Insights

Why is Retail Theft Rising in 2026?
Why is Retail Theft Rising in 2026? 1000 666 James Hallam

Shops across the UK are reporting a rise in retail theft. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), over 500,000 incidents were reported in 2025 – 2026, a rise in 5% compared to the previous year.

In this post we will outline some of the underlying causes of this rise in retail theft, before exploring some ways you can help to prevent theft in your store.

Underlying Causes of Retail Theft Rising

There are a number of factors which affect crime rates, particularly theft. In 2026, we are seeing the following contributory factors:

  • Cost of living crisis
  • Organised crime
  • Staffing issues
  • Rise in self-checkouts

We’ll explore each of these individually below to find out more about the causes and how it may impact target items.

The Ongoing Cost of Living Crisis

The UK has been struggling with high inflation rates for a number of years, which greatly increased the cost of living for millions.

Rising food costs may have contributed to the increase in shoplifting. Baby formula is one of the most commonly stolen items in the UK, and this is likely because it is both essential and expensive.

Organised Crime

Some retail bodies claim that organised crime is driving a rise in retail theft.

Some of this may be relatively small scale, such as the thieves who steal premium cuts of meat to sell to pubs and other establishments. But some retailers have fallen victim to larger gangs that have targeted multiple stores in succession.

Even worse, this form of theft seems to be linked with rising incidents of violence and abuse against frontline retail staff.

Staffing Issues

Rising costs have forced many stores to cut staff hours, and the UK workforce as a whole has shrunk in recent years.

Fewer staff on the shop floor means that there are fewer people to look out for the signs of shoplifting, and more blind spots for thieves to operate in.

The Rise of Self-Checkouts

Many stores have started offering self-checkout services, partially as a way of managing costs, and partially as a way of offering a more streamlined experience to customers.

Some self-checkout areas feature systems designed to prevent theft, such as security cameras, and gates that will only open if the customer scans a code they receive after purchase. But nonetheless, the perceived lack of security around self-checkout areas may be fueling a rise in shoplifting.

Some customers find self-checkout systems confusing, which may mean they unintentionally take some items without paying. And while they may not be shoplifting in the strictest sense, this will still lead to losses for the store.

The Impact of Retail Theft on Stores

How To Reduce Theft in Your Store

We have a number of guides on our site to help you address retail theft in your store:

It is also important to address the risks of employee theft in your store. Read our full guide to understanding and preventing employee retail theft.

Get The Right Cover For Your Retail Store

A specialist retail insurance policy can cover your store for many of the losses you may experience as a result of theft and other incidents, subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

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

Find out how we can help your shop today.

How to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls in Your Shop
How to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls in Your Shop 1000 667 James Hallam

Slips, trips, and falls are a major issue for retail businesses, and there are severe penalties for shops that do not take the time to address the risks.

In this post we will explore some of the possible underlying causes of slips, trips, and falls in the retail environment. We will also outline how you can address these risks in your store.

What Causes Slips, Trips, and Falls in Shops?

There are a number of different causes for slips, trips and falls in shops, including:

  • Clutter – Any stock or equipment left in walkways can create a trip hazard for both staff and customers.
  • Liquids – A spilled liquid creates a slipping hazard. But customers may also slip on a freshly cleaned surface, particularly if there are no warning signs about, or if staff used too much cleaning product.
  • Mats, Rugs, and Tiles – People may trip over a rumpled mat or rug, or a loose tile on the floor.
  • Environmental factors – People may fail to spot slip or trip hazards if the lighting is poor. Or they may lose their footing if they do not see a step or a ramp.

How To Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls in Your Shop

To help reduce and prevent slips, trips and falls in your shop, you should consider:

  • Staff Training – Train your staff to spot the risks that could contribute to slips, trips, and falls, and make sure that everyone knows what to do to address these risks. Also make a point of recording and reporting any incidents that occur, specifying exactly what went wrong, and outlining the steps you will take to prevent further incidents.
  • Stay On Top of Cleaning – Establish a cleaning rota and aim to clean up any spillages as soon as possible. It is also important to use the right cleaning products, and in the right quantity. Use the wrong product and you may not effectively remove a spillage. And use too much of a product and you could make the slipping hazard even worse.
  • Make Customers Aware of the Risks – After cleaning, place signs warning customers of slippery surfaces. If there are any steps or ramps on the shop floor, make sure they are clearly indicated, with signage if necessary.
  • Stay On Top of Maintenance – Replace faulty lighting, damaged floor tiles, and any other faults that could lead to accidents as soon as possible.
  • Reduce Clutter – Never leave stock or cleaning equipment unattended in walkways. This goes for your storeroom as well as your shop floor. Your staff are just as liable to get injured by a slip, trip, or fall as your customers.

Risk Management and Insurance

Addressing the common causes of slips, trips, and falls should form a part of your wider risk management strategy. Read our full guide to risk management for retail businesses.

As we mentioned above, there are severe penalties for any store that does not take the time to mitigate slipping and tripping hazards. The Health and Safety Executive has numerous case studies of slips and trips that ultimately cost retail stores dearly.

