requirement in England and Wales to get an HMO Licence for any property let to five or more unrelated tenants who form two or more households. In some areas, local councils require you to get an HMO Licence for smaller shared houses too, where three or more unrelated tenants form more than one household in the same property.

Check your local council’s licensing laws to find out whether you will need a licence for your property, depending on its size and the number of tenants.

What is Selective Licensing for Landlords?

Some local councils designate areas where all privately rented homes require a licence. This is known as Selective Licensing, and councils usually introduce this measure to regulate the rental market in high-density neighbourhoods.

Depending on the council, a licence can cost between £400 and £900 per property. If you fail to get a licence, you may face a fine of up to £30,000. On top of this, the court may impose a Rent Repayment Order, which would require you to pay up to 12 months of rent back to your tenant.

How Do I Find Out If I Need a Landlord Licence?

As we have seen, if your property is based in Scotland or Northern Ireland, then you will likely need a licence to let any private property. In England and Wales, if you are renting out an HMO to more than five people, then you will certainly need a licence. But beyond that, it depends on your local council’s specific rules.

Head to your local council’s website, and look for their Housing or Private Renting section. Many councils have online tools where you can enter your property’s postcode, and they will instantly tell you if any Additional or Selective Licensing laws apply to your area.

If you are still in doubt, then contact your council directly.

Note that, even if you do not need a landlord licence for your property, you will still have to meet a number of legal responsibilities as a landlord.

Get the Cover You Need For Your Property

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your property.

Whether you let a single private property, or you have a portfolio of properties, we can help you get the specialist insurance you need as a landlord at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

What To Look For In Cyber Insurance Cover
What To Look For In Cyber Insurance Cover 1000 666 James Hallam

Every business in every sector should take cyber security seriously. Cyber insurance will offer essential protection during a cyberattack, while also giving you the cover you need to recover from an attack.

Be sure to read our guide to why your business needs cyber insurance.

In this post we will list some key things to look out for in a cyber insurance policy; to help you ensure you get the cover and the support you need for the cyber security risks you face.

Make Sure You Get A Dedicated Cyber Insurance Policy

First, it is important to choose a dedicated, standalone cyber insurance policy, rather than just relying on existing insurance products for cover.

The only way to ensure that you have all the cover you need is to invest in a dedicated cyber insurance policy. This is one area where you simply will not be able to get by with a standard business insurance package.

Does Standard Business Interruption Cover Cyber Attacks?

A standard business interruption insurance policy, for example, won’t cover you for any of the risks associated with a cyberattack, including loss of income while you are unable to trade following a breach. It also won’t cover any legal fees or other expenses that may arise as a result of the cyberattack.

Pay Attention to the Policy Wording on Cover Limits and Exclusions

In particular, you need to pay attention to the policy’s cover limits, and to any specified exclusions.

Cover Limits
The cover limit is the maximum amount your insurer will pay out should you ever make a claim on your cyber insurance policy. A single cyber breach could cost your business thousands. But some cyber attacks carry a much bigger cost. Jaguar Land Rover, for example, recently faced £50m in losses per week as a result of a cyber security breach.

With this in mind, it is best practice to pick a policy offering limits on an ‘any one claim’ basis rather than ‘in the aggregate’. A policy on an ‘any one claim’ basis would be reinstated for each separate claim, meaning you would be covered if you suffered more than one cyber breach during the year you are covered.

Specified Exclusions
Also pay attention to any cover exclusions or conditions. These will vary from policy to policy. It is important to ensure that the policy’s exclusions will not result in any potential gaps in your cover.

Ongoing Support is Everything

The main reason why you need to get a dedicated cyber insurance policy is because only a standalone policy will offer ongoing support during an incident. In fact, when comparing cyber insurance policies, the support you will get during an incident may be a more important consideration than the final settlement you would receive following an incident.

A good cyber insurance policy will include a dedicated support helpline that you could call for support in the event of a cyberbreach or a ransomware attack. This may include assistance in notifying your clients and customers about the breach, and in advising them in action they could take to protect themselves.

The cyber insurance policy may also offer certain risk assessment services. These could help you strengthen your systems in order to make a cyberattack less likely to occur in the first place.

Adequate cover is important. But when it comes to cybercrime, you will need more than a cash settlement following a claim. You should be able to rely on your cyber insurance policy for immediate support the moment you realise that something has gone wrong.

