Citynet exhibited at #BIBAScotland 2019

The #BIBAScotland Conference is the only event dedicated to insurance brokers in Scotland. This years’ event saw more than 200 industry representatives in attendance and was the perfect opportunity to keep up to date with the latest developments, meet new contacts and conduct business.

Following tremendous successes in the past years, Citynet Insurance Brokers exhibited at the #BIBAScotland for the third year running.

Acting purely as a wholesale insurance broker, Citynet has established itself as a London Market Specialist in the placement of Liability, Property, Professional Indemnity, Terrorism, Cyber, Motor, and various associated classes.  We also specialise in the placement of binding authorities for other insurance intermediaries.

If you are looking for a wholesale broker that has great insight and knowledge of its markets and deliver on their promises, look no further! Citynet will be proud to be Your Trusted Partner!

For further information about our services or schemes please get in touch with our team members below or get in touch with your account executive.

Graeme Flynn – Head of Motor – UK & Ireland   E: [email protected];  M: 07977 011 433

Matt Carlick – Broking Director E: [email protected];  M: 07890 545 417

Matt Wadhams – Account Executive  E: [email protected];   M: 07773 470 813

Hugh Cleland – Insurance Broker  E: [email protected];   M: 07557 343 578

WHO IS THE WINNER?

We are delighted to announce that the winner of our prize draw where a Tipsy Tree Advent Calendar was up for grabs is Mr Tom Aldridge from Blackford Insurance.

Huge congratulations from all of us at Citynet.

Building broker business in the construction insurance sector

In the midst of chaos, there is opportunity!

The famous quote from Sun Tzu in The Art of War may not have been intended for the insurance industry – but it is one that stands applicable especially now in relation to the construction sector where the building blocks appear to be crumbling. The July 2019 IHIS Markit construction purchasing managers’ index dropped to its lowest levels since April 2009.

“According to the latest survey of industry executives, the UK construction sector is suffering a loss of momentum, led by the sharpest reduction in new work since March 2009,” Matt Carlick, Broking Director at Citynet Insurance Brokers, told Insurance Business. “As the market tightens, some insurers are looking into decreasing the number of brokers they do business with.”

At the heart of the problem appears to be a shortage of skilled workers, leading to greater use of LOSC and BFSC contractors, according to Carlick.

“Greater use of lower-skilled or non-skilled workers who tend to be less experienced in a particular trade or are new to a company and therefore less aware of the H&S culture of an insured,” he said. “Due to a skilled worker shortage, there is a danger that the cost for these employees increases which can negatively affect profit margins and therefore the funds available for investment in H&S initiatives.”

Amid the clouds, however, there are plenty of silver linings – and savvy brokers have plenty of opportunities to be the cement that keeps businesses watertight amid the onset of economic bad weather.

“Despite the comments about retrenchment in the UK construction sector, underwriters would suggest that they are seeing small organic growth for London and South East based risks,” added Carlick. “This also means an increase in estimates for LOSC and BFSC payments which bring their own insurance issues with them.”

“Of course, there are concerns about the current business outlook and these are overwhelmingly attributed to domestic political uncertainty,” continued Carlick. “The construction sector hasn’t been left unaffected by this current climate. Rising risk aversion and tighter budget setting by contractors in response to Brexit uncertainty can hold back activity, especially in the commercial sub-sector.

“The key is to work with a specialist – and, as wholesale brokers, Citynet has a proven ability to build and maintain relationships with underwriters which is essential to ensuring that the best deal is on the table for our retail broker clients.”

Finding the best deal also means finding the right policy for clients. While each business will have different individual needs, Carlick believes there are certain important areas of a construction policy that every broker should look for.

“Important areas of a construction policy include cover for asbestos; attitude towards criminal defence costs; height and depth limits – ideally there should be none; cover for hazardous locations/activities; attitude towards rehabilitation; insurers’ flexibility to be able to deal with mid-term amendments which are hazardous and/or unusual,” he said.

