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Sarah Clements

Boat Maintenance in Winter: Essential Repairs for Vessels and Equipment
Boat Maintenance in Winter: Essential Repairs for Vessels and Equipment 500 333 James Hallam

If you stay on top of boat maintenance throughout the winter, then you will not face an overwhelming set of tasks once spring rolls around.

This post is an essential boat maintenance checklist for winter. We will cover all of the essential checks and repairs you should make at the start of the winter season that will make life easier once you are ready to start sailing again.

Be sure to consult your boat’s manual for dedicated maintenance tips for your specific model.

Hull Maintenance Checklist

  • First, check your boat’s hull for any chips, scratches, or dents. Even the smallest chip can lead to leaks and water ingress, so aim to fill anything you find before you sail again. For GRP vessels, if necessary, apply some fresh gelcoat to reseal your hull, and give the hull a polish to protect the gelcoat layer.
  • Check the underside of your boat for any marine growth, and check the paint for peels, craters, and blisters. If your boat is getting on in years, it may be time to scrape back a few layers of paint to reapply a few coats of antifouling.
  • Check your anodes in steel vessels, and replace them if they appear worn. Tighten all bolts and clean their threads.
  • Check for cracks and signs of corrosion where the hull and keel join, and get any necessary repairs as soon as possible.

Thru-Hull Maintenance

Check all thru-hull fittings for signs of corrosion or damage, and repair or replace as necessary. Also check any valves. Make sure they are fully operational with no signs or wear or damage.

Propeller Maintenance Checks

Give the propeller a thorough clean, and check it for any dings, cracks, warping, or other signs of damage. Make sure it is securely fitted, and replace any bearings as necessary.

Engine Maintenance Jobs

Aim to replace your boat engine’s fluids, along with the filters, at least once a year. You should also aim to replace the raw water pump’s impeller once a year.

Thoroughly inspect the engine’s cooling system, along with any cables, hoses, spark plugs, and any other connections.

Winter Boat Maintenance Tasks

Certain other tasks will depend on the specific type of boat you own:

  • If your boat has sails, check the sails for rips, tears, or fraying, and get any necessary repairs. Also inspect your lines, and clean them if necessary.
  • If your boat has any wood, clean it and treat it.
  • Check all electricals are in good working order, and check the wiring for any wear and tear.
  • Vacuum and clean any soft furnishings.
  • Check for leaks around any windows and deck fittings.
  • Check the condition of any safety equipment you keep on your boat, and replace anything that is damaged, or approaching its use-by date.

Get The Right Cover For Your Boat Over Winter, and Beyond

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 boat over the winter, and beyond.

Find out more about our dedicated marine insurance services.

 

What Insurance Do You Need For a Conference?
What Insurance Do You Need For a Conference? 500 259 James Hallam

If your business regularly hosts conferences, or if you are planning your very first conference, then you are likely wondering about the insurance requirements. What cover do you need to ensure that you will be insured for every eventuality?

Whether you are planning a single-day event, or a conference that lasts a number of days, in this post we will discuss the different types of insurance cover you may need for your conference.

Do You Need Insurance For a Conference?

First, contact the conference venue to see what sort of cover they require you to have as part of their booking conditions. Usually they will only be interested in whether you have liability insurance, but they may have a minimum level of cover that they require you to hold

Your existing business insurance may provide some cover for the conference. For example, your employer’s liability insurance may cover your own staff for anything that might go wrong while they are working at the conference.

However, you must not assume that the venue’s insurance, along with your own insurance, will give you all the cover you need. To ensure you are fully covered for anything that might go wrong, it is a good idea to take out some specialist conference insurance for your event.

Conference Cancellation Insurance

If you need to cancel your conference, for any reason, then the money expended to that point in securing the venue and other components could be lost. In addition, your speakers may request that you refund any travel and accommodation expenses. You may also be commercially obliged to refund attendees payments for attending.   This could leave you seriously out of pocket. But cancellation insurance can cover such costs, along with certain other expenses that may arise as a result of a cancellation.

