Analysis
Full of north-eastern promise?
The term centralisation comes up often in the insurance industry, particularly in the recession when businesses are scaling back their operations. For this month's discussion, Jessica Pothering headed to Newcastle to uncover the state of the market
Risk perspectives
Crisis talks Vaughan Andrewartha, consultant to Crisis Survivor
Floodgates have opened
Although the Government's pledge to bring forward its flood protection funding is good news, James Hillon explains why the actions of property developers could leave consumers and insurers in deep water
Safety first
Ian Clements is managing director of Reading-based Quadriga Health & Safety. He tells PB about his firm and its insurance requirements.
Read the warning signs
Brokers need to pay more attention to the effects of the introduction of legislation such as the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act (2007). Doing so will help to keep clients on the right side of the law and could also improve value-add…
Insuring a good night out
Fights, drugs, alcohol abuse, trips and slips are all associated with nightclubs, but brokers and insurers need not be wary, writes Andrew Tjaardstra.
Stand out in a crowd
Alastair Murray gives the lowdown on search engine optimisation.
The evolutionary process
Broker websites are becoming less like online brochures, writes Katherine Blackler.
Regulator's advertising rules overlook risks
The many ways that consumers or rival businesses can pursue a company over its promotions means that the Financial Services Authority's guides may not be enough on their own to steer brokers down the right path, writes Robin Fry.
Broker success depends on IT skills
Katherine Blackler examines the options available for brokers wanting to invest in business-critical information technology training for their staff members.
Declining commission levels take their toll
Is the commission squeeze taking hold industry-wide? From being near-ubiquitous, consolidators are now out in the cold, writes Rachel Gordon.
Economists divided over duration of recession
The state of the economy is hitting brokers in the pocket and it is hard to predict when the recession will end, writes Andrew Tjaardstra.
Steering to calmer waters
26 The PB Interview
Under pressure
Banu Gajendran and Chris Dee explore the emerging risk of work-related stress. As employees feel the strain of the economic crisis, how can businesses ensure this is effectively managed?
Branching out
The practice of insurers buying brokers is becoming more common in the hunt for alternative revenue streams and increased market share. Steve Wood argues that these hybrids really can guarantee independent advice
Bridging the gap
Mark Shreeve explains how brokers can advise on the most dependable D&O cover
A little bit of fine-tuning
Liz Booth takes an overview of recent changes int he liability field
Open to the elements
Martin Friel investigates the growing popularity of D&O and how this insurance is being tailored to suit the needs of smaller firms