Specialist retail insurance can help cover any legal costs or settlements that may arise as a result of an incident in your shop. You have a legal duty to get employers liability insurance to cover the risks for your staff, while public liability insurance can cover any incidents that affect customers, contractors, delivery drivers, and other members of the public.

There are strong links between risk management and insurance. Your insurer may require you to implement certain risk management processes as a condition of your cover. But at the same time, if you can evidence your risk management efforts, you may be able to make a saving on the cost of cover.

Get The Right Cover For Your Retail Store

A specialist retail insurance policy can help provide cover for losses you may experience as a result of slips, trips, falls, and other incidents, subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with an experienced team of insurance professionals who care about protecting your store. We can help you access the cover you need for your business, and we can also show you how to evidence your risk management in order to make potential savings on your premiums.

Find out how we can help your shop today.

 

Competent Crew Requirements in Shipping
Competent Crew Requirements in Shipping 1000 668 James Hallam

A well-trained, competent crew is essential for ensuring operational safety and efficiency. Adequate crew training is also a core component of numerous international shipping standards and regulations.

In this post we will outline some of the key crew training requirements in shipping. As well as exploring the benefits of a competent crew, we will also discuss some of the risks you may face if your crew fails to meet the appropriate training standards.

International Standards for Competent Crew Requirements

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) was first adopted in 1978 and has seen numerous amendments in the intervening years. The STCW Convention establishes minimum basic international standards for training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers.

The Convention features four modules of basic safety training, including Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety and Social Responsibility. Seafarers must complete these four modules before they are assigned to duties on a seagoing ship.

Recent amendments to the STCW Convention include new modules on bullying and harassment, and a requirement for cyber-awareness training for officers.

Beyond this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) established the minimum standards for manning levels in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974.

You can read the full guidelines for the application of the IMO safe manning principles.

Certificates of Competency

Under the STCW Convention, flag states are responsible for issuing Certificates of Competency (CoCs) to seafarers who have completed the required training. CoCs are often only necessary if the crew members are undertaking certain duties, and even then, they may only be necessary if the ship is of a certain size, or if it is operating in certain areas.

Broadly speaking, the following crew members are generally required to have CoCs:

  • Deck officers, especially if they perform navigational and bridge watch-keeping duties
  • Engineering officers
  • Radio operators
  • Cooks
  • Security operators

CoCs must be revalidated every five years. Seafarers can revalidate their certificates through demonstrating that they have completed either 12 months of sea service in the last five years, or three months of sea service in the last six months. You can learn more about CoC revalidation.

If seafarers from certain non-UK countries want to work as an officer on a UK-registered ship, then they can apply for a Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) instead.

You can read the full UK Government guidance on competent crew requirements, including the necessary qualifications and documentation, here.

How Crew Competency Affects Seaworthiness

Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, it is a criminal offence to send, or to attempt to send, an “unseaworthy” ship to sea. Seaworthiness has also been an implied warranty of all standard marine insurance policies since the introduction of the Marine Insurance Act of 1906, which outlined that vessels must be “reasonably seaworthy in all respects.”

Shipowners have a legal responsibility to ensure that their vessels are seaworthy at the start of their voyage, and throughout. While seaworthiness largely depends on the physical condition of the vessel, it also hinges on the competency of the crew.

For example, in a recent case involving the grounding of the Happy Aras bulk carrier, the court ruled that the master’s incompetence had rendered the vessel unseaworthy.

Following an incident, if the shipowner’s due diligence and the vessel’s seaworthiness come into question, it may not be enough to simply demonstrate that your officers were appropriately certified. It may also be necessary to evidence your recruitment, onboarding, training, supervision, and performance monitoring procedures. These can demonstrate how you ensure your crew remains competent, and your vessel thus remains seaworthy, throughout a voyage.

Owner/Operator Responsibilities for Having Competent Crew

The International Maritime Organization Rules 26.2.2 outlines the responsibilities of owners and operators in ensuring that vessels are safely and sufficiently manned.

These responsibilities include:

  • Assessing all tasks, duties, and responsibilities necessary for the vessel’s safe operation, for the protection of the marine environment, and for dealing with emergency situations.
  • Identifying the skills and experience required to fulfil all necessary functions.
  • Ensuring the manning level is adequate at all times, accounting for peak workloads.
  • Reviewing the manning level in the event of any changes in the nature of the operation.
  • Ensuring that all working arrangements also allow for sufficient rest periods, so as to avoid fatigue.

You can read the full list of IMO general principles for ensuring that vessels are safely and sufficiently manned.

The Importance of a Competent Crew

A competent crew is essential for ensuring operational safety and efficiency. With adequate training, in the event of an incident at sea, every member of the crew will know exactly what they need to do to keep themselves and others safe.

Good training can also help to reduce the losses in the event of an accident. If a fire breaks out onboard, for example, the crew should be able to contain the blaze before it has a chance to spread.

With all this in mind, the risks you will face if your crew does not meet the minimum safety standards should be obvious: The ship will likely be plagued by operational inefficiencies and health and safety oversights. Your operations may fall behind schedule, and should anything go wrong, the crew may not know how to react. Their actions could lead to further damages, along with serious injuries, and even death.