Cancellation insurance can include cover for:

  • Full cancellations, along with significant alterations to the original conference plan, such as curtailment, alternative speakers, and moving the conference to a different time or venue.
  • Non-appearance, should key speakers or guests not show up, or cancel at short notice.
  • Disruptions as a result of terrorism, bomb threats, strikes, protests, or adverse weather.
  • National mourning, should you need to cancel your conference as a result of a death.

Property Insurance

The venue’s insurance should cover any equipment they provide, such as sound systems, tables, and chairs. But you may need to take out dedicated property insurance for any additional equipment you bring to the venue, whether you own it or hire it specifically for the conference.

This can also cover any loss or damage to your property while it is in transit to and from the conference venue. Plus, if you hire equipment for the conference, and this equipment is lost, destroyed, or damaged, your property insurance can cover any ongoing hire charges, along with necessary repairs or replacements. Always check your contract for equipment hire to establish whether you are required to insure it.

Public and Event Liability Insurance

Public liability insurance, or event liability insurance, will cover you for claims made by attendees, venue owners, and other third parties for any personal injuries or loss or damage to belongings and property.

The venue will have their own public liability insurance, but this will cover them for their own negligent acts, you will need your own policy to cover your liability should an accident be down to you. It is normally a condition of booking the venue to that you have this type of insurance. Once again, you may need dedicated public liability insurance for your conference if your annual public liability insurance has not been extended to cover your events.

How Much Conference Insurance Do I Need?

The amount of conference insurance you get, and the amount you pay for your cover, will depend on a number of factors. This includes the size of the event budget, the event’s duration, the number of attendees, the number of staff onsite, and any special arrangements for guests or speakers.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you get all the cover you need for your conference, including specialist insurance for your staff, your attendees, and your property.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

How To Prepare Your Shop For a Flood
How To Prepare Your Shop For a Flood 500 375 James Hallam

Even a small flood could devastate your business. But if you take the time to prepare your shop for a flood, you can respond effectively, and recover from losses, damage, or other setbacks as quickly as possible.

In this post we will discuss five key ways you can prepare your shop for a flood.

How To Check Your Risk of Flood

Is your shop located on a flood plain? Is there a history of floods in your area? Are any floods likely to happen in the near future? There are ways you can check. The Flood Hub has gathered a number of maps from the Environmental Agency. Together they provide both a five-day flood risk forecast along with the potential long-term flood risks for areas in the UK.

Check your premises on the flood risk maps.

You can also sign up for flood alerts and warnings from the UK government. This means you can get a call, text, or email giving you advanced warning if any floods are expected in your area, which could give you time to prepare. Sign up for government flood warnings.

How to Create Your Flood Plan

How would you respond in the event of a flood? What steps would you take to mitigate the damage and protect your most valuable stock and equipment?

This is where a flood plan can help. Take the time now to outline the specific actions you would take in the event of a flood. This way, you will be less likely to panic if disaster strikes, and more likely to take effective action.

Your flood plan should include:

  • Steps you would take to ensure your personal safety, along with the safety of any staff or customers. How would you evacuate the premises, and where would you go?
  • Steps you would take to secure your shop. This might include turning off the power to reduce the risk of electrical faults, and taking steps to prevent water ingress, and possible break-ins.
  • Steps you would take to protect your valuable stock and equipment. We will cover what this might involve below.
  • Who you would call – including your insurer, your suppliers, and anyone else who may need to know about the flood.

How to Make a Flood Kit

A flood kit should contain everything you might need to put your flood plan into action.

At the very least, you should have all the key contact details you will need to hand. But depending on the flood risk in your area, your flood kit could contain a range of equipment to help prevent water ingress and keep your shop and your stock safe.

View a full range of flood protection equipment, featuring everything from door protection to toilet stoppers.

