The Magazine of Bellwood Prestbury
HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED Being in the wrong place at the wrong time isn't that difficult. Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor looks at how not to become a kidnap statistic Culture shock and the four phases your employees need to work through Getting the right medical insurance shouldn't be a lottery Why we are proud to achieve ISO 9001 certification
Spring / Summer 2016
Welcome to another issue of Expatria Magazine This special edition highlights the issues facing potential kidnap threats and what it’s like to be an Expat.
EXPATRIA MAGAZINE SPRING / SUMMER EDITION
In this issue
We also look at Global Liability insurance and what it means for your business plus we have a happy tale from Afghanistan where one of our clients is helping to improve the welfare of animals in Kabul.
How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor. There are planned kidnaps and express (opportunistic) kidnaps with the planned ones making the headlines.
Can you avoid the culture shock? Individuals are born into pre-defined cultures which, in part, define the individual. At each stage of development, however, individuals struggle to adjust, even to their own culture.
Laws you break at your peril in the UAE Moving to the Gulf is for many a once in a lifetime opportunity. But the culture in the Gulf is very different to other parts of the world so it is important that you get to know the “do’s and don’ts” of daily life and avoid finding yourself in trouble.
ISO9001 For the fourth consecutive year Bellwood Prestbury have achieved the internationally recognised ISO 9001 certification. But what is it and why is it so important for both global buyers and traders?
Meet Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations This month we chat to Simon Shipway, Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations, about his life inside and outside the office.
Bellwood Prestbury is the trading style of Bellwood Prestbury Limited registered in England and Wales as company number 1100251 Registered Office: 4 Imperial Square, Cheltenham, GL50 1QB, United Kingdom Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
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Expats experience twice as many mental health issues as domestic citizens In some cases when depression becomes so severe, expats may feel that returning home is their only option. Expats who have trouble with anxiety stop undertaking activities that they usually enjoy, because it does not give them pleasure anymore. Instead, they stay at home and worry.
International Private Medical Insurance
Two factors that contribute to mental health issues are homesickness and social isolation.
Why Expats choose International Health Insurance
Expats can experience a lack of support and find it harder to deal with new circumstances, because their relatives and close friends are back home.
Moving abroad can be a stressful process that requires plenty of planning, time and energy. When becoming an expat, your employees will have to take into account many factors about their relocation – and healthcare is an essential one.
Expats who did not have a choice, for example children or partners, are more prone to mental health issues. Children in the adolescence stage find it difficult to get used to a new country. This period in their life is already difficult, so adding a whole new environment to the mix makes everything even more complicated.
Having taken the huge step in life to relocate to a new country, it is important to secure peace of mind in as many aspects of their new life as possible; and ensuring that healthcare will be available for them and their family is a must. Have they figured out how the healthcare system works in their adopted country? How will they, as an expat, gain access to local health services? Have they considered the possible language barrier, or know what to do in case of a medical emergency? As a foreign national, your colleagues may not be entitled to any free or subsidised healthcare. In some cases, they may need permanent residency before they can enter the system – and that could take years, so it is important to consider an expatriate health plan to provide for their healthcare needs from day one. International private medical insurance (IPMI) policies usually provide far better cover and support to expats than those offered by local insurers, with many of the benefits tailored specifically to suit expatriates. Local (or sometimes referred to as state) health insurance can be very different to what most expatriates are used to and can be of limited service for internationally mobile citizens. Many local plans offer less in terms of medical services than what is covered under a private plan. For example, it is unlikely they will be covered for medical evacuation benefits under a local health plan. They may find that cover does not extend to getting access to the leading local private facilities.
