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I'm considering employing a part time secretary in my home, do i need insurance for this?

Dear Caroline If you employ anybody in any capacity then you will be required to have Employers Liability Insurance by law. This insurance is normally included within a small office or home workers Insurance policy which not only covers you for this but also other covers that will protect your business including public liability, material damage, theft and business interruption. We would suggest that you contact a local reputable Insurance broker to assist you in placing your cover requirements. Jillian Watt

AXA Expert: Jillian Watt
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 07/03/2008

anyone who has control over part or all of a premises is required to carry out a fire risk assessment. However many businesses see this as more legislation which isn't really enforced so why bother. I would like to ask if there are any incentives to businesses who have caried out and show proof of a fire risk assessment (not just say they have). I understand that businesses with less than five employees aren't required to show their findings but must still carry out a fire assessment.

The Regulatory Reform Order was introduced in October 2006, and places the responsibility for fire safety and risk assessment on the building owner or manager. Following the spate of recent fatal fires around the country, the implications of ignoring this legislation are obvious. A successful prosecution under the RRO has a number of consequences, including a conviction against the responsible person and a penalty fine (of up to (£10,000) and, in some instances, imprisonment. Delivery of an effective and managed fire risk assessment should lessen risk and improve management within a premises which should make the individual business more attractive to insurers and could allow improved management of premiums. It is correct to say there is no statutory requirement to record any assessment where there are less than 5 employees however, there is still a requirement to demonstrate that an assessment has been completed and implemented - the simplest way to doing this is by recording the assessment. AXA provide a simple to follow guide on Fire Risk Assessment which can be freely downloaded from the resources section of the AXA4Business website: http://www.axa4business.co.uk/resources/

AXA Expert: Doug Barnett
Category: Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning
Date: 06/02/2008

I am currently in the Freight Forwarders industry, however am hoping to diverse into offering Self-Storage space and wanted to know what cover I would require, and whether I would be able to offer Insurance for Third Party goods stored at my leased premises.

Hello David Many thanks for your enquiry. The insurance covers that you should consider would be as follows: -Material Damage including all perils; Theft; Business Interruption; Public Liability and if you employ any staff then you should also consider employers liability. To offer insurance cover or advise on insurance you need to either be approved by the FSA or be exempted from accreditation. To obtain a quote for your self storage business we would recommend that you contact a local reputable Insurance broker who will be able to assist you in placing your insurance requirements.

AXA Expert: Jillian Watt
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 22/01/2008

I am in the process of starting up a new business involving animals. The business will involve taking my animals to childrens parties, fetes, promotions, store openings etc. and allowing the children to play and cuddle with them. I will also be offering donkey rides. If people do not want the animals in their homes they will have the option of coming to our place for their party to meet the animals and have a party in a lock up that has been decorated for parties. eventually i will also be doing llama trekking. i contacted nfu mutual and they were unable to help me they said i would need public liability for the premises and public liability in case any injury was caused by the animals. I will also need insurance cover for a 4x4 and livestock trailer ( both yet to be purchased, but am looking at a old land rover defender or discovery) Could you please advise me on what cover i will need and also give me a very rough guide of the premiums i will be looking at. As i am in the early stages i need to get all my monthly outgoings down on paper so i can see if i will actually be able to afford to do this. Thank you very much fiona Broom

Hello Fiona Many thanks for your enquiry. The NFU are correct in that you will require Public Liability to cover any potential injury or damage caused by your negligence or the actions of your 'animals'. To obtain cover, we would suggest that you contact a local reputable Insurance broker who should be able to assist in the placing of your insurance requirements within a suitable market.

AXA Expert: Jillian Watt
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 15/01/2008

as a sub contractor bricklayer what insurance do you suggest I kave. I am concerned what will happen if I am ill

You will need Public Liability insurance which will cover you in the event of damage you may cause to Third Party property or injury to Third Parties for which you are held legally liable and occur as part of your business.

If you employ anyone then you need Employers Liability Insurance which is compulsory by law. This covers injury or illness to an employee arising from their employment and for which the Employer is found negligent e.g. they breach Health & Safety regulations, they have provided inadequate training etc.

Axa provides cover for both Public & Employers Liability.

With regards cover if you become ill. You should consider Personal Accident and Sickness cover which will provide benefits to you if you have an accident, lose a limb, an eye etc at your work. Critical Illness cover should also be considered, this is a Life Insurance policy which covers you in the event of you being diagnosed with an illness named in the policy. It can provide a one off payment or monthly benefits.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 30/08/2007

I run a small job coaching business that is now starting to grow rapidly and becoming quite successful - The nature of the work involves meeting clients with disabilities at local job centers, finding them jobs and when in a job coaching and mentoring them until they are comfortable in their role. I am trying to get advice about insurance cover and any other red tape that I need to overcome to continue this business?

There are two aspects to your question, the first relating to your insurance requirements and the second relates to the setting up of a business and we can advise as follows.

As a minimum you will require public liability insurance which covers you against injury or damage to a third party or their property that you may become legally liable for as a result your negligent actions. As an example - this would cover you if somebody tripped over your briefcase in the job centre. It must be noted that it would not cover you in respect of the advise that you may give.

As you business expands then you may wish to consider a small package policy which could cover you for material damage, theft, business interruption employers liability etc.