Above all, however, it’s about finding a trusted partner, Carlick believes – one that has “its’ fingers on the pulse of this dynamic market” and “strong market relationships.”

Source: Insurance Business UK

#MacmillanCoffeeMorning at Citynet HQ

The #MacmillanCoffeeMorning has become a ‘tradition’ that started almost 30 years ago, in 1990.

Initially, it was a rather small affair with a simple idea: guests would gather over coffee and donate the cost of their cuppa to Macmillan in the process. It proved to be very effective and since the Macmillan Coffee Morning event has become a yearly ‘tradition’ raising over £200 million.

Last year alone, this event has raised an incredible £26,914,382 towards this great cause.

On the 27^th September 2019, people all over the country took part in an activity that was tasty, fun and also helped raise funds and awareness for a truly worthy cause.

Cancer can be devastating news for anyone. With one in two of us facing this ‘enemy’ at some point in our lives, the money raised at the #MacmillanCoffeeMorning event throughout the UK will help everyone with cancer to live life as fully as they can.

Here at Citynet Insurance Brokers, all our staff got involved again in the world’s biggest #MacmillanCoffeeMorning.

Each and every one of us has made a special effort by baking, buying and bringing in the most delicious treats. As a result, we are very proud to announce that the Citynet Insurance Brokers team has raised a total of £592.74 that will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Well done everyone and what a team effort!

Let’s change lives with every slice!

Citynet’s second year of success at City v Wharf 5k run!

The City v Wharf Challenge is an annual 5k run where London’s two major business districts (and a who’s who of the financial and professional services sector) go head-to-head in a flat, fast 5k run in Victoria Park

In our second year in attendance, Citynet run under the PIB Group team consisted of 25 runners.

The sun was very much shining on us (and it was pretty warm by the time the starter gun went off at 6pm) but the heat didn’t deter our runners. There were some fantastic achievements across the board. A special mention goes to Will Offer (PIB Employee Benefits), Callum Wallace (Cobra London Markets) and Alex Broggio (Citynet Insurance Brokers) who achieved great race times.

In addition to the gruelling training, the team also aimed to raise money for Insurance United Against Dementia and the total has exceeded £400 so far.

You can view the Justgiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/citywharf19-pib.

Full results can be viewed here (search PIB to view ours): https://thefixevents.com/the-cityvwharf-5k-run-challenge

The team consisted of athletes from Citynet Insurance Brokers, PIB Group, PIB Insurance Brokers, PIB Employee Benefits, Cobra London Markets, and Q Underwriting.

Citynet “Six in the City” tackle #walkthenight marathon challenge!

“Six in the City” #walkthenight marathon challenge!

“Your support meant a lot to us and we could not have done it without you,” said Mandy Palin from Citynet.

Here at Citynet, we are all very proud of our girls and huge congrats are going their way.

Until next year!

Citynet’s Annual Broker Networking Event in Dublin

Citynet Insurance Brokers organised the annual broker networking event in Dublin at the famous Paddy Cullen’s Pub on the 5^th June 2019.

This year, as for the past four years, our networking event was well attended offering the staff and brokers the opportunity to come together in a relaxed environment.

Richard Scott – CEO, Andy Reason – Head of Irish Property & Casualty, Gerard Kinsella – Account Director and Declan Reilly – Irish Country Manager/Associate Director, were amongst the Citynet team that attended the event.

Citynet is continuously striving to provide the best service in London giving our brokers a platform to access all their schemes and services.

Citynet’s networking event at Paddy Cullen’s proved to be a great night and an undoubted success for all involved.

Winners at BIBA 2019!

#BIBA2019 – VENI…VIDI…VICI! 

Who are the prize winners?

— 1st Prize – An Apple Watch goes to Ms. Michelle Ramsey from Cowens.