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Moving abroad is among the most thrilling experiences your employees will ever encounter Everything is new, and challenging: they must communicate in a foreign language, every conversation and each new person they meet adds something to the experience. If you felt like you were not living up to your expectations back at home, moving abroad is your time to blossom. There is of course a dark side to moving abroad and expat life can get you down at times. Cultural displacement, although a common feature of modern society as more people move abroad, is still pretty hard to get used to. With it comes questions of national identity and triggers a loss of sense of belonging. All expats experience these symptoms, more commonly known as “culture shock”; you might be surprised to discover that the first people to give the syndrome a name were the most open-minded, well-travelled people, namely anthropologists. 1. The first phase is called the “honeymoon” phase. The individual is naturally polite to everyone, both compatriots and foreigners, during this phase. The individual is likely to be bewildered when confronted by all things that differ to what he has left behind. You realise that the cultural and societal flagposts were metaphorically holding you up, and you feel as though you have been winded by the impact of the new, foreign society. When you expatriate, you basically take off, and you fly on the wings of your enthusiasm. 2. The second phase is called the “crisis” phase. In this phase, a person in the grasps of culture shock becomes tangled up and knotted within the new culture that surrounds them. According to Oberg, it is not uncommon for such an individual to start paying extreme attention to cleanliness (even denigrating the hygiene standards of the new country), and become excessively worried about being cheated. In the worst cases, this phase can prelude a fully-fledged nervous breakdown. If one overcomes it, the individual has overcome the worst phase and has the light at the end of the tunnel to lead the way thereafter. 3. During the third phase, known as the “recovery” phase, your sense of humour makes an appearance. A conceived sense of superiority towards the locals is the looking glass through which you see your hosts, but now you can also empathise, easing the judgement and endearing you to your new culture. 4. The final phase is known as the “adjustment” phase; now you can relate to other people in a normal manner, mainly because you will have learned how to decipher the cues of social intercourse.
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Can you avoid
culture shock? Individuals are born into pre-defined cultures which, in part, define the individual. At each stage of development, however, individuals struggle to adjust, even to their own culture. Get the hang of the language – you will feel infinitely more integrated into society and the culture if you do so. Language is the key to communication and with communication bonds between people are fortified. Talk to people – people living abroad, Oberg observes, are led to ‘lean heavily on their compatriots’. It is natural to migrate towards those in the same situation as you, expats always manage to find each other, and although there is no shame in this, it is always great if you can say that you have managed to make ‘local’ friends. It all helps in the integration process. If you can think of a time when your culture and your nation’s way of thinking have ever frustrated you, perhaps you were born to be an expat.
One size certainly does not fit all, so getting the right advice is important Understanding all the different facets about your colleague’s new location can be a daunting process, and deciphering the way in which a country’s national health system works is not the exception. When it comes down to health standards, statutory care and emergency treatment, details vary from country to country, and there are major differences in waiting times, cost, and accessibility for expats. The quality of care in their adopted country may not be to the standard they were used to back home. At Bellwood Prestbury we specialise in health insurance policies for expats, and because we understand what it is like to be an expat we cannot only guide you through the maze of getting the right cover for your employees but we will also help to ensure your colleagues have the very best of care as and when they need it.
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“Not all 'security' makes you safer,� I said to a potential new client not long ago. He was about to embark on a project in Nigeria that would expose a number of staff to risks, including kidnap, over three years. They were about to hire a respected armed riskmanagement company, in the belief that their guns would provide the best protection. I disagreed. My company, Safer Edge, takes the view that having a bunch of poorly-paid armed men accompanying a convoy was at least as much a threat as a help. Would they be an effective deterrent? Would a firefight make staff safer? There may be a time and place for serious armed protection, but token armed protection is often a very bad idea. We proposed a strategy based around communication and local community involvement, and won the argument. We helped our client to develop, and deliver on, a strategy based on people in the Niger Delta communities knowing who our client and its staff were, and what they were doing there. We used local and well-known partners to lead on assessing risk, driving (safely!) and ensuring that our client's staff always understood where they were and how to behave in a way that minimised risk. This really worked to their advantage when there was an incident - the only one in three years. On that occasion, a member of our client's staff went to explore a creek on his own, without going through the protocol of communicating with the local community first. When he was detained by local men, his driver managed to get away and report it. Our local team were able to approach the community and apologised for the lack of courtesy, plead a misunderstanding, and secured his immediate release, unharmed, within a couple of hours. The detaining group found themselves communicating with people they understood, and quickly recognised the client from previous communications. The fact that was the only security incident in three years demonstrates the value of contingency planning and strategy. In another place, another time, that strategy may not be the right one. Not only is it true that "not all 'security' makes you safer", what works in practice will vary from situation to situation. It pays to get it right. Steve McCann is Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor and a director at Safer Edge
Kidnap is only one of the threats that you may face on your travels
how to get yourself
kidnappe $500 million dollars. That’s what is earned by criminal gangs every year through kidnap and extortion. And up to 30,000 people are being kidnapped every year. Reliable data is hard to come by, and the type of kidnap can vary greatly, making the numbers almost meaningless on their own. But only one kidnap really matters anyway. Yours.
