6 February 2012, 11:37 am
Using an app with Readyclaim
6 February 2012, 11:32 am
How to get started with Readyclaim
6 February 2012, 11:29 am
Getting started with Readyclaim
Here's a video of why you need to record and verify your belongings in the event of a home insurance claim for contents. See www.readyclaim.co.uk for details of how to use the system for just £11.99 per year.
http://youtu.be/7FODqafqh3U
26 January 2012, 9:14 am
Freeserve founder Ajaz Ahmed on entrepreneurism
Serial entrepreneur Ajaz Ahmed on growing businesses..
http://youtu.be/zA4IWjVHYgM
26 January 2012, 9:10 am
Gary Lumby, Business Ambassador at Yorkshire Bank and non-executive director at a number of companies provides advice to businesses looking to raise funds.
http://youtu.be/X1pmw_YHIao
26 January 2012, 9:08 am
Kalpna Mistry, Marketing Manager at Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber on the launch of the new website for members and the services the Chamber can offer.
http://youtu.be/7UBjh5lWBXs
25 January 2012, 2:31 pm
Mark Goldstone, Head of Business Representation on what the Chamber can ...
Head of Business Representative Mark Goldstone tell Yorkshire Businesses how the Chamber can support their growth.
http://youtu.be/zA4IWjVHYgM
25 January 2012, 2:29 pm
Colin Glass, founder Partner at WGN accountants on making mentoring work
Colin Glass, founder of Leeds accountant WGN on the importance of mentoring.
http://youtu.be/559xIHAqBuk
25 January 2012, 2:24 pm
Freeserve founder Ajaz Ahmed on entrepreneurism
Ajaz Ahmed, founder of Freeserve on being an entrepreneur - part of a series of videos we produced for Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
25 January 2012, 11:00 am
FREE marketing audit for Yorkshire businesses
During the February and March we
are offering free marketing audits to small and medium-sized businesses operating across Yorkshire.
Businesses taking up the offer will get one hour's free consultancy meeting where we will look at your current marketing activity, explore your requirements and then a follow up meeting to identify some strategies and activities to meet your business objectives.
Firms that take up the offer will be offered preferential rates on bespoke marketing packages including PR and social media campaigns.
To book a meeting or for further information, contact Emma Kirkaldy emma@thesmartagency.co.uk or call 07983 714 001/01423 876 371.
10 January 2012, 9:55 am
Companies urged to improve skills training
Companies in the region are being encouraged to improve their employees’ skills and knowledge with the launch of a new range of training and development courses.
After talking to members and reviewing its current portfolio of training products, the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
is launching a new programme of subsidised courses covering sales and marketing, social media, leadership and personal development.
The new programme will include ‘taster’ sessions, providing introductory information which can be followed up by more in-depth courses.
The Chamber conducted a rigorous tendering process and, after receiving over 200 responses, appointed ten experienced training providers to deliver the courses which start at the end of January 2012.
Helen Silverman, head of SME membership at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “Having a team with the right skills is vitally important as businesses face tough trading conditions and we want to be one of, if not the first, places organisations look to for training courses for their employees.
“Our new training programme focuses on subjects that are key to SMEs including sales, marketing, social media and personal development. We have also heavily discounted the half and full day courses for Chamber members as one of the benefits of membership and as part of our ongoing strategy to provide businesses in Yorkshire with support, services and new products.”
Research undertaken by the Chamber in 2011* showed that business owners and managers felt that ongoing employee development is key to help support business growth but that they don’t often know where to go for training and that it can often be cost-prohibitive.
With this in mind, and with the closure of Business Link in November 2011, the Chamber’s new courses aim to be cost-effective, flexible, highly focussed and feature more interaction between the trainer and trainee.
Prices are £10 for taster sessions, £50 for half days and £100 for full day courses (for Chamber members).
For more information about the Chamber’s new training programme call 0113 247 0000/01904 567 838 or visit www.yourchamber.org.uk.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
* The Chamber conducted focus groups with a number of its members during August 2011.
The Chamber’s new training programme starts at end of January 2012 and courses will be held at venues including Leeds Metropolitan University, The New Ellington and York Science Park ).
