SME

Stock insurance is essential cover for retailers and warehouse owners. In this post, we will outline what stock insurance is, and what it covers, before exploring how you can ensure you have all the cover you need while avoiding certain common pitfalls.

What is Stock Insurance?

This is a dedicated insurance policy to cover your stock for loss, theft, or damage. Your policy should cover your stock whether you store it on your own premises, or elsewhere.

Usually, stock insurance will also include some contents cover. For instance, if you lose some stock to theft, then your insurance could also cover any fixtures or fittings that were damaged during the break in.

Most retailers and warehouse owners will take out some level of stock insurance. However, many businesses might not have quite the level of cover they need. And unfortunately, they may only discover that they are underinsured when they choose to make a claim on their policy.

Common Issues With Stock Insurance

Here are some common stock insurance pitfalls:

• Seasonal variance: You may store more stock at certain times of the year. For example, retailers will usually store significantly more stock during the festive period. The amount of stock onsite may exceed the limits of your policy, which would mean you would not be fully covered in the event of a claim.
• High risk stock: Some items of stock may be more attractive to thieves. Or it may cost more to repair or replace following a flood or a fire. If your stock insurance does not account for these high risk items, then you may be underinsured.
• Stock deterioration: Stock insurance will cover your stock for loss, damage, or theft. But it may not cover your stock for deterioration as standard. Say you sell perishable goods, and an electrical fault causes your fridges or freezers to fail. You may have to dispose of a large amount of stock. But unless your stock insurance included cover for deterioration, you would not be covered for this loss.

How To Calculate The Right Level of Stock Insurance For Your Business

• Consider your seasonal peaks. You will need to extend your cover in line with your busiest periods. If you are a retailer, for example, you will need more cover in the run up to Christmas, and in the weeks preceding and following bank holidays.
• Consider your risk profile. As we mentioned above, a high risk item could be something that thieves are more likely to target, or something that would cost a lot to repair or replace following an incident. Sometimes, only certain items that you stock will be considered high risk, such as cigarettes and alcohol for retailers. But if you work in certain sectors, such as electronics, then all of your stock may be considered high risk.
• Consider your cover limits. Your stock insurance should cover the amount it would cost to replace all of your stock. When specifying your cover limit, as well as accounting for seasonal peaks and high value items, you should also include the possible costs of replacing any fixtures, fittings, and equipment that may get stolen or damaged during an incident.
• Work with a broker. An insurance broker with experience in your sector can help you to identify the right level of cover for you, by working with you to understand more about the risks you face.

We Can Help You Avoid Underinsurance With Your Stock Cover

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance specialists. We can help you avoid underinsurance and get the right level of cover for your stock, at the right price.

We can help you determine an accurate cover limit for your stock, which accounts for seasonal variations and high risk items. And we can help you ensure you have any specialist cover you may need, such as cover for stock deterioration.

Find out how we can help you today.

Theft can be a major problem for hotels. Any losses may seem small at first, but the costs can quickly add up.

In this post we will explore the most common types of hotel theft, before discussing how you can protect your hotel business from theft.

The Most Common Types of Hotel Theft

• Guest theft: Including stealing towels, dressing gowns, toiletries, and electronics from rooms, and taking home glasses and cutlery from the hotel’s bar or restaurant.
• Housekeeping theft: Like guests, housekeepers may occasionally lift items from hotel rooms, including towels, linens, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.
• Internal theft: This can include front desk staff engaging in fraudulent behaviour, including skimming cash, misusing credit card systems, or even stealing guests’ valuables while handling their luggage.

What is The Impact of Hotel Theft?

Theft can impact many areas of your hotel, including:

• Loss of revenue
  You will have to pay to replace every lost item, which can boost your operating costs while cutting into your profits.
• Reduced efficiency
  At the same time, any missing item can disrupt your housekeeping and guest services, leading to reduced efficiency and increased delays.
• Low staff morale
  Over time, theft can take its toll on staff morale, too. If things keep going missing, many members of staff will find it increasingly difficult to do their jobs. And if there is evidence of internal theft, it could lead to a culture of tension and distrust.
• Poor customer experience
  And of course, if any guests are victims of theft while staying at your hotel, it can lead to bad reviews, a poor reputation, and potentially legal action.

How Common is Hotel Theft?

Hotel theft is so common that it is no exaggeration to say that every hotel owner will have experienced it at some point.

According to one survey, 87% of guests admit they have taken something from a hotel at some point, and 26%  admit that they always steal from hotels.

