Advisory forum created to help small businesses recover post pandemic

Seven industry figures have joined the forum which was launched by Peach Pi to collaborate on improving relationships with consumers and within the industry.

Peach Pi has created an advisory forum, comprising thought leaders from a cross-section of the insurance market, with the aim to consider the industry’s role in the recovery for micro and small businesses. 

The business stated that the initiative had been developed in line with Peach Pi’s commitment to work collaboratively with intermediaries to redefine business insurance after the pandemic.

Members
The business explained that seven leading industry figures had joined the forum:  

• Andy Tedstone, CEO of Cobra Network;
• Brendan McCafferty, CEO of Brightside Group;
• David Ross, VP of Chartered Insurance Institute Local Institutes and NED;
• Kevin Hancock, MD of Yutree Insurance and chair of the CII’s Society of Insurance Broking;
• Louise Birritteri, CEO & Founder of Pikl;
• Lucy Hodgson, director at Eastwood Insurance Brokers;
• Sam White, CEO at Freedom Services Group.

Peach Pi was launched earlier this month and is backed by insurer NPA Insurance. It offers PI and property cover.

Impact
Allison Hughes, head of distribution at Peach Pi, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to sit around the table with such experienced individuals from a diverse selection of industry organisations to discuss issues that are going to have a profound impact on both small businesses and our industry. 

“The advisory forum provides us with an informal platform to consider the evolving needs of the insurance consumer in terms of cover and service and help shape the way forward in the new, post pandemic world.”

According to the business, the forum’s inaugural session explored the increasingly widening gap between the evolving needs of the consumer and the way protection is currently provided by the industry, as well as starting to explore the changes required to narrow the gap.

Hughes, along with Peach Pi MD Paul Coleman and chief operating officer Lisa Banks joined the seven forum members in the discussion.

Pandemic
“The hugely challenging business operating environment thrown up by the pandemic in recent months has highlighted the deepening cracks in relationships - between both the insurance consumer and intermediaries and within the industry itself,” Hughes added.

She continued: “In order for this tripartite relationship to not just survive, but thrive and excel, a number of fundamental relationship issues need to be addressed. 

“This will only happen if we work collaboratively, not combatively, to re-ignite our more traditional values of partnerships and long term relationships – delivered innovatively in a modern environment. Our first advisory forum has thrown up several thought provoking lines of thinking which we very much look forward to developing with such key industry influencers”.

Additionally, Coleman argued that the firm’s close working relationships with community pharmacy during the pandemic had strengthened its focus on the need to collaborate on insurance solutions.

He concluded: “We are delighted to be in conversation with a group of thought leaders who are also passionate about rebuilding trust and placing relationships back at the heart of the insurance business.”

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• Topics
• Brightside
• Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
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