If you wish a quotation or further information you can contact our

With regard to the query on the red tape surrounding setting up a new business unfortunately we are unable to offer any advise on this matter but we would suggest that you either contact a ’High St Bank‘ who will be able to assist or alternatively your local council/ authority may also provide services/ assistance to start up businesses.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 16/07/2007

I am looking to start a Dog Walking and Pet Care Services business and understand that I would need to be covered for third party / public liability risks. Is this something that you can assist with?

Unfortunately we will not be able to assist you in your enquiry and would suggest that you contact a reputable local Insurance broker to assist you in placing your insurance requirements.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 13/07/2007

CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH A TYPE OF PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CONTINGENCY INSURANCE FOR MY NEW BUSINESS.I WILL BE REFURBISHING HOUSES ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND FOR EACH HOUSE I WILL REQUIRE : 1. PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR THE COMPANIES I MAY EMPLOY TO FIT, SAY, DOUBLE GLAZING, A KITCHEN OR A BATHROOM I.E ALL SMALL TRADES AND NO MAJOR BUILDERS WORKS. 2. CONTENTS COVER DURING THE ONGOING REFURBISHMENTS UNTIL THE HOUSE IS SOLD 3. BUILDINGS COVER DURING THE ONGOING REFURBISHMNST UNTIL TGHER HIOUSE IS SOLD

AXA Insurance PLC do not have a product that fulfils your Insurance requirements in a package format. Whilst we could offer some of the covers that you require, these would only be available on an annual basis and not on an individual property basis which you have requested.

We would recommend that you contact a reputable local Insurance broker who may have access to a suitable market that may fulfil your Insurance requirements.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 10/07/2007

Hi, I am thinking of starting a small business providing archery and Clay pidgeon "have a go" sessions to the public durning orgainsed events. What sort of insurance cover would be most appropriate? Regards

There are many Insurance covers that you would benefit from taking out, but the main cover that you will require due to your involvement with the Public is Public Liability.

Public Liability covers you for damage in respect of a third party or their property that you may become legally liable for as a result of your negligent actions.

Unfortunately AXA Insurance is unable to offer this cover due to the type if business/ activity that you are undertaking. We would recommend that you contact a local reputable Insurance broker to assist you in placing your Insurance requirements.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 29/06/2007

hi im a mobile nail tech, also renting small area in a shop,going to employ a nail tech for 16 hrs a week what ins do i need, i already have public liability for my self thank you mirella grice.

The main cover you will need other than Public Liability is Employers Liability Insurance. This covers injury, death or illness sustained by an employee whilst in the course of their occupation with you and for which you are legally liable. This cover is compulsory by law and so you cannot trade with an employee without it.

You may also wish to consider ’All Risks‘ cover on your equipment, fixtures/fittings at the shop and any stock you might have. You would need to check that your equipment was covered whilst you were away from the premises and also that your liability cover extends when you are working away.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 13/05/2007

Hello, I am planning on setting up a business organising hen and stag nights. Do i need insurance and if so, what type do you recommend? Thanks

You will require insurance, what Insurance you require will be dependent on the structure of your business i.e. if you have employees then you will require Employers liability.

If at this stage you are operating as a sole trader then ay a minimum you will require public liability. For this kind of insurance we would recommend that you contact your local broker who will be able to assist you with your requirements.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 08/05/2007

I am a stay at home mum, just setting up a childrens party business selling pre-filled party bags, wedding favours and other party products!! I plan to start out self employed. I would like to know if it will be necessary to take out some form of insurance to cover myself and the products I will be providing, if so, what sort of insurance? Many thanks!!

There are a number of Insurances that you could take out, however at a minimum we would recommend that you take out Public and Products liability.

This Insurance covers you in respect of damage to a third party or their property arising from your negligent actions or goods or services provided.

This is the minimum that you require if however, you also wish to cover the stock that you are holding for material damage or theft, or you are going to take on any employees, then we would suggest that you take out a small package policy which covers you for all of the above requirements.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 28/04/2007

What are the relevant industrial awards and agreements that impact on risk management?

Risk Management is an overall concept on how to minimise and control risk and currently, there are no formal awards or British or European standards exclusively applicable to risk management.

However, courses and qualifications are available from organisations such as the Institute of Risk Management for practitioners. Take a look at their website www.theirm.org. These qualifications would give a good platform to understand the controls and techniques that AXA welcome.

Risk Management includes so many different features applicable to insurance, such as Health and Safety, Fire and Security protection and Business Interruption. By using risk management principles, you will minimise the hazards and risks within your premises, improve your claims experience and become a more attractive proposition to insurers.

What are the relevant industrial awards and agreements that impact on risk management?

Risk Management is an overall concept on how to minimise and control risk and currently, there are no formal awards or British or European standards exclusively applicable to risk management.

However, courses and qualifications are available from organisations such as the Institute of Risk Management for practitioners. Take a look at their website www.theirm.org. These qualifications would give a good platform to understand the controls and techniques that AXA welcome.

Risk Management includes so many different features applicable to insurance, such as Health and Safety, Fire and Security protection and Business Interruption. There are various training and qualification that are specific to these areas. These include NEBOSH (National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health), IOSH (Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) and CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health). From a fire perspective, information is available from FPA (Fire Protection Association) and finally, Business Continuity Planning plays a big part in Risk Management. The BCI (Business Continuity Institute) offer training and qualifications.

