SME

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.

Cyber insurance has become essential for all businesses, and this includes brick and mortar shops. Even if you do not sell any products online, your point of sale (POS) and card payment systems may still leave you vulnerable to attack.

How Can Hackers Target POS and Card Payments?

Cybercriminals know how to target your POS and card payment systems. Some cyberattacks are carried out in person and on your premises. A cybercriminal might use a USB or a similar device to install malware on an unattended terminal, or they may use your guest Wi-Fi to access your POS devices. But cybercriminals can also hack these systems remotely.

What Are The Risks of POS and Card Payment Breaches?

Once cybercriminals gain access to your POS and card payment systems, they can harm your shop and your customers in a number of ways:

• Cybercriminals might gain access to the data of any cardholder who uses a compromised machine. They could lead to identity theft and other forms of fraud, and it could even result in chargebacks for certain purchases. You may even face some legal action yourself as part of a wider fraud investigation.
• Cybercriminals may gain remote access to your systems, where they may steal your personal data or your customers’ personal data, or else cause some prolonged system downtime that could seriously compromise your operations.
• Cybercriminals may install malware that will encrypt your POS systems as part of a ransomware attack. You will not be able to process any payments until you meet their demands. If you fail to meet their demands, they may choose to steal your data outright, or they may simply delete it, which will lead to further downtime. All the while, you will miss out on revenue, and your reputation with your customers and suppliers may suffer.

What Does Cyber Insurance For Shops Cover?

Cyber insurance may not prevent POS and card system cyberattacks from occurring. But if you are the victim of a cyberattack, your cyber insurance policy can provide invaluable cover for your liabilities and recovery:

• Investigation – You will be covered for the costs of the IT forensics investigation, in which insurers will work to determine the cause of the breach, and identify the scope of the damage.
• Response – Your policy will cover certain crisis management procedures, such as notifying and supporting any customers who may have been affected by the breach. If necessary, your policy may also cover your PR, which could help you retain your reputation following an attack.
• Business Interruption – If your POS and card payment systems are compromised or offline, then your revenue will inevitably suffer. Your cyber policy can include business interruption insurance, which can cover any lost revenue while your systems recover.
• Other expenses – Your cyber insurance policy can cover any other expenses you might encounter during your response and recovery, which might include chargeback and card replacement costs, and the costs of replacing or restoring your terminals and other equipment.
• Legal Expenses – Finally, your cyber insurance can cover any legal fees that may arise if you are involved in any fraud investigations as a result of the breach.

What is Not Covered By Cyber Insurance For Shops?

While cyber insurance can provide invaluable cover should you find yourself a victim of a cyber attack, there are some circumstances where you might not be covered.

Prior Known Circumstances
You may not be covered from losses arising from problems arising from “prior known circumstances” – for cyber breaches that occurred even though you were aware of a certain vulnerability.

For example, if you notice a customer behaving suspiciously in your store, and you suspect that one of your terminals may have been compromised, then you may not be covered for any subsequent incidents should you fail to act on your suspicions.

Poor Security System Maintenance
Similarly, when you take out your policy, your insurer may ask you to specify any cybersecurity systems and procedures you currently have in place. If you make a claim on your policy, and your insurer finds that you failed to maintain these systems, then they may turn down your claim.

Cover Exclusions
Some cyber insurance policies may list a number of additional exclusions. You may not be covered for incidents arising from “acts of foreign enemies”, for instance, or for data loss that occurs as a result of a wider issue with your provider.

For more information about exclusions to your cyber insurance cover, be sure to read your policy wording.

How To Protect Your Shop From Cyber Attacks

Cybersecurity is a complex issue, and cybercriminals are getting smarter all the time. But here are some essential tips that could help you keep your shop and your customers safe:

• Updates
  Keep all of your systems updated. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit, and security updates are vital for closing these loopholes.
• Wi-Fi access
  Think twice about offering guest Wi-Fi. Set strong password protection, and never share your login credentials with anyone.
• Training
  Train your staff to understand the risks of cyberattacks, and the sort of warning signs they should look out for.
• Physical awareness
  Remember that some retail cyberattacks occur in person. Do not leave any terminals or other devices unattended at any time, as cybercriminals may be able to compromise your systems while your back is turned.