Further hotel crime statistics suggest that hotels lose an estimated £74m a year to guest theft. Also, around 25% of hotel robberies are the result of internal theft, or of hotel employees colluding with criminals.

And on top of all this, just like any other businesses, hotels these days must contend with the risks of cybercrime.

5 Ways to Protect Your Hotel Business From Theft

1. Get Your Staff On Your Side

Talk to your staff about the impact of theft, about how it makes life harder for everyone. Train your staff to spot the signs of all forms of theft, and aim to create an open culture of trust in which staff feel they can safely raise concerns while depending on your full support.

You could also make it clear that you take a zero tolerance approach to theft. Hopefully, you will never have to act on this. But if your staff are familiar with your policies, then they may be less tempted to lift cash or items.

2. Ensure Better Oversight of Key Operations

You could introduce routine room checks and post-cleaning inspections to look out for any discrepancies. Make sure everyone sticks to the same housekeeping schedule, so that it will be clear exactly who may have been involved should you ever suspect that theft has taken place.

Try to minimise the number of employees who can access financial systems and guest valuables, and implement rigorous cash-handling policies while ensuring you reconcile all tills every day. You could also conduct periodic audits on all inventory and cash handling systems, which will make it clear to everyone that any discrepancies will be discovered before long.

3. Encourage Your Guests To Be Honest

There is not a lot you can do to prevent a guest from stealing a towel or a hairdryer from their rooms, and you cannot exactly perform random luggage searches at checkout. But you could try to appeal to your guests’ better natures.

Place signage in your rooms letting guests know that, should they wish to take home towels or dressing gowns etc., then they are for sale at reception. This subtle reminder that these things cost money might deter many guests from packing items in their bags.

4. Invest in Technology

Ensure you have sufficient CCTV coverage of any areas where serious theft could take place, including any counter with a till, any area where cash is handled, and your storerooms.

You could also invest in a Property Management System (PMS), which can help you track your stock and inventory, along with ongoing tasks such as cleaning, housekeeping, and cash flow.

Also, technology is your hotel’s main line of defence against cybercrime. Read our full guide to protecting your hotel against cybercrime.

5. Get the Tailored Hotel Insurance You Need

Specialist hotel insurance can cover your hotel against many of the risks you will face, including the growing risks of cybercrime.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance brokers. No matter if you are running a large or a small hotel, we can tailor a niche insurance package to ensure you are covered for all risks at the best possible price.

Find out how we can help you get a bespoke and cost-effective hotel insurance policy today.

In recent years, the cost of insurance has risen for all UK businesses, including retailers.

In this post we will examine some of the underlying causes of the rise in shop insurance costs. We will also explain how you can help to bring down the cost of your shop insurance.

Why Is Shop Insurance Going Up?

UK shops are dealing with rising insurance costs as a result of claims inflation. This means that it is costing more for insurers to settle all kinds of claims, regardless of how often these claims occur.

What is Causing Claims Inflation?

A number of factors are driving claims inflation:

• Global supply chains have been hit by major disruptions in recent years, which has increased the cost of many essential materials, including timber, steel, and insulation.
• Workforce shortages have contributed to rising labour costs. Which drives up construction and repair costs and lead times.

This will increase the average cost of settling an insurance claim, and insurers will pass these increased costs onto their customers in the form of higher premiums.

When it comes to the retail sector in particular, insurers may be worried by a rise in shoplifting and other crimes. Higher crime rates may make it more likely that shops will make claims on their policies, which will further contribute to claims inflation while driving up the cost of cover for everyone.

How To Reduce Shop Insurance Costs

The good news is that, if you can demonstrate to your insurer that you are taking steps to reduce the risks of shoplifting and other sources of loss, then it may lead to lower insurance premiums.

But in short, here are some measures that might help you reduce your shop insurance costs:

• Install security systems including locks, shutters, safes, alarms, and CCTV.
• Invest in staff training to help them spot the signs of theft, and to help them stay safe on the job.
• Maintain a good cleaning schedule, which can reduce the risks of slips, trips, and falls.
• Stay on top of all ongoing servicing and maintenance procedures for your electrical equipment, security systems, and fire safety systems.
• Implement an effective stock management system so that you can identify sources of loss as early as possible. Also be sure to store any high value items as safely and securely as possible.

For more, be sure to read our full guide to designing and implementing policies for addressing shoplifting and other theft.