Protecting Your Stock and Equipment

As part of your flood plan, you should outline steps you would take to safeguard your most valuable stock and equipment. This might include:

  • Getting a secure and waterproof box to quickly store any cash and other valuables on your premises.
  • Storing your most valuable stock on higher shelves, or on upper floors if possible.
  • Quickly disconnecting any electrical equipment to move it to a high shelf or upper floor.
  • Using flood prevention equipment (see above) to minimise the water ingress to your storerooms.

Get The Right Flood Insurance

It is important to ensure that your shop insurance policy covers you for all possible losses and damages that you may experience as a result of a flood.

Here are a few areas of cover you should not be without:

  • Full flood cover – Your policy may cover you for flooding from heavy rainfall, burst riverbanks, and high tides. But it may not cover you for other types of flooding, including groundwater flooding. Make sure you are covered for every type of flood, including “escape of water” from within your shop premises.
  • Stock and equipment cover – Your policy should provide cover for any stock or equipment that might get destroyed or damaged during the flood. If you sell food and drink, the cover should extend to any stock that goes bad due to loss of power to your fridges and freezers.
  • Business interruption cover – Your policy should provide cover to protect your income should you be unable to trade as a result of a flood. Check your policy wording to ensure you have all the cover you need. Your shop might be out of action for longer than you expect.

Get The Insurance You Need From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a team of experienced insurance professionals who are dedicated to protecting your shop from the risks you face.

Talk to us and we will give you access to a range of hand-picked, A-rated insurance providers. We will tailor a flexible insurance package that gives you cover at outstanding value.

Learn more about our tailored insurance solutions for shops like yours, and get a free quote today.

Voyage Charter vs Time Charter in Marine Trade: Is There a Difference?
Voyage Charter vs Time Charter in Marine Trade: Is There a Difference? 500 278 James Hallam

Voyage Charter and Time Charter are two types of maritime agreements usually called Charter Parties Agreement (CPA) that govern the transport of goods at sea.

Both are broadly similar, and to decide which type of agreement is suitable for your operations. In this post we will discuss the key differences between Voyage Charter and Time Charter Parties, to help you decide which is right for you.

What is a Voyage Charter?

In shipping, a voyage charter describes an agreement to a vessel for a specific voyage or round-trip between specified ports. The one-off nature of voyage charters means they are commonly used for one-time shipments and occasional shipping requirements.

For example, an oil company taking advantage of an unexpected crash in oil prices may decide to buy more stock than usual and choose a one-off voyage charter for a deep-sea tanker to transport the crude oil from Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia to Corpus Christi port in Texas, United States.

A voyage charter is agreed between a shipowner (who provides the vessel) and a charterer (who pays to transport goods). The charterer pays either a lump-sum or quantity-based freight rate to transport the cargo for the specific voyage, as well as the cost of loading and unloading the goods.

When Will Cargo Owners or Shippers Use Voyage Charter Agreements?

  • As a Voyage Charter is a limited short-term contract, they are most likely to be used when there is a low risk of loss.
  • Voyage Charters can be arranged relatively quickly, so Cargo Owners or Shippers often use them to benefit from favourable shipping rates and other opportunities.
  • The flexibility and short-term nature of Voyage Charters also make them a good choice for maritime companies with irregular or ad-hoc shipping requirements.

What is a Time Charter?

While a Voyage Charter only applies for a single voyage, a Time Charter instead applies for a specific amount of time. The shipowner will agree to hire out their vessel to a charterer for a specified period, during which the charterer will have more control over the ship including choosing its schedule, route and cargo handling procedures.   Such feature tend to make time charters more suitable for companies and businesses which ship cargo regularly.

A Time Charter could last for a number of months, or even a number of years. For the length of the agreement, the charterer will either pay a fixed amount or typically a daily rate.

An example could be a gas company who may time charter’s specialist LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) Carrier from the Middle East to Asia.

In a Time Charter Party, the shipowner will retain responsibility for crew management, and for the ongoing maintenance of the ship.

When Will Cargo Owners or Shippers Consider Time Charter Party Agreements?