The training providers are:
• Ed Ryder and Deborah Goodall from Biskit Ltd
• Ian Clarke from I Run Business Solutions
• Richard Wells from Creating Space For You
• Michael Ham from V-Social
• Steve Phillip & Michelle Beckett from Linked2Success
• Gaynor Hammond from YourCoach
• Andy Radka from Creative Partners
• Anj Handa from Anj Handa Associates
• Jane Bytheway & Nina Brook-Morton from Magnet World
• Nik Rabbani-Barker from Mind Mechanics
The Chamber
With over 2,000 members, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation providing business services to companies of all sizes in the region.
The Chamber’s number one objective is to make businesses better. Its wide range of events and training opportunities facilitate the sharing of best practice amongst the business community, as well as providing the opportunity for members to meet new contacts. Its support services promote business growth and efficiency and opportunities also exist for firms to raise their profile through sponsorship and advertising.
For further information please contact Emma Kirkaldy at The Smart Agency on
01423 876 371/07983 714 001 or emma@thesmartagency.co.uk
9 January 2012, 4:00 pm
Chamber takes to the road to support Scarborough businesses
Business owners and managers in Scarborough, North Yorkshire are being invited to attend an event to gain advice and business support from a team of experts.
The 'Chamber Road Show', hosted by the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
, is an informal ‘drop in’ session, designed specifically for businesses in the community.
Starting in Scarborough, on Tuesday 17 January, the Chamber will be visiting Yorkshire towns in a programme designed to reach businesses across the region.
Experts will be on hand to offer advice on a number of areas including business support and development, sales and marketing, exporting and funding.
Chamber representatives will also be available to discuss how it can help businesses with the support they need and the products and services available to help with growth.
In addition, for budding entrepreneurs the Chambers’ Enterprise Yorkshire team will be able to help and discuss ways to get their business idea formulated and off the ground.
Before the Scarborough ‘drop in’ session there will be a networking lunch with guest speaker, Paul Fullerton, Agent for the Bank of England.
Paul will discuss economic growth prospects for the international, UK and regional economy as well as provide his predictions for inflation and interest rates for 2012. Price for the lunch is £25 inc. vat for members and £39 inc. vat for non-members.
Helen Silverman, head of SME membership at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “It is vitally important to help businesses find the support and information they need to put them on the road to growth.
“2012 is going to be another challenging year and so it is important to know exactly where to go to get the advice and support businesses owners and managers need. Our road shows will highlight relevant Chamber services and how we can help businesses in this area survive and grow.”
To book your place at the Scarborough event, email events@yourchamber.org.uk or
call 0113 247 0000.
For more information, visit www.yourchamber.org.uk
The Chamber lunch with Paul Fullerton, Agent for the Bank of England, starts at 12noon and costs £25 inc. vat (members) and £39 inc. vat (non-members).
The first ‘Chamber Road Show’ is taking place on Tuesday 17th January 2012 at The Royal Hotel, Scarborough from 2.15pm - 4.15pm.
The dates for the other ‘Chamber Road Show’ events are:
21 February – Woodlands Hotel, Morley, Leeds
15 March – Tyro Training, Skipton
The Chamber
With over 2,000 members, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation providing business services to companies of all sizes in the region.
The Chamber’s number one objective is to make businesses better. Its wide range of events and training opportunities facilitate the sharing of best practice amongst the business community, as well as providing the opportunity for members to meet new contacts. Its support services promote business growth and efficiency and opportunities also exist for firms to raise their profile through sponsorship and advertising.
For further information please contact Emma Kirkaldy at The Smart Agency on
01423 876 371/07983 714 001 or emma@thesmartagency.co.uk
22 December 2011, 2:01 pm
Cleartalking speech therapy on the TV
www.Clear-talking.co.uk, the speech and language service for children, parents and schools in North Yorkshire is recorded for BBC TV North.
Check out the YouTube video below
www.thesmartagency.co.uk
14 December 2011, 2:51 pm
What not to do when dealing with the media
A while back I posted some dos when faced with a media interview. True to my word, here is a list of don'ts.
Read that blog here
.
If you have an interview coming up, or want to start engaging the media, just drop The Smart Agency an email for help and coaching nigel@thesmartagency.co.uk.