How We Can Help You Reduce Your Shop Insurance Costs

Remember that not all insurers will charge you the same for your cover. It always pays to shop around and compare quotes. And while it is vital that you avoid underinsurance, it is just as important to avoid overinsurance – paying too much for cover you do not really need.

At James Hallam, we can help you find the dedicated shop insurance you need at a competitive price. We will take the time to get to know you and your business, so that we can fully understand all of the risks you are facing. We will then find you an insurance package that meets all of your requirements, including your budget.

We can also advise you on how to effectively evidence your risk management policies and procedures so as to bring down the cost of your cover.

Find out how we can help you today.

If you are a mobile hairdresser, then you will need all of the specialist cover that any hairdresser would need, as well as dedicated insurance to cover you for the unique risks associated with visiting customers at their homes.

In this post we will list the key types of insurance for mobile hairdressers. If you have any questions, or if you would like a free quote on your specialist hair insurance, get in touch with us today.

What Insurance Do Mobile Hairdressers Need?

Public Liability Insurance

This is an essential form of cover for mobile hairdressers. This will cover you for any accidents that may take place when you are visiting a customer at their home. This can include anything, from accidentally spilling a product or a cup of coffee, to scorching an item of furniture with some unattended hair straighteners.

In the event of such an incident, your public liability insurance can cover the costs of any necessary repairs or replacements.

Treatment Risk Cover

This can cover you for incidents relating to the services you provide. Many things can go wrong when you are giving a customer a haircut: You might slip and accidentally cut their ear. You might accidentally catch them with your hair straighteners. Or they might have an allergic reaction to a product you use.

In these cases, if the customer decides to make a claim against you, your treatment risk insurance can cover your legal fees, along with any compensation they may be due.

Contents Cover for Your Equipment

This can cover all the equipment you use to do your job, including your hair products. If you are a mobile or a freelance hairdresser, your contents insurance should cover your equipment when you are transporting it from one place to another. It will also cover your equipment when it is in storage, even if you store it in your own home.

Your contents insurance will cover the costs of repairs or replacements if any of your equipment or products are ever lost, stolen, or damaged.

Personal Accident Cover

If you are a mobile hairdresser, then you are very likely working on a freelance basis, which means that you probably cannot rely on statutory sick pay if an accident, injury, or illness ever prevents you from working. Personal accident cover can be included, which provides a lump sum, following accidents that lead to a serious injury, or permanent total disablement. It can also provide a weekly benefit, as a result of accidents leading to temporary disablement. Alternatively, you may wish to consider accident and sickness insurance.

Employer’s Liability Insurance

Finally, if you employ any staff, even if it is just on a part-time basis, and even if they are related to you, then you have a legal duty to get employer’s liability insurance.

This will cover your staff for any accidents or injuries they may sustain while on the job.

How to Choose The Right Cover For Your Mobile Hairdresser Business

If you are not sure how to meet all of your insurance needs as a mobile hairdresser, we are here to help.

Talk to us, and we will take the time to understand you, your business, and the unique risks you are facing. We can then help you access specialist insurance that will meet all of your needs at a truly competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

If you want to open a pub in the UK, dedicated pub insurance will give you comprehensive cover to help you manage and mitigate numerous risks.

In this post we will outline the key areas of cover that every pub owner should consider. We will also discuss a few other factors to bear in mind, from choosing the right location to ensuring you have enough money to cover your initial startup investment and your ongoing running costs.

What Insurance Are Pubs Legally Obliged to Have?

There are at least two forms of cover that you simply cannot do without:

• Employer’s liability insurance. If you employ any staff, even if they are family members, then you have a legal obligation to get employer’s liability insurance. This will cover your staff for any accidents or injuries they may experience while on the job.
• Buildings insurance. You may also be required to get a level of buildings cover as part of your pub leasehold or freehold arrangement. If you enter into a contract with a brewer, they may set certain cover requirements too.

Recommended Insurance for Pub Owners

Beyond this, you should consider the following forms of cover:

• Contents cover: To cover your fixtures, fittings, equipment, and barware for loss, damage, or theft.
• Public liability insurance: To cover your guests and other members of the public for any accidents and injuries they may sustain while spending time on your premises.
• Business interruption insurance: This can cover your overheads should an unexpected event, such as a fire or a flood, ever prevent you from opening your pub.
• Product liability insurance: To cover you for any issues with the products you sell in your pub, such as food and drink.

Read our full guide to pub insurance.