Choose Your Kidnap Experience If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice writes Steve McCann, Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor. There are planned kidnaps and express (opportunistic) kidnaps. It’s the planned ones that make the headlines: Hassan, Henning, Bigley. But when it comes down to you, which kind of kidnap would you prefer? The initial experience is similar, but after that you might find yourself locked in a room full of mosquitoes for a day or two, or tied to a radiator for five years like Terry Waite. Or losing your head. Literally. There are many similarities on the way to achieving either, but some differences too. If it’s the Express Kidnap you prefer, that’s quite easy to arrange. In an Express Kidnap you will be taken and forced to extract money from an ATM with your bank card, often over several days, taking ‘the max’ each day of your ‘millionaire tour’. 8
Kidnap Hotspots of the World
ed
Whether one employee or hundreds of employees are deployed overseas, for short or long-term assignments, there are unknown and unseen dangers in sending employees to foreign lands. Today, the largest proportion of recorded kidnappings takes place in Asia and the Pacific, particularly in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Philippines. While Mexico remains the top country for kidnappings, the oil-rich regions of Africa – Nigeria, Kenya, the Sudan, Mali and Libya are seeing increases too.
You probably won’t get the chance to check out the sights – but you will experience the all-too-real life of some local people. It all started in the USA in the 1980s, but to book a place on this tour nowadays head over to Latin America. Mexico is best, but Venezuela, Peru, Brazil and Argentina are satisfactory alternatives. Nigeria is watching and learning.
To protect employees and company facilities, most prudent global companies buy kidnap, ransom and extortion (KRE) coverage.
Just identify the most lawless part of the city at night, and between 11 and 12pm, wander around, looking lost, on your own, ideally a bit drunk, and approach an isolated ATM without looking around you first. There is a good chance that quite soon you will find some new friends who will host you for a couple of hours or even a few days, emptying your bank account.
However, there’s a catch 22 to KRE coverage. The employee isn’t supposed to know about the coverage. If they do, the coverage may not be valid.
The risk of you being kidnapped is always the happy coincidence of the level of threat combined with your vulnerability to that threat. Where you go, who you are, and how you behave are the factors that will establish your likelihood of successfully being kidnapped. The table overleaf is a guide, but as ever you need to look into the data, to understand who is being taken and why, for it to be useful.
The whole point of a kidnapping is to collect a ransom and knowing that coverage exists could make the employee even more vulnerable.
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TOP TEN KIDNAP RANKINGS BY COUNTRY Country
2014
2013
Mexico
1
1
India
2
2
Pakistan
3
4
Iraq
4
10
Nigeria
5
3
Libya
6
14
Afghanistan
7
8
Bangladesh
8
26
Sudan
9
20
Lebanon
10
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To succeed at being the target of a planned kidnap, what you really need is a failed State or postconflict country, where the effective authority of the State is undermined. Libya would be a great choice this year, as Iraq was earlier this decade (and it’s still a not too shabby choice!). Once there, you can make it easy for the kidnappers with poor personal security. Being predictable in your travel and accommodation routines will help them to know when and how to most easily take you. Having established yourself as a high economic value target, make sure you take no precautionary measures such as using an armoured car or even close protection – which can be very effective in some circumstances be it armed or unarmed. To top the target list, these are the behaviours likely to get you kidnapped… one way or another:
Travel alone. This always seems to improve your chance of successfully being taken .
