News

There are now more digitally connected devices than there are people on the planet. This vast interconnected system of devices, vehicles and even entire buildings are all part of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Despite the potential benefits of utilising the IoT to support your company, there are some associated hazards. But with the proper knowledge and preparation, you can effectively mitigate those risks while securely strengthening your company and reaping the benefits.

Published in April of this year, the Panama Papers—a collection of 11.5 million documents with information on the identities of shareholders and directors for more than 214,000 offshore companies—represent the largest data breach in history (dwarfing the data released by the Wikileaks organisation in 2010) . The information contained in these documents is concerning, since the files reportedly show how several corporations were able to launder money, dodge sanctions and avoid tax. The breach not only highlighted the importance and value of a robust cyber security system, but it also highlighted how cyber criminals are accessing more than just financial information.

The Insurance Act 2015 (Act) is here, replacing the 110-year-old Marine Insurance Act 1906, which until now, governed contracts between businesses and insurers. Many industry insiders are hailing the Act as the most significant change to UK insurance contract law in more than a century.

On Thursday 14th July we held a Cheese and Wine raffle event for Insurers and staff to raise money for our Charity of Choice for 2016, Cancer Research UK.

Our staff voted to support Cancer Research UK in 2016, as they need our support to fund clinical trials, the running of labs and all those working tirelessly to beat cancer.

We are delighted to announce that Leah Jensen is the winner of this year’s Cockpit Arts/ CLEAR Insurance Award. The award, which specifically aims to support professional designer-makers, was very competitive and Leah was chosen due to her innovative techniques in process.

Leah has been awarded a match funded place at Cockpit Arts Holborn for one year, worth £2,500. including; Studio space for one year, business and professional development services and an insurance package from CLEAR.

Back in May, we asked you if you’d take part in our email survey as we wanted to better understand what our customers need from us and how we can improve our service.

Firstly, a big thanks to all of you who took part.

We received some excellent feedback around improving our communication, documentation and online services and are currently looking at ways in which we can implement as many of your suggestions as possible.

On 16th March 2016, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered his 2016 Budget to Parliament.

As part of the delivery, HM Treasury announced that the Insurance Premium Tax (IPT), the tax on general insurance, will increase from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent, with the extra revenue going to flood defence.

Congratulations to Georgia Hollis who has just celebrated passing the CII Accredited Brokerbility Academy Apprenticeship in a graduation ceremony held at the Great Hall of the Chartered Insurance Institute in London, on 27 May 2016. Georgia is Trainee Account Handler in Clear's Property Department and was one of 17 young apprentices to receive their qualification as part of the first Brokerbility Academy Programme.

We’re delighted to announce the first quarter winners of our Pauline Uludag Employee of the Year Award are Andy King and Khayyam Khan, who earned nominations from our staff for their positive attitude, support for others and the outstanding service they provide to colleagues and customers respectively. Here's a little bit about our quarter 1 winners , with some quotes from our staff:

The Enterprise Act, a wide-ranging piece of legislation designed to benefit the United Kingdom’s 5.4 million businesses, received Royal Assent on 4th May 2016 and will come into effect in May 2017. The one-year transition period will allow both businesses and the insurance industry to make any necessary changes required by the new Act. Both groups have welcomed the measures, with the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) declaring that it ‘means good news for the insurance sector and for business’ as it marks a move toward a more deregulated environment that should make it easier to start and grow businesses in the United Kingdom.

While hobbyists have been using drones for some time, businesses are now adopting the technology. Small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS), also known as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), have rapidly become more common in the Commercial sector. 

However, while drones may present your company with new business opportunities, the technology introduces new risks. And, in response, legislators and insurers are working hard to keep up.

There are a number of things that should be considered when you first become aware of a claim or circumstance which may give rise to a Professional Indemnity (PI) claim.

The government recently made some of the biggest changes to insurance law in over a century when they announced the Insurance Act 2015. The Act introduces some new obligations on customers, which are counterbalanced by strict remedies for insurers.

We are excited to announce the launch of our new website. Our new and improved website offers our customers 5 key features which we hope will serve you better:

While winter is drawing to a close, there are still some significant risks to properties due to bad weather. This was highlighted recently with the damage caused by Storm Imogen.

What should you do?

There are a number of steps that you can take to prepare for floods:

We are launching a new insurance product that will provide cover for 'live' property risks (risks that are not insurable in the Legal Indemnities market).

This might be of use for clients involved in litigation on the defendant side or where you have identified a risk but conversations between the parties have already taken place thus excluding the risk from the Legal Indemnities market.

In 2014, Clear launched the Pauline Uludag Employee of the Year Award in memory of our well-loved Claims Manager Pauline Uludag, who lost her fight with illness in December 2012 and passed away. Pauline joined Clear in November 2011, having been a friend of many of us and was well-liked and respected. She was known for her exemplary standards, cheerful and considerate demeanour and genuine warmth towards clients, colleagues and insurers.