Don’t approach an interview as something to survive. It will show. Make the most of the opportunity to tell your story.
Don’t blame the interviewer for asking the wrong questions. It’s your job to get your story across. ’Bridge’ from difficult questions to what you want to say.
Don’t react to a sceptical or hostile tone. Pause, remain calm and focus on your content.
Don’t ramble. If you feel that you’re losing your way, wrap it up after making your point. Don’t be tempted to fill the silence.
Don’t agree to an interview ‘on the fly’. Even a journalist calling for a telephone interview with a tight deadline can wait ten minutes until you gather your thoughts.
It’s appropriate you will be asked for your informed opinion but don’t be tempted into making over-confident predictions.
Don’t use jargon or technical language. It’s your job to make your story accessible.
Don’t slip into a negative or defensive tone under pressure. Aim to turn this around to a proactive tone : ‘What I can tell you is,….’
Don’t say ‘no comment’: ‘It’s not our policy to discuss that specifically, but what we think is important…..’
Don’t comment on rumour or speculation.
Don’t walk away without having made your point. ‘May I just add……’ or ‘Something we haven’t covered is……’
Ends
9 December 2011, 9:13 am
Ensure your home contents are fully protected this Christmas
THE company behind an innovative new software tool which records and values household assets is urging homeowners to ensure new and existing items in the home are covered in the event of a burglary over the Christmas period.
The festive season traditionally sees a sharp increase in domestic burglary as homes are filled with valuable presents.
Research suggests that January is the worst month for domestic burglary as thieves are on the prowl for expensive items in the home. There are 11%* more burglaries in January than the annual national average, figures reveal.
Despite the recession, Christmas spending also remains high. Brits are predicted to spend an average of £560 celebrating Christmas this year**.
With this in mind, homeowners are now able to protect their assets with www.Readyclaim.co.uk, which has been developed as an affordable way to enable every household to have a virtual catalogue of their home contents, such as big-ticket electrical items, clothing, furniture and jewellery, with the aid of icons.
Homeowners simply take digital images of their assets in each room, plus any relevant documents including invoices, valuations or receipts, and attach them to the asset icon which can then be uploaded to readyclaim’s secure server.
More than simply a contents calculator, the system has been launched to ensure that everyone insures the true value of their home in a bid to combat claims disputes.
Tim Roots, founder of Readyclaim, said: “Readyclaim is a useful tool for homeowners throughout the year but Christmas is a time when most homes are full of expensive items such as new PS3’s, the latest iPhones and iPads and Plasma TVs.
“In the unfortunate event of a burglary, not being able to prove the value of your contents or being under insured can cause serious problems if you have to make an insurance claim, as your insurance company may not pay out the full cost to replace lost or damaged items.”
Insurers will ask for proof of ownership in the event of a substantial claim, including receipts and photographs, warns Roots.
“On average, a British household will spend around £560 on presents and other seasonal products meaning the worth of your contents significantly increases.
“By using the readyclaim system, homeowners are given total peace of mind, knowing that they have an accurate and real-time account of their assets stored on our secure server, thus removing the chance of long, expensive and drawn out insurance disputes.”
Homeowners can set up a readyclaim home account quickly and easily, which costs just £11.99 a year or £23.99 for three years, which can accessed by PC and an iPhone or Android app.
To open an account, visit the website www.readyclaim.co.uk where you can also download an app.
Notes to editors:
High resolution images and further information are available from Emma Kirkaldy at The Smart Agency on 01423 876 371/07983 714 001 or emma@thesmartagency.co.uk
Sources:
*According to HSBC
**According to Crimestoppers
5 December 2011, 9:04 pm
Top Twitter tips from The Smart Agency
We like Twitter at
The Smart Agency. In fact, we Tweet
@smartagency. We also know that for businesses time spent online must generate some value - or improve the experience for customers and encourage loyalty. So, with that in mind, here's the first of our tips on using Twitter for business.
Followings
The best way to build an online Twitter following for your business is to convert your offline fans. If you already have a connection with people outside of Twitter, drop them a nice email explaining the benefits of following your business on Twitter.
