As part of our relationship, clients of both companies can expect competitively priced quotations, specialist advice, and first class service on all matters relating to Insurance, Risk Management and Health and Safety.

B&R Corporate Business Executive Dean Oldham said “We are delighted to be joining forces with a company like HS Direct. We feel the values of the business focus on what is important to the customer. Not only value for money, but also the right advice, guidance and support when our clients need it the most. We look forward to working with them in the future”.

To learn more about HS Direct, visit their website by clicking on the logo below or alternatively to learn more about our relationship and the services we can offer contact Dean.

• The Insurance brokers they dealt with did not fully understand the profession and therefore were not able to advise on the risks faced, leaving OH professionals vulnerable due to incorrect cover.

• If cover was available, it was usually very expensive. This is because insurers offering cover, especially for malpractice and professional negligence rate OH  on the same basis as higher risk areas of the medical profession, and many areas of OH are non intrusive procedures.

• Some individuals will rely on the Indemnity cover provided by the RCN scheme.  However following the changes made by the RCN from the 1st January 2012, nurses should check what level of cover (if  any) is provided.

At Brett & Randall we have a bespoke offering for the OH provider, whether they are an individual OH nurse working as a sole trader, or as part of a larger business.  Different providers will have different requirements, but these are examples of the types of insurance that is likely to be required:-

• Medical Malpractice Insurance
• Public/Product Liability Insurance
• Employers Liability
• Professional Indemnity
• Property Insurance – including cover for portable medical equipment
• Motor Insurance – including Full Business Use cover

To request a quotation please contact Joanne Salt at Brett & Randall – 0116 281 9127 or visit our website

All Bupa’s Corporate Select customers will have to choose from a list of consultants selected by Bupa, from January 2012, the insurer has announced, in a move that represents a huge shake-up of the private medical insurance (PMI) market.

Are you a BUPA client? Click here to read more now…..

A Leicester company has appeared in court charged under the Corporate Manslaughter & Homicide Act after an employee was fatally injured.

The victim, a warehouse assistant, was hit by a delivery vehicle whilst trying to cross an access road behind his employer’s food store.

The company was accused of being responsible because pedestrians should not have been allowed in this area.

Fortunately, the company is fictitious and no one was fatally hurt because the court case was a mock trial staged by Brett and Randall. It took place in Leicester’s historic Guildhall to make directors of businesses more aware of the threat posed by the Act.

The trial, enacted by lawyers from Weightmans Solicitors, attracted 50 senior business people and the audience became the jury after in depth questioning and the examination of several exhibits including company risk assessments and a detailed map of the premises.

It was a very close call but the defendants were found not guilty, and B&R warns in a real-life case with a real-life jury, the outcome may have been very different.

B&R staged the event following the first prosecution under the Act earlier this year when Cotswold Geotechnical were prosecuted and fined £385,000 following the death of an employee who was killed when a trench in which he was working collapsed.

Chris Hutchins, a director at B&R, said: “We did not just want to organise another technical briefing and the mock trial was a great success. It was an interesting and entertaining way of getting over some important points to those attending and also explained how businesses may afford themselves some level of insurance protection.

“The mock trial was highly relevant to anyone running a business who is grappling with trying to keep up to date with changing legislation and understanding their responsibilities in an increasingly litigious society where almost everyone appears to understand their rights to blame and claim.”

Brett and Randall is staging this event as the first prosecution under the act happened earlier this year when Cotswold Geotechnical were prosecuted and fined £385,000 following the death of an employee who was killed when a trench in which he was working collapsed.

Stephen Rann, an account executive at Brett and Randall, said: “We did not want to put on just another technical seminar so we decided to stage a mock trial as we believe it’s a more entertaining and interactive way of getting over some important points to Directors of businesses.”

Weightmans Solicitors, who have offices in Leicester, are joining forces with Brett and Randall in the staging of the mock trial, which will take place on the 14th July 2011.

Numbers will be limited but anyone interested in attending this free event, should please email info@brettandrandall.co.uk

Kiya Jacobs and Cassandra Reeve have joined insurance broker Brett and Randall in apprentice positions and will be undertaking training throughout the firm.

The company decided to embark on an apprenticeship programme in conjunction with Leicester College in response to a shortage of qualified people in the insurance sector.

Chris Hutchins, a director at Brett and Randall, who started in the profession as a teenager himself, said: “The overall experience of working with Leicester College was extremely good, they were able to introduce to us some young people with great potential and we aim to take on more apprentices in future.

