Articles by Michelle Worvell
Dismissals - Termination for gross misconduct
An employee has committed an act of misconduct. I would like to terminate their contract to dismiss them without issuing any warning by effecting a summary termination. Am I within my rights to do this?
Buying and selling - Does everyone want a broker?
Ian Clark writes about broker consolidation and why it has occured in the wake of Aon's agreed bid for Benfield, a proposal that has heralded a return to mega-deals in the sector
PB Management Event - PB Management Event ready to roll
This has been an eventful year for the broker market. The recent news of the problems being faced by...
Internet crime - Criminal evolution heads online
Katherine Brandon exposes the risks presented by malware to brokers' IT systems
James Clarke - Keeping the best traditions
Director's Q&A
Industry scores for charity
Broker Allan Chapman & James was the winner of this year's Prince's Trust Insurance Leadership Group...
Denney O'Hara - A wise head
Denney O'Hara
Gossip from the industry - Are you tough enough?
Contemplating the economic turbulence that is shaking world markets and seems set to worsen, Jonatha...
Products
Product of the month Product that offers publicans flexibility Product: Public Houses and Wine Bar...
Conflicts of interest - In your best interests
We have authority from some insurers to discount or match rates in order to secure business and I have been told that this should be declared in our conflicts-of-interest policy. Is this correct?
Tribunals - Achieving a fair hearing
An ex-employee, who claims that they were dismissed unfairly, took a close friend of mine to tribunal. As a broker owner, I want to ensure that disciplinary procedures are both correct and fair and that I steer clear of litigation. How do I ensure this?
Residential property - Out of crisis, opportunity
Some brokers are shying away from the residential property market in the current gloomy economic landscape. However, under the surface lurks a highly accessible and competitive multi-tenancy market, writes Katherine Brandon
TCF MI failure raises questions
With the second deadline of the year looming, Katherine Brandon reviews the issue of management information for Treating Customers Fairly compliance
Without frontiers
Overseas business
Highway purchase
LV= is set to complete the £150m purchase, subject to terms, of Highway Insurance. The insurer will ...
Aon and Benfield - Deals could signify mass consolidation
Two of the major international players in the broking sector have signed big cheques: Willis have taken out Hilb Rogal and Hobbs, while Aon is set to buy Benfield, writes Andrew Tjaardstra
Technology - The rise of the broker platform
Rachel Gordon explores the ever-advancing world of broker technology to discover the advantages that it has brought and the prospects that it offers the industry and its clients alike
Driving offences - On the highway to jail
Kate Archer argues why new sentencing guidelines have serious consequences for the perpetrators of death by dangerous driving
Lee Green - Building the right cover
Director's Q&A
Solicitors PI battle gathers pace
As the renewal date for solicitors' professional indemnity cover looms, Katherine Brandon looks at the turmoil in the market and this year's new offerings
Remote working - Slow progress for mobile working
Katherine Brandon argues that remote network access is increasingly accessible to brokers but that adoption levels are still low
Jeremy Cary - Progress from within
Stackhouse Poland bucks the trend of recent broking times: its previous owner did not sell out to a consolidator but to a management buy-in looking to propel the business forward, writes Andrew Tjaardstra
Stakeholding - Insurer stakes can assist independence
Amlin, the specialist insurer and reinsurer, has bought a 19.9% stake in Bradford-based commercial broker TL Dallas for an undisclosed sum, writes Andrew Tjaardstra
CEO reveals fashion sense
Gossip from the industry