  • Time Charter Party agreements are usually long-term contracts. Shipowners and charterers may enter into such an CPA when a company needs ongoing access to shipping services.
  • It is common for companies to take out Time Charters when they have frequent and/or several/many shipments or requirements, but they do not have the resources or need to to purchase their own vessel.

Is There a Difference Between Voyage Charter and Time Charter Party Agreements?

Fundamentally, the only difference between a Time Charter and a Voyage Charter Party Agreement is the time for which the CPA apply. Voyage Charter Party agreements only last for a single voyage. Time Charter Party agreements last for a fixed term, which can include multiple voyages.

What Are The Insurance Implications of Voyage Charter and Time Charter Agreements?

  • Time Charter Insurance covers all voyages made by a vessel, or by multiple vessels, during the agreed chartered period. Insurers often provide open cover on a 12-month basis, and charterers will provide a summary of their monthly, quarterly, or annual operations. The insurer will then adjust the charterer’s premiums as necessary at the end of each quarter, or at the end of the policy year.
  • Voyage Charter insurance covers a single vessel for the duration of a single voyage. The charterer will therefore pay a set premium for this single voyage.

Beyond this, whether a Voyage or Time Charterparty insurance for both types of CAP are essentially an enhanced form of Protection and Indemnity Insurance that also includes cover for Hull and Machinery.  Further and if the Charterer is the Cargo Owner during all or part of a voyage, then cover also excludes loss of or damage to their own cargoes.

The policies may also include optional additional covers for:

  • Freight Defence & Demurrage (FD&D), which can cover any legal expenses that arise as a result of disputes, and
  • Bunker Insurance, which covers the loss of Bunkers purchased by the Charterers.

There is a third arrangement, known as a bareboat charter. We will explain the circumstances in which this arrangement may apply, along with the insurance implications, in a future post.

What Liability Insurance Do You Need For Your Voyage?

Take the time to complete our short Charters Liability Insurance Questionnaire.

This will help you understand your operation’s possible exposure to risk, which will help us provide the best package of cover and terms for your voyage.

Or if you want to discuss your requirements in more detail, get in touch with our marine team by calling us on 020 3148 9540 or email info@everardinsurance.co.uk

 

How Common is Tool Theft in the UK?
How Common is Tool Theft in the UK? 500 333 James Hallam

If you work in the construction industry, or if you are any kind of tradesperson, then it is important to understand the risk of tool theft.

In this post we will explore the scale of the tool theft problem in the UK, before sharing some tips for keeping your tools, and your business, safe.

What is the Scale of Tool Theft in the UK?

According to one insurer, tool theft occurs once every 17 minutes in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Other reports suggest that at least 110 tools are stolen every day across the UK.

Thieves do not just target construction sites and vans. They also target garages, storage lockups, and even private homes.

Most tool thefts occur at night, and tool thefts tend to increase by 20% throughout the winter months.

However, some tool thieves are so brazen that they will steal tools directly from tradespeople in broad daylight. One carpenter told the BBC that thieves threatened him and his family with violence if he called the police.

What Are The Most Common Areas for Tool Theft in the UK?

Analysis by LBC revealed that nearly half of all reported tool thefts occur in London. Other key hotspots for tool theft include Essex, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands, and Gwent.

Another report suggests that Cambridgeshire is the worst area for tool theft in the UK, followed by South Yorkshire, and Lancashire.

How Much Does Tool Theft Cost the Construction Industry?

One report estimated that tool theft has cost the UK construction industry around £2.8bn.

The Tradespeople Against Tool Theft report revealed that the average cost of an incident of tool theft is £4,470. Nearly 20% of tradespeople who have fallen victim to tool theft lost over £5,000 worth of tools.