AXA Expert: Doug Barnett
Category: Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning
Date: 23/04/2007

Hi, i am considering starting a new business in the computer industry (wireless networking)but i am wondering where to start. i already have a full time job (not related to what i want to do) but would like to break away to start my own venture. I am 42 years of age (is this even too late to start my own venture ?)in regards to help from any financial service. I have worked and built computers for myself and for others over the last 10 years and installed my first wireless network over 4 years ago (before it became fashionable in the home), i would really like to expand on the security on wireless networks in the home, can you help ? regards Steve Ellis

Before you dive in at the deep end, there are plenty of things you can do to increase your chances of success. For example, get to know your market, who are your potential customers, how are you going to target them, who are the competition? You will also need to create a realistic business plan, which you will need to share with your bank manager if you are looking for a loan or investment to help get you started.

In the first instance you might wish to speak to your local Business Link group, I‘ve attached a link to their website below:

You may also find the local chambers of commerce group a useful source of information.

And The Times has a section on start-ups on its website

We have also put together a guide for small businesses as well:

There will be plenty of problems to deal with and many things to learn along the way. Nothing is impossible, but things can get very difficult. When facing problems it is important to maintain a positive attitude, but be realistic. Most successful entrepreneurs have found themselves in exceedingly hairy situations - taken the correct course of action - and survived.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 23/04/2007

I am about to exchange contracts to buy a small hotel; should I insure the building under by own policy during the 6 months till completion of the pruchase, or could my interest be noted on the existing policy?

As a purchaser of the building/business you will not have an insurable interest in the premises until you have completed the contracts, and become the owner of the premises therefore you will not be able to take out insurance on the premises at this stage.

However the current owner's Insurance policy may afford some level of protection if it has a 'Transfer of Interest Clause' which effectively notes your interest from exchange until completion as purchaser of the premises.

If the current owners policy does not have this clause then you can request that your interest is noted.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 22/04/2007

I want to start a childrens party planning business, what legal steps do I need to take? What insurance do I need?

As an Insurance company we are unable to comment on the ‘legal steps’ that you need to take in setting up a business however we would suggest that you contact either your local bank’s business manager or your local government authority both who should be able to assist you.

With regard to your Insurance requirements we can advise as follows.

There are a number of Insurances that statutory these being for example Employers Liability and Motor Insurance, however as a ‘start up’ company we are assuming that there will only be you at the outset and therefore we would recommend that you have Public Liability at the outset.

Public Liability covers you for loss of or damage to a third party or their property arising from your negligence.

There are other covers that you should also consider, these being Material damage and theft of any goods or stock that you may store for your proposed business.

Unfortunately, your proposed business is not a trade that we can currently underwrite and therefore we would advise you to contact a reputable local Insurance broker to assist in this respect.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 27/03/2007

i am setting up my own groundworks business and i would appreciate some advice and help on the insurance covers i will need, also information concerning public liability van insurance etc. i will be working on my own, working light and heavy duty machinery. please could you get back to me asap. many thanks Simon Ward

As a ground worker, there will be a number of Insurances that you require dependent on your work and statutory obligations. We would advise you to consider the following covers:

Public liability - this covers you for damage to a third party or a third parties property arising from your negligence actions. The cover that you require should include ‘tool of trade’ which is an extension that covers you to use machinery/ plant in the course of your job.

Employers Liability - if you employ or use any additional labour, then you are required to have Employers liability Insurance - this is a statutory Insurance

Tools Cover - depending on whether the tools/ machinery/ plant that you use is your own or hired in - you should consider this insurance

Van Insurance - again this is a statutory Insurance to comply with the Road Traffic Act

We have a number of Insurance packages that can cover all of your Insurance requirements - if you would like further information or a quotation please contact our Service centre on the following number 0845 075 0052

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 25/03/2007

I've started my own window cleaning round and require Public Liability Insurance. What is the best deal you have?

As a ‘Window cleaner’ we can offer you Public liability within one of small Contractors packages. Unfortunately if you expand and take on any employees we will not be able to offer Employers Liability which is a cover that we are unable to write for your occupation.

If you wish a quotation please contact our service centre on 0845 075 0052 for a quotation.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 19/03/2007

I want to start doing Wildlife Childrens Party's in their own Homes. Will include things like Bugs Hunts and Insect identification,nest box building,Bee box making,Bird spotting and identification,Quizes,etc. What insurance will I need.

You will definitely need Public Liability Insurance this will cover you in respect of injury caused to any person and loss of or damage to the property of any third party caused by you in the course of your business and for which you are found to be legally liable. So where you have been found to be negligent in some way. (Subject to Policy Terms & Conditions)

An example could be if a child is injured during one of your parties.

If you take on any employees then you will also need Employers Liability Insurance to protect employee against any injury or illness they suffer as part of their employment. This cover is required by law.

You may also want to consider ‘All Risks’ cover for any equipment you take with you to children‘s homes.