As you Tweet interesting, topical information related to what your business does, you'll gain other followers who want to hear what you have to say. Keep the majority of your Tweets focused around a particular topic and the followers will trickle in.
Other ways to maximise your Twitter following:
• Put your profile on all your business's websites
• Place links to your profile on your email signatures and business cards
• Run Twitter competitions exclusive to your followers
• Add your Twitter profile to all your marketing campaigns
Once you have a healthy following, you can do all sorts of things with Twitter to help your business.
Market your business
Regularly shout about what your business does. Tweet about the business that you win (with links back to your corporate website for the full press release), recent innovations, charitable donations etc. Remember to post links back to relevant news updates on your website so that people can read more if they want to.
Promote new products and services
Use Twitter to promote new and upcoming products and services. Give your Twitter users a chance to priority order or get discounts by quoting a Twitter promotion code. This will allow you to measure the effectiveness of your Twitter campaigns
Recruit new employees
Use Twitter to fill job vacancies. This works especially well if you are recruiting in the digital arena. It will also save you time sorting through CVs.
Listen to reactions about your business
By searching in Twitter, you can see negative or positive reactions to your business. This allows you to react faster, spot gaps in the market and further promote your business by retweeting the nice comments about your business. Actively encourage feedback from your followers and spark some viral discussions.
Target followers
If your business knowledge spans many verticals and you have a lot to say (or a lot of content to link to), add specific accounts accordingly and retweet information across the various accounts where relevant. Users may be more likely to follow two specific Twitter accounts rather than the one umbrella account covering ten topics. This allows you to keep your message targeted to means you won't upset your followers with information they don’t want.
Customer service
Set up a Twitter account for your customer-service enquiries, allowing clients to Tweet their problems to your support teams. You should also use Twitter to keep your customers aware of downtime, changes to services or upgrades.
Visit our blog for more bite-sized Twitter and social media tips.
2 December 2011, 2:52 pm
Landlords benefit from extra protection with new online asset management tool
AN innovative software tool called
Readyclaim has been launched to help landlords record and value contents and assets in fully furnished properties.
Figures reveal that millions are running the risk of not being able to make an accurate home contents insurance claim in the event of burglary, fire, accidental damage or flood.
The unique web hosted asset management system, can help landlords manage fixed and mobile assets including furniture, carpets and other items in let properties.
Property owners are also facing the prospect of paying higher premiums for home insurance cover that may not pay out when, as often stated in policy documentation small print, proof of contents and values cannot be provided.
The online tool, which can be accessed by PC and iPhone or Android app, allows owners to take digital images of their assets in each room, plus any relevant documents including invoices, valuations or receipts, and attach them to the asset icon which can then be uploaded to readyclaim’s secure server.
More than simply a contents calculator, the system has been launched to ensure that owners insure the true value of their assets in a bid to combat claims disputes.
Tim Roots, founder of readyclaim said: “Not being able to prove the value of contents or being under insured can be a real issue for landlords with multiple properties, as insurers may not pay out the full cost to replace lost or damaged items.
“Not many of us realise that insurers will ask for proof of ownership in the event of a substantial claim, which can include purchasing documentation and photographs.
“With the readyclaim system, landlords are given total peace of mind, knowing that they have an accurate and real-time account of their assets stored on our secure server, thus removing the chance of long, expensive and drawn out insurance disputes.”
A readyclaim account can be set up quickly and easily, costing just £11.99 a year or £23.99 for three years.
To open an account, visit the website www.readyclaim.co.uk where you can also download an app (for Apple or Android phones).
Notes to editors:
High resolution images and further information are available from Emma Kirkaldy at The Smart Agency on 01423 876 371/07983 714 001 or emma@thesmartagency.co.uk
About Readyclaim.co.uk
Readyclaim is part of online asset management company, Parago Software which provides the education, public sector and professional services with a unique web-hosted asset system that allows them to manage fixed and mobile assets, including valuable technology and software.
The company’s new asset management product, readyclaim, is aimed at landlords and homeowners to enable policyholders settle a claim quickly, rather than go through weeks or months of stress.
Readyclaim’s system securely stores the proof of purchase and ownership details required by insurers for a large claim. Documents and pictures are easily captured by linking to a home account through a PC or phone app.