How To Deal With and Prevent Tool Theft

  • Brief your staff. If you manage a construction business, or a team of contractors, make sure that everyone understands the risks of tool theft, and the steps they can take to manage the issue.
  • Take extra steps to secure your vehicle. Tool thieves seem most likely to steal tools from parked vans. Invest in extra security for your van, including extra locks, cameras, motion sensors, and location sensors.
  • Take extra care at night. Do not keep tools in your vehicle overnight. Try and park in a well-lit area – ideally on your own driveway, with motion sensors, floodlights, and security cameras.
  • Register your tools. Use a tool inventory app, such as the Tool Register, to keep track of all of your equipment. This way, if you are a victim of tool theft, you will immediately know the value of your loss, which can help with your insurance claim.
  • Mark your tools. Consider applying forensic marking to your most valuable tools, such as with microdots, and labelling your tools as “registered” and “protected”. This might help deter thieves.

Are You and Your Business Covered For Tool Theft?

83% of the tradespeople surveyed for the Tradespeople Against Tool Theft report revealed that, at the time of the theft, they had no insurance in place to cover the loss of their tools. Plus, as tool thieves regularly steal tools from vehicles, 13% of respondents had to pay for vehicle repairs on top of the costs of their lost tools.

Getting the right cover will not prevent tool theft, but it can at least guarantee that, in the event of tool theft, you will be able to replace your tools and get back to work as soon as possible.

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

Get in touch to find out how we can help you.

Changes to Insurance Fees and Commission for Managing Agents, Landlords and Freeholders
Changes to Insurance Fees and Commission for Managing Agents, Landlords and Freeholders 500 333 James Hallam

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 received royal assent on 24 May 2024. This post will provide a brief overview of how this new legislation will affect insurance fees and commissions for managing agents, landlords, and freeholders.

Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 – What Does It Involve?

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 applies to England and Wales, and it is designed to “improve consumer choice and fairness in leasehold”.

The act aims to achieve this through:

  • Making it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to extend their leases or buy their freeholds, whether they live in houses or flats.
  • Increasing the standard lease extension term.
  • Making moves to abolish, or significantly reduce, ground rent.
  • Improving the transparency of service charges, administration charges, and buildings insurance commissions, while giving leaseholders a right to request information about all charges related to the management of their building.

You can read a full guide to the legislation, and its aims.

Open Consultation – Permitted Insurance Fees for Landlords, Freeholders, and Property Managing Agents

The legislation addressed certain longstanding concerns that some landlords, freeholders, and property management agents may be passing on the costs of arranging and managing insurance to their leaseholders, without necessarily justifying or accounting for the work they have undertaken.

In short, some freeholders have been forced to pay significant insurance costs, and have had no power to challenge these costs, or even to properly scrutinise them. There have also been concerns that these costs may include commissions and other financial benefits for landlords, freeholders, and property managing agents that have nothing to do with the services that are allegedly being provided.

The government has launched an open consultation to find solutions to these issues. The aim of the consultation is to ensure total fairness and transparency for any costs associated with the management and arrangement of insurance for leaseholders. Leaseholders should know exactly what they are getting for their money, and they should have the power to challenge any decisions they disagree with.

Insurance Fees for Landlords, Freeholders, and Property Managing Agents – The Current Situation

Landlords, freeholders, and property managing agents are responsible for getting the right insurance in place for the properties they own/manage. Freeholders and property managing agents will usually cover the costs associated with arranging this insurance through charging their leaseholders within their service charges.

It was common for landlords, freeholders, and property managing agents to use insurance brokers to arrange for the necessary property insurance. Brokers work on a commission or fee basis, and they may choose to renumerate landlords, freeholders, and property management agents through giving them a share of their income.

This consultation was launched due to concerns that the current arrangement incentivised landlords, freeholders, and property managing agents to work with insurance brokers that promised the highest commission/income. Such an arrangement would not necessarily provide leaseholders with the best value option.

Meanwhile, leaseholders would be obliged to pay for the entirety of their insurance premiums, which often included any commissions or fees that were shared between brokers and the landlords, freeholders, and property managing agents. Plus, the lack of transparency meant that leaseholders had no power to scrutinise or challenge any decisions made about the insurance they were paying for.

What Could Change Following The Consultation?