Because your proposed business involves children this is a specialist market for many Insurers and you may need to approach an Insurance Broker to source the appropriate cover.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 09/03/2007

Hi I am starting a boat handyman business where by i go to different marinas and boat yards and do general work on all sorts of boats can you tell me what insurance cover i need.I will not be employing anyone just working on my my own. thanks

You will require Public Liability Insurance, this covers you in respect of damages and costs you are legally liable to pay as a result of injury you cause to any person or damage you cause to property as a result of your business activities. This is a specialist market and you should approach a marine liability specialist insurer to arrange this cover.

You may also wish to consider taking out ‘All Risks‘ cover on your tools and equipment which you carry with you from site to site.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 05/03/2007

I currently own and touring caravan which is situated on my own private land at the rear of my garden in Cornwall. This caravan is not going to move anywhere is its own enclosure with gates and car parking facilities. I intend to rent this out during the summer on short holiday lets as a means of some income, as we are not going to use it. We used this to stay in during transition from London to our new home in Cornwall. This is currently insured with Barkers and I have AA Home Insurance which will not be affected by this. BUT if I am going to rent this out I feel that I should have some kind of public liability insurance even though we are going to have the caravan certificated with regard to all services it provides. Can you help please. I have been searching a lot of Insurance Companies and no-one seems to provide Public Liability Insurance because it is not static. Thank you for your help.

You are correct that Public Liability which covers you against loss or damage to a third party or their property as a result of your negligence should be considered a requirement.

We would also advise you to consider Material Damage cover i.e. fire aircraft explosion, flood storm etc not only for the caravan and the contents but also for the guest effects that may be kept in the caravan.

Unfortunately we would not be able to provide this type of cover. We would therefore suggest that you contact either a reputable local broker or your local Tourist Board who may be able to assist you.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 27/02/2007

I'm a semi-pro bowyer and fletcher and also give training courses in bowmaking. The courses are normally covered by the training organisations that retain me. Should I be considering liability insurance to cover one of my bows or arrows breaking and causing injury?

From a liability and business protection angle you should have "public liability" cover, which needs to include a product liability cover element. Although you work in a highly skilled traditional trade using natural materials, you need to consider what would happen if you were sued especially given the various draw strengths of bows involved.

You will also need to offer some advice to potential clients about the risk of injury and possibility of back injury, muscle strains etc. With this in mind you will need to consider some wording around medical fitness to use the equipment supplied. You may be able to get some of these details from your trade body. I believe there is still a Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers who would be able to supplement advice.

My advice would also be to ensure that any courses in bow making that are being run are covered by the appropriate training organisations insurance.

The recording of information instruction and training needs also to be considered. If you are manufacturing bows for clients you need to think about how these are used. You need to make sure that you provide adequate warnings with your products regarding their use, e.g. minimum levels of supervision required through formal qualified instruction via a registered Archery Club or registered archery instructor.

It is not clear from your email as to whether you are a sole trader. If you are not and you employ anyone else, e.g. an apprentice, you must by law have Employers Liability cover.

AXA Expert: Doug Barnett
Category: Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning
Date: 26/02/2007

I am intending to start a business day boarding dogs and wonder if you are able to provide me with insurance. As and when I introduce other services are you able to cover these. i.e. canine massage (not medical, simply relaxation) and basic training?

We can consider Insurance for boarding kennels for dogs. We would look to offer Material Damage cover for the property itself (Fire, Storm, Flood, Theft etc) and also Liability insurance - Employers Liability if you employ anyone and Public Liability for loss or damage to third party property or injury caused to third parties as a result of your negligence.

You would need to be aware however that the liability policy would not cover loss of or injury to pets in your custody or control, neither would we cover the professional risk e.g. training.

Material damage cover would be dependant upon the buildings used being of standard construction i.e. brick/non combustible construction.

If you would like to request a quotation please contact us on 0845 3000 678.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 22/02/2007

I was thinking about starting up a Mobile phone unlocking business. What kind of liability insurance would you need, and what does it roughly cost? Thank you

This principally depends on whether you intend having any employees. If you do then you will definitely require Employers Liability insurance as this is compulsory by law. Even if you don't have employees you will need Public Liability insurance, this covers you for loss or damage to third party property or injury to third parties.

It is important to note that this would not cover you if you damaged a phone whilst working on it as this is a general exclusion.

Premiums levels can vary depending on Turnover levels, wages to employees (if applicable) whether you have premises, whether you make visits to customer's premises, what Indemnity limit you have.

A basic Public Liability policy with a £1m indemnity limit might cost upwards of £250.00. Adding Employers Liability could double this figure or more - depending on Insurer and factors as mentioned above.

You should also consider Property covers for stock, goods in trust, machinery & plant, computers etc.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 17/02/2007

I am thinking of setting up a homebased beauty salon what insurances do i need that will cover my home, salon and clients it will be myself only working

We would recommend a small 'home workers' package policy which would primarily cover your business Insurance requirements i.e. Business Contents for Material damage and theft, Public liability with the ability to extend to cover some of the treatments that you offer.

The policy can be extended to cover your own 'Home Insurance' if your current provider is unwilling to note your business activities.

If you require further assistance you can contact us on 0845 075 0052.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 13/02/2007

We have a Training company & HR consultancy and some of our teachers are highly skilled eg academic lawyers / IT consultants. We want insurance for advice given in the course of business? Can you give me an estimate please?