Get Specialist Cyber Insurance For Shops From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of insurance professionals who care about protecting your shop. We can help you access specialist retail insurance for your store, which can include cyber insurance.

Find out how we can help you today.

If you are a building contractor, contractors’ all risk insurance can cover almost every aspect of an ongoing construction or development project, including the equipment and materials you are using, and any people involved in the project.

What is Contractors’ All Risk Insurance?

Contractors’ all risk insurance is specialist insurance cover for building contractors. As the name suggests, it is designed to cover all of the risks you might face throughout a building and development project.

Core areas of cover include:

• Insurance for contract works on construction sites, including cover for demolition and excavation projects.
• Plant and equipment insurance.
• Business interruption insurance, to cover project overheads in the event of delays.
• Insurance for any temporary buildings you use throughout the project.
• Liability and personal injury insurance for any individuals involved in the project, including workers and other members of the public who might spend time on or near the construction site.

Once the project is complete, contractors’ all risk insurance can also provide some cover for your completed buildings while they are unoccupied and awaiting tenants.

Contractors’ all risk insurance should not be confused with contract works insurance. For more information, read our guide to the difference between contractors’ all risk insurance and contract works insurance.

Who Needs Contractors’ All Risk Insurance?

Contractors’ all risk insurance can provide essential comprehensive cover for many parties concerned with construction projects, including:

• Building contractors and construction firms.
• Subcontractors, such as those who provide specialist services during a building project, including electricians, plumbers, and roofers.
• Property developers, should a renovation require extensive construction work.
• Property owners arranging for construction of renovation work.
• Civil engineering contractors.

In most cases, the main building contractor will take out a contractors’ all risk insurance policy to cover the project, and they may take out a joint policy with a second party, such as a property owner.

Each of the parties we have listed above should ensure they are covered by the main contractor’s all risk insurance policy. If not, then they may have to get a policy of their own to cover their own materials, equipment, employees, and liabilities.

Is Contractors’ All Risk Insurance a Legal Requirement

Though contractors’ all risk insurance is not always a legal requirement in the UK, many large scale construction or renovation projects will require such cover to be in place. The contract may also specify who is required to arrange for the cover, whether this is the main contractor, or the employer.

Why You Need Contractors’ All Risk Insurance

Yet even without a legal obligation, and even if there are no contractual obligations, you should still view contractors’ all risk insurance as an absolute necessity, particularly when it comes to certain kinds of construction or renovation projects:

• Large projects involving extensive complex works, in which the costs of any potential damage or delays would be significant.
• Development projects organised by the property owner, for which they would be liable for all financial risks.
• Joint projects involving numerous contractors, subcontractors, and other parties.

In any of these situations, a single incident could lead to significant costs which could jeopardise not just the project, but also your business. Contractors’ all risk insurance would cover these costs, providing essential protection for the project itself, and for all parties involved.

Get The Specialist Construction Insurance You Need With James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a specialist team of experienced insurance professionals who are committed to protecting construction business.

We will take the time to understand your construction project so that we can advise on the specific risks you are facing. We can then help you access a specialist contractors’ all risk insurance package that meets all of your needs at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

You will find numerous guides on our site outlining key safety considerations for warehouse managers, including a warehouse health and safety checklist, and a guide to warehouse fire safety risks assessments.

In this post we will focus on a further aspect of warehouse management: Warehouse racking safety, with information on the relevant regulations, and the sort of inspections you should carry out to ensure compliance.

Why Warehouse Racking Safety is Important

Issues with your racking could lead to a number of incidents, including injuries from collapsing racks or falling stock. Also, falling stock will inevitably get damaged, which will affect your turnover while leading to costly disruptions to your operations.

In the event of an accident, if it transpires that your racking was not up to standard, then your insurer may reject your claim, meaning you could be liable to cover all losses yourself. Finally, as we will outline below, there are strict racking safety regulations in place in the UK. Failure to comply with these could lead to fines, and even legal action.