Plus, if you fail to meet these international training standards, you may face fines and other penalties for non-compliance. There could be insurance implications too. Following an incident at sea, if your insurer finds that you did not act to ensure your crew met all relevant standards, then they may reject your claim.

We Can Help You Get The Dedicated Insurance You Need For Voyages

Everard Insurance Brokers provides specialist marine insurance solutions, helping businesses protect valuable shipments throughout the supply chain. We can help you understand the training and regulatory requirements that may apply to your ship and your crew. We can also help you access insurance solutions tailored to the risks you may face both at port and at sea.

Find out more about our specialist marine insurance services.

 

ATOL Regulations and How To Become Registered
ATOL Regulations and How To Become Registered 1000 667 James Hallam

The ATOL scheme provides travellers with financial protection when they book a package trip that includes some airline travel.

In this post we will explain what ATOL is, and how it works. We will also look at who needs a license, and outline the steps required to get registered. Finally, we will explain some of the penalties and other consequences you could face if you fail to get an ATOL licence when required.

What is ATOL?

ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing. First introduced in 1973, the ATOL scheme provides travellers with financial protection when they book a package holiday that includes a flight. This protection is separate from their travel insurance cover.

What Does ATOL Do?

ATOL providers must provide their customers with an ATOL certificate whenever they book an ATOL protected trip. Among other things, this document will outline exactly who and what is covered by the ATOL scheme.

If an ATOL registered travel provider ceases trading while their customers are overseas, the ATOL scheme can help the customers to continue their trip through providing some financial support. This can include reimbursement for accommodation, car hire, and transfers, along with support with flights home where necessary.

Exemptions to ATOL Cover

The ATOL scheme does not cover all flights. There are also numerous exceptions to the ATOL coverage, including issues with accommodation, and missing or damaged luggage.

For more information, you can read a full guide to what ATOL does not cover.

When Do You Need To Be ATOL Registered?

The ATOL Scheme is run by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and there is extensive guidance on their website concerning who needs an ATOL, and who is exempt.

Businesses that offer flight packages or flight-only sales to UK passengers are legally required to get an ATOL. This includes businesses based outside of the UK that advertise and sell to customers within the UK.

Travel agencies, tour operators, and online travel retailers may be required to get a licence as part of the Package Travel Regulations. Some travel agents may not be required to hold their own ATOL, such as those who only sell accommodation packages, or those who exclusively sell premade packages that include flights. However, even if a travel agency is exempt from the scheme, they must:

  • Exclusively work with providers who do own an ATOL.
  • Advise their customers on whether or not any flights they book through them are covered by the ATOL scheme.
  • Make it clear just what the ATOL scheme covers, and what it does not cover.
  • Ensure that their customers receive a valid ATOL certificate.

As part of the regulations, all ATOL holders must appoint an accountable person (AP) to ensure that their company complies with the CAA’s terms and conditions.

How To Become ATOL Registered

To get ATOL registered, you will first need to pay an application fee. This can be in the form of a fixed charge, and the amount you pay will depend on the size and nature of your business. At the time of writing, the fees range from £981 to £2,601.

You will also need to take a fitness and a finance test, so that the CAA can confirm that your business has the competence and the capacity to hold a licence. And ultimately, you will need to introduce a mechanism for protecting your customers’ money – with a bond, for example.

You will have to renew your licence once a year, and you will have to go through a similar assessment process every time you renew.

Though it is possible to get an ATOL licence from a franchise or an accredited body, many businesses choose to apply directly to the CAA. You can read the full CAA guidance to applying.

Penalties for Not Being ATOL Registered?

If you are legally required to get an ATOL, either as part of the CAA regulations or under the Package Travel Regulations, then you will face some severe penalties for non-compliance.

The CAA has numerous enforcement powers, and they can pursue criminal prosecution for businesses and individuals. They have also pledged to publicise some of their enforcement actions, in order to provide transparency for consumers, and to create a strong deterrent for non-compliance.

This essentially means that they are prepared to “name and shame” any travel providers that do not comply, which would likely lead to considerable reputational damage. So, even if they do not face prosecution, any business or individual that falls foul of the CAA regulations may struggle to ever trade again.

There may also be some insurance implications for non-compliance. Travel agents and tour providers often rely on scheduled airline failure insurance and supplier failure insurance to cover their own losses should a provider cease trading. But if your insurer finds that you failed to get an ATOL where necessary, or that you neglected to check that your providers were ATOL registered, then they may reject your claim.

How to Ensure You Are Fully Covered as a Travel Agent or Tour Operator

At James Hallam, we have provided dedicated insurance services for travel agents and tour operators for over 20 years.

We can advise you on whether you have a legal obligation to get an ATOL based on the packages you sell. We can also help you access the specialist insurance you need to ensure that, in the event of a supplier failure, you can cover your losses as well as your customers’ losses.

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

 

How Does Second Home Insurance Work?
How Does Second Home Insurance Work? 1000 667 James Hallam

Your standard home insurance policy will not cover any second homes or holiday homes you own. For appropriate protection, you will need a dedicated second home insurance policy.

In this post, we will outline how second home insurance works: Why you need it, what it covers, and how much it might cost. We will also briefly explore the differences between second home insurance and holiday let insurance.