This type of Insurance is called Professional Indemnity Insurance, which is damage to a third party or third party property as a result of the advise given by a professional. This is a specialist Insurance Market which unfortunately AXA Insurance PLC do not operate in, we would recommend that you contact a local Insurance broker who will be able to source the appropriate cover for you.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 13/02/2007

Hello, I am starting a home entertainment installation company in the coming months and am unsure of what insurance I will need. I will be entering peoples homes and carrying out work. I have no premises, only a small home office, and a van which i will insure seperately. Thank you.

There are two different Insurances that you will require:

The first is Public Liability which covers damage that you may cause to a third party or their property whilst working away from your premises. We would recommend a small 'contractors package' with a Public Liability limit of indemnity of £2m. The package can then be extended to include other covers as your business expands.

The second would be a small office or 'home workers' package policy to cover your office contents with in your own home. This would cover your office contents for material damage and theft'.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 09/02/2007

I am wanting to start up a mobile quadbike hire business where i go to certain places parties etc and supply the quad bikes and track. I want to know what insurance is needed with regards to the health and safety / public liability etc etc. I am new to this and would appreciate your comments Many Thanks

There are a number of Insurances that you will require and some of these may be compulsory depending on how and where you operate the 'Quad bikes'.

You will require the following - Public Liability, Employers Liability if you employ anyone to assist you, if the quad bikes are used on the road or are licensed for road use then Motor Insurance would be a requirement. Material damage covers for the bikes whilst in storage, in transit to and from the party venues and whilst at the parties and in use.

However this is a specialist market and we would suggest that you contact a local reputable Insurance broker to obtain the appropriate covers.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 09/02/2007

I am looking into starting up a business as an Animal Encounter worker. This will involve taking animals to childrens parties, and educating them on the animal and giving them the opportunity to stroke them. What type of insurances would i require, and what cost would i be looking at.

You would require Public Liability Insurance with a limit of indemnity of at least £1m. However due to the type of work that you are undertaken i.e. working with children and animals, this is a specialist market and we would suggest that you contact a local Insurance broker to obtain appropriate cover. For details please see the where to go for help section on the axa4business website.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 29/01/2007

We are an offshore based company (Bermuda). The CEO, CFO and one of the Directors lives in UK (but are employed and paid by the Bemuda holding company). All spend considerable time outside UK during the year, but when in UK they work in the the office of our UK based subsidiary (but is not employed or paid by the UK company). My question is: As a foreign company, are we required to have Employer's liability insurance in UK?

The short answer to your question is Yes. The situation is that if any of your employees are normally based in the UK you must have Employers Liability Insurance. In addition, if any of your employees who are normally based abroad but spend more than 14 days continuously in the UK, or more than seven days on an offshore installation, you will need Employers Liability Insurance.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 17/01/2007

I am a building contractor, we often have to open up existing roofs to cut new roof of extension in when we sheet up of an evening, are we covered if the high winds were to remove the tarpolin sheet?

There are two main types of insurance which could cover damage to both your property and that of your customers in this situation -

Public Liability Insurance

This insurance provides you with protection where you are held to be legally liable for damage to a customer’s property.

If, on leaving the site for the evening, you had done everything possible to protect the property it is very unlikely that the customer could succeed in holding you responsible for any damage. However, if you were found to be negligent - perhaps using the wrong type of sheets or not securing them adequately - a Public Liability Insurance Policy would protect you against a claim from the customer for the damage. Most policies contain an excess in the region of £500.

Contractors All Risks Insurance

This type of policy would provide cover for damage to the Contract Works for which you are responsible. Damage to both materials and plant can be insured can be insured on an All Risks basis. Again, an excess normally applies e.g. £500. An example of claim could be where roofing materials and scaffolding on site are damaged as a result of a storm.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 15/01/2007

The Company i work for was transfered under tupe. Two months after the tranfer they moved me to a different department which change my job title, description and duties. I have limited experience for this new job roll. Are the company allowed do this.

I am afraid that we are unable to give a definitive answer to this question as TUPE transfers are complicated and whether a company can make changes to your role subsequently will depend on a number of factors.

I would suggest that in the first instance you discuss your concerns with your Line Manager and/or HR Department, who may be able to explain why the changes have been made. If you have a Trade Union, you could seek their advice. Alternatively, if you would like advice independent of your company, we would recommend you contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau, some of which offer free legal advice. The CAB may alternatively suggest a legal firm from whom to seek advice.

AXA Expert: Kim Clemo
Category: HR issues
Date: 05/01/2007

I am setting up a horse riding school and am wondering what insurance I am going to need?

In terms or your insurance requirements, much will depend on what activities you will be undertaking, i.e. trekking, gymkhana, jumping, hacking etc but assuming that these activities will all include some form of instruction on a fee basis I would advise, you require:

  • Professional Indemnity Insurance
  • Employer’s liability covers (unless you are sole employee) but required for seasonal and part time employees
  • Public Liability with extensions, for road use and interfaces/situations with third parties
  • Veterinary Insurances for horses.

Covers may also need to be extended for events and special excursions/activities and you need to make sure that you advise your insurer re the full range of activities intended at the outset.