Appear wealthy and high profile.
Make it obvious you don’t know your way around.
Appear drunk, or better still, be drunk.
Go looking for drug dealers or sex workers late at night.
Adopt a very regular and predictable routine in travel and accommodation.
Stay ignorant of where the threats in your environment are, and what time of day they are most likely to be at their greatest.
Broadcast to the world where you are and what your plans are on social media; make sure to include very personal information that only your close friends and family would know.
Carefully research your destination to expose yourself to the kind of kidnap you prefer - Latin America for the opportunistic variety and Libya or Syria for the planned version, where it will likely be criminals who take you and sell you up to a more political entity. For the latter a one-way flight ticket will suffice, to avoid wasting your legacy…
Minimise your chances of being kidnapped
Alternatively, you can choose to minimise your chances of becoming a kidnap victim. The principles are similar, but the behaviours will vary from the above. When you know the threat and understand your individual vulnerability, you can manage the risk.
Find out about where you are going, not just at country level, but at a local level. What is the profile of crime? Who is targeted? Where are the dangerous places?
Follow a sensible process of minimised exposure. Be low profile, do not look like a target and do not make it easy.
Vary your routines, your routes, your timings. Do not stay in the same place long enough to be ‘cased’.
Be very thoughtful about who knows your itinerary.
If the risks are high, consider whether you have to be there in person.
Be thoughtful about what you say in your social media – it can make you more vulnerable and provide vital insights for a planned kidnapping.
How to not become a kidnap statistic will vary according to many factors. Common sense is always important, and other more sophisticated strategies can pay a significant part.
To find out how to manage your duty of care to your staff and yourself, and to come back safely, call us on +44 (0)1242 584558
Steve McCann is Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor and director of Safer Edge with more than 21 years of practical security industry experience across the humanitarian and development sectors along with extensive UN and military experience. Steve’s army career saw him responsible for troop logistics whilst his post-military life has included working in logistics and security for the UN.
www.bellwoodprestbury.com
It’s easy to forget about health insurance … after all you will not be away for long and medical issues always happen to someone else, don’t they? However, if you have an accident or become ill, can you afford the cost of medical treatment? What happens should you need to be medically evacuated? Will the treating doctor be able to get hold of clean, uncontaminated blood should an emergency transfusion be needed? The International Contractors Health Plan answers these questions and provides peace of mind no matter where in the world you’re working, and assistance is only a phone call away 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will be covered for medical treatment costs and also the expense of an emergency medical evacuation if it’s needed. The policy is supported by emergency experts who are understanding, sympathetic and knowledgeable to handle any situation that may arise. If you are working in a place where you feel a little uncertain about a diagnosis and want a second medical opinion on a proposed treatment plan, you will have access to Best Doctors. They will be able to arrange a review of the medical diagnosis and treatment plan with a world class specialist in a field that relates to your medical condition. You will also become a member of the Blood Care Foundation. Worryingly, unclean blood is still being used in operations in many parts of the world, so should you be badly injured and require a blood transfusion, your membership will provide access to a global network of blood banks, enabling clean uncontaminated blood to be sent to almost any location in the world within 12-18 hours. Security, quite rightly, is high on everyone’s agenda at the moment. Therefore, built into the policy is access to the very latest travel safety tips and advice, and up-to-the-minute information on civil unrest, natural hazards and travel disruptions from Red24, covering hundreds of countries and cities worldwide. And on top of all this, if there is a death of a close family member back home whilst on assignment, the plan will even pay for a return flight home.