Warehouse Racking Safety Regulations

There is extensive UK legislation that applies to racking safety. This includes:

• HSE Guidance, such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). HSE also requires all warehouse managers to carry out routine risk assessments to identify and manage risks.
• The Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (SEMA) establishes best practice guidelines for racking design, load limits, and installation standards.
• BS EN 15635 Standard defines the procedures for the adequate inspection and maintenance of warehouse racking.

Warehouse Racking Load Capacity and Signage Requirements

Signage is essential for communicating each rack’s load limit to your warehouse staff. Load signage should be clearly displayed on every racking system in your warehouse. The signage should indicate:

• The rack’s maximum shelf load.
• The rack’s maximum bay load.
• Manufacturer or installer details.

Racking Inspection Procedures

How Often to Inspect Warehouse Racking 

You should inspect your racking either weekly or monthly, in order to identify any potential risks, along with any signs of damage or wear and tear.

On top of this, you should arrange for a formal inspection from a qualified third party at least once a year, or immediately following any incident or modification.

What to Include in Racking Inspections

Here are the key factors you, or an appointed member of staff, should check during your routine racking inspections:

• Are there any signs of structural damage or corrosion?
• Are the beam locks and safety clips intact and in good condition?
• Is the anchoring in place, and are the racks stable?
• Are the load signage and labels visible? Has the rack been loaded in line with the guidelines?

Keeping Inspection Records

You should keep a record of your inspections, reporting any damage as soon as you identify it, and any maintenance as soon as it is carried out.

Staying Compliant With Warehouse Racking Safety Regulations

• Invest in staff training, to ensure every member of staff understands safe loading practices, along with how to report any issues they spot. You could also appoint one member of staff to carry out the weekly racking inspections, with further training to help ensure they know which key checks to make.
• Set up regular formal inspections to take place at least once a year, and be sure to arrange for a new inspection following an incident or a redesign.
• Keep records of all of your training, maintenance, and inspection procedures. Above we mentioned how failure to meet racking standards could affect your insurance cover. Yet if you can evidence to your insurer the steps you take to secure your racking, you could ultimately make savings on the cost of cover.

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

We can help you get specialist stock and warehouse insurance that can help to cover you and your employees for all the risks you face in your work, at a highly competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

A single fire can destroy your business overnight. If you run any kind of shop, fire safety should be one of your top priorities.

In this post we will outline some fire safety essentials for retail businesses of all kinds.

Common Causes of Fire in Shops

According to London Fire Brigade, the key causes of fire for shops are as follows:

• Wiring (responsible for 28% of all retail fires)
• Smoking related (17%)
• Lighting (9%)

Electrical equipment, such as lighting, can cause fires when it is placed too close to flammable materials. If this equipment is not properly tested or maintained, it can lead to electrical faults, which can contribute to fire outbreaks.

Smoking related fires are also common. Usually, the fire either starts due to the incorrect disposal of smoking materials, or because smoking has been permitted in an inappropriate area – such as a stockroom, where there might be a high concentration of flammable materials.

Arson is also a leading cause of fire for shops, and the risk of arson can be greater if you store your stock or rubbish in a publicly accessible location.

You Have a Legal Duty To Address The Fire Risks in Your Shop

If you run a retail business, then you have a legal duty to ensure the safety of your employees, along with any other members of the public or contractors who might visit your premises.

Your legal duties include:

• Performing a fire risk assessment to identify all of the fire risks throughout your shop.
• Taking action to protect your employees and other members of the public from fire.
• Introducing measures to reduce the risks of fires breaking out.
• Providing adequate fire safety systems, including alarms and essential firefighting equipment.
• Ensuring there is a safe evacuation plan in the event of a fire.

Penalties for Failing to Meet Fire Regulations

You will face severe penalties if you do not take your fire safety duties seriously. Minor offences can lead to fines of up to £5,000. Major offences can lead to unlimited fines, and up to two years in prison.

Read a full guide to fire safety legislation for retail businesses.