Get Tailored Cyber Insurance For Your Business

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you find the cyber insurance you need at the best possible price.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

How Driver Shortages Affect Haulage Risk Management
How Driver Shortages Affect Haulage Risk Management 1000 666 James Hallam

The UK’s commercial motor industry has been dealing with a driver shortage for some years now.

In this post we will take a look at the current state of the UK’s HGV driver shortage, before exploring how this might affect risk management in haulage firms. We will then discuss some strategies for managing a driver shortage in your business.

The Current State of the HGV Driver Shortage

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) recently released figures suggesting that the UK may have lost over 117,000 qualified drivers over the past 12 months.

This figure is based on the number of driver qualification cards (DQCs) that have lapsed in this period. And the RHA has pointed out that the data shows that many drivers in their 30s and 40s have left the workforce, not just retirees.

The RHA also mentioned that their figures are “supported by anecdotal evidence”, with numerous fleets reporting that they are struggling with driver shortages.

How Can Driver Shortages Affect Haulage Risk Management?

When there is a general shortage of drivers, any existing drivers will face increased pressure, which can cause a range of issues for haulage fleets.

Increased risks of accidents
This could increase the risks of accidents as a result of:

  • More pressure on drivers which can increase driver stress and fatigue, as they may feel the need to work longer shifts so as to meet demanding deadlines.
  • Regulatory issues, as drivers may feel compelled to exceed their drivers’ hours.
  • Recruitment of younger drivers. As they are less experienced on the road, younger drivers may be more likely to be involved in accidents.
  • Encouragment of older and retired drivers to return to the workforce. This too could affect your risk management, as older drivers may have slower reaction times than younger drivers, or they may have certain medical conditions that could affect their abilities to safely operate HGVs.

Increased staff loss
Overstretched drivers may even choose to leave the workforce if the job becomes too demanding, which will make a bad situation even worse.

Increased insurance costs
To cope with a driver shortage, we can see that fleets will often recruit , the more you may have to pay for your haulage fleet insurance.

How to Address the Driver Shortage in Your Business

  • Recruitment and Training – Outreach programs, apprenticeships, and internships can help you attract the next generation of HGV drivers. Invest in extensive and ongoing training for all new and existing drivers to ensure that every driver in your fleet meets all necessary road safety standards.
  • Driver Wellbeing – Prioritising driver wellbeing can make recruitment easier, while also helping to reduce staff turnover. Introduce initiatives to help your drivers manage stress and burnout, which can contribute to effective risk management. Creating a culture of open communication between drivers and managers can make a huge difference to driver wellbeing, while also helping to improve your overall operational efficiency.
  • Invest in Technology – Advanced telematic and fleet management systems can help you plan more efficient routes and rotas, while also giving you real-time insights into driver behaviour. You can minimise downtime and ensure that no driver ever feels the strain. And if you ever spot any potential issues with any drivers, vehicles, or routes, you can take action as soon as possible.

Get Dedicated Haulage Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your fleet and your drivers.

We can help you with effective haulage risk management through getting you a comprehensive haulage insurance package that can cover your business at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

How Businesses Can Save Energy Over Winter
How Businesses Can Save Energy Over Winter 1000 667 James Hallam

Between 2021 and 2024, the average energy prices for UK businesses increased by over 90%. Prices fell a little towards the end of 2024, but they were still 75% higher than they had been at the start of 2021.

In this post we will explore some ways that businesses can save energy over winter, a period when short days and low temperatures have traditionally forced businesses to increase their energy usage.

Conduct an Energy Audit

To begin with, conduct a thorough energy audit for your business. This involves assessing how much energy each process consumes. Doing this may help you identify some areas where you can reduce your energy consumption.

As part of this, you might review your energy bills from previous years. This could help you pinpoint the key days or weeks in which your business was using the most energy. And if you have not done so already, you could invest in a smart meter, which could provide more immediate insights into how much energy your business is using at any given time.

Quick and Easy Ways to Reduce Business Energy Use

There are many “quick wins” that could help you make significant savings on your business’s energy use over the winter:

  • Replace as many lights as possible with efficient LEDs.
  • Use motion sensors in corridors, bathrooms, and other areas with comparatively low footfall, to save you from having to light them at all times.
  • Ensure that all windows and doors are kept closed when the heating is on. If you cannot afford to get new insulated windows and doors, you can reduce the amount of heat that escapes with curtains and draft excluders.
  • If you have a thermostat, do not place it in an area where the heat might fluctuate. Keep it away from anywhere there might be a draft, and do not place it near any machinery that could generate heat. This will prevent the heating from coming on when it is not needed.