Laws you break at your peril if you are living and working in the UAE Moving to the Gulf is for many a once in a lifetime opportunity. A time to enjoy great weather whilst living a life that others can only envy. But the culture in the Gulf is very different to other parts of the world, so it is important that you get to know the “do’s and don’ts” of daily life and avoid finding yourself in trouble.
Storing alcohol at home, having a satellite TV or simply washing your car on the road may seem harmless but these are just a few of the offences that carry heavy penalties in the UAE and could get you into serious trouble. Illegal satellite TV: Since your building owner did not specify it, you may think installing Dish TV, Sky TV or other such illegal satellite TV decoders was permitted. You are mistaken. Laws you violate: The UAE Intellectual Property Law and UAE Trademark Law. Penalty: Fines could go up to Dh50,000. Those providing such services could face jail and deportation. Keeping alcohol at home: You may have taken it from a friend or bought it from an outlet but remember, keeping alcohol at home without a liquor permit is an offence. Anyone consuming, transporting, possessing or selling alcohol in the UAE needs a licence. Law you violate: Penal Law. Penalty: Penalties can lead to imprisonment of six months and a fine of Dh5,000. People can find themselves in trouble if they have consumed liquor in the event of an accident or public disturbance. Employing illegal domestic help: Illegal workers include housemaids on someone else’s visa or even those helping you in odd jobs without a proper visa. Law you violate: UAE immigration laws. Penalty: Fines could go up to Dh50,000.
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Jaywalking: You may be in a hurry but it does not give you freedom to dash across the road. Crossing streets at undesignated streets or crosswalks is not only life-threatening, but also a pedestrian infraction punishable by law. Law you violate: Federal Traffic Law. Penalty: Dh200. Washing your car on the road or letting water drip from the air conditioner: Washing your car on the streets, disposing of vehicle water in the open, or water leaking from your air-conditioner onto the roads is a strict no-no. Law you violate: Dubai Municipality’s orders. Penalty: Dh100 for a leaking air conditioner, washing vehicles on the road or flushing vehicle water on the road. Using illegal phone cards: You are tempted to buy phone cards to make cheap international phone calls. Law you violate: UAE Penal Law. Penalty: Jail term, fine and deportation. Sharing flats/live-ins: Sharing a flat with a person of the opposite sex who is not a blood relative is an offence. Sharia law prohibits two unmarried and unrelated persons from the opposite sex living together. Law you violate: UAE Penal Law. Penalty: Fine, detention or both and possibly deportation. Sex out of wedlock: Having sex outside marriage can land you behind bars. Law you violate: Article 356 of the UAE Penal Law. Penalty: Fine, jail, deportation, depending on the judge’s discretion. Public display of affection: Kissing or hugging someone unrelated to you in public can also have serious consequences. Law you violate: UAE Penal Law of 1987. Penalty: Up to six months in jail and deportation.
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also provide us with the ability to create tailored solutions allowing us to respond quickly and accurately to clients’ needs and requirements. You are heavily involved in looking after the compliance side of the business. What tips can you give to anyone working in a regulated environment? I think the majority of people would rather deal with a regulated company than a non-regulated company. By embracing regulatory requirements and making them core to what we do we can offer the client peace of mind that they are being looked after and protected in a proper manner, enhance our service and also afford the company protection – regulation affects all parties involved.