What Else to Consider When Opening a Pub

Choosing a Location For Your Pub

Your pub’s location may be the biggest driver of your future success. As we will see below, when it comes to choosing a location for your pub, your ultimate decision may ultimately come down to your budget. But you should certainly consider the following when sourcing possible locations:

• How will people get to your pub? Is it in a public area with lots of footfall? And if not, is there adequate parking onsite or nearby? And what are the public transport links like?
• Customer base. What sort of people live in the area where you will be opening your pub? How old are they, and what is their average income? Understand the local demographics and you will have a better idea of how you can tailor your pub to meet their preferences.
• Are there any other pubs in the area? Are they successful, or are they struggling? What are they doing that you could emulate? And crucially, what are they not doing that you might be able to do better?

How Much Does it Cost to Open a Pub?

The amount it will cost to open a pub will depend on whether you want to enter a pub tenancy, or buy a pub outright.

• Pub Tenancy – This means that you will run an established pub for a set amount of time, which is usually around five years, without taking out your own pub lease or freehold. According to Greene King, which offers pub tenancies as well as franchise options, it costs at least £20,000 to enter a pub tenancy agreement.
• Buying a Pub Outright – The amount you pay to outright buy a pub will depend on the pub’s location, and its condition. The overall costs of acquiring and refurbishing the property could easily reach five or six figures.

Calculating Your Pub Running Costs

• Equipment, fixtures, and fittings: You will have to make an initial investment in a POS system; in fridges, coolers, and racks; in bar furniture; in lighting and décor, and in glassware and other barware. If you want to serve food, you will also need kitchen equipment. As well as the initial setup costs, you will also have to consider the ongoing costs of maintaining this equipment, and of repairing and replacing items where necessary.
• Utility costs: You will have to pay for gas, power, and water. Businesses pay different rates for utilities than homes. Take a look at the latest UK business energy rates.
• Supplies: You will regularly need to order new barrels and casts of beer and ale, while also keeping your supplies of wines, spirits, and soft drinks topped up. And if you want to serve food, you will also have to stay on top of your food stock. Pubs often enter a contract with a specific brewer to help streamline this process, as it may mean that they only have a single point of contact for arranging supplies.
• Business rates: This is a tax applied to all properties that are used for business purposes. The good news is that pubs are eligible for the Business Rates Relief scheme. Head to the Government’s website for more information on how to apply.

Get Dedicated Pub Insurance From James Hallam

As an independent Lloyd’s broker, we have been providing dedicated insurance solutions to hundreds of pubs and bars across the UK since 1982. With our specialist Touchstone scheme, we can design a pub insurance package to match your unique requirements, whether you run a traditional pub in a small village, a high street wine bar, or a pop-up bar at events.

Learn more about our bespoke insurance services for pubs.

If you are a hairdresser, or you run a hair salon, then you have probably noticed a rise in the cost of hairdresser insurance over the past few years.

In this post we will take a closer look at the issue, exploring some of the underlying causes and outlining how you can best protect yourself, and your customers, as a hairdresser.

How Much Is the Cost of Hairdresser Insurance Rising?

The cost of public liability insurance for hairdressers has almost doubled over a period of two years. In 2023, hairdressers were paying, on average, £47 a year for a public liability policy. By 2025, they were paying £93 for an annual policy. This means that the cost of cover increased by almost 100%.

In the same period, public liability insurance for hair salons decreased slightly, from an average of £230 a year in 2023, to £201 a year in 2025.

Do I Need Public Liability Insurance as a Hairdresser?

Public liability insurance is essential for hairdressers and salon owners. This will cover your customers, along with other members of the public, for any accidents or injuries that may happen as a result of your work, whether that is in a salon or elsewhere.

If a customer injures themselves on your premises, or if you cause an accident on your customer’s property, they may make a claim against you. In this case, your public liability insurance would cover your legal fees, along with any compensation payments that may arise.

What Is Causing The Rise in Hairdresser Insurance?

The Impact of Inflation
The rising cost of hairdresser insurance can largely be attributed to inflation, which has increased insurance costs for all businesses. The hair and beauty sector may have seen a higher rate of claims in recent years too, which will have contributed to rising premiums.

However, there is another important underlying cause at play.

The increasing prevalence of independent and freelance hairdressers
Independent hairdressers may work from their own premises, or they may rent a chair in a salon. Some may even do home visits. This creates a lot of potential for accidents and injuries: Slips, trips, and falls in a salon; spilled hair products in a client’s home; unattended hair straighteners leading to a fire; and so on.

