Aba Group Provides Guidance This Christmas on Academies Insurance and Managing Risks in the Face of the Winter Weather.

The festive season is getting under way and with it, comes the colder weather and as many well know, this comes with a new array of risks to contend with
 
For those responsible for the running and safeguarding of schools, academies and their pupils’ interests, this should merit their attention.
 
Every school is different, and so the risks faced will vary. Investing in the correct Academies Insurance policy is important for risk management and budgeting. The onset of colder weather increases the chances of accidents happening and it also increases the likelihood of infrastructure and buildings damage. All of these things, particularly infrastructure and buildings damage, can have a disruptive effect on the ordinary running of a school.
 
Ms Lynne Eckersley, Director of the aba Group states:
 
“With government targets to meet and standards to adhere to, school disruptions and closures are the last things that school teachers and staff want to contend with. In the same way that businesses can have their operations interrupted by a lack of Internet access or power, so too can a school. So it is important for school governors to ensure that safeguards are in place to mitigate the effect of such an interruption; they also need to have the correct insurance cover in place to cover the costs of reparations”
 
It is important then for academies and schools to seek out tailored cover. Often, Academy School Insurance will cover a range of risks, including liability, buildings damage, and professional indemnity for staff, employer’s liability and more. It is therefore critical, in today’s uncertain economic climate, to strike an efficient, cost-effective balance between the cover required and the outlay for the policy.  
 
“With cuts being made across the public sector, highlighted more recently by the proposed pension cuts for public sector workers, funding is certainly an issue. What school governors need to understand is that a good insurance policy can help them manage risks in a way that is financially beneficial. The cost of repairing a building outright, when compared to investing in Schools Insurance that covers buildings damage, is markedly different. Given the harsh winter weather the UK has experienced over the past three years, collapsed roofs and infrastructure damage is not out of the question” says Ms Eckersley
 
Such a policy is also better for cash flow, as it is the insurers who will have to shoulder the costs of the incident as opposed to the school. Although, a successful claim depends upon appropriate measures and procedures being in place to ensure that the school cannot be held liable in a way that is not covered by their policy.
 
“It is very difficult to foresee the occurrence of any accident or disruptive event, but preparations can be made that can increase the likelihood of a successful claim should something untoward occur. Here at aba, we’re more than happy to help schools and academies understand their needs as well as advising them on the kind of measures that they need to put in place to adhere to their insurer’s terms. We can also provide tailored policy wordings that will provide cover for risks that are specific to the school” adds Ms Eckersley
 
If the winter weather poses an additional threat to your school, you should consult with a specialist business insurance broker to ensure that you are fully protected. 
 
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About aba Group:
aba Group has been operating in Bolton for years, headed by Managing Director Graham Webster and fellow Director Lynne Eckersley, they have 70 years’ experience in the industry between them. Their specialist insurance coverage spans schools and academies, directors, officers, contractors, engineers, landlords and a whole host of other professional roles and activities; which has seen them become the go-to business insurance brokers locally.
 
For further information contact:
Email: insure@abagroup.co.uk
Website: www.abagroup.co.uk
 

Contact Information

Graham Webster

Managing Director

aba Group

(44) (0) 1204 364 842

insure@abagroup.co.uk