Why You Need Second Home Insurance

Second homes and holiday lets will likely be left unoccupied for periods of time. There are multiple risks associated with leaving properties unoccupied for an extended period. The property may be vulnerable to break-ins and vandalism, for example. And if there is nobody around to look after the property, a small issue such as a burst pipe could eventually escalate into a disaster.

The problem is that standard home insurance policies will only cover occupied properties. The policy will not provide any cover if the property is left unoccupied for more than a specified period, which is usually between 30 and 60 days.

This is why you will need specialist insurance for any second homes or holiday lets in your portfolio. A dedicated policy can provide cover for the risks that come with leaving properties unoccupied for long periods. It can also provide additional liability cover should you choose to let your property to paying guests.

Second Home Insurance vs. Holiday Let Insurance – What Is The Difference?

Both second home insurance and holiday let insurance provide cover for periods when a property is unoccupied. The key difference is that holiday let insurance includes additional liability protection and cover for the risks associated with renting the property to paying guests or members of the public.

For example, if a guest injures themselves while staying at your property and alleges that you were responsible, your holiday let insurance may cover compensation you are legally required to pay, along with legal fees that may arise in the event of a dispute, subject to the policy’s terms, conditions, exclusions and limits

What Does Second Home Insurance Cover?

Second home and holiday let insurance can typically provide cover, subject to policy terms and conditions, exclusions and limits for losses or damage arising from:

  • Forced entry, vandalism, and malicious damage
  • Theft
  • Escape of water
  • Severe weather events, including flooding
  • Subsidence
  • Structural damage
  • Property owners liability cover (for holiday lets)

How Much Is Second Home Insurance?

The cost of your second home or holiday let insurance will depend on a number of factors.

Holiday let or second home
Holiday let insurance will likely cost more than a standard second home insurance policy, due to the need for property owners liability cover on top of the other core areas of cover.

Location
The location of your property can make a difference. You may have to pay more for cover if your property is located in an area with relatively high crime rates, or somewhere with a particularly high risk of flooding. You may also have to pay more for cover if your property is located overseas.

Property size and value
The size and value of your property may affect the cost of any potential repairs following an incident such as a fire or a flood. You may also need additional contents cover if you keep any particularly valuable items in your second home or holiday let.

Get A Free Quote For Second Home Insurance Today

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with extensive experience in helping individuals protect their assets. We will take the time to understand your property portfolio, before helping you access the specialist insurance solutions to meet your individual needs.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

How Much D&O Insurance Do I Need?
How Much D&O Insurance Do I Need? 1000 528 James Hallam

If your business faces any legal action, Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance may help cover defence costs against your business’s decision-makers for any personal liability related to their roles, subject to terms, conditions & exclusions. But while most businesses understand the value of D&O insurance, many may wonder just how much D&O insurance they need.

In this post we will explore some of the factors that can determine the level of D&O cover you need. We will also explore some of the risks you may face if you do not have the right level of cover in place.

What Does D&O Insurance Cover?

If anyone makes a claim against any of your directors and officers for alleged wrongful acts, D&O insurance may help cover defence costs and certain damages or settlements that may arise, subject to the policy’s terms & conditions.

D&O insurance can cover any costs associated with allegations of:

  • Neglect
  • Error
  • Trading offences
  • Misleading statements
  • Breach of trust or duty
  • Data breaches

How Much D&O Insurance Do I Need?

How much D&O insurance is enough? The amount of cover you need will depend on the size and nature of your business. You will need more cover if you have external investors, for example, or if you engage in regulated activity.

SMEs with an annual turnover of £10m or less will typically get a D&O cover limit between £1m and £3m.

But if you conduct any regulated activity – if you are an FCA authorised firm, for example – then you might need a cover limit as high as £10m.

Larger listed companies with external shareholders, complex operations or higher risk activities would generally look to get a higher limit of cover, which is likely to have a minimum of £10m indemnity.

Why You Need D&O Insurance

Claims alleging of wrongful acts by directors and officers can be costly. Without D&O cover in place, your business’s decision makers may be held personally liable for certain defence costs, settlements or damages arising from covered claims.

As well as having D&O cover in place, it is equally important to ensure you have sufficient cover for any potential legitimate claims you may face. If your policy’s cover limit does not meet the total cost of a claim this may leave the directors, officers or the business exposed if the total cost of the covered claim exceeds the available cover. Here are some examples of when directors and officers faced personal liability for allegations of wrongdoing:

But while your business is unlikely to face billions in settlements, you should never underestimate the potential cost of a claim, particularly if you have external shareholders, or if you operate in a heavily regulated industry.

How To Ensure You Have An Appropriate Level of D&O Cover

If you want to ensure you have an appropriate level of D&O cover, you could look to the typical levels of cover for businesses of your size and in your sector. As we mentioned above, some businesses will need more cover than others, therefore it will depend upon your individual circumstances.

But for every business, it is important to consider the potential cost of defending claims, as legal and professional expenses can be significant.  A higher policy limit may provide greater financial protection .  The best way to ensure you have the right level of D&O cover for your business is through working with an insurance broker. An experienced broker will help you understand the specific risks and liabilities your business’s directors and operators may face to allow you to make an informed decision. They can then help you access a policy that aligns with your needs and budget.

