ILC ARTICLE

ILC Breakfast News – Wednesday 22 February 2023 

21st February 2023

Skills and talent requirements come under spotlight 

The evolving skills and talent requirements of the insurance claims sector will come under the spotlight at a new ILC event taking place in April. 

Headline sponsored by specialist training provider Wiser Academy, and backed by some major names from across the insurance claims sector, the inaugural ILC New Generation in Claims event will take place at etc.venues Manchester on 26 April. 

Home 

Subsidence conference to highlight third party issues 

Third party issues will come under the spotlight as part of ILC’s Subsidence Surge specialist conference taking place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry, on 23 March. 

The panel discussion – featuring Naomi Bailey, Public Services Segment Manager, Zurich; Sarah Dodd, Director, Subsidence Forum and Treelaw; and David Kitching, Managing Director, Stress UK – will focus on how home and property claims can be impacted by third parties such councils, neighbours and specialists and what this might mean for all parties involved. 

Industry Interview: Rebecca Sanders, Claims Consortium Group 

Claims Manager at Claims Consortium Group Rebecca Sanders discusses her current position, how technology and customer expectations are evolving, and what makes her team special. 

Claims fraud crossing international borders 

The different rates at which insurance markets are developing anti-fraud measures could pose a problem for the industry in the future, as organised criminals extend activities beyond traditional borders. 

This is according to Steve Crystal, Head of Claims Fraud – international, Cert CILA APCIP, who said that the ability to conduct cross-border investigations across all product lines will be critical for global organisations in their fight against fraud. 

Home insurance hits lowest level in a decade 

The average cost of home insurance fell to £300 in 2022, the cheapest since the ABI started collecting data in 2012. 

However, it warned that a rise in subsidence claims, a surge in frozen pipe payouts and the rising costs of building materials and labour costs could see premiums rise again this year. 

MA Group achieves environmental certification 

MA Group Property Claims has been awarded an ISO 14001 Certificate for Environmental Management. 

Certification recognises the company’s commitment to meeting its compliance obligations and achieving environmental objectives.  

ClaimsTech  

INTRCONNECT identifies five key insurance goals 

Leaders in the property insurance and restoration industries met at CoreLogic’s inaugural INTRCONNECT conference last month, which was held to promote greater collaboration going forward. 

The conference identified five key objectives for the sector: to connect all stakeholders in the claim with one central source of information; to personalise the customer experience; to leverage a full spectrum of data in decision-making; to harness technology to challenge normal practices; and to embrace change and uncertainty. 

Clearspeed names new GM 

Clearspeed has appointed Manjit Rana as General Manager and Head of its UK, EMEA, and APAC insurance markets. 

He brings more than 30 years of insurance experience to the role, as well as a track record of establishing start-ups and driving innovation for large global firms. 

Motor 

Crash. Detect. Settle. Digitising the motor claims journey. 

We all know how important it is to begin the claims process as soon as possible following a collision – doing so within 24 hours offers multiple benefits and savings. What if you could speed the process up even more? During this showcase webinar session, viewers gain an insight into Solera Mentor by eDriving. 

Aioi sets up AI research lab 

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance has joined forces with Mind Foundry to establish a new joint venture research lab in Oxford. 

Mind Foundry is an Oxford University spin-off that develops AI solutions.  

The Aioi R&D Lab will focus on mobility solutions, autonomous driving, telematics and personalised insurance, and climate change solutions.  

ERS enhances digital solution 

ERS has enhanced its eTrade platform to make its personal motor products available digitally. 

Brokers are now able to submit all Prestige and Enthusiast quote requests via ERS eTrade, while also accessing existing Supercar and Classic car quotes for MTAs and renewals. 

Industry News 

Wiser Academy unveils free insurance course 

Wiser Academy has responded to the ongoing skills challenge in the insurance industry by introducing free ‘introduction to insurance’ courses to new starters. 

The two-day courses will be held every month until the end of the year and will cover insurance basics such as regulation, risk, structure, claims, ethics and professional behaviours. 

ABI to challenge mixed injury ruling 

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) intends to appeal a key ruling on damages for mixed injury cases. 

The ruling handed down in Briggs and Rabot found that road traffic accident victims should be compensated separately for whiplash and other injuries. This ruling was then upheld in the Court of Appeal. 

However, the ABI says this ‘opens the door to double counting of injuries’ and will now seek permission to challenge the verdict. 

Matthew Maxwell Scott, Executive Director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO), said, “If the Court of Appeal decision is reversed, it will be insurers and their shareholders who will win while consumers with multiple injuries lose. That seems unfair, unwarranted and unreasonable.” 

Communication critical as Consumer Duty nears 

Research from Consumer Intelligence has found that 22% of motor insurance customers and 21% of home insurance customers do not know what level of cover they have – top, standard or basic. 

Head of Consumer Strategy Catherine Carey said, “Consumer understanding is a key pillar of the forthcoming Consumer Duty – and it looks like firms might need to spend more time ensuring their customers really understand what they’re getting – and not getting – when they go for a graded product.” 

ABI turns focus on people and planet 

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has unveiled a new three-year strategy intended to help the sector focus more on customers, society and sustainability. 

It will now deliver a range of initiatives to improve customer outcomes and reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. 

Meanwhile, the ABI has also joined forces with consumer group Fairer Finance to improve clear communications after research found that a third of people do not understand the terms and conditions of products and services.   

Allianz strikes perfect human-technology balance 

Allianz has secured the Service Quality Marque from insurance consultancy Gracechurch for the seventh successive year. 

The award recognised Allianz’s commitment to service and expertise, and for delivering the right balance between in-person and digital claims handling. 

Davies signs up to Flexi-Job Apprenticeships 

Davies is pioneering a new approach to apprenticeships after being certified by the Department of Education to provide Flexi-Job Apprenticeships. 

It becomes one of just 30 organisations to be certified in the programme, which allows learners to move from company to company during their apprenticeships. 

Aviva makes £10m Woodland Trust pledge 

Aviva has donated £10m to the Woodland Trust to support its Woodland Carbon Scheme. 

This donation is expected to remove approximately 330,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere, which equates to the emission created by one person taking over 300,000 transatlantic flights. 

People 

GT Motive has appointed Steven Hames as Business Development Manager. 

Willie Pienaar has announced he is stepping down as CEO of Nuvalaw. He will instead take up the role of Executive Chairman, with Bernard van Bunnik take over as CEO.