— 2nd Prize – A Bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne goes to Mr. Sean McDonagh from Tony McDonagh & Co Ltd.

— 3rd Prize – An Amazon Echo Dot Third Gen goes to Mr. Mark Dacre from Ives and Taylor.

 

London Insurance Office Darts Association – Citynet Darts Champs

Citynet has been competing in Division 3 of LIODA – London Insurance Office Darts Association winter league for banks and insurance (which runs from September to May), for approximately 10 years.  At the end of each season, there are competition nights which include various formats across all three divisions.

The standard of darts is hugely variable and caters for every individual’s standard of play.  Throughout the season various raffles, bus stops, and donations are made to support Heart of Darts.  This is a registered charity who raise money for medical equipment and services to improve the quality of life of those unable to find help via more conventional sources.

Citynet’s very own Mandy Palin and Grahame Gilbert have been competing for years and this time they have returned with trophies in toe. Huge congratulations to them from all the Citynet team.

Here they are beaming with pride! (as they should)

Mandy Palin – Client Services Manager at Citynet,  won the Ladies Open Singles Trophy.  This is a darts competition where any lady across the three divisions enters.

Grahame Gilbert – Insurance Technician at Citynet, achieved runner up trophy for Open Blind Pairs.  This is a darts competition where any individual across the three divisions enters.  All players names are randomly drawn and paired together to compete against other random pairs.

Let’s hope the next season will be as successful as this one!

Cedar Hall School Holiday Club

Cedar Hall School holiday club is a summer club set up by a group of adults who work in Cedar Hall School. They had their previous funding rejected due to recent government cutbacks, and as a result, Citynet Insurance Brokers have lent a helping hand. Our community is at the heart of what we do and we always welcome the opportunity of giving back when the need arises.

“Cedar School holiday club was started many years ago. We were mainly inspired to start the club because some of our children often struggle to communicate their feelings and don’t find it very easy to make friends outside of school. Our parents also need some respite, as behaviours can be different (often more difficult to manage) at home.  The children also like the routine of familiar surroundings and adults they know” commented Mrs. Sharon Hoy – Club supervisor.

The Club provides many fun activities where the Cedar Hall School children aged 8-18 are welcome to spend their summer holiday term.

• Cooking
• Arts & Crafts
• Playground activities
• Sports
• Quiet activities

This club will also provide particular support for families whose children struggle with school, or have difficulty making friends by linking children up with an individual one-to-one allocated staff member who supports them to access the sessions and build friendships with other children.

“Thank you to Richard Scott, CEO at Citynet Insurance Brokers for his kindness and generosity in giving the children and parents a more manageable summer” added Sharon.

Citynet Insurance Brokers are proud to help this amazing initiative and wish all the best to the organisers and the children alike.

Citynet Insurance Brokers sponsors Hatfield Peverel ‘A’ football team.

Citynet Insurance Brokers are proud to sponsor yet again Hatfield Peverel football team.

“Although the team had been successful at youth level and with the Club fully behind us, it was decided to move from Youth into a Men’s Adult League (Pope and Smith Sunday League). This was always going to be a big step playing against more established and experienced teams. However, the team adapted from day one, continuing to play attractive football and finishing as runners up and promotion for next year” commented Steve Harding – Manager of Hatfield Peverel ‘A’ Football Team.”

 “Thank you so much to Citynet for being sponsors of Hatfield Peverel ‘A’ football team, enabling squad rain jackets and combi tops to be brought. These have been used not only on match days but at weekly training sessions. As a charity the club, we are dependent on fundraising, subscriptions, and sponsorship to continue to operate and provide the best possible facilities for our players. Many thanks once again for your continuing support of Hatfield Peverel FC” Steve Harding further added.

Here at Citynet Insurance Brokers, we take every opportunity we can to support our community when they need it most. It’s a great feeling seeing this youth team moving into the Men’s Adult league.

We wish them every success in the future!