Key Shop Fire Safety Tips

As we mentioned above, you have a legal duty to carry out a comprehensive fire risk assessment for your shop, which will involve identifying all of the possible sources of fire in your store, while outlining the steps you will take to manage, mitigate, or eliminate these risks.

Below we will list some of the fire safety essentials you might introduce following your fire risk assessment.

How to Review Your Fire Safety Systems

Shop fire safety systems can include:

• Sprinkler systems.
• Fire extinguishers – These should be suitable for extinguishing the sorts of fires that could break out in your store. For example, water or foam for wood, paper, or textile fires, or CO2 for electrical fires.
• Emergency lighting.
• Emergency signage, to highlight your emergency exits, and your evacuation routes.

You should periodically review your fire safety equipment to ensure that everything is still functional and in-code, and you should periodically test your alarms and other systems.

You should also regularly test all electrical items in your store, to help prevent any fires breaking out due to electrical failure. Stop using any faulty or damaged equipment immediately, and aim to replace it as soon as possible.

The Importance of Staff Fire Training

Above we outlined the most common causes of fires in shops. Many fires start as a result of staff negligence, such as leaving electrical items too close to flammable materials, or incorrectly discarding of smoking materials.

With this in mind, your staff can be your frontline of defence against fires in your shop:

• Implement a strict smoking policy. Staff should not smoke anywhere in your shop, and they should refrain from smoking in outdoor storage areas, or any other locations where a stray spark could ignite some flammable materials.
• Carry out regular fire safety training sessions, along with fire drills, so that people know what to do in the event of an outbreak. Every member of staff should know which evacuation route to use, where to assemble having left the premises, and who they should report to. They should also know how and when to use your fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment.
• People with disabilities, whether they are staff or customers, may struggle to evacuate in the event of a fire. Your staff should also know how to assist anyone who needs help evacuating.
• Finally, make sure your staff understand the risks of electrical fires. Make sure nobody is using counterfeit phone chargers, that nobody is overloading sockets, and that everybody knows how to inspect electrical equipment for damage or faults.

Review Your Insurance

Finally, you should ensure your insurance will give you the cover you need to bounce back following a fire.

As well as cover for your building and your contents, you should also get business interruption insurance. This can help you to meet all of your business overheads if you are forced to temporarily close following a fire.

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

Talk to us and we will give you access to a range of hand-picked, A-rated insurance providers. We can also show you how to evidence your fire risk assessment o your insurers, which can help you make savings on the cost of cover.

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

In recent years, businesses in the hospitality sector have faced rising costs, which includes an increase in the cost of insurance cover.

In this post we will look at the factors that can affect the cost of your takeaway insurance, and explore some strategies that can help you reduce your takeaway insurance costs.

If you run a takeaway of any kind, specialist takeaway insurance can give you all the cover you need at a competitive price.

What Affects The Price of Takeaway Insurance?

A number of factors can affect the cost of your takeaway insurance, including:

• The size of your shop. The bigger your shop, and the more staff you employ, the more you will have to pay for cover. Insuring a chain of takeaway shops will also cost more than insuring a single takeaway shop.
• Your location. You will have to pay more for cover if you are located in an area with relatively high crime rates, for example.
• The type of takeaway you run. Some types of takeaway shops may have to pay more for cover than others. There may be greater fire risks in a chip shop compared to a burger bar, for example.

How To Reduce Takeaway Insurance Costs

While there are things you can’t change, there are some actions you can take to help reduce your insurance costs, including:

• Invest in security. Taking steps to secure your shop can make a huge difference to the cost of cover, particularly if you are based in an area with high crime rates. CCTV, roller shutters, alarms, and extra secure locks can all help to deter criminals.
• Invest in staff training. Train your staff to understand and prevent the common risks they face in their work, along with the fundamentals of food safety, and you could help prevent numerous costly incidents, which could in turn help to bring down your cover costs.
• Invest in fire safety. Take the time to identify all of the fire risks in your takeaway, and devise a plan for how you will reduce or eliminate each of these risks. This could be through committing to more regular cleaning and maintenance routines, through buying more fire safety equipment, such as extinguishers and sprinklers, and through devising a safe and effective evacuation plan for all staff.