  • Landlords, freeholders, and property managing agents will be banned from charging leaseholders any costs beyond a “permitted insurance fee.”
  • Excluded costs are anything related to the arrangement or management of insurance, which includes broker commissions or fees.
  • The consultation proposes secondary legislation to ensure that landlords, freeholders, and property managing agents would only be able to charge leaseholders for insurance services via a separate fee, rather than as part of a variable “service charge”. This would improve transparency, and leaseholders would have the right to scrutinise and challenge any fees they are charged under the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

How Landlords, Freeholders, and Property Managing Agents Can Prepare For Change?

Are you a landlord, a freeholder, or a property managing agent? Are you wondering how you might prepare for this change?

It might help to get involved in the open consultation. As well as providing an opportunity to share your thoughts, the consultation also includes a number of questions for you to consider. These might help you understand the viability of your current arrangement, along with the steps you may need to take to make your practices more transparent.

If you have any concerns about the future procedure for securing the right insurance for the properties you manage, we are here to help. We are an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals. We are committed to getting you the cover you need at a price you can afford, all while delivering the best possible value for your leaseholders.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

Exciting News from Everard Insurance!
Exciting News from Everard Insurance! 1280 720 James Hallam

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our New Personal & Commercial Boat Insurance Product available to brokers, designed to provide comprehensive protection and peace of mind for boat owners. Whether you own a sailboat, motorboat, fishing vessel, or yacht, our tailored coverage options ensure that you can enjoy your time on the water with confidence.

Key Features of Our New Boat Insurance:

  • Hull and Machinery Coverage: Protects the structural integrity and mechanical components of your boat.
  • Liability Coverage: Safeguards you against legal liabilities for bodily injury or property damage to others.
  • Personal Property Coverage: Insures your personal belongings on board.
  • Medical Payments Coverage: Covers medical expenses for injuries sustained on your boat.

Discounts and Incentives:

  • Multi-Policy Discounts: Bundle with other Everard Insurance products for additional savings.
  • No Claims Bonus: Rewards for maintaining a claim-free record.

Why Choose Everard Insurance?

Set sail with confidence knowing that Everard Insurance has you covered. Contact us today to learn more about our new boat insurance product and get a personalised quote!

Or use our online risk capture portal, please find the link below:

Small Craft: Commercial Marine Insurance Form – James Hallam

Small Craft: Private Pleasure Craft Insurance Form – James Hallam

How Travel Agents Can Offer More Sustainable Travel Options
How Travel Agents Can Offer More Sustainable Travel Options 500 220 James Hallam

In late 2024, Booking.com surveyed nearly 28,000 travellers who planned to travel for business or leisure over the next couple of years. Among other things, they asked these travellers about their key priorities when planning trips.

A major priority for many travellers – and one which appears to be getting more important with every passing year – is sustainability.

In another survey, around 75% of travellers said they want to travel more sustainably in 2025.

In this post we will briefly explain what “sustainability” means in travel and tourism, before discussing how travel agents and tour operators can offer more sustainable travel options.

What Makes a Trip Sustainable?

For many, “sustainability” is synonymous with CO2 emissions. The lower the emissions associated with a trip, the more sustainable that trip will be. This can mean travelling shorter distances with a greater reliance on less carbon intensive forms of transport. A train will likely be more sustainable than a plane, for example.

Yet there is more to sustainability than carbon emissions. Sustainability also means taking steps to protect the “essence” of a place, whether that is a unique local character or a fragile eco-system.

So, as well as reducing their carbon footprints, travellers want to tread lightly wherever they visit; to immerse themselves in the local culture while avoiding activities that might in some way compromise the environment or the local community.

How Travel Agents Can Offer More Sustainable Travel Options

Below we will discuss some ways that travel agents and tour operators can offer more sustainable travel options in 2025 and beyond.

Sustainable Travel and Accommodation

Ideally, you could prioritise destinations that your customers could easily reach by more sustainable modes of transport, such as coach or train. Yet to remain competitive in a crowded and fast-moving industry, you will likely always have to sell packages and experiences that will involve air travel.