In terms of steps that you can take in order to manage the potential risks your business might face, you may wish to consider the following risk management advice:

Look after your property

  • Carry out regular fire risk assessments. The presence of flammable materials e.g. hay, increase the risk of fire.
  • Make sure that stables are secure and that fences on any paddocks are in good order and regularly checked and maintained.
  • Ensure the stables are kept in good working condition - sometimes it can be hard to get insurance cover for these types of buildings, particularly for storm damage. You will probably require some form of assessment for insurance purposes by a property surveyor.

Health and Safety

  • Competence, this is an important one in relation to the person in overall control of the activities. Ensure that all staff have the relevant professional memberships and instructor qualifications.
  • Carry out basic risk assessments for the main activities to identify the main risks to customers and people working there.
  • Ensure that you provide the correct equipment and personal protective equipment. This needs to be checked after before and after use, a log should be kept of all checks.
  • Proper instruction and a detailed risk assessment carried out, before horse and rider use the public highway. High visibility clothing should be work by riders particularly in winter months or periods of low visibility.
  • Ratio of supervision of experienced riders to non-experienced must be carried out in order to maintain firm management control of activities and avoid the possibility of incidents.
  • Disclaimer wordings. These must be signed by a parent or guardian (in the case of juniors) and by individuals (if over the age of 18), these should ask a few questions like "are you in good general health" not taking medication or suffering from any allergies etc.
  • Notify a third party organisation such as the British Horse Society, (http://www.bhs.org.uk/) who will be able to give your further specialist advice with regards to the safe running of your business.

AXA Expert: Doug Barnett
Category: Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning
Date: 24/12/2006

In my old company I was covered by private healthcare to a level where the company covered all costs and there was no limit. I was transferred to another company under TUPE who are providing healthcare, but I have recently found out that I now have to pay an excess and now have a limit of up to £1000. Where do I stand on this, as my HR told me that they only have to provide the option of healthcare regardless of what level of cover I had before and now I have to pay!

Thanks for your question. TUPE stands for the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. They have been in place since 1981 but have recently been updated. The key objective is to protect the jobs and contractual rights of workers when businesses or parts of the businesses change ownership.

TUPE protects the employees involved and transfers them on existing terms of employment (all contractual rights, powers, duties and liabilities transfer with the exception of pension schemes). Changes of terms related to the transfer (even beneficial ones) by the new employer are void - with some limited exceptions - where an employer can demonstrate that the variation of terms is for an ETO reason (economic, technical or organisational reason entailing changes in the workforce).

The longer the time period between the transfer and any change of terms, the harder it is to connect the two. In any event your employer should seek to make any changes to terms through consultation and agreements with you.

AXA Expert: Kim Cleo
Category: HR issues
Date: 17/11/2006

I am taking over part of a garden center, which will sell landscaping products. Although the business is sited within the garden center, it will be independently managed. What level of insurance cover do i require?

In terms of what insurance you need it is a statutory requirement to have Employers Liability to cover any employee’s who work for you either full or part time. You will also need public liability cover as well.

If you own the property you also need to insure the property and would need to include glass cover. In addition you should consider Stock Cover for all landscaping products being sold and if you produce or manufacturers the landscaping products in anyway you will need products cover.

As you are within another business premises, you have to consider whether your contents & stock are in a dedicated, secure area or within the general sales area.

From a risk management perspective there are some other things that you should consider:

If in general sales area, are your staff always in attendance when the garden centre opens & closes for business? Who is responsible for locking up the premises and setting the alarm protection?

What training have you provided to your staff? Risk assessments and especially manual handling assessment & training would be essential.

If you do not employ your own staff, have you considered training already provided to the garden centre staff and what additional information and training should be provided for your product range?

What arrangements and warnings are you providing to customers with regard to lifting/carrying your products? Do your products require special arrangements due to weight or size? Do you display warnings about possible injury to customers if they don’t seek assistance?

If there is intruder alarms and/or CCCTV protection in the garden centre have you checked that your area is covered by the systems and you have the right to access the data information in the event of stock loss or injury to either member of staff or customer.

AXA provides information amount risk assessment, manual handling and security on the AXA4business website if you have not already downloaded this info.

AXA Expert: David Aiston
Category: Start up and Micro Business
Date: 16/11/2006

I am a recruitment company in the Healthcare arena,(www.bluelighthealthcare.co.uk) providing GP's, Dentists and social care workers around the UK. I have recently started (6 months ago) and I am looking for a strategy on building sales. I currently advertise in industry magazines and have faxed nearly the entire country's dental and gp surgeries in an attempt to build a client base, not to mention every primary care trust and prison. I feel that I am doing something wrong, as I do not seem to be getting enough enquiries. I appreciate that it is a competitive marketplace yet I want the business to move in the right direction and start employing some more recruiters.. Any thoughts or help would be most appreciated. Regards Mark

It sounds like you are going about it in the right way. However, there may be a few things that you wish to consider.

I haven’t seen a copy of your advert, so it is difficult to comment on specifics, however it might be worth reviewing your advert to check whether it provides a clear message. Does it state clearly and concisely what your service offers? Why should they call you, what are your unique selling points? Also, a simple thing, but make sure that it easy for them to get back in touch with you. I would suggest doing a bit of research by phoning around to some of your key targets and seeing whether they have noticed the ad - or find out how they would go about finding a new supplier? Do they refer to the industry magazines, or do they take notice of direct mail, and/or another method?