Get Your Staff Onboard with Saving Energy

Your staff can actively support you in helping to cut your energy costs, so long as you communicate just what you are trying to achieve, and why.

Ways to encourage staff to help save energy and reduce bills:

  • Appoint an energy efficiency champion, who is in charge of looking for ways to reduce energy consumption, and for getting other staff involved.
  • Try to make it a competition, with incentives for reducing energy consumption, rather than reprimands for wasting energy.
  • Use signs and posters to encourage staff to save energy wherever possible. For example, you could put small stickers next to light switches in bathrooms or storage rooms to remind staff to turn out the lights before they leave the room.

Do I Have to Put the Heating on In the Workplace?

The HSE specify that you should maintain a minimum temperature of 16°C in the workplace, or 13°C in environments where staff may carry out physically demanding work. You can read their full guidelines on workplace temperature.

This means that you do not necessarily have a legal duty to keep the heating on round the clock. However, you should still aim to keep your staff as comfortable as possible when they are at work. Intentionally keep your workplace cold during the winter and the result will be unhappy or uncomfortable employees. This could result in some costly mistakes, and it could even increase your staff turnover.

But if you want to save energy over winter, you could encourage your staff to wear additional layers on the colder days, and to only turn the heating on as a last resort. And wherever possible, you could encourage your staff to work from home. This might be a win-win situation for you and your staff: They could avoid a tiresome commute on a cold and dark winter morning, while you might be able to make savings on heating the workplace.

Ways to Save Money on Business Energy Use in the Long-Term

Above we mentioned how a smart meter could help you review your energy use through providing more accurate insights into how much energy your business is using at any given time. A smart meter could also lead to more accurate energy bills, as rather than paying for your estimated usage, you will only ever pay for the energy you use.

Often, utility companies will offer additional discounts if you set up a Direct Debit to spread the cost of your bills.

In the long-term, you could look to invest in additional insulation for your business. You could also aim to replace your systems, equipment, and machinery, including your boiler, with more energy efficient models.

Finally, if you want to save money on business expenses, you could review your business insurance package.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your business. Talk to us and we can help you ensure you are getting the cover you need at the best possible price.

Find out how we can help you save money today.

Defective Products: Legal Responsibilities of Manufacturers & The Role of Insurance
Defective Products: Legal Responsibilities of Manufacturers & The Role of Insurance 1000 667 James Hallam

If you are a manufacturer and you inadvertently produce some defective products, then you have certain legal responsibilities in how you respond to the issue.

In this post we will explain your legal responsibilities when it comes to defective products, and discuss the role that insurance can play in helping you fix the issue.

Legal Responsibilities as a Manufacturer of Defective Products

Under The Consumer Protection Act 1987, manufacturers are liable for any harm caused by faulty or defective goods. Under this legislation, manufacturers would be held legally responsible for any losses or damages arising from faults or defects, regardless of whether you were originally at fault.

It is against the law to sell defective products in the UK. As a result, suppliers and retailers may also face claims of negligence in cases involving defective products. But in any case, the ultimate liability would always come down to the manufacturer.

When is a Product “Defective”?

A defective product is any product that does not function like it is meant to. We might also refer to products as “defective” when they have the potential to damage an individual’s property (e.g. if it carries unintended fire risks); or if they have the potential to cause illness, injury, or even death (e.g. if a food product accidentally contains traces of allergens or other harmful substances).

The defect might be found in the product’s design, or it might arise due to a manufacturing error. For instance, if a machine or a piece of equipment on your production line is not working like it should, the final product might not operate as expected.

The defect might also be found in the product’s packaging. It might contain misleading instructions, for example, or it might not properly warn of certain potential risks in using the product.

What Are The Penalties For Distributing Defective Products?

You will face severe legal, financial, and reputational consequences if you accidentally produce a defective product, and you fail to adequately respond:

  • Legal action from customers, suppliers, and retailers.
  • Fines from regulators.
  • Personal injury claims and other legal action.
  • Bad reviews and long-term damage to your brand’s reputation.