Directors & Officers Insurance Services From James Hallam

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

We can advise you on your business insurance requirements and help you find a D&O insurance solution that aligns with your business needs and budget

Read our full guide to the many benefits of D&O insurance, and get in touch for a free quote today.

Commercial Property Risk Assessments For Insurance Renewal: Step-by-Step
Commercial Property Risk Assessments For Insurance Renewal: Step-by-Step 1000 667 James Hallam

When the time comes to renew your commercial property insurance, it pays to undertake a risk assessment of your property.

In this post we will explore your legal obligations to carry out a risk assessment, along with the links between risk assessments and commercial property insurance. We will then outline a step-by-step guide to carrying out a commercial property risk assessment for insurance renewal.

Are Risk Assessments a Legal Requirement?

Risk assessments are a legal requirement. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 specifies that it is “the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of all employees.”

Further, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that every employer needs to make a “suitable and sufficient assessment of … the risks to the health and safety of employees to which they are exposed at work.”

These regulations go on to specify that you are also responsible for assessing “the risks to the health and safety of persons not in employment arising out of or in connection with” your conduct or undertaking.

This means that, if you own a commercial property, you have a legal responsibility to carry out a risk assessment as a landlord. Even if you do not use the commercial property for your own business, you still have a legal duty of care to assess the risks to any commercial tenants who lease your property, along with any contractors or other professionals who may spend time on the premises.

What Are The Links Between Risk Assessments and Insurance?

In addition to your legal responsibilities to carry out a risk assessment, your insurer may require you to carry out periodic risk assessments of your property as a condition of your commercial property insurance. They may also specify certain conditions that must be in place to manage and mitigate risks so as to maintain a valid policy.

The good news is that, if you can evidence your risk assessment and management procedures to your insurer, it may help to lower the price of your policy. Insurance is all about risk, and if you can demonstrate to your insurer that you take risk seriously, they may reward you with lower premiums.

Commercial Property Risk Assessment Step-by-Step

Whether this is your first risk assessment, or you’re reviewing a previous one, here is our step-by-step guide for ensuring your commercial property risk assessment covers essential risks.

Identifying Commercial Property Hazards

When it comes to risk assessments, there will likely be many overlaps between your legal obligations, and the conditions your insurer outlines in your policy. You should be able to cover all of these obligations through taking a thorough approach to risk assessment: Taking the time to identify any potential hazards throughout your commercial property, and specifying the steps you can take to manage and mitigate these risks.

For each hazard you identify, you should specify:

  1. Who would be at risk, along with the potential severity of the risk.
  2. The current safety measures that are in place.
  3. Any further actions you can take to manage, mitigate, or eliminate the risk.

Your risk assessment should focus on four key areas:

  • Security
  • Fire safety
  • Flood protection
  • Maintenance

Security

  • Consider any factors that might encourage criminals to target your property. Thieves are more likely to target your property if you keep valuable materials or equipment onsite. Vandals and squatters may be more likely to target your property if it appears abandoned or unoccupied.
  • Identify all possible points of entry, along with the current security systems in place.
  • Consider any gaps in your security systems, and how you might enhance your security. This could be with extra locks, security shutters, additional CCTV coverage, or even onsite security personnel.

Fire Safety

  • Identify all sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen throughout your commercial property. These are the factors that could cause a fire to break out, or to spread.
  • Identify who would be at risk from a fire, paying particular attention to anyone who might be unfamiliar with your premises, or anyone who might work alone or in an isolated area.
  • Determine how you can manage, mitigate, or eliminate each of these risks. This could be through setting maintenance schedules for all onsite equipment while investing in new fire safety systems, such as alarms, sprinkler systems, and smoke extractors.

For more information about fire safety for commercial properties, read our guide to warehouse fire safety risk assessments. While this guide is specifically for warehouses, it covers the essential aspects of fire risk assessments that could also apply to other types of commercial properties.

Flood Protection

  • Identify the possible causes of a flood. Even if your commercial property is not located on a flood plain, flooding could still occur as a result of burst or leaking pipes, surface water run off or overflowing drains.
  • Consider how you might mitigate any possible losses caused by flood. This might include storing particularly valuable stock or equipment on higher shelves, and signing up for government flood warning services so that you can take steps to secure your property as early as possible.
  • Outline some flood response procedures for your property, including an evacuation plan. You could also invest in flood defence equipment for use in an emergency.

We have a guide to preparing certain kinds of commercial properties for flooding. While this guide refers explicitly to retail premises, again, the principles it outlines could also apply to other kinds of commercial properties.

Property Maintenance

  • Conduct a thorough survey of your property’s structure. You may need to appoint a specialist surveyor to help you with this. Look for any signs of subsidence or other structural issues, and consider how you might address these issues.
  • Identify any equipment or systems within your property that might require ongoing maintenance, including electronics, machinery, and security and fire safety systems.
  • Outline a maintenance schedule for all of the above, which should include a schedule for replacing certain items such as fire extinguishers.