So, instead of avoiding air travel entirely, aim to only work with airlines that have achieved sustainable certification, such as the IATA Integrated Sustainability Program. Also, remember that direct flights are always better than a series of connecting flights, as planes emit the most CO2 at take-off and landing.

Similarly, when it comes to accommodation, try to avoid the major resorts and hotel chains. Instead, look to the smaller, independent, and boutique accommodation providers – those who are more likely to employ locals and to source their food and other supplies from the local area.

Create Off-the-Beaten-Track Packages and Support Independent Business

“Vintage Voyaging” is a type of travel experience Booking.com predicted will become popular in 2025. This means “embracing a thrifty or vintage mindset when travelling”:

“It’s about immersing yourself in a place’s history and heritage. These trips treat the experience of travelling as a souvenir in itself, with vacationers seeking to enjoy deeper cultural connections with the destinations they visit by rejecting globalised consumerism and choosing to shop locally instead.”

How might a travel agent or tour operator offer such a “vintage voyaging” experience? Through creating packages that will allow customers to travel to emerging “off-the-beaten-track” locations, ideally with lots of independent shops, restaurants, and accommodation options.

Take a look at 10 such sustainable travel destinations the BBC recommended in early 2024.

Get Accredited

If you want to attract the green-minded traveller, then it will help to get accreditation to highlight your commitment to sustainability.

For example, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) offers a certification scheme. If you join the scheme, you can also join the GSTC Market Access Program, a global network of hotels and accommodations that also have certification.

Tailored Support For Tour Operators and Travel Agents

At James Hallam, for over 35 years we have provided dedicated insurance services for travel agents and tour operators. Our tailored services can help you get the cover you need at a truly competitive price.

Find out more about our bespoke insurance services for travel agents and tour operators.

 

Museum Security and Safety Risks
Museum Security and Safety Risks 500 334 James Hallam

Museums face a unique set of security and safety risks. If you manage a museum, it is essential that you take the time to understand the risks you face, so that you can take steps to safeguard your museum, your staff, your exhibits, and your visitors from all possible threats.

What Security and Safety Risks Do Museums Face?

When most people think about museum security, they most likely think about the risk of theft. The British Museum reported stolen artefacts as recently as 2023, while a Swiss museum recently experienced the theft of a £2m Ming vase.

Museums must also contend with health and safety risks for staff, visitors, and other members of the public. The Wirral Transport Museum was recently prevented from reopening due to the discovery of significant “hazardous substances risks”.

In recent years, museums and galleries have also had to contend with acts of vandalism carried out by activists. As well as the possible loss or damage of priceless artefacts, demonstrations from activists may also compromise the safety of other museum visitors. And if an activist harms themselves during their protest, will the museum be held liable?

Beyond this, museums face the same risks that any business or building in the UK must contend with, including, but not limited to:

  • Fire
  • Flood
  • Burglaries – as in, the everyday theft of money or stock, rather than the high-profile theft of exhibits or artefacts.
  • Public liability – if any member of the public slips, trips, or falls while on museum property, the museum may be liable.
  • Product liability – if the museum prepares or sells food on the premises, they may face claims should any member of the public experience food poisoning or allergic reactions having consumed this food.
  • Employer’s liability – in the UK it is a legal requirement to get adequate employer’s liability insurance if you have any employees.

How Can Museums Manage These Safety and Security Risks?

Arts Council England and the Collections Trust have produced a Museum Security Toolkit. This toolkit is designed to help museums understand the unique safety and security risks they may be facing, and to take appropriate action to manage these risks.