If you run a takeaway, see our specialist takeaway insurance for more on what’s covered and to get a quote to see how much it might cost for you.

A Comprehensive Risk Assessment Can Help Reduce Takeaway Insurance Costs

A formal risk assessment involves several steps, including:

Step One: Identifying every possible risk that could exist in your takeaway, then determining the likelihood and possible severity of an incident, and highlighting exactly who might be affected, whether that is staff, or customers, or other members of the public.

Step Two: You can then specify the steps you will take or the measures you will introduce to manage, mitigate, or eliminate each of these risks. This can include appointing a member of staff who is responsible for managing each specific risk.

Step Three: You should review your risk assessment at least once a year, and you should also revisit it any time you make a change that could create new risks, such as hiring new staff, or investing in new equipment.

A formal risk assessment document can demonstrate to your insurers that you are actively working to prevent accidents, injuries, and other incidents in your takeaway. This can make insurance claims less likely, which can lead to lower insurance costs.

Get Specialist Takeaway Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you get specialist takeaway insurance at a competitive price, and we can also show you how to evidence your risk management processes to your insurer in order to make further savings.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

Do you offer subscriptions or memberships as part of your business? If so, you may be aware of new laws regarding how subscription services operate in the UK.

In this post we will explain these new rules, and explore how they might affect your business.

DMCC Automatic Subscription Rules – The Basics

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC) set certain rules and regulations for digital markets. This included some major changes to auto-renewing subscription contracts, which are due to come into force in 2026.

The new rules are designed to combat “subscription traps”, whereby customers unwittingly sign up for long-term subscriptions that renew automatically.

Who Do The New Rules Apply To?

The new rules apply to any business that offers any kind of subscription service, whether you offer them online or in-store.

This might include:

• Gyms and leisure centres
• Companies offering “subscription boxes” containing snacks, drinks, or other products
• Shops that offer membership schemes
• Apps, websites, and streaming platforms

What Are The New DMCC Automatic Subscription Rules?

DMCC sets new rules for various aspects of automatic subscription contracts:

• Pre-contract information.
• Reminder notices
• Ending contracts
• Cooling-off notices

Pre-Contract Information

• Businesses must provide key pre-contract information in full at the point when customers enter into the contract. This information can not be hidden in terms and conditions, or behind a hyperlink.
• Key pre-contract information should specify both the frequency and amounts of ongoing payments, along with the customer’s minimum total liability, a summary of their cancellation rights, and details of how reminder notices will be timed.
• In addition to providing this key pre-contract information, businesses must also make full pre-contract information available before the customer enters into a contract. This should include company details, including information on how to contact them for enquiries, along with the customer’s cooling off rights.
• Failure to provide any of the above information means that the customer will not be considered legally bound by any contract they sign.

Reminder Notices

• Businesses must send reminder notices before a customer’s subscription renews, and before a payment is due.
• The frequency and timing of these reminder notices vary depending on the length of the subscription. For instance, businesses must send reminders every six months for yearly subscriptions.
• The legislation outlines that these reminder notices must contain specific information regarding payment amounts, cancellation rights, and so on.

Ending Contracts

• Businesses must make it as easy as possible for customers to end their contracts.
• There must not be any unreasonable steps for cancellation. For example, if the customer takes out a subscription online, then they must also be able to cancel that subscription online.
• Businesses must make their cancellation instructions as accessible as possible. They must also provide customers with written confirmation of a cancellation.
• Businesses must send this confirmation within 24 hours if the customer cancels their contract online, or within three working days if they cancel by other means.

Cooling-Off Notices

• All subscription contracts must include a non-waivable and non-conditional cooling-off period that applies more broadly than standard cancellation rights.
• Customers must be allowed to cancel a contract within 14 days of entering it, and within 14 days of any renewal payments.
• Cooling-off periods must apply regardless of how the customer signed up, whether it was online or in person.
• Businesses must issue new cooling-off notices on the first day of renewal cooling-off periods. They are not just for new customers.
• Businesses must explicitly notify customers of their cooling-off rights. They must provide this information separately from all other contractual information. They cannot hide the cooling-off rights in the terms & conditions, for example.