Growing numbers of independent hairdressers means insurers may have to consider a much broader range of risks and, potentially, more frequent and costly insurance claims. This, unfortunately, will drive up the cost of cover for all hairdressers and salon owners.

How to Keep Yourself and Your Clients Safe

Effective risk management is vital for keeping you, your customers, and your premises safe, and comprehensive hairdresser insurance is an essential part of this.

Many businesses are currently struggling with rising costs, and increased insurance premiums certainly will not be helping.

Do Not Go Without Public Liability Insurance
However, no hairdresser or salon owner should go without public liability insurance. Accidents happen, and if they do, your liability insurance will help you meet all costs. Without this cover, you would be liable to meet these considerable expenses yourself.

Compare Quotes or Use an Independent Broker
If you are worried about the rising cost of cover, there may be some ways you can make savings. Be sure to compare quotes from multiple providers to ensure you are getting the best deal. Some insurers will also provide a discount if you get a combined policy, rather than a number of separate policies.

Working with a dedicated insurance broker can also make a huge difference. At James Hallam, we have helped hundreds of hairdressers and salon owners across the UK get the specialist insurance they need at a truly competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

If you are a professional photographer, you will need dedicated insurance to cover you, and your customers, for the specific risks associated with your role.

In this post we will outline the key forms of cover for photographers, including some forms of cover that you may be required to get by law.

What Insurance Do Photographers Need?

There are a number of risks which photographers and videographers face due to the nature of their job. As a result, photographers should consider the following types of insurance as essential:

• Equipment insurance
• Employer’s liability insurance (legally required for employers)
• Public liability insurance
• Professional indemnity insurance

We’ll explore each of these to look at what they cover and what it means to you and your photography business.

Photography Equipment Insurance

Equipment insurance, which may be referred to as contents insurance, will cover your expensive equipment for loss, damage, or theft. This can include your camera, lenses, lights, laptop, smartphone, development equipment, and whatever else you use as part of your role.

If any of this equipment is lost, damaged, or stolen, your insurance can cover you for repairs or replacements.

Employer’s Liability Insurance

If you hire any staff, then you have a legal obligation to get employer’s liability insurance. This will cover your staff for any accidents or injuries they may experience while working for you.

You need employer’s liability insurance even if you only hire a single temporary assistant for a few hours a week. And you even need this form of cover if friends occasionally help you out.

Public Liability Insurance

This will cover members of the public for any accidents or injuries that may occur while you are working. If a member of the public makes a claim against you, then your public liability insurance can cover your legal fees, along with any compensation payments that may arise.

Here are some situations where your public liability insurance would provide essential cover:

• While photographing a wedding, a guest trips and falls over a loose wire, or one of your bags.
• While visiting a client’s home or premises for a shoot, you accidentally damage their property, such as through spilling a cup of coffee on their carpet.
• A client, contractor, delivery person, or other member of the public slips, trips, or falls while visiting your photography studio.

Professional Indemnity Insurance for Photographers

This can cover you for claims involving negligence, breach of contract or trust, or defamation.  Depending on the sort of photography work you do, professional indemnity insurance may prove invaluable:

• If you are a product or a fashion photographer, your client may not be satisfied with your work. They may make a claim against you, alleging that your work did not meet the terms of your contract.
• If you are a photojournalist, the subject of one of your photos may feel that your work does not paint them in the most flattering light. As a result, they may make a claim of defamation against you.
• If you are an event photographer, someone may allege that you took their picture without their consent. This could result in a claim of breach of confidentiality or trust.

In each case, your professional indemnity insurance would cover your legal fees along with any compensation that may arise as a result of a claim.

Get Dedicated Photographer Insurance From James Hallam

At James Hallam, we are proud to support the photographic industry sector through our sponsorship of:

• The British Institute of Professional Photographers
• The Association of Photographers
• The Master Photographers Association

We understand your unique insurance requirements, and you can count on us to get the specialist cover you need at a competitive price.

Learn more about our specialist photographer insurance services.

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

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

The Current State of the HGV Driver Shortage

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

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

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

How Can Driver Shortages Affect Haulage Risk Management?

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

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

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

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

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

How to Address the Driver Shortage in Your Business

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

Get Dedicated Haulage Insurance From James Hallam

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

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

Find out how we can help you today.

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

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

Conduct an Energy Audit

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

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

Quick and Easy Ways to Reduce Business Energy Use

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

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

Get Your Staff Onboard with Saving Energy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Find out how we can help you save money today.