How Manufacturers Should Manage Defective Products

  • Set clear terms and conditions. Outline exactly how you will manage returns, refunds, and repairs. This will help manage expectations which could ultimately help you avoid disputes.
  • Respond quickly. You need to act as soon as you become aware of the defect, whether you notice it yourself, or you receive a complaint from a supplier, a retailer, or a customer. At this point it is important to collect evidence and keep records of all communications, as you may ultimately have to demonstrate how you managed the issue.
  • Offer the correct response. Your exact legal responsibilities may differ depending on the particular situation you are facing. You need to follow the law when it comes to offering refunds, repairs, or replacements. For more information, check the Consumer Protection Act and the Sales of Goods Act.
  • Review your quality controls. If you accidentally manufacture a defective item, you should thoroughly review your processes, including your quality control systems, to determine just how this defect came about. This will help you avoid producing any further defective items in the future.

Reducing Defects in Manufacturing

  • Quality control is everything. You should implement robust quality control procedures at every step of the manufacturing process. These procedures should be capable of identifying errors as soon as they arise, so that you can address any potential issues immediately.
  • Train your employees. Your employees should know how to spot any potential issues that could lead to defects, and they should know how to respond effectively.
  • Set policies and procedures. You should know in advance exactly how you will respond to a defective product issue. Make sure you understand your legal requirements in responding to different types of defects, whether it is a harmless design flaw or a serious error that could potentially cause harm. The better you understand your legal responsibilities, the faster and more effectively you can act when you need to.

The Role of Insurance in Product Defects

Specialist manufacturing insurance can include product liability insurance. This can cover you for all the expenses that may arise should you manufacture a defective product, including product recall fees, the costs of notifying suppliers, retailers, and customers, and any potential legal fees or compensation payments that may follow.

Read our full guide to what manufacturing insurance can cover.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance brokers. We are committed to protecting your manufacturing business, and we can help you ensure you are fully covered for all risks relating to defective products.

Find out how we can help you today. 

How To Protect Your Shop Against Theft Over Christmas
How To Protect Your Shop Against Theft Over Christmas 1000 667 James Hallam

Shops across the UK lose millions to theft throughout the Christmas period. In this post, we will discuss how you can protect your shop against theft over the busy Christmas season.

Be sure to read our full guide to stopping shoplifters and preventing retail theft.

Is Shoplifting More Common Over Christmas?

Figures emerged in December 2024 revealing that more than 650 shoplifting offences a day had gone unsolved over the previous 12 months. This represented a 38% increase in the total number of unsolved shopping offences in the same period five years previously.

Why is Shoplifting More Common at Christmas?

Shoplifting offences may be more common over the festive period for a number of reasons:

  • Increased footfall – During the busy Christmas shopping season, shops may experience higher footfall than they do at any other time of year. This chaos can provide a lot of cover for opportunistic shoplifters.
  • Staffing issues – Existing staff may be more tired and stressed than usual. Temporary and seasonal staff may not have the training or the experience to identify and respond to shoplifting. And managerial staff may be too overstretched to provide any effective oversight.
  • Stock issues – Shops tend to increase their stocks over Christmas, and it is common to see large quantities of valuable products left in locations where it might be easy for shoplifters to steal them without being noticed.

How To Protect Your Shop Against Theft Over Christmas

To begin with, conduct a thorough security audit to ensure there are no vulnerabilities that shoplifters might exploit:

  • CCTV – Do you have full CCTV coverage of your entire shop floor? How often do you review your CCTV footage?
  • Visibility – Can staff see the entire shop floor from the checkout? If there are any blindspots, could you use mirrors or rearrange shelves to improve line of sight and help staff keep tabs on customers?
  • Signage – Could you increase the signage in the store to notify customers of your security procedures? A simple sign reading “CCTV in operation” could be enough to deter some thieves.
  • Keeping products secure – Do you have secure locations for securing and displaying high value items? If you will be increasing your stock over Christmas, will you have the facilities to securely accommodate a greater volume of valuable products?

Staff Briefing and Scheduling

Inform Your Staff of the Risks
Make sure that every member of staff fully understands the increased risks of shoplifting over the festive period. This should extend to everyone, whether they are permanent or temporary, and whether they work on the shop floor or in the stockroom.

Increase Staff Numbers
When it comes to staff rotas, if possible, you should ensure that no member of staff ever works a shift by themselves. A single member of staff will not be able to monitor the entire shop floor. Plus, shoplifters often work in pairs, where one will distract your staff while the other lifts items out of sight. The more staff there are on duty, the harder shoplifters will find it to work unobserved.