What Are The Penalties For Not Complying With DMCC Rules?

The DMCC Act also introduced new fining powers for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). As a result of this, you can be fined up to 10% of your annual turnover if you fail to comply with consumer law.

Non-compliance could also lead to reputational damages. If you do not adopt these more user-friendly contract rules, then it may send a message to your existing and potential customers: That you are actively looking to deceive them, or trap them. This, of course, could cause many to think twice about signing up.

Complying With The New DMCC Automatic Subscription Rules

You should review your current subscription contract processes as soon as you can. You may have to make changes to some aspects of the customer journey so as to ensure that customers receive all the information you need to provide, when you need to provide it.

It may also be necessary to review your current terms and conditions, to ensure that you are not burying any necessary information regarding renewal clauses, cancellation policies, and cooling-off periods.

Get Specialist Help and SME 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 business. We can help you understand the new regulatory framework for subscriptions, and we can help your business access the specialist insurance you need should a customer ever make a claim against you.

Find out how we can help you today.

According to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO), employers have a legal duty to ensure fire risk assessments are carried out, and that appropriate fire safety precautions are in place at all times.

This legal responsibility applies to offices of all sizes. So, whether you are managing a single room office, or a large office complex that contains multiple rooms across multiple floors, you have a legal responsibility to arrange for a fire risk assessment.

Who is Legally Responsible For Carrying Out Office Fire Risk Assessments?

The RRO places the responsibility for carrying out fire risk assessments on whichever “responsible person” has control of the premises.

As an employer, you will be responsible for whichever portion of a commercial building contains your office

The building’s owner or manager will be responsible for any common areas, including stairwells and corridors.

In a serviced office or a co-working space, you will share this fire safety responsibility with other employers, or with the building manager, depending on the nature of your contract.

Office Fire Risk Assessments: What To Include

There are five basic steps to any fire safety plan:

1. Identify fire hazards
2. Identify people at risk
3. Evaluate the risk
4. Identify any steps you need to take to manage, mitigate, or eliminate the risk
5. Record your actions, and establish a schedule for reviewing them

Identify All Possible Fire Hazards

This should include all sources of ignition, such as electrical and heating equipment, along with all sources of fuel, including your office furniture and your stored materials. Also identify any sources of oxygen, such as doors, windows, and air conditioning systems, which could help a fire to spread.

Identify Who Is At Risk

If a fire were to break out in your office, who exactly would be at risk? Think beyond your employees, and also consider contractors, delivery drivers, visiting clients and customers, and any other members of the public who may happen to be on the premises at the time.

Also consider that some may be at greater risk than others. People with mobility, hearing, or visibility issues may struggle to evacuate, and anyone who is unfamiliar with the building will also be unfamiliar with your evacuation plan.

Evaluate The Risk

Once you have identified any possible fire hazards, and once you have determined who would be most at risk from a fire, you need to assess how likely it is that a fire might break out.

You also need to consider the possible severity of any outbreak. This means identifying any measures that are currently in place to prevent fires, along with any measures that you need to introduce to keep people safe.

Identify Steps To Manage, Mitigate, or Eliminate the Risk of Fire

This might include:

• Staff Training – All onsite staff should understand the fire risks that exist in the office, along with the steps they should take in the event of a fire. Among other things, you should set an evacuation plan, and a place for people to assemble after they leave the building, so you can ensure that nobody has been left behind.
• Appointed Responsibilities – You should appoint a fire warden, who can be responsible for monitoring all possible fire risks, for running fire drills, and for enacting emergency plans in the event of a fire. You should also ensure that everybody knows who to report to, and what other actions to take, should a fire break out.
• Emergency Signage – Remember that not everybody will be familiar with your emergency plans. This is why you will need adequate emergency signage throughout your office, along with emergency lighting should there be a power cut.
• Fire Safety Equipment – This should include fire alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and evacuation equipment to assist anyone with mobility issues.