With increases in flood, fire and theft claims, the benefits to general insurers include reduced costs, fewer complaints and costly disputes and higher satisfaction among customers.
1 December 2011, 9:04 am
George's Autumn Statement and the impact on SMEs
The Chancellor announced a series of new measures to stimulate the economy, with a specific focus on SMEs. Here,
we pick out the bones of the most relevant. To read the entire statement
click here.
Credit easing
In order to free up lending to business, the Government is launching a package of measures worth up to £21bn to ease the flow of credit to businesses. This includes up to £20bn for the National Loan Guarantee Scheme and £1bn for the Business Finance Partnership.
The hope is that credit easing will encourage bank lending and enhance the demand for credit by reducing the price of loans for eligible businesses.
Small business rate relief holiday
The Government will extend the current small business rate relief holiday for a further six months from 1 October 2012 and also give businesses the opportunity to defer 60% of the increase in their 2012/13 business rate bills.
Employment regulations
In an attempt to make it easier to ‘hire and fire’, the Government intends to:
• Look for ways to provide a quicker and cheaper alternative to a tribunal hearing in simple cases by introducing a Rapid Resolution scheme
• Call for evidence on the impact of reducing the collective redundancy process for redundancies of 100 or more staff from the current 90 days to 60, 45 or 30 days
The Government will begin a call for evidence on two proposals for reform of UK employment law. They will:
1. Seek views on the introduction of compensated no-fault dismissal for micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees
2. Look at how it could move to a simpler, quicker and clearer dismissal process, potentially including working with ACAS to make changes to their code or by introducing supplementary guidance for small businesses.
Youth contract
A number of measures will be introduced, including funding of:
• Wage incentives for 160,000 young people to make it easier for companies to employ them
• At least 40,000 incentive payments for small firms to take on young apprentices.
Planning reform
The Government has announced a series of changes to the planning regime. These include:
• Introducing a 13-week maximum timescale for the majority of non-planning consents
• Building more flexibility into the new major infrastructure planning process, particularly in the pre-application phase
• Reviewing the planning appeals procedures to make them faster and more transparent
• Consulting on proposals to allow existing agricultural buildings to be used for other business purposes such as offices, leisure and retail space.
These changes are designed to speed up building projects. Red tape has been cited as a major reason for UK infrastructure development being more expensive than in other EC countries.
Housing
In an attempt to increase house building, stabilise the housing market and enable more people to own their own home, the Government will:
• Introduce a new-build indemnity scheme under which home buyers will be able to purchase new-build houses and flats with a 5% deposit, with house builders and the Government helping to provide security for the loan
• Reinvigorate the Right to Buy to help social tenants buy their home
• Launch a new £400m ‘Get Britain Building’ investment fund, which will support firms in need of development finance
• Support new development, which could include modern garden cities and urban and village extensions.
www.thesmartagency.co.uk
30 November 2011, 1:07 pm
Chamber CEO says the strike will not solve our economic problems
Gary Williamson, CEO of Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
comments on today’s strike.
“The Chamber does not believe that the strike called today will advance the arguments of public sector workers and unions in relation to pensions or help to solve the huge challenges we collectively face in the current economic climate.
“We recognise that people in our region are being squeezed with the rising cost of living and the fear of unemployment in many sectors. However, this action will only have the affect of entrenching positions and will hurt businesses that have to cover for absent parents just at a time when they need to be at their most productive in the run up the Christmas.”
Ends
For further information please contact Emma Kirkaldy/Nigel Charlesworth at The Smart Agency on 01423 876 371 or emma@thesmartagency.co.uk or nigel@thesmartagency.co.uk.
Notes to editors:
Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
With over 2,000 members, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation providing business services to companies of all sizes in the region.
The Chamber’s number one objective is to make businesses better. Its wide range of events and training opportunities facilitate the sharing of best practice amongst the business community, as well as providing the opportunity for members to meet new contacts. Its support services promote business growth and efficiency and opportunities also exist for firms to raise their profile through sponsorship and advertising.
21 November 2011, 9:28 pm
Looking for a PR company, but not sure of the benefits?
Looking for a PR company? Not sure of the benefits of PR?
