Darren Beckinsale • Construction • 10th Aug 2021 • 2 min read time Understanding the UK Construction Plan for Unsafe Cladding In 2017, cladding was found to be partially at fault for the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, resulting in the death of 72 people. Panels made from plastic and aluminium were installed at Grenfell Tower to keep the building warm and dry. Later, it was discovered that these materials helped the flames spread after the […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction, Risk Insights • 11th Jun 2021 • 3 min read time Drainage Contractors’ Cover Considerations Now more than ever, the UK is clogged. That is, by large masses of fat and discarded items blocking Britain’s sewers, also known as ‘fatbergs’. The term was first coined in 2015, when a 10-tonne fatberg broke a sewer in Chelsea and cost Thames Water £400,000 to fix. However, the problem has worsened in recent […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction, Risk Insights • 4th Jun 2021 • 2 min read time What Are Performance Bonds? Performance bonds are a type of guarantee provided by an insurer, bank or other guarantor that ensures that goods or services are provided in accordance with a contract. The issuing party agrees to pay the buyer an agreed-upon amount of money in the event that such goods or services are not delivered on time or […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction, Cover Overviews • 17th May 2021 • 4 min read time Tradesman Insurance As a tradesman, you belong to a group of workers skilled in a variety of highly specialised trades and crafts. The term ‘tradesmen’ refers to builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, roofers and more. Because the definition of tradesmen is so broad, it can be difficult to choose the cover that best protects against the specific risks […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction • 5th May 2021 • 2 min read time Understanding the UK Construction Material Shortage Due to new tasks and plans put on hold in the past year, there are many projects currently in the pipeline for construction firms. However, while demand being high may seem like a good thing most of the time, organisations must also understand that with greater demand comes greater costs. In this case, an ongoing […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction • 8th Apr 2021 • 4 min read time Construction and Dealing With Late Payments While collecting late payments is a relatively constant problem that affects businesses across nearly every industry, it is the single largest risk to the long-term sustainability of construction firms—especially small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs). The average firm waits 107 days before it receives payment, according to industry research, despite having agreed-upon payment terms before the […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction, HSE Risk Management • 1st Apr 2021 • 3 min read time HSE Cornerstones – April 2021 Preventing Workplace Falls From Height Falls from height are among the most common causes of work-related injuries and fatalities in the UK. In fact, according to the HSE, falls from height have been the leading cause of fatalities in the construction, manufacturing and transportation sectors over the last five years. Additionally, during the same time […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction, Cover Overviews • 31st Mar 2020 • 4 min read time Tradesman Insurance As a tradesman, you belong to a group of workers skilled in a variety of highly specialised trades and crafts. The term ‘tradesmen’ refers to builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, roofers and more. Because the definition of tradesmen is so broad, it can be difficult to choose the cover that best protects against the specific risks […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction, Cover Overviews • 31st Mar 2020 • 5 min read time Contract Works Insurance – Overview Construction projects can be complicated undertakings, and if any problems were to arise before the project is completed, things can become difficult to resolve. Imagine you are working on the framework of a two-storey detached home. One night, a devastating summer storm rolls in and relentlessly batters the building site, effectively undoing several weeks of […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction, Cover Overviews • 10th Oct 2018 • 2 min read time Essential tools insurance In many different trades such as building, plumbing or landscape gardening for example, tools are an essential part of the business. Protecting those vital tools with proper tool insurance should be an essential part of any insurance policy. Not only could losing or damaging tools be expensive due to the cost of having to replace […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction • 10th Oct 2018 • 3 min read time Construction : House Building in the UK House Building and Construction in the UK On Wednesday, Theresa May vowed to fix the housing problem in the UK. However, experts have cautioned that her mission to increase the construction of affordable households is not a perfect solution to the country’s housing crisis. According to the prime minister, the government would raise its budget […]
Darren Beckinsale • Construction, Newsletters • 17th Mar 2017 • 3 min read time Tradespeople face up to material price hikes Despite positive economic data, the weak pound could pose challenges for UK tradespeople this year. In particular, rising material costs might prove an issue … The UK economy has so far defied fears of a post-Brexit slowdown, with the Bank of England even raising its growth forecast for 2017 [SC1]. Despite concerns about the potential […]