Recording and Reviewing Your Risk Assessment

Finally, you should:

  • Record any steps you took to address the risks you identified in your risk assessment, along with any additional risk management measures you identified.
  • Determine who is responsible for overseeing any risk management procedures you identify, along with a timeframe for completion.
  • Outline a plan for periodically reviewing your commercial property risk assessment. At minimum, you should do this once a year, or whenever you renew your commercial property insurance. But you should also review your risk assessment whenever you make any significant changes to your operations (such as when you lease to a new commercial tenant), or following any incident such as a fire, a flood, or a break-in.

Get The Right Insurance Cover For Your Commercial Property

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

We can help you get the specific cover you need for your commercial property. We can also show you how to evidence your risk management procedures to your insurer, which could help you make a saving on the cost of cover.

Learn more about our specialist commercial property insurance services.

How To Value Vintage Clothing For Vintage Shops
How To Value Vintage Clothing For Vintage Shops 1000 667 James Hallam

If you run a vintage clothes shop, or a general second hand shop that sells vintage clothes among other goods, then you may have wondered just how much you should be charging for your vintage items.

In this post we will explore some ways you can value your vintage clothing, to help you set prices that reflect each item’s true value that your customers will be happy to pay.

What Affects the Value of Vintage Clothes?

Here are the some of the things that can impact the value of any item of vintage clothing:

  • Label – Some labels will always be worth more than others. Dior, Chanel, and other high-end designer labels will always attract high prices. But other labels might vary in value, depending on certain trends.
  • Condition – Items in good condition will be worth more than items that are soiled, worn, or damaged. However, some items have “provenance”. If an item is particularly rare, or if you can prove that it was once owned or worn by a famous person, then buyers might be more willing to overlook a bit of wear and tear.
  • Quality –Mass produced items made from cheap materials will be worth less than rare items made from high quality materials and with obvious care and craftsmanship.

How To Value Vintage Clothing

There are a few things you can try to help you determine the value of any item in your stock. Including:

  • Check online listings
  • Immerse yourself in vintage culture
  • Get a professional valuation

Some of these techniques might prove useful if you need to value large volumes of clothes as quickly as possible. Other techniques might be more costly and time-consuming, and so should be reserved only for items you suspect might be particularly valuable.

Be sure to test and adjust your prices. Be flexible, and be prepared to accept best offers rather than your asking price. Also be aware of how the seasons might affect an item’s value. People will likely pay more for a coat in the autumn or winter than they would during the height of summer.

We’ll go through each of the actions you can take in more detail below.

Check The Online Listings

Head to any site where people can buy and sell vintage clothing: Vinted, Depop, and eBay are good places to start.

If possible, look up the item’s label. But if the item does not have a label, try to find similar items based on its type, size, style, fit, pattern, and the approximate decade in which you think it might have been manufactured.

Pay more attention to final sale prices rather than listing prices. Ultimately, an item is only worth whatever people are willing to pay for it. You might see one item listed at, for example, £300, and another almost identical item that sold for around £50. If the listed item does not sell at the higher price, this suggests that the item’s true value is closer to £50 than £300.

Immerse Yourself in Vintage Clothing Culture

This is more of a long-term strategy that might help you develop your “eye” for spotting potentially valuable items, and your instinct for how much it might be worth.

Attend as many vintage events as you can and while you’re there:

  • Pay attention to what people are selling, and what people are buying.
  • Listen to the sort of questions buyers ask, and the sort of information sellers provide.
  • Talk to other sellers, either in person or online.
  • Share insights, and you can start to develop a joint understanding of current and emerging trends.

It can also help to pay attention to auctions. Shedd is a dedicated vintage auction marketplace in which every single item is initially listed at a low price with no reserve. This means that the sale prices may reflect authentic market demand from real buyers.

Finally, look out for industry guides. There may be specialist guides to current trends and estimated valuations for certain styles or brands.

Get a Specialist Valuation

If you come across an item that you suspect may be rare or valuable, and you want to make absolutely sure that it is not a fake, then it might help to get a specialist valuation.

A specialist can advise you on the item’s provenance, and they may even be able to help you restore the item to make it even more valuable.

Obviously, this will take time, and specialists evaluators will not work for free. But if you suspect you have a genuine Gucci on your hands, for instance, then any costs may be entirely justified.

Once You Understand How Valuable Your Stock Is, Be Sure To Get It Covered

You can get insurance that will cover you for the risks associated with stocking and selling vintage clothes. Stock insurance will cover your valuable vintage items for loss or damage whether they are on your shop floor, in storage, or in transit.

When arrangine stock insurance, you’ll need to think about:

  • Accurate valuations: When getting cover for your vintage clothing business, it is helpful to provide your insurer with an accurate valuation figure for your stock. This way, they can ensure you are covered for the right amount, so that you will get the settlement you need should you ever need to make a claim.
  • Particularly valuable items: Some insurers may only insure your stock up to a certain value, so it is also important to notify your insurer about any particularly valuable items in your stock, just in case they would push your cover level beyond the limit.
  • Trends and value fluctuations: And remember that the value of vintage clothes tends to change! So be sure to revise your valuations as often as possible based on the latest trends, and to give your insurer an up-to-date value every time you renew your policy.