The toolkit advises on four steps for managing museum safety and security:

  1. Gather Information – Aim to get as comprehensive a picture as possible of the current measures you have in place to protect your collections, your staff, and your visitors. For this, they recommend an Environmental Visual Assessment (EVA), and a dedicated Museum Security Audit.
  2. Identify Threats – Devise an exhaustive list of all the threats to your collection, your staff, your museum premises, and to your ongoing operations should any of these threats occur. As part of this, they recommend creating and maintaining a good Collections Management System (CMS), to identify any particularly vulnerable objects.
  3. Assess, Plan, and Implement – Assess the likelihood of any possible threats or risks. Plan to manage these risks through either current or improved control measures. Then outline how you will implement these plans, including how you will communicate them across your staff. For this, they recommend using a Risk Awareness Profiling Tool (RAPT).
  4. Monitor and Review – As part of your ongoing management and planning cycles, you should continually review the threats your museum and your collections face, along with your control measures for managing these threats.

Is Your Museum Covered For All Possible Risks?

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you understand the unique risks your museum faces, before arranging for comprehensive insurance to cover your museum, your collections, your staff, and your visitors.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

 

What Kind of Insurance Does a Restaurant Need?
What Kind of Insurance Does a Restaurant Need? 500 334 James Hallam

If you are running a restaurant, or a chain or restaurants, then you no doubt know that you need insurance to cover your business for the range of risks you will face.

Yet there are many different insurance products out there, and not all of them are relevant for restaurants. So, how can you ensure you get the cover you need at the best possible price?

In this post we will explore some of the most important insurance products for restaurants, cafés, pubs, and other businesses that prepare and serve food.

Running a catering van? Take a look at our guide to insurance requirements for mobile caterers.

Types of Insurance for Restaurants

Public Liability Insurance

If a member of the public gets injured on your restaurant premises, public liability insurance can cover any compensation they may be due, along with any associated legal fees. This cover extends to your customers, as well as any other members of the public who may visit your premises, including contractors, delivery drivers, and health inspectors.

Public liability insurance can also cover any loss or damage to customers’ property while they are on your premises – such as if one of your waiters spills a drink on a customer’s clothing.

Product Liability Insurance

Product liability insurance can cover for claims related to the food and drink you prepare and serve on your premises. For example, if a customer has an allergic reaction to your food, or if they fall ill after eating at your restaurant, product liability insurance can cover any compensation they may be due, along with any associated legal fees.

Employer’s Liability Insurance

This is similar to public liability insurance, though rather than providing cover for claims made by members of the public, it covers you for claims made by your employers for any illnesses or injuries they sustain while working at your restaurant.

In UK law, there is a legal requirement to get adequate employer’s liability insurance should you employ any staff.

Contents and Stock Insurance

Business contents insurance can cover your restaurants furniture and equipment if they are lost or damaged as a result of fire, theft, floods, or other incidents. Contents insurance can provide cover for repairs or replacements, as necessary.

Stock insurance can cover your perishable stock for similar losses. But it can also cover for other kinds of situations, such as if your frozen stock goes bad following a power cut to your freezer.

Business Buildings Insurance

This can cover your restaurant premises for necessary repairs following fires, floods, storms, or break-ins.

Business Interruption Insurance

If you are forced to temporarily close your restaurant following an insured event, such as a fire or a flood, business interruption insurance can supplement any lost income, allowing you to stay afloat during your downtime.

All claims are different and we would recommend that you read through your policy documents to ensure you are familiar with the details of the cover you’ve been offered.

How Much is Restaurant Insurance?

The amount you pay for your restaurant insurance will depend on a number of factors, including but not restricted to the following:

  • The level of cover you choose. The more extensive your cover, the higher your premiums will be.
  • Your restaurant’s annual turnover.
  • The number of staff you employ. Some insurers may ask for additional information about your employees, including their ages, so as to determine their respective risk profiles.
  • The rebuild costs of your restaurant premises following a total loss. Insurers will also consider the value of your restaurant’s content and stock.
  • Your physical location. If your restaurant is located in an inner city area, there may be an increased risk of burglary. Also, any restaurants located on flood plains will likely have to pay more for buildings cover.
  • The construction of the premises.

We Can Help You Get All The Cover You Need at a Fair Price

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers.

We know that no two restaurants are quite the same. So, we will take the time to get to know you, your business, and your customers. This will allow us to design a restaurant insurance package that truly meets your needs at a competitive price.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

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