If you’ve heard about the power of PR, but you’re not sure about the benefits it can bring, here’s our simple guide to why PR can transform the fortunes of a business.
The media is the most powerful developer of reputations
Coverage in the media will shape the way your customers perceive you. The media has no competitor in this respect.
Whether you’re a brand new company, or launching a new product, or you’re an established player trying to challenge the monopoly of market leaders, media endorsement can make or break your business.
Whether you receive TV coverage or column inches in a trade paper, the neutral, independent sanction of the press is far more powerful than the most emphatic word of mouth recommendation.
If you want people to believe in you, make sure first that the press believes in you.
An editorial is the ultimate advert
It’s true that advertising allows you to shape your own message and gives you complete control over the way your brand is positioned. It’s also true that when it comes down to editorial you’re in the hands of the media.
But that’s why PR companies exist. They can make certain that your company and its messages are communicated to the media in the most effective way, ensuring not only that the journalist covers you, but also that the coverage reflects you in the best possible light.
That’s why PR companies seek to place specific messages about their clients in the media, and track for the take-up of those messages in subsequent coverage.
When it comes to comparing powerful advertising and a successful PR campaign, there’s only one winner. Top-quality editorial endorsement is the greatest stimulant a business can ever experience. Ask any successful business what the X-factor in marketing is, and they’ll tell you: “X = PR”.
PR is the most cost-effective marketing vehicle
PR is a far more cost-effective tool than advertising, database development and e-marketing through brokered lists. Yet PR support is available to you at a fraction of the spend of traditional above-the-line communications. One positive endorsement in a high circulation – or highly targeted – media title often produces a spike in traffic to your website or call centre. If you’re a trade operation, positive coverage can stimulate direct enquiries, and will make your business targets more responsive to your sales and marketing campaigns.
PR is vital to online search (SEO)
PR is now one of the most effective weapons in SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) or “natural search”, on search engines, and is proving to be one of the most effective weapons in helping companies command the highest possible rankings.
Take up of your press announcements by wires and websites creates online coverage which in turn quickly gets picked up by the search engines. The outcome? Your company will be ‘discovered’ by people using search engines in ways you’d never previously imagined, because of the sheer weight of search terms that produce a result which points to your site.
For this reason, online PR is now becoming a key element within PR companies’ strategies.
PR can improve your presence online
PR is spanning wider than it has before with the development of digital media and new technologies. Media outreach can cover one sector of the press, for example traditional print media, or it can straddle the wealth of information resources from online news sites and digital TV through to podcasting and forums.
Managing a company’s reputation is no longer just a focus on the national or trade press, it can also involve infiltrating forums and blogs to ensure that accurate and relevant information reaches the readers. Often online journalists receive details from a third party or scramble across the web to do research. By reaching out to these networks PR can make certain that a business is represented in the best possible light.
PR doesn’t just get customers interested in you!
Press coverage doesn’t just stoke sales, it develops market-wide interest in your brand. Typically, coverage can lead to requests for marketing partnerships, such as affiliate relationships, endorsements and sponsorships.
PR develops speaker and expert opportunities
Newspapers, conference organisers and other media and marketing channel are constantly on the lookout for experts, either for speaker platforms or to join panels, think tanks or other types of event. Press coverage helps position your experts as industry gurus, and press coverage is much more likely to lead to them being invited to participate in events.
PR is essential to recruitment and to staff motivation
Press coverage communicates to your staff that your company is going places. Keeping staff informed about your latest media profiling is vital both to motivation, and to ensuring that staff act as roving ambassadors for your company.
Just as importantly, press coverage often stimulates interest from prospective employees. Companies often witness an increase in hits on the recruitment section of their website – and the arrival of new CVs - immediately after coverage appears.
Nigel Charlesworth
The Smart Agency
0870 403 6499
nigel@thesmartagency.co.uk
13 November 2011, 6:23 pm
MSL Group signs agreement with Financial and Legal Insurance
MSL Legal Expenses (“MSL”) part of MSL Group has signed a three-year agreement with Financial and Legal Insurance to provide exclusively personal and commercial lines legal expenses insurance (LEI) products to its broker networks and individual clients.
