Private Private Clients & & Commercial Risks. Newsletter - Edition One TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. For further information contact us on:

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1 Private Private Clients & & Commercial Risks Newsletter - Edition One

2 C&M Insurance Welcome to our first newsletter. Established in 1993, C&M Insurance is a family run firm of insurance brokers in Essex that can advise you on most areas of private and commercial insurance, including business, property, motor trade, motor fleet and liability. With our insurance brokerage you can always be sure that your call will be dealt with in a professional and efficient manner. Our team are experienced, courteous and reliable, and our service is prompt and professional at all times. We provide a very personal service, taking time to fully understand your needs and offering practical, tailored and jargon-free insurance advice to help you get the most out of your cover. Please call or us to discuss your needs and we will find the best insurance policy for you. Here are just some of the services we offer... Property Liability Motor Fleet High Net Worth Motor Trade Business 7 great reasons to choose... We believe you ve got more important things to think about than insurance. After all, you ve got a business to run. At C&M we take care of the detail to ensure you have the correct level of cover in place. Our trusted advisors are here to assist with all your commercial insurance requirements. 1. No Call Centres 5. Risk Management We don t use call centres, so when you need advice we are always on hand. We can offer guidance on the main areas of risk management and most insurers we place your insurance cover with can provide risk management tools either at a discounted price or free of charge. 2. Personal Service You will never be just a reference number at C&M. We believe in traditional customer service methods. 3. Independent Professional Advice As an independent insurance broker we search for the right policy from a number of insurers and provide advice to meet your specific needs. 4. Claims Handling In the unfortunate event of a claim we make your life easier and handle the entire claim procedure from cradle to grave. 6. Bespoke Insurance Solutions We can provide you with a fully bespoke insurance package that is designed to give you the right cover at the right price. 7. Decades of Experience We understand how difficult it can be to choose the right insurance broker for your requirements, with our experience you can be confident you re dealing with dedicated and expert advisors.

3 Is your business at risk of an arson attack? Arson is the single most common cause of fire on business premises. When you consider that the vast majority of businesses never fully recover from a serious fire, it s well worth considering the steps you can take now to minimise the risk of arson occurring in the first place, and the protection you need in place in case the worst should happen. Most arson attacks take place as a result of opportunistic vandalism, but there are a wide range of simple steps set out below that you can take to minimize the threat to your business. It s also vital to check the details of your insurance policy and ensure you comply with its terms, conditions and warranties which may actually require you to take certain steps failure to do so could prejudice any claims you make. Here are a few recommendations worth considering to help reduce the arson threat to your business: 1. Arrange an arson risk assessment Ensure an arson risk assessment is carried out by a competent person as part of an overall fire risk assessment. This is required under fire safety legislation. The assessment should be formally documented and reviewed regularly. I nstall an intruder alarm with remote signalling to an alarm receiving centre consider remotely monitored CCTV. 2. Tighten up your security protection The arson risk assessment will help to highlight the security measures you should put in place. You should also pay attention to any specific requirements of your insurers. These are some simple, cost effective measures to deter vandals and arsonists: Install and maintain perimeter security walls, fences and gates. Keep the fabric of the building in good repair and remove graffiti promptly to ensures vandals are not attracted to the premises. Install an intruder alarm with remote signalling to an alarm receiving centre consider remotely monitored CCTV. Install security lighting, but ensure you don t provide working light for intruders. Ensure gaps beneath external doors are small. Fit approved metal containers to the inside of letterboxes. Limit the number of entrances in use, but never lock fire exits. Install an Automatic Fire Detection System and sprinklers. Ensure all locks to windows and doors are in full working order. Use staff or guards to manage security. 3. Encourage staff to be arson aware Educate your employees about the risk of arson and the precautions they should take. Encourage them to: Challenge strangers on the premises and report suspicious behaviour. Supervise any contractors and visitors to the premises. Keep tight control of all keys to the premises. Secure the property at the end of each working day. 4. Remove and secure waste material Remove waste materials at the end of each working day or more frequently if necessary. Ensure waste is put in bins or skips securely sited at least 10m from the buildings and at least 2m from the site perimeter or in lockable metal containers located as far away from doors and windows, canopies or overhanging roofs as possible. Flammable liquids and gases should be securely locked away. Don t let your hard-earned profits go up in smoke talk to the professionals at C&M Insurance. Knowing the risks facing your business and taking the necessary steps to mitigate them is one side of the coin; putting adequate insurance in place is the other. A robust insurance policy that will protect both your business premises and its contents and allow you to get up and running again as quickly as possible is vital for any business, regardless of your size or industry sector. The experienced insurance brokers at C&M Insurance have extensive knowledge in this area. Experienced professionals are on hand to advise you on the fire and other risks your business faces and work with you to find the right level of protection you.

4 Are your company s most important assets protected you and your fellow Directors? While many small businesses put the necessary insurance in place for their premises, contents and vehicles, few consider protection for the company s most important asset you and your fellow Directors. An increasingly litigious environment and the advent of the no win, no fee concept means claimants are more willing and able to take action and pursue claims. The consequences for company directors and officers can be devastating. A company is five times more likely to be called before an employment tribunal than suffer fire. Why is Directors and Officers liability insurance needed? Even in a company with limited liability status, directors and officers have unlimited personal liability. This means that personal wealth is at risk and it is the company s responsibility to protect them. Allegations, even if they re unfounded, need to be investigated and defended, which comes with a cost. In the course of carrying out everyday duties for a company, directors and officers can be exposing themselves personally to lawsuits, investigations and criminal prosecutions. Without adequate insurance, they can end up having to re-mortgage - or worse, be forced to sell their house and other assets - to pay costly legal fees. That s why arranging Directors and officers liability insurance - D&O for short - is now more important than ever. D&O insurance covers the legal costs of fighting your corner against any allegations of wrongdoing in running the company. It provides a pot of money that can be used to fund defence and settlement costs and to pay for the cost of legal representation at investigations. Directors and Officers are vulnerable on all sides: Let C&M Insurance take care of you and your fellow directors H ealth & Safety legislation - any Government body can take action or launch an investigation, particularly if the alleged breach relates to a serious injury or even a fatality. Shareholders - even happy, family run operations can become divisive, particularly under pressure, and shareholders, including fellow Directors, can pursue claims. Employees if an aggrieved employee pursues an employment dispute, they can also sue a Director individually. Creditors - companies and individuals are loath to write off debts. Buying and selling companies - either of these activities will increase your personal exposure. C&M Insurance is an experienced independent broker with extensive experience arranging the right level of D&O insurance for businesses of all sizes, operating in a broad range of industry sectors. Case Study An employee was dismissed for gross misconduct after a violent altercation at work. The company Disciplinary Committee judged he had brought the company into disrepute - a decision was in line with the rules and procedures set out in the company handbook. The employee brought an unsuccessful claim for unfair dismissal and legal costs of 7,900 were paid under the D&O policy. We believe you ve got more important things to think about than insurance, so let us assess your needs and your liabilities, and take care of the detail for you.

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