“There is a skills shortage out there when it comes to Insurance, and that is a problem for a growing business and we have therefore made a proactive decision to invest in growing our own and preparing for the future.”

Kiya, a Leicester College student, said: “I’m really pleased to be given this opportunity the training is good and already think it’s a great place to work.”

L-R: Cassandra Reeve, Kiya Jacobs, and Chris Hutchins

Brett & Randall has strengthened its marketing team with a new appointment, Raj Kaur, who will manage telemarketing operations.

Raj, who has ten years’ experience specialising in the insurance sector, said: “Before I started here I had a number of opportunities available to me, but I chose Brett & Randall because of the company’s future growth plans, including the move to purpose-built new offices at Grove Park scheduled for September.

“Brett & Randall are successful and growing, and that is something I want to be a part of.”

Chris Hutchins, a director at Brett and Randall, said: “Telemarketing has previously been an outsourced function, but for some time now we have been looking to bring this function in house, in order that we can manage the process more effectively.

“Raj is very experienced in our market sector. She will be a great asset to us in terms of our marketing and research and development activities and we are pleased to have her on board.”

This is the industry’s gold standard for firms of insurance brokers. It confirms that we have satisfied rigorous qualification criteria by retaining highly-qualified staff who subscribe to the membership conditions of the CII.

It also involves a commitment to continuing professional development and adherence to an industry standard Code of Ethics. You can view the Code atwww.cii.co.uk/code.
When you use a Chartered firm you are dealing with proven professionals. The CII is empowered by the Privy Council to award Chartered status, and the award is only made in deserving cases. And while Chartered titles are steeped in history, they remain the benchmark of professional excellence and integrity.

Only the UK’s premier insurance broking firms qualify for Chartered status. If you wish to know more about how using a Chartered firm can ensure you get the best possible advice, service and support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Note: With over 93,000 members, the CII is the world’s largest professional body dedicated to the insurance, savings and financial services sector.

“As businesses place a greater reliance than ever on technology to carry out their business, here at Brett & Randall we are advising them to protect themselves by considering Cyber Liability Insurance.

Major reliance is now placed on all forms of computer systems. From Simple websites, through to E-Commerce Portals, Point of Sale, transactional back-end processing system and CRM systems.

This reliance on information technology has brought new risks to the table. Loss or corruption of data can have a debilitating effect on an organisations ability to operate.

For a business, the consequences of the threat of virus or hacker attack and the loss of sensitive data can be far more serious than losing a few hours/days in down time, and could easily result in thousands of pounds of lost revenue.

If you would like to consider protecting your business against cyber related problems speak to Joanne on (0116) 2423370 or email jsalt@brettandrandall.co.uk to see how we can help you.

There are more vacant properties than usual in the city due to the economic slowdown, and they are particularly at risk of damage during the colder months from homeless people seeking warmth and thieves and vandals operating under cover of darkness.

Chris Hutchins said people shouldn’t assume that insurance will cover them in an event such as a fire.

“Insurance companies are very wary of the risks of empty properties,” he said. “You need to manage the unoccupancy. Many people don’t realise what they are buying when they purchase insurance for an empty property. Insurers offering conventional buildings insurance are not likely to offer full cover. You almost certainly won’t be protected for damage by burst pipes or malicious damage, which are arguably the greatest risks for properties left empty.

“Insurers will impose warranties, such as boarding up, switching off utilities and requiring regular inspections, which may mean that they won’t pay out on a claim if it seems you haven’t complied. And the premium may be four times what you would pay for a fully occupied property. For the landlord, that means an increased insurance overhead at a time when there is no rent coming in.”

Mr Hutchins points out that the problem is worse for listed buildings, especially if they are derelict. “Warranties are even stricter than usual, and premiums are also higher for derelict buildings than they are for empty new ones because it is easier for people to break in, and there is a greater risk of damage.”

He says owners of new buildings should recognise they are especially at risk from burglars, who calculate that security won’t be as well organised as it will be when the property is fully functioning.

Brett and Randall reports growing interest from property managing agents in its specially designed Bricks and Mortar policy, which provides higher levels of cover and reduced premiums for properties under professional management.

“Many agents are having to commit considerable time and effort in inspecting empty properties they manage for clients,” says Mr Hutchins. “That’s an expensive business at a time when the property industry is depressed, so surveyors and commercial property agents are understandably interested in ways to ensure that their clients’ properties are fully insured on the most cost effective basis.”