Legislation
Select commission uplifts risk breaking new bribery laws
Insurers offering brokers increased commission rates for new business must ensure they have adequate procedures in place or they could risk breaching the Bribery Act 2010, according to legal experts.
Reportage - Future of regulation: Predicting the future
Everyone is aware the FSA is on its way out but what is less certain is how the new regulatory structure will operate. Liz McMahon explores what brokers can expect in the medium to long-term future.
Agenda: Commission disclosure
The European Union (EU) is now putting together its consultation paper on a revised Insurance Mediation Directive and this will include their views on commission disclosure.
News Analysis - Gender equality: Ensuring equality
Emmanuel Kenning asks if the insurance industry should be congratulating or chastising itself over its equal pay record between the sexes.
Broker claims debate - roundtable: A case of too many cooks?
The friction between brokers, insurers and accident management companies is well documented, but what has come under less scrutiny is the underlying reason for this tension. Martin Friel reports on this special roundtable debate.
Reward for efficiency required
There is no incentive for accident management companies to perform efficiently and the market requires legislation or a new product in order for it to perform acceptably.
Focus - Start-ups: Making your own space
Edward Murray investigates the key considerations involved in establishing a new broker
News Analysis - Council parking charges: Nottingham Council's private parking charges pile pressure on businesses
The profession has reacted with horror to newspaper reports that car parking charges could be levied by councils on private spaces.
SMEs and Government: A cure for the economy
Small business is the backbone of the UK economy, says Stephen Archer, and the Government needs to encourage, rather than hinder, its growth.
Reportage - long-tail liability: Breathe easy
Neil Hackett advises how brokers can assist in the handling of long-tail liability claims for lung diseases such as pneumoconioses.
Reportage - cyber liability: Reducing online exposure
As websites and e-trading take a more prominent role in every facet of business, online liability risks grow. Edward Murray asks how the market can keep up to date with the exposures and how brokers should best advise their clients.
Legal - Retirement regulations: Retirement age heading for the horizon
Changes to the age of compulsory retirement will have an impact on brokers and their clients. Alex Lock looks at potential financial implications and risks to consider.
Recycling: More than a load of old rubbish
Recycling in the UK is increasing, a process that is generating significant underwriting opportunities and, in turn, openings that brokers should be keen to explore, writes Andy Poole.
Market Watch - Low carbon economy: High hopes for low carbon
Andrew Williams investigates the promises and pitfalls of offering cover across the many and varied risks in the growing green energy sector.
The Green Interview: Building momentum for change
Andrew Tjaardstra speaks to Andrew Torrance, chief executive officer at Allianz and chairman of ClimateWise, about what the environmental organisation hopes to achieve and its radical proposals to last year's Copenhagen climate conference.
Legal: The opportunity of uncertainty
The vague Green Economy Bill is not an excuse for the industry to ignore climate change risks, rather to take a lead in tackling the problem and grab a big opportunity, writes Lindene Patton.
Viewpoint: The carbon challenge
Climate change remains controversial for broking. Either it is not discussed or it is addressed in the context of new business opportunities such as renewable energy. Regardless of a broker's positioning on climate change, it has become a regulatory…
Government to scrap default retirement age
Employers will no longer be able to make people retire at 65 under new laws.
Reportage - online security: Storing online data securely
As the world of e-trading moves on apace, the legal obligations of companies that receive, store and disseminate client information can often be forgotten. Liz McMahon examines the responsibilities brokers have in regards to data
New government: Coalition consequences
The new government has already announced the end of the Financial Services Authority and an Emergency Budget full of spending cuts and tax rises. Emmanuel Kenning looks at the implications for insurance brokers.
Court throws out Quinn appeal over information disclosure
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Quinn's appeal against the decision made in Quinn Direct Insurance v The Law Society of England and Wales, which refused the insurer access to confidential documents relating to a firm of solicitors that was being…
PB Week: Time to take up arms against a sea of legislation?
Deputy PM Nick Clegg's call to arms against pointless regulation and unnecessary bureaucracy was issued on 1 July with the launch of the "Your Freedom" website.
Con-Dem health and safety review branded 'waste of time'
Andrew Wigmore, policy director of the Claims Standards Council (CSC) has slammed the Government's health and safety review as a rehash of the Jackson review and a "waste of time, effort and money".
Viewpoint: Grasp the nettle
There are sound business reason why clients should be seeking risk management advice - so brokers should overcome their concerns and provide it for them, says Andy Hawkes.