Get Vintage Clothes Shop Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of insurance professionals who care about protecting your business, whether you sell vintage clothes exclusively, or among other items in a second hand shop.

Find out how we can help you today.

How To Protect Your Business From Extreme Weather Events
How To Protect Your Business From Extreme Weather Events 1000 781 James Hallam

In recent years, the UK has faced heatwaves, floods, and a number of severe storms.

In this post we will explore the risks that your business might face should extreme weather events become more common in the UK, before discussing how you can manage and mitigate these risks.

Key Risks of Extreme Weather To Businesses

Heatwaves
High temperatures can lead to increased health risks for your staff and your customers.

The risk could be particularly high for anyone who works in a role that demands a lot of physical activity, or in environments where temperatures are already high, such as factories, warehouses, and industrial settings.

Storms
Storms can lead to travel disruption, which could affect your supply chain or your deliveries.

A storm could also lead to property damage, such as from falling trees or branches, and it could even lead to power cuts.

And a power cut could affect your business in a number of ways: You could lose your temperature controlled stock if your fridges or freezers fail, and if your security systems go down you may be more vulnerable to theft or vandalism.

Floods
Violent storms can also lead to flash floods, which could cause devastating damages to any kind of business.

And it is not just businesses located on flood plains that need to consider the risk of flood. Heavy rains could overwhelm drainage systems, which could lead to floods in areas that are not usually at risk of flooding.

How To Protect Your Business From Extreme Weather Events

If extreme weather events are becoming more common in the UK, below are some strategies that you could implement to safeguard your business against all kinds of weather-related risks, including:

  • Pay attention to Government warnings and weather alerts
  • Manage extreme temperatures
  • Flood planning and protection
  • Storm planning and protection
  • Insurance cover

We’ll explore each of these in more detail below.

Forecasts and Government Weather Warning Notifications

Pay attention to the weather forecast, and pay particular attention to any Government warnings about extreme weather events, and the possible risks they may bring.

When it comes to floods, take a look at the Flood Hub’s flood risk maps, which provide both a five-day flood risk forecast, along with potential long-term flood risks. You can also sign up for official Government flood warnings, which means you can get a call, text, or email if there are any particular risks in your area.

How to Manage Heatwaves in the Workplace

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not specify a maximum working temperature for any workplace. This is because all workplaces are different, and some employees may routinely experience high temperatures as part of their work, such as those who work in factories, industrial settings, and warehouses.

However, the HSE does provide guidance on “thermal comfort”, outlining how high temperatures could encourage staff to exercise less caution and take more risks. For example, they may struggle to focus or concentrate, they may choose not to wear certain items of PPE, and they may cut certain corners that could put themselves, or others, at risk.

If you are worried about how a heatwave might affect your employees or your business, there are certain policies you could introduce to help your staff keep cool. The British Safety Council has published advice on staying safe at work during heatwaves, which includes:

  • Relaxing dress codes
  • Allowing staff to take more frequent breaks
  • Providing a supply of cold drinks
  • Introducing more flexible working policies

Protecting Your Business From Flooding

Sign up for alerts: Above we mentioned how signing up for flood alerts can give you an advanced warning that could give you time to prepare. However, a severe storm could lead to flash flooding, which could strike your business without warning.

Consider stock and equipment placement: There are some measures you could introduce that could help to limit the damage of any flooding on your premises. This can include storing any high-value stock or equipment on high shelves or upper floors.

Invest in drainage: You could also invest in systems that could help reduce the risks of flash flood affecting your business. For instance, you can install non-return valves on your business’s drains, along with the inlet and outlet water pipes. With these in place, even if the local drainage systems get overwhelmed, it will be less likely that any flood water will enter your premises.

Create a flood response plan: Beyond this, it is worth taking the time to design a flood response plan for your business. This could include steps staff should take to keep themselves safe, along with contingency plans to limit disruption to supply lines, deliveries, and other aspects of your operation.

Read our full guide to preparing your business for a flood. Though this guidance refers specifically to retail businesses, it features tips that could help to keep any business safe.

Protecting Your Business From Storms

Unless high winds cause a tree to fall on your business premises, then it is unlikely that a storm itself will threaten your business. However, long periods of heavy rain could make flash floods more likely, and stormy weather could lead to power cuts and other disruptions.

The best way to protect your business from storms is through assessing all the possible risks that a storm could bring, before designing a risk management plan to help you mitigate these risks:

  • Back-up generators to help you deal with power cuts. You could also ensure that there will always be backup power for your fire and security systems, so that power outages will not put your business at increased risk of fire, theft, or vandalism.
  • Continuity plans for dealing with disruption and business interruption. How would you manage any delayed deliveries or shipments, for example? Who would you notify, and what measures would help you manage operations until you get back on track?
  • Working arrangements: If your staff are temporarily unable to travel due to adverse weather conditions, could you introduce temporary flexible working arrangements that would enable them to work from home?
  • Safety protocols: Would a storm put any of your employees at risk on the job? Your employee safety procedures should specify the conditions in which employees should stop working and instead vacate to a place of safety, particularly if they work in a high-risk environment such as a construction site.