Record And Review Fire Precautions

You should keep a written record of:

• Your fire risk assessment, along with any steps you carry out to mitigate risks. You should also specify who is responsible for carrying out these steps, along with a timeframe for completion.
• Your fire drills, including the dates and times they take place, along with any issues you identify throughout the process.
• Any servicing, tests, or inspections for your fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire doors, and emergency lighting.
• Any specialist training you arrange either for your staff, or for your designated fire warden.

Get The Right Insurance Cover For Your Office

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

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

Learn more about our specialist office insurance services, or to speak to someone call us on 0330 024 0755, or email enterprisenb@jameshallam.co.uk.

We recently published a guide to the legal responsibilities and duties of charity trustees. In this post, we will examine another aspect of charity law regarding trustees: How many does your charity need, and how long should they serve?

How Many Trustees Does a Charity Need?

The number of charity trustees you need as a legal minimum will depend on the type of charity you are running, along with your charity’s constitution or governing documents.

In most cases, if you are running:

• An unincorporated trust or association, or a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), you have a legal requirement to appoint one trustee.
• A charitable company (CLG), Companies Act 2006 specifies that you need to appoint, at minimum, one director.

A charity’s governing documents should also set a minimum number of trustees. Typically, this will be between three and five.

It is important to note that you must appoint the minimum number of trustees as outlined in your charity’s governing document, even if this number is higher than the legal minimum.

Charity Commission Guidance on Number of Trustees

The Charity Commission recommends that all charities, regardless of size or type, need at least three trustees.

This is for practical governance reasons:

• Effective Decision-Making – If there are just two trustees, any disagreement will automatically lead to a deadlock. But when there are three or more trustees, it is more likely that two trustees might agree on a decision, meaning that the board as a whole can agree to go with the majority.
• Clearly Defined Roles – With three or more trustees, each trustee can take on a specific role. Along with a chair of trustees, you can have trustees responsible for finance, fundraising, safeguarding, programme oversight, and so on.
• Less Risk of Fraud – Clearly defining roles for your trustees will also much easier to effectively segregate duties. When it comes to finances, for example, one trustee can take responsibility for authorising payments, and other can take responsibility for checking them. If this were handled by just one trustee, along with all other governance tasks, then there may be a greater risk of fraud or oversight.
• Better Continuity – With three or more trustees, your charity’s board can continue to operate even if one trustee resigns, moves away, or falls ill.

Is It Possible For A Charity To Have Too Many Trustees?

While the Charity Commission does not advise on a maximum number of trustees, it does advise that larger boards can provide less effective governance than smaller boards.

If you are a smaller charity, you should aim to have between five and eight trustees. Even larger charities should aim for relatively smaller boards. Most charities will set a maximum number of trustees in their governing documents, typically between 10 and 15.

The more trustees your charity has, the harder you will find it to schedule meetings that everyone can attend. Larger boards can also lead to slower decision-making, particularly if disagreements arise. Plus, if your board is too large, then there may be less individual accountability, which could lead to oversights and other issues.

How Long Should Your Trustees Serve?

There are no laws around how long your trustees should serve. The Government guidance instead advises you to refer to your charity’s governing documents.

Essentially, your charity’s governing document should specify a set number of years that your trustees can serve for. Unless your document specifies otherwise, then any trustee that reaches the end of their term may be reappointed for another term.

The Government guidance also specifies that, if your charity’s governing documents do not specify a specific length of service, then “trustees continue in their role until they die, resign, or are removed.”

Procedures for Removing or Recruiting Trustees

With this in mind, your documents should outline the procedures for removing trustees, for resignations, and for appointing new trustees should they stop serving for whatever reason.

It is important to ensure that you will always have enough trustees in place for effective governance, which is why the Charity Commission advises on a minimum of three trustees for all charities. The Government also advises that you should find and appoint new trustees before retiring or resigning trustees leave, to ensure continuity.

Specialist Insurance For Charities and Trustees

At James Hallam, we have supplied dedicated insurance and risk management solutions to charities and other third sector organisations since 1982. We are an independent Lloyd’s broker, and charity trustees across the UK rely on us for expert advice and market-leading solutions at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you manage all of the risks you face as a charity trustee.