Pictured: MSL Group HQ in Cheadle, Cheshire
This agreement concludes a thorough review of pricing and product comparisons, with Financial and Legal being awarded the long-term contract.
Nick Garner, MSL Group Managing Director said: “We have carried out a comprehensive review of the structure of our business, which included the contractual arrangements we needed to have in place to deliver competitive and attractive LEI products.
“With the process now concluded, we are able to look ahead to a period of stable growth as we continue to partner with Financial and Legal over the coming years. With a strong agreement now in place we can continue to create and deliver new products to our broker base. With a number of products in the pipeline, we anticipate an exciting year ahead for MSL.“
In an additional development, MSL’s claims service has been improved with each case handler now able to take complete control of the claim from first notification of loss (FNOL) through repair and hire to the point of recovery.
This provides MSL’s policyholders with dedicated assistance throughout the claims cycle, plus the added benefit of enabling customers to access updated information on the status of their claim.
Jody Litt, Claims Manager commented: “Our new business structure provides an enhanced claims experience to our customers. We are now in a position to drive our business forward in the most proactive way.”
Formed in 1988, MSL is one of country’s longest established independently-owned legal expenses insurance providers. The company offers a range of innovative and comprehensive legal expenses insurance products and services for the Independent broker and insurance intermediary sector. MSL is a fully-regulated member of the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
The company recently formed an agreement with Keychoice Distribution to add MSL’s motor and family LEI products onto their online trading platform, making the products available to some 1,000 brokers.
3 November 2011, 3:20 pm
Homeowners running risk of not being properly insured, warns company
AN innovative software tool has been launched to help homeowners record and value their assets as research reveals that millions are putting themselves at risk by not being able to make an accurate home contents insurance claim.
Millions of households face the prospect of paying higher premiums* for home insurance cover that may not pay out when, as often stated in policy documentation small print, proof of contents and values cannot be provided.
The product, called
readyclaim, has been developed as an affordable way to enable every household to have a virtual catalogue of their home contents, such as big-ticket electrical items, antiques, original paintings, clothing, furniture and jewellery, with the aid of icons.
Homeowners simply take digital images of their assets in each room, plus any relevant documents including invoices, valuations or receipts, and attach them to the asset icon which can then be uploaded to readyclaim’s secure server.
More than simply a contents calculator, the system has been launched to ensure that everyone insures the true value of their home in a bid to combat claims disputes.
Being underinsured is also an issue as, according to the Association of British Insurers, one in five home contents insurance policyholders are because they do not know how much their home contents are worth.
Tim Roots, founder of readyclaim said: “Research shows that over 90% of householders would not be able to make an accurate home contents insurance claim in the event of a major fire, theft or flood. On top of that, we are all under insured an average of 30% lower than the true value of our contents.
“Not being able to prove the value of your contents or being under insured can cause serious problems if you have to make an insurance claim, as your insurance company may not pay out the full cost to replace lost or damaged items.
“Not many of us realise that insurers will ask for proof of ownership in the event of a substantial claim, which can include purchasing documentation and photographs.”
“Filing invoices and photos in a cupboard can be useless in the event of a fire or flood,” he added.
This is where readyclaim comes in. By using the system, homeowners are given total peace of mind, knowing that they have an accurate and real-time account of their assets stored on our secure server, thus removing the chance of long, expensive and drawn out insurance disputes.
Homeowners can set up a readyclaim home account quickly and easily, which costs just £11.99 a year or £23.99 for three years, which they can access by PC and/or an iPhone/Android app.
To open an account, visit the website www.readyclaim.co.uk where you can also download an app (for Apple or Android phones).
Notes to editors:
High resolution images and further information are available from Emma Kirkaldy at The Smart Agency on 01423 876 371/07983 714 001 or emma@thesmartagency.co.uk
*The AA British Insurance Premium Index has revealed that combined home and contents insurance policies now incur quotes of over £200.
Frequently asked questions:
Is the system an insurance calculator?
Yes but not only that, it also records the value of your home contents which is essential in the event of a claim as insurers often need proof of contents, values and other documentation.
Why should I record my home contents?
It is a worrying fact that over 90% of us could not make an accurate insurance claim.