Extra Security Staff
Many shops employ temporary staff over the Christmas period to cope with the increased footfall. To prevent shoplifting, you should consider adding additional security personnel to your workforce during the festive period. Identify in advance the days that are likely to be the busiest, and ensure that you have the greatest security presence on duty at peak times.

Consider Your Store Layout

If you will be decorating your shop for Christmas, make sure your decorations do not create any new blindspots that shoplifters could exploit.

Take care when displaying products on the shop floor. If you currently keep any high value items in locked cabinets, for example, you should continue to do so over Christmas. If you want to display greater quantities of high value items on the shop floor, you could display empty boxes which staff could exchange for the real thing at the point of sale.

Introduce New Policies Where Necessary

If you familiarise yourself with some common shoplifting techniques, it could help you to outline new policies to help you mitigate the risks.

Increased Self-Service Staff
For example, in stores with self-service checkouts, one technique is for shoplifters to scan a barcode of one item in order to pay a lower price for a considerably more expensive product. You could deter this behaviour with an increased staff presence at the self-service tills, along with mandatory bag and receipt checks before customers leave the store.

Large Bag Policies
Also, it is common for shoplifters to carry big bags, or to push large prams, into which they can easily drop items without notice. You could introduce a policy limiting, or even outright preventing, customers from bringing large bags or oversized prams into the store.

Communication and Enforcement of Policies
Whatever new policies you introduce, make sure you communicate them as clearly and early as possible to all customers, while making it clear just why you are enforcing such restrictions. Signage can help, as well as well-briefed security staff who could calmly and politely explain to customers why they are not allowed in the shop with larger bags.

Review Your Retail Business Insurance

Finally, as you approach the festive period it might be a good idea to review your retail business insurance, to ensure it will cover you for the increased risk of theft over Christmas. For example, if you intend to increase your stock levels over Christmas, you may have to raise your cover limits accordingly.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your shop, over the Christmas period and beyond. We can help you get specialist retail shop insurance, which can help your business bounce back from any significant losses.

Find out how we can help your shop today.

Does High Value Home Insurance Cover Christmas Gifts?
Does High Value Home Insurance Cover Christmas Gifts? 1000 667 James Hallam

Buying Christmas presents and gifts for other occasions, such as birthdays, weddings and anniversaries, means that you may temporarily store certain high value items, bought for friends and loved ones, in your home. If these items are lost or damaged, will your current high value home insurance cover you, or will you have to take out additional cover for valuable Christmas gifts?

Are Christmas Presents Covered Under High Value Home Insurance?

Your high value home insurance policy will cover you for Christmas presents. But the specific level of cover you get will depend on your policy wording, and on the value of the gifts themselves.

Standard Home Insurance: However, if you have a standard home insurance policy, rather than high net worth insurance, you should check your policy wording for a “New Possessions” section, as gifts for other people are not always covered as standard.

High Value Home Insurance: When taking out your high value home insurance, the policy wording will specify a level of cover based on the combined value of the contents in your home. This takes into account your home’s general contents, along with any high value items such as jewellery, antiques, art, and other collections.

Bringing Christmas presents and other gifts into your home may raise the total value of your home’s contents beyond your agreed cover limit. But does this mean that your policy will not cover you for any lost, stolen, or damaged Christmas gifts?

Some Insurers Will Cover Christmas Gifts as Standard

Some insurers will provide additional cover for Christmas gifts, even if their combined value exceeds your policy’s existing cover limit.

At James Hallam, our High Value Home Insurance policies include the following forms of cover:

  • Extended cover around special and religious events: This means that you will automatically be covered for any high value items you bring into your house not just for Christmas, but for other special occasions, including birthdays, weddings, and other religious events, such as Ramadan, Diwali and Hannukah.
  • Extended cover for newly acquired items: We understand that new acquisitions may push the value of your home’s contents beyond your cover limits, which is why we automatically extend cover for newly acquired items. This can include Christmas gifts.

How Long Do I Have to Inform my Insurer of a Gift?

When it comes to new acquisition cover, usually you would have to update your policy after a certain grace period has elapsed in order to get full cover for any new items you bring into your home. But as Christmas gifts will only be in your home for a temporary period, then you probably will not have to update your policy to get the cover you need unless you receive a high value gift yourself. New items and gifts will usually be restricted to 90 days, after which you should formally notify your insurer to have your cover increased.

