Home owner’s in Sheffield are at risk if they have solar panels installed and do not have the correct insurance policy to cover them.  Accidental damage and public liability are usually covered as part of a standard home insurance policy but this cover does not always apply to solar panels.  Why would a home need this? any revenue being generated via the feed in tariff is not insured should the solar panels stop working following damage, a huge loss to any home owner relying on this to pay for the solar panels.

Commercial properties are also at risk, generally commercial properties have much larger installations with much larger revenues being generated via the feed in tariff so losing a week’s revenue plus having to pay for electricity they would usually have of had for free can have a huge impact on any company’s bottom line.

However, there is a solution.  Your local insurance broker should have access to specialist insurance policies offering business interruption for the revenue generated via the feed in tariff and adequate public liability and accidental damage cover.

Ben Atha Account Executive at ECS Insurance Brokers Ltd said ‘’ We have extensive experience in providing insurance for the renewable energy sector and specialist cover for solar panels has been avaiable for quite some time now, it’s usually no more expensive than a standard insurance policy’’

The City of Sheffield has been announced as the leading place in the United Kingdom for the conversion to solar energy. A recent report in the Guardian Newspaper has announced that Sheffield leads the way with the greatest number of installations of solar panels per head of population.

Sheffield has added almost 2 megawatts of capacity in the last 12-15 months ensuring that the South Yorkshire City was almost 1 megawatt ahead of nearest rivals Leeds whom were ranked second for the conversion to solar energy. Although London actually added over 3.2 megawatts when it was broken down and expressed per head of population the capital fell to sixth place overall behind Bristol, Bradford and Birmingham.

For more information please contact:

Ben Atha

Account Executive

0114 280 2830

benatha@ecsbrokers.com

Listed as Customer Service Provider of the Year 2011 finalists in the UK Broker Awards; ECS made the finals this year from the largest number of entrants to the UK Broker Awards.

Judges noted that ECS were just one of three Brokers in the UK to have achieved such an outstanding level of customer satisfaction.

The Insurance Times Awards 2011 have also shortlisted ECS as finalists, this time for the Broker Innovation of the Year Award.  This is in recognition of our unique Estate Insure product for the legal profession.

Estate Insure provides full home insurance (including theft, malicious damage and escape of water cover) for solicitors all over the UK needing to insure empty properties for their clients.

As finalists in 2 national awards ECS are proud to be recognised for their forward thinking and ability to deliver value added products and services. With clients all over the UK this Sheffield business has set itself apart from the crowd and continues to deliver over and above expectation.

Jason Reynolds, MD of ECS Insurance Brokers said “I’m always proud of our teams and what they deliver for our clients but to reach 2 national awards finals in the same year is a great achievement. I’m not getting too excited yet but it’s fantastic just to reach the finals, let alone win as both of them have highly respected judging panels”

For further information or advice on how best to protect your business assets, please contact ECS Insurance Brokers on 01142 802 830

Production of key electronic and computer components such as flash memory chips, batteries, and microchips used in mobile phones and computers has been disrupted by the recent events in Japan.  With Demand for these components on the black market likely to increase, so are the chances of theft.  Consideration should be given to improve security and to make sure your business is adequately insured for computer equipment, please see the RSA Insurance property security advice document

For further information or advice on how best to protect your business assets, please contact ECS Insurance Brokers on 01142 802 830

As of the 1st September 2011 The Agency Workers Regulations are to be amended giving unprecedented new rights, businesses who rely on agency temps to supplement their existing workforce will find that the new regulations increase the costs of doing so.  With penalties of £5,000 for each agency worker against businesses that deliberately attempt to avoid the regulations, the potential impact of falling foul of the new rules is not to be sniffed at.

The regulations will give agency workers unprecedented new rights.  They will now be entitled to the same facilities and amenities as permanent staff from day one.  These include things like canteen and childcare facilities as well as transport services (for example car parking), prayer rooms and shower facilities.  Although temps won’t be entitled to sick pay, occupational pensions, redundancy or maternity pay, businesses may find hiring temps significantly less economical than they did before.  A break between or during assignments will not trigger a new 12 week qualifying period unless the temp stops working at the business for more than six weeks. However, sick leave of up to 28 weeks, annual leave, a temporary cessation of work for a pre-determined time (such as school holidays or seasonal factory shutdown), jury service of up to 28 weeks, and any industrial action will only cause the qualifying clock to pause if the agency worker returns to the same role.  In circumstances where the absence is for reasons relating to pregnancy, childbirth, or maternity, paternity or adoption leave, the qualifying clock will continue to run even during absence.

Claims for failure to provide the same basic conditions could prove costly so businesses are advised to review how long agency workers are needed for an assignment and engage with agencies in order to ensure that their temps receive equal treatment to comparable permanent employees.

ECS are advising businesses to make sure their existing insurance portfolio includes optional extensions to mitigate these costs.  If you would like more information or should you wish to have ECS check you have adequate cover in please, then please contact ECS Insurance Brokers on 0114 280 2830

If an insurer misses the 14 day deadline then there is a chance of your claim being declined, so we advise contacting your insurance broker immediately who will be able to assist you.  Alistair Steward director of QuestGates loss adjusters said: “We would anticipate that in the face of central government cuts that any police authority would look to resist applications for extension as the time limits here provide a straightforward loophole for them to use to keep payments to a minimum.  We strongly urge insurers to alert their policyholders to the need for immediate action when notifying claims relating to the recent riots.”

ECS can provide its clients with their own loss adjuster who will provide a detailed report of damage including the cost of repairs, ask your insurance broker if they can offer you something similar.

For more information please visit our earlier post http://bit.ly/qTDREc or contact ECS Insurance Brokers on 0114 280 2830

Most home insurance should cover people for fire, looting or damage and many policies will also cover people for alternative accommodation costs if they cannot stay in their home.  Commercial insurance policies will normally cover businesses for damage to their premises, including the financial loss due to interruption to their business as a result.  Some policies will also cover those businesses which are not damaged, but whose trade is affected by the aftermath.

Graeme Trudgill, BIBA’s Head of Corporate Affairs, said: “We want to do everything we can to help those affected.  It is important for people to contact their insurance broker to arrange for immediate help and support and to make the affected property as secure as possible.“

Steve Foulsham, BIBA’s Technical Services Manager, commented: “The majority of insurance providers operate a 24 hour claims line and can help people arrange for emergency repairs and the damage to be inspected as quickly as possible.”

Firstly, its imperative to identify the new risks we face.  Employee fraud and theft are both on the increase.  ECS were the victims of theft recently when our air conditioning units were stolen from our premises which just goes to show no one is immune.

Being able to identify risks early means that with a few simple steps you can mitigate or even remove them.  Improving security and checking you have the relevant insurance cover in place can take only a few minutes.

If you’re concerned about the risks you and your business may encounter over the coming years, please feel free to contact ECS Insurance Brokers on 0114 280 2830.  See some of our other articles including the Which business insurance is right for you Tool on our blog page