This month we chat to Simon Shipway, Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations, about his life inside and outside the office
Where were you born, where did you study and where do you live now? I was born in Gloucester and went to Severn Vale Comprehensive school. I then moved to Gloucestershire College of Art and Technology gaining a First Diploma in Business and Finance and a National Diploma in Business and Finance. How did you come to join Bellwood Prestbury? A chance meeting with one of the directors I had known from my time at Eagle Star… during some general chit chat they asked how things in my current role were going and I advised I was looking for new opportunities. This was perfect timing as Bellwood Prestbury were in the process of applying to become a Lloyd’s of London Coverholder and they were aware of my experience. The rest is history…
Compliance is generally a case of applying common sense to your actions and often supports/evidences the work already being done. It is not as complicated as people think and I would always challenge colleagues to treat others like they would expect to be treated themselves, remembering that for a lot of people insurance is a maze and they are looking to us to help them through. What major changes have you seen at Bellwood Prestbury since you joined the Company? There have been a number of changes due to the very nature of the market we operate in which is changing and evolving all the time. Technology has been used to help cope with the changes, staff are becoming more experienced and products are constantly being reviewed and improved to ensure we remain at the forefront. If you could do any other job in the world other than the one that you do now, what would it be? I spend a lot of time in my garden so perhaps a landscape gardener but it would definitely be something creative – I’ve always liked the idea of working for Pixar and being involved in developing an idea, where the only limitations
What do you think makes Bellwood Prestbury different to other insurance intermediaries? The ability to deliver quality bespoke service and products in complex niche markets where there is no room to get things wrong – the solution has to work and deliver when needed! Technology plays a big part in our industry. How does it help you in your role today? The ability to have quick access to accurate information at a click of a button is so important to the service we offer. Whether underwriting or reviewing procedures and processes I need to be able to view and rely on accurate data to ensure the correct decision is made. Using technology and in particular bespoke industry software (such as Acturis) provides the ideal solution. Other more traditional software such as Word and Excel 16
Bellwood Prestbury’s website wins Silver at the Horizon Interactive Awards The Horizon Interactive Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious events, when recognising the very best global websites has awarded Bellwood Prestbury’s website “Silver” in the highly-fought Banking and Finance category.
Simon Shipway, head of operations
are your own imagination, and bringing it to life. What are you most proud of both personally and professionally? On a personal note it’s hard to say if there is any single thing I am most proud of … I have a circle of close family and friends and I really value the time I am able to spend with them. When it comes to professionally, I am proud of what I have achieved by using commitment and hard work, regardless of the role I have been asked to fulfil. If you could have a long relaxing lunch with anyone alive today or from the past, who would it be and why? This is a difficult question but if I was to pick one person it would be Sir David Attenborough. I have always been fascinated by the natural world and his enthusiasm and passion for the subject is infectious… he has been involved in so many ground breaking series and I would have so many questions it would be a very long lunch.
Bellwood Prestbury’s leading edge website was created by international award winning design company Liquid Light.
You are known for your interest in sports. If you could have been a professional sportsman, which one would you choose and why? A golfer. The ability to travel the world, playing some of the most iconic sporting venues (mainly in warm weather) and following in the footsteps of so many sporting legends.
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What is an emergency medical evacuation? This is a question that we often hear from our clients. What exactly is medical evacuation cover? Why or when do we need this coverage and how does it work in practice? Medical evacuation (sometimes referred to as “med evac” or “medivac”) is the transfer from one hospital to another for medical treatment. Medical evacuation doesn’t happen for minor scrapes, bruises and breaks and you just want to get home. Rather, it’s coverage to get you to better treatment and in some cases to your hospital of choice back home when you need ongoing, inpatient care for a serious illness, injury, or other medical condition. Sometimes we travel to amazing places that can be some way off the beaten path and where the medical care isn’t great. A lack of a proper medical specialist for your condition, insufficient equipment, or substandard care means that you may need to move quickly to somewhere there is a hospital which is better suited to give you the most appropriate treatment.
When this happens an air ambulance may be needed. The patient is usually strapped to a stretcher, with a nurse and physician attending to any medications and other appropriate treatments needed to keep the person’s condition stable for the flight. Because most air ambulances tend to be fairly small, there’s usually only room for one travelling companion to accompany the patient and a bare minimum of carry-on luggage. The more weight on the plane, the more fuel stops required, the longer it takes to get to the new hospital.
Why do you need medical evacuation coverage? We all expect our trips to go off without a hitch, and most times they do. However, if you suffer a serious illness or injury away from home in a country where the medical care isn’t up to scratch, then having a medical evacuation service is critical. A medical evacuation will transport you to a better care centre and/or home to your own doctors. Additionally, medical evacuation coverage not only protects well-being, but also your
finances. As an example, the cost of an air ambulance from Europe could be as much as $ 50,000 and up to $100,000 or more from China. Would you have that kind of money available on short notice? Making sure this benefit is included in your upcoming travel plans will cover those unexpected emergency transportation costs and leave you at ease knowing you will be covered.