How Insurance can Protect Your Business From Extreme Weather Events

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

We can help you understand the specific risks your business faces, and we will ensure that your business insurance will give you the cover you need when you need it most. For example, we can help you access specialist business insurance that will cover you for flood risks, and we will make sure that your business interruption insurance will help cover costs while you get back on track.

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

 

How to Secure High-Theft Items in Retail
How to Secure High-Theft Items in Retail 1000 572 James Hallam

In 2025 – 2026, police recorded 507,100 shoplifting offences in England and Wales. The annual figures suggest that shoplifting has become increasingly common every year following the 2020 – 2021 lockdowns, and there are significantly more annual recorded incidents now than there were just 10 years ago.

In this post we will outline the sort of products shoplifters are most likely to target, before exploring some strategies to help you protect the high-theft items in your store.

Why Do Thieves Target Some Products More Than Others?

There are a few things that might make a certain item particularly attractive to thieves:

  1. Its value. A lot of the time, shoplifters steal items not because they want or need them, but because they intend to sell them. Some items have a higher demand and thus fetch a higher price on the black market than others.
  2. Its size. The smaller the product, the easier it is for thieves to discreetly lift it from the shelves and hide it.
  3. Its security. Shoplifters may be more likely to attempt a theft is an item is located in a part of the store where they are unlikely to be seen.

What Are The Most Commonly Stolen Items From Shops?

These are some of the most common items shoplifted in the UK:

  1. Baby formula. Unfortunately, this may be the most commonly stolen item in the UK simply because it is essential, it is expensive, and many new parents may be struggling to make ends meet.
  2. Steak, lamb, bacon, and other premium cuts of meat. Some thieves will steal meat for their own personal use. Others will aim to sell it to pubs and other establishments via online marketplaces.
  3. Cosmetics and beauty products. This might include makeup, fragrances, and razor blades. These items are small and lightweight, and thus relatively easy to hide, and they tend to sell for high prices online.
  4. Some thieves may lift bottles of wine or vodka from the shelves for their own use. But others may intentionally target premium spirits, such as whiskey or artisan gin, in order to sell them online.

Of course, even if you do not sell any of these items in your store, you may still sell certain high value items, such as electronics, tobacco, and vaping products, that thieves may target with the intention of selling them online.

How to Secure High-Theft Items in Retail

We recently published a guide to how you can help prevent shoplifting in your store. We also have a guide to dealing with the increased risk of shoplifting at busy times of the year, such as Christmas.

There are some special measures you can introduce to protect the high-theft items in your shop, such as:

  • Rethink your store layout
  • Locked display cabinets
  • CCTV
  • Security Tags
  • Staffing

We’ll explore each of these in more detail to identify exactly how they can help you to reduce and deter theft.

Rethink Your Store Layout

Aim to keep any high value items behind the till, so that customers have to actually request them from staff. Some stores have taken to keeping high-theft items such as baby formula and alcohol behind the till.

When thinking about your store layout, consider lines of sight, and aim to remove any blind spots where thieves could operate unobserved. Also try to make sure there are clear sight lines at your entrance, so that customers would not be able to enter or leave without your staff noticing.

Locked Display Cabinets

If you cannot keep all of your high value items behind the till, then store them in locked display cabinets, so that once again, customers will not be able to access them without asking a member of staff.

Again, consider your store layout. Try to keep these locked display cabinets in a well-lit area as close to the till as possible.

CCTV

You should ensure you have CCTV coverage of your entire shop floor, with a particular emphasis on areas that might be out of sight from the till. You could also position CCTV so that it is always monitoring any locked display cabinets, with signs notifying customers that they are being recorded.

Security Tags

Attach security tags to your high value, high-theft items, which members of staff would have to remove at purchase.

These can act as a strong deterrent, as even if they do not prevent thieves from lifting the products from your shelves, they may not be able to remove the security tags without damaging the product. This would make the product harder for them to sell.

Staffing

Train your staff to understand the common shoplifting techniques, so they know what sort of behaviours to look out for, and what sort of items thieves are most likely to target. Good customer service can also help prevent many thefts. If your staff make a point of greeting every customer as they enter, then any potential thieves will know that their presence has been noted, which may make it harder for them to act.

You should also consider your staffing levels and your staff rotas. If possible, you should aim to limit the times when there is just one single member of staff on the shop floor. This is because shoplifters often work in groups. One person will distract a member of staff while the other attempts to lift a high value item, unobserved.

Get The Right Cover For Your Retail Store

Shoplifting affects retail businesses in a number of ways. Beyond the financial losses, you also have to consider the costs of installing new security systems, the damages to staff morale, and an overall less pleasant retail experience for everyone. If your customers have to contend with security tags, locked cabinets, and extensive CCTV coverage, they may start to feel like you do not trust them.

But no matter how much your security systems cost, they may help you save money in the long-term through reducing your losses due to theft. Plus, if you can evidence your anti-theft measures to your insurers, it may help you to make a saving on the cost of cover.

While insurance cannot itself prevent shoplifting, a specialist retail insurance policy can cover your store for many of the losses you may experience as a result of theft and other incidents.

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

Find out how we can help your shop today.

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