If you are underinsured by too high a value, insurers can refuse to pay a claim on the basis that your mis-valuation was deliberate, even if only some of your contents are stolen.
For example, let’s say you have a policy with £40,000 contents cover and a flood from your water tank damages your bedroom and lounge. You put in a claim for £30,000. The insurer is more than likely to query why 75% of your total contents are within two rooms. They could then visit your property, revalue the assets and reject your claim. At most they would pay you a percentage of your claim.
How can readyclaim save me time and money in the event of a claim?
Disputed insurance claims can take weeks or months to resolve, and yet readyclaim can take as little as two hours to help you discover and accurately value your home contents.
Simply attaching three photos of each area to the room icon and adding your main assets is a start, and it will help fast track your insurance claim.
Can I make changes to my content catalogue?
Yes, all you need to do is login to the site using your password, where you can quickly and easily add, amend or remove any assets from your records.
Can I monitor the value of my assets in relation to my insurance cover?
Yes, the system keeps you up to date on the value of your assets against your sum insured giving you total peace of mind.
Is it easy to use?
Yes. It is a task that even your children can help you with. The more detail you record, the easier the task when it comes to a claim.
Where is the data stored?
The non-personal data is stored on an offsite, secured server.
Is my information safe?
Yes. No personal data, such as your address, is required to open an account. The data is stored securely in one of the UK’s largest data hosting centres.
Further statistics:
In a snapshot survey carried out by readyclaim, nine out of ten people wouldn’t be able to make a claim and are risking their possessions not being covered.
Householders are risking their possessions by undervaluing their home contents, according to new report from Direct Line.
The report revealed that over £200 billion of home contents are at risk and that 6.8 million households are underinsured, while 5.2 million homes have no contents insurance.
On average, a quarter (26%) of people with contents cover are underinsured, by £20,000 – with £138.5 billion at risk in total, the report found.
3 November 2011, 3:14 pm
Homeowners running the risk of not being properly insured, warns company | PRLog
Homeowners running the risk of not being properly insured, warns company | PRLog
26 October 2011, 12:11 pm
People/Recruitment / Businesses benefit from Chamber apprentice scheme THEBUSINESSDESK.COM
People/Recruitment / Businesses benefit from Chamber apprentice scheme THEBUSINESSDESK.COM
23 October 2011, 11:59 pm
Top tips on handling the media
At
the Smart Agency we've just set up some radio interviews for a client. Before putting them in the spotlight we like to provide support and help so that they get the best they can from the experience. The temptation is to plug, plug, plug, but that's not what the media want - be they broadcast or press. So, if you are new to media interviews, what's the best advice? Here's some tips which we hope you find useful.
Do’s
Always prepare. Confidence flows from familiarity with your material.
Make sure you’re clear on your key messages. It’s crucial the organisation is consistent and is heard to speak with a single voice.
Find out as much as you can about the interview and rehearse some outline answers.
Aim to deliver two or three key points. These bear repetition and emphasis.
Anticipate the toughest questions you might get asked and consider how you would handle them.
Have to hand some examples, colour and detail which bring your messages to life.
If you have time, try to build a rapport with the journalist before the interview begins. What is he looking for? What’s his angle and his deadline?
Aim for simplicity. You are the expert and the onus is on you to make your story clear.
Do listen through the questions for what is really being asked. Don’t be thrown by a long-winded question, a rhetorical statement posing as a question, or a hostile tone.
Try to visualise your audience. Imagine explaining your organisation to someone you know which will help you find a clear, conversational tone.
Be very wary of ‘off the record’.
Take time to consider the varying demands of different outlets. Trade journalists will be more interested in background and detail. Print journalists may come back to the same question several times, but you can reiterate your points too. Broadcast media are looking for a soundbite and are under pressure. Don’t let that affect your performance.
Correct any mistakes or incorrect assumptions from the journalist immediately. If you slip up, correct that immediately too.
In all interviews, aim for a relaxed tone. Make eye contact and engage with the journalist.
Next blog will cover the don'ts.
Nigel Charlesworth, Director, The Smart Agency
To contact us call 0870 403 6499 or email nigel@thesmartagency.co.uk