Glob Most businesses insure their vehicles and their office contents but fail to put in place adequate protection should they be faced with a claim as a result of their business activities. This can be due to one or more reasons, with cost-savings often topping the list. Some believe they have the cover when they haven’t. And then there are those who convince themselves (often due to the cost-saving) that they have the cover when, in fact, they have not. Third-party claims can and do happen. Defending a claim can be both time consuming and costly, often eating up reserves and denting profits. Third-party claims can come from many different sources, whether it is customers, members of the public, investors or shareholders. Some claims may come from a no-win, no-fee solicitor which makes bringing a claim all the easier. Furthermore, if you employ people or bring in contractors, then you are likely to have a responsibility (duty of care) for that person whether they are working for you for a year, a month, a day or even an hour. Just imagine the total sum a loss of income claim could amount to should a high earner not be able to work again and you are found at fault – we are talking millions.
What is liability insurance? Liability insurance covers your legal liability for paying compensation for successful claims brought by employees, clients, customers, shareholders, investors, or members of the public. Defence costs can also be included to provide legal expenses. Liability insurance usually covers the cost of compensation for:
Personal injury – bodily injury, sickness or disease, and/or
Loss of or damage to property
The main types of liability insurance are as follows: Employers’ liability: covers the cost of compensating employees or contractors who are injured at or become ill through work. Public liability: covers the cost of claims made by members of the public for incidents that occur in connection with your business activities. Product liability: covers the cost of compensating anyone who is injured by a faulty product that your business designs, manufactures or supplies. Professional indemnity: covers the cost of compensating clients for loss or damage resulting from services or advice provided by a business or individual. Directors’ and officers’ liability: covers the cost of compensation claims made against your business’s directors and officers for alleged wrongful acts. However, there are other types which are industry specific such as aviation, pollution, environment and many others.
bal Liability Insurance
How much cover do I need? It is important to ensure you are not under insured, or over insured for that matter. This will very much depend on your activities, where you are working or what you are working on. If you are working on a contract, the UN would be a good example, then it will stipulate the type of insurance you need and the amount. Policies can be arranged which are contract specific, client specific or covering all your business activities.
Is my cover adequate? If you are operating in a high-risk region or providing specialist services, then buying an off-the-peg insurance product is unlikely to offer comprehensive coverage. As always, seek the advice of a specialist with the necessary international expertise. If you would like to find out more, please contact our team of specialists on +44 (0)1242 584558 or e-mail us at info@bellwoodprestbury.com.
A happy tale from Afghanistan Kilo Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines arrived in the war-torn town of Now Zad in Helmand Province of Afghanistan in November 2006. Their mission: to provide stability for the local people during a period of ever-decreasing security. Despite what was happening all around them, the Royal Marines soon realised that it wasn’t only the local people that needed their help. Many of the stray dogs that roamed the town of Now Zad now had a guardian for the first time in their lives in the form of Royal Marine Sergeant ‘Pen’ Farthing. Breaking up an organised dog fight taking place right outside their remote compound, Pen never realised that one of those fighting dogs would then befriend him. He couldn’t say no to those big sad eyes and the now very former fighting dog became the Royal Marine’s four legged buddy which they named ‘Nowzad’ after the town where he was rescued. A year later and the Nowzad charity was born to improve the welfare of animals in Afghanistan, including humanely reducing the stray dog population which in turn has helped to reduce the incidents of canine rabies, provide animal welfare education for the Afghan people and develop training programmes to improve the lives of working animals. The charity operates the only official small animal clinic and purpose-built facility to provide a safe environment for over a 100 stray dogs, 40 cats and so far 4 donkeys on the outskirts of Kabul. Incidentally, it just so happens that ‘Nowzad’ in Farsi actually means ‘New born’, a fitting name for the first ever animal welfare organisation in Afghanistan. Nowzad the dog is sadly no longer around having enjoyed a long and comfortable life in Europe but his inspiration has now helped over 800 soldiers serving in Afghanistan to be reunited back in their home countries (USA, UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Holland and Germany) with the dogs or cats they rescued from the front lines of Afghanistan. The ‘tail’ of the rescue of Nowzad and his other canine buddies from the remote desert outpost of Now Zad, was published as a best-selling book ‘One Dog at a Time’, which helped to promote and fund the running of the Nowzad charity. Bellwood Prestbury are proud to provide and manage the Personal Accident and Life insurance cover for the Charity’s expatriate team and visiting volunteers. Pen Farthing, the charity's founder, comments ‘I would like to thank the team at Bellwood Prestbury for a thorough and professional service, providing the comprehensive cover we need for operating in Afghanistan but more so for making the application process painless and simple!’.