Also, advertising can be quite expensive. It might be worth seeing when the best time of the year is to advertise? Are there any trends? You might want to see how your competitors approach their advertising. You could maybe do some mystery shopping to find out where you might find details of their services and how they position their USPs.

Finally, you might also want to think about using public relations to support your sales and marketing strategy.

AXA Expert: Chris Horlick
Category: Sales and marketing
Date: 27/10/2006

I am a Bank Employee , planning to take Voluntary Retirement scheme. Can you suggest a suitable moderate investement low risk business plan for me?

You mention that you are taking voluntary retirement, and I assume for the purposes of this question that this is from your employers pension scheme with The Central Bank of India. You also say that you are interested in a ’moderate investment low risk business plan’ as a result of this so, although I cannot be sure from your question, I think you are seeking advice as to the suitability of different low risk investments following that voluntary retirement.

There are a number of different investment options available to you and the suitability of any given option will depend on a number of factors.

These include your attitude to risk, the timescale over which you are seeking to invest, whether you wish to provide an income or capital in future for use by yourself or your dependants. The decisions will also be affected by the nature of other assets you hold, whether they are easily accessible or not, and you may also need to take into account what provision you have made for unexpected events during your retirement, such as falling ill unexpectedly or needing long term medial assistance in later life.

In order to assist you with advice across these areas we recommend that you contact an independent financial adviser and will be able to find one in your area through the IFAP website which can be accessed at http://www.unbiased.co.uk/.

AXA Expert: Steve Folkard
Category: Company Pensions
Date: 10/10/2006

Can you tell me whether I have to let my workers work on a flexible basis i.e. from home? I prefer to have my staff in the office at all times – I think it is effective for building effective teams.

In some cases you are legally obliged to seriously consider requests for homeworking. Parents of children under six and disabled children under 18 can request a range of flexible-working patterns from their employers - including the right to work from home.

When weighing up whether to let an employee work from home, you should consider the nature of their job. Some types of work are particularly suited to homeworking. For example:

  • Telesales and marketing
  • Customer service
  • Consultancy and professional service
  • Writing, editing, research and translation
  • Some types of admin work

This is especially so if employees are good at time management and self discipline, are self motivated and are self sufficient and have access to the right technology.

In fact, allowing staff to work from home on either a full or part-time basis can bring a range of business benefits including:

  • Improved retention
  • A wider pool of applicants from which to recruit
  • Possible productivity gains from staff having fewer interruptions and less commuting time
  • Increased staff motivation with reduced stress and sickness levels
  • Savings on office space and other facilities
  • Possible location of sales staff near clients rather than being based in your premises

However, a shift towards homeworking doesn’t mean employees have to work only at home. Often splitting time between home and the office is the most productive solution and you may want the homeworker to attend meetings to keep them fully involved and informed.

Working from home isn’t for everyone. However if you allow one person to do it, you may be setting a precedent that others will want to follow, so from the start you need to have a clear idea how this is going to work. You may want to consider setting some "house" rules, such as giving priority requests from parents of young children.

AXA Expert: Kim Clemo
Category: HR issues
Date: 14/06/2006

Is it true that paternity leave is going to be extended soon? If so, from when?

Rights to paternity leave and pay were introduced in April 2003. In order to qualify for paternity leave employees must satisfy the following conditions. They must:

  • have or expect to have responsibility for the child’s upbringing
  • be the biological father of the child or the mother’s husband or partner
  • have worked continuously for their employer for 26 weeks ending with the 15th week before the baby is due

Eligible employees can choose to take either one week or two consecutive weeks’ paternity leave (not odd days). They can choose to start their leave:

  • from the date of the child’s birth (whether this is earlier or later than expected), or
  • from a chosen number of days or weeks after the date of the child’s birth (whether this is earlier or later than expected), or
  • from a chosen number of days or weeks after the child’s birth (whether this is earlier or later than expected), or
  • from a chosen date later than the first day of the week in which the baby is expected to be born.

Leave can start on any day of the week on or following the child’s birth but must be completed:

  • within 56 days of the actual date of birth of the child, or
  • if the child is born early, within the period from the actual date of birth up to 56 days after the first day of the expected week of birth

Only one period of leave is available to employees irrespective of whether more than one child is born as the result of the same pregnancy.

During their paternity leave, most employees are entitled to Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) from their employers. Statutory Paternity Pay is paid by employers for either one or two consecutive weeks as the employee has chosen. Employees must give you 28 days’ notice of when they want their SPP to start. They should tell you that they will be taking paternity leave by the fifteenth week before the baby is due. SPP is paid at a rate of £108.85 per week or 90 per cent of weely earnings from 2 April 2006, whichever is lower.

AXA Expert: Kim Clemo
Category: HR issues
Date: 14/06/2006

Can I employ someone younger than 16 to work all weekend?

Strict rules govern the employment of school-age teenagers and they must be adhered to, even if you only want to employ them to do a paper round.

National law states that in England, Wales and Scotland young people aged between 13 and the minimum school-leaving age may not do any work, paid or unpaid:

  • before 7am or after 7pm
  • for more than two hours on a school day or Sunday
  • for more than 12 hours a week during term time
  • in the holidays for more than 25 hours a week - 35 hours if aged 15 or over

So, no, you would not be allowed to employ someone under the age of 16 to work all weekend.