For more information, please check your policy wording.

If You Need To Make a Claim For Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Christmas Gifts

If your Christmas gifts are lost, stolen, or damaged, then your insurers will want to know exactly what you have lost, along with the exact value of each item.

This is why it is a good idea to keep an inventory of any Christmas gifts you bring into your home. You should also retain any receipts or invoices for each item, so that you can demonstrate each item’s value.

Not All Insurers Offer Cover For Christmas Gifts As Standard

Also bear in mind that, if you are not insured with James Hallam, then your insurer may not offer the same extended cover for special occasions or new acquisitions as we do.

If your insurer does not cover Christmas gifts as standards, then you may have to take out temporary extended cover for the Christmas period. Your insurer will probably need an inventory of all of the additional high value items you bring into your home, along with the specific value of each item.

Get The Cover You Need This Christmas From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your property.

Our High Value Home Insurance policies will cover your Christmas gifts as standard, so you can have total peace of mind that you will be covered should anything go wrong over Christmas, and beyond.

Find out how we can help you today.

Understanding FD&D Insurance: Essential Legal Protection for Shipowners
Understanding FD&D Insurance: Essential Legal Protection for Shipowners 1000 563 James Hallam

When it comes to managing the complex world of shipping, legal disputes are almost inevitable. That’s where Freight, Demurrage & Defence (FD&D) insurance steps in. This specialised cover protects shipowners and operators against the legal costs and associated expenses of claims and disputes that aren’t already covered by Protection & Indemnity (P&I) or other insurance policies.

What Is FD&D?

FD&D is a separate class of cover with its own rules. It’s not usually available as a stand-alone policy and is designed to complement your existing marine insurance. Despite its name, FD&D isn’t limited to freight and demurrage issues, it also covers costs when you need to pursue claims, not just defend them.

Why is this important? Because disputes often affect a ship’s earnings and cash flow. FD&D provides vital support to keep your operations running smoothly.

What Does FD&D Cover?

FD&D typically covers legal costs related to:

  • Unpaid freight, hire, and demurrage
  • Cancellation or breach of charterparties
  • Fuel supply and equipment disputes
  • Issues with port authorities, customs, or terminal operators
  • Amounts due to or from other marine insurers
  • Detention, delay, and loss of use of a vessel

Most P&I Clubs have in-house FD&D teams staffed by legally qualified claims handlers. They assist members before and after appointing external lawyers. In many cases, disputes are resolved without outside solicitors, keeping costs down.

Tailored Protection

FD&D cover can be customised to meet your specific needs. For example:

  • Sale & Purchase: FD&D can be arranged from the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to protect buyers and sellers against legal risks during vessel transactions.
  • Newbuildings: Subject to special terms, cover can include pre-delivery risks for new construction projects.

Why FD&D Is Essential

Shipping is a high-stakes business, and legal disputes can quickly escalate into costly challenges. FD&D insurance gives you peace of mind, ensuring you have expert support and financial protection when you need it most.

Specialist Marine Insurance For Your Shipping Business

Everard Insurance Brokers are the specialist marine trading division of accredited Lloyd’s brokers James Hallam Limited. We can help you ensure you have the insurance you need to cover your shipping business.

Find out more about our dedicated marine insurance services.

 

Keeping Shepherd’s Huts Warm in Winter: Insulation and Heating Options
Keeping Shepherd’s Huts Warm in Winter: Insulation and Heating Options 1000 750 James Hallam

With the right design, heating, and insulation, a shepherd’s hut can remain warm and toasty even through the coldest winter months.

In this post we will outline the best and most efficient ways to keep your shepherd’s hut warm in winter.

Insulating Your Sheperd’s Hut For Winter

If you invest in proper insulation for your shepherd’s hut, you can attain a steady and comfortable indoor temperature all year round. This means that, as well as keeping your hut warm in winter, good insulation can also keep your hut cool in the summer.

Insulation works through trapping warm air inside the hut. Without insulation, it will take much longer to heat your hut to a comfortable temperature, as a lot of the warm air will leak to the outside. Also, without adequate insulation, the hut will get cold again pretty quickly the moment you turn the heating off.