Our certification can help to benefit your business For the fourth consecutive year Bellwood Prestbury have achieved the internationally-recognised ISO 9001 certification. But what is it and why is it so important for both global buyers and traders? ISO 9001 has been in existence for over 20 years and has grown to become a well-respected, internationally-recognised standard. Being awarded ISO 9001 communicates an important, positive message to both the company’s customers and its employees: that it takes itself seriously by striving to be a well-managed and organised business, focused on delivering efficiencies where possible. ISO 9001 does improve productivity and increases profitability, as it highlights where businesses can cut costs and reduce waste. ISO 9001 also encourages businesses to implement risk assessments into their processes in order to create an exceptional Quality Management System. Of course there are huge benefits for customers, both old and new. When making a decision on who to work with or who to purchase from, you can be reassured that a company with ISO 9001 adheres to strict standards and will have been audited by an independent body.
the audit The audit is carried out onsite and will include a thorough check of the company’s quality manual, documents and records plus the following:
Management review process Review of resources Review of purchasing procedures and supplier selection process Review of client satisfaction and continual improvement processes Review of problem reporting and complaint management Review of internal audits Legal compliance – health and safety, risk assessment Gaining the certificate is the recognised global benchmark for best practice in quality management. Important government tenders and supply chain questionnaires often stipulate that any companies bidding must have ISO 9001, so that procurement teams can be sure they only choose from the best. Therefore, by successfully achieving ISO 9001 certification, an organisation is able to distinguish itself from its potential competitors, winning new business and retain existing customers. These extensive benefits are why millions of organisations across the globe have or are implementing the ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard. ISO 9001 also helps workforces know exactly who does what, when they do it and how, saving time and cost by reducing mistakes. In a client-focused and service-driven world, this is a win-win scenario as ISO 9001 ultimately creates improved levels of customer service whilst creating a more disciplined and efficient working environment.
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About Bellwood Prestbury As leading Global Insurance specialists, we have been arranging high-risk and complex cover for individuals, companies and organisations throughout the world for more than 15 years. We are strongly independent, but work closely with the industry’s leading international insurers. From oil and gas contractors to humanitarian workers providing vital support across the globe, from High Net Worth individuals to corporate groups, our independent, affordable and tailored solutions help provide the right balance between premiums and benefit protection.
Contact Us Give us a call for more information about our services and products Bellwood Prestbury 4 Imperial Square Cheltenham GL50 1QB
Our clients are worldwide. From the UK and Europe, Middle East and Africa, to Asia and America, we are perfectly placed to offer the right experience and expertise for your business. Bellwood Prestbury are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a member of British Expertise, the leading UK organisation for British companies offering professional services internationally, and members of a number of other specialist industry bodies. Bellwood Prestbury are proud to be accredited by the British Assessment Bureau to ISO 9001.
United Kingdom +44 (0) 1242 584558 info@bellwoodprestbury.com Visit us on the web at www.bellwoodprestbury.com
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