Specialist solutions are us

In this month's feature on the travel insurance market, Rachel Gordon writes about the battle for more signposting around difficult risks such as elderly patients and those with cancer. Specialist broker InsureCancer has done a great job in helping cancer patients secure cover for trips. The firm's director, Dr Krish Shastri is keen to dispel the misconceptions around perceived uninsurable risks. He says: "Given our ability to help most cancer patients, it would be a small matter for brokers and insurers to signpost cancer patients at the point of decline."

As part of the forthcoming Equality Bill, the British Insurance Brokers' Association is urging the government to allow use of age bands and limits, as well as the adoption of a signposting service for all parties selling travel insurance, essentially allowing details to be passed to firms that can cover difficult risks. The Bill is going to Parliament now with Biba lobbying hard and, although it won't be ready for several years, such an approach will be positive for brokers specialising in this area - and their customers.

Toughing it out with your peers

For many, this has been an unpleasant year to be a manager but the adage no pain, no gain is a pragmatic way of viewing the downturn.

If nothing else, a recession emphasises the necessity of ensuring your business is well managed - that all costs are fully understood and are firmly under control. It is not exactly easy being a manager when the economy is strong and growing, so this year is unlikely to be have been too much fun.

However, if you have managed to keep the majority of your staff employed, enjoyed a high retention rate and renegotiated some deals in your favour from your suppliers then, when the economy recovers, you should find your company to be in a strong position, able to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the upturn. It would be great to hear your experiences - good and bad - of this difficult time at the forthcoming PB Management Event on 15 October (see pp.28-31 for more details). We look forward to hearing from you.