Ways to Insulate Your Shepherd’s Hut

You have a number of options for insulating your shepherd’s hut:

  • Foam – Rigid foam boards may offer the highest thermal resistance of any insulation. But this may cost more than other options.
  • Fibreglass – This may be the most affordable insulation choice, as well as the easiest to install.
  • Sheep’s wool – The most eco-friendly insulation option. Sheep’s wool is breathable, meaning it will retain moisture as well as heat. This can help prevent dampness in your hut, which can greatly improve your hut’s thermal performance.

Eliminating Heat Loss – Floor, Walls, and Roof

When it comes to insulation, most people will target the hut’s walls. This makes sense, as the walls have the greatest surface area, and thus may contribute the most to heat loss. But remember that heat rises, which is why it is equally important to insulate the hut’s roof.

Multi-layer insulation can help prevent heat from escaping through the hut’s roof. For a greener option that can also add a touch of character, you could consider applying a layer of sustainable turf to your hut’s roof.

Heat can also escape through the hut’s floor. A layer of underfloor insulation can help prevent this. But insulated mats, or even thick rugs or carpets, can also help.

Draught-Proofing Your Shepherd’s Hut

Your hut’s windows and doors will also contribute to heat loss. Insulated doors and double-glazed windows can make a huge difference.

If your hut is a new build, it may already have double-glazed windows fitted. But if it is an older model, it may still have single-glazed windows. These can let in drafts while allowing heat to escape, which can make it much harder to heat your hut and to keep it warm. Replacing single-glazed panes with double-glazed will make a noticeable difference.

How to Heat Your Shepherd’s Hut in Winter

You have a range of options for heating your shepherd’s hut:

  • Stoves – Many will choose the rustic charm of a traditional wood-burning stove. But for a more versatile option, choose a multi-fuel stove. This will give you the ability to burn a number of different fuels, which can help you manage your hut’s running costs.
  • Electric heaters – An electric heater can quickly warm your hut at the touch of a button. These are only really an option if the hut is connected to the grid, though. Plus, they can use up a lot of power, which means you might be looking at relatively high running costs compared to a stove.
  • Underfloor heating – This might be more difficult and expensive to install than other heating options. But an underfloor heating system is unobtrusive, which could help you make the most of the limited space inside your hut.

The combination of a heating system and good insulation will help keep your hut warm even on the coldest days of the year.

Whichever heating system you choose, make sure it is properly installed, with adequate ventilation where necessary. It is also important to keep on top of maintenance.

It’s also important to be aware that a number of insurance exclusions and conditions apply to the use of open fires and barbeques, and leaving a shepherd’s hut empty over the winter months.*

The Cosy Touch For A Cosy Shepherd’s Hut Experience

Finally, there are a few finishing touches that will make your hut feel extra cosy in the winter.

A heated towel rack can provide its own source of heat, while also giving you somewhere to warm your socks and other items of clothing, so that they feel extra toasty when you put them on.

If you rent your shepherd’s hut to guests, you could provide blankets, sachets of hot chocolate, and even jumpers and slippers.

Get The Insurance You Need For Your Shepherd’s Hut

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who specialise in getting you the cover you need at a competitive price.

We will ensure you get full cover for your shepherd’s hut, whether you use it yourself, or you let it out to holidaymakers.

Learn more about our specialist shepherd’s hut insurance and get a free quote today.

*Insurance Exclusions and Conditions

Open Fires and Barbeques 

We will not pay any loss or damage as a result of you using a barbeque, wood or log burner, or any other form of open fire within 3 feet of the shepherd’s hut. You must ensure that all sources of ignition are removed from the shepherd’s hut whilst unattended.

 

Draining Down – Water 

From 1 November to 31March (both dates inclusive), when the shepherds hut has been unattended for more than 7 consecutive days, we will not pay for loss or damage unless the water has been turned off at the stopcock within the shepherd’s hut and the water system drained down.

 

Shepherds’ Huts Fire Protection 

  • We will not pay for any loss or damage to your building unless:
  • Wood / log burners are installed by a HETAS approved person.
  • Chimneys and flues are kept clean and well maintained as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Chimneys are to be swept at least twice per year by an approved person.
  • A fireguard is always used to protect against flying sparks and hot embers.
  • Logs are stored at least 6 feet away from the wood burner.
  • Wood burner is extinguished and left to cool for a period of 30 minutes prior to the building becoming unattended.
  • All clothing, fabric and other flammable items are always kept at least 3 feet away.
  • All shepherds huts have a fire extinguisher and fire blanket installed.

 

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