It is also worth noting that you have to follow special rules about rest breaks, time off and holidays for young workers and you must do a risk assessment before taking on school-age workers, or review your existing risk assessment. Your local authority might have its own rules affecting school-aged workers so it’s important to check on these by-laws too.

AXA Expert: Kim Clemo
Category: HR issues
Date: 14/06/2006

What are the basic things I need to know about data protection law?

The Data Protection Act aims to promote the high standards in the handling of personal information, and so protect the individual’s right to privacy. It applies to anyone holding information about living individuals in electronic format and in some cases on paper. You must follow the eight data protection principles of good handling. These state the data must be:

  1. fairly and lawfully processed
  2. processed for limited purposes
  3. adequate, relevant and not excessive
  4. accurate
  5. not kept for longer than is necessary
  6. processed in line with your rights
  7. secure
  8. not transferred to countries without adequate protection.

By law data controllers have to keep to these principles.

For further information about the impact of the Data Protection Act, the Information Commissioner’s Office has put together a brief checklist for Small Businesses - you can access this via the link below: http://www.ico.gov.uk/documentUploads/Getting%20It%20Right%20spread%20oct%2004.pdf

This will provide you will further background information on the Data Protection Act and explain in detail why you should comply and what happens if you don’t.

AXA Expert: Chris Horlick
Category: Sales and marketing
Date: 14/06/2006

No matter how hard I work, I never seem to have enough time to get everything done. I also cannot see what I could possibly stop doing without it having a detrimental effect on my business. How can I prioritise when they are all crucial activities?

Time is the one resource that you cannot get more of and the ability to allocate your time effectively is a key business skill. This skill becomes increasingly important as your business grows and the demands on your time increase. As an owner manager, your business relies heavily on you to carry out many of the ’crucial activities’ that you describe. However to be an effective business manager it is vital that the business does not have an over reliance on you to carry out too many operational activities. Part of the issue is also that we are not actually aware of where our time is going and it is therefore worth analysing what is currently happening. A good way to approach this is to capture your activities in a log, say for a week, and to group activities into types, e.g. time spent working or managing - the results are usually surprising. Then take an objective look at where you time is being spent and challenge yourself around whether this is a truly effective use of your time and if there is not someone else who you could delegate these tasks to. While there is no easy answer to this question the first step to make prioritisation of your time your first priority.

AXA Expert: Lou Macari
Category: Business Management
Date: 14/06/2006

I find the whole pensions arena very confusing - what I am obliged to do as an employer?

If you employ five or more people you must provide your employees with access to a pension scheme.

However, you do not have to set up and run this yourself as there are a number of provider companies that can arrange this for you. Pension providers run and administer a wide variety of schemes that can be tailored to individual business needs. However to find the right scheme for you and your business we suggest that you discuss this with an Independent Financial Adviser.

If you have a pension enquiry you can locate an independent financial adviser via IFA Promotion.

Pensions simplification, which went live in April 2005, means that there is now a single tax regime for all pension arrangements. This means that benefits are easier to explain than previously.

AXA Expert: Steve Folkard
Category: Company Pensions
Date: 14/06/2006

How do I deal with age discrimination legislation in relation to pension benefits?

New anti discrimination legislation is due to come into force in October 2006. There are many exemptions for UK employers, but employers will still need to take care with regards to retirement policy and pay and benefits structure where people of different ages perform the same role. Mistakes in this area could prove costly and in many cases employers should seek legal or expert advice.

AXA Expert: Steve Folkard
Category: Company Pensions
Date: 14/06/2006

What benefits will my business get from offering our employees pension benefits?

Introducing a pension scheme can have significant and real advantages for your business. One of the main benefits of a workplace-based scheme is that it can boost morale among your staff and help in recruiting and retaining the best people for your business.

Employers’ contributions to a pension scheme for staff, whether it is an occupational, personal or stakeholder plan, attract tax relief. This makes it a tax-efficient way of increasing employee benefits and remuneration. Employer contributions are also an allowable business expense and are therefore not subject to corporation tax.

In additon, effective communication in the workplace can mean that your contribution is more valued by the workforce. Often how benefits are communciated is as important as their value. AXA have wide experience in a range of communication media appropriate to different circumstances.

AXA Expert: Steve Folkard
Category: Company Pensions
Date: 14/06/2006

I am considering buying a new business, which already has a pension scheme in place. Am I obliged to continue with this?

Pensions legislation protects the rights of employees in relation to the benefits that have accrued to an occupational pension scheme before any sale of the business. When buying or selling a business with an occupational pension scheme, as the employer you should consult a lawyer.

When a business is sold, the employees will almost certainly transfer to the new business with their existing contracts of employment, in accordance with the requirements in the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE). Under TUPE, employees are entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as under the previous ownership.

AXA Expert: Steve Folkard
Category: Company Pensions
Date: 14/06/2006

Where can I get advice from about environmental regulations – do I have a legal obligation as a small firm to recycle for instance?

All businesses have an impact on the environment. Every business produces some sort of waste - and all waste has the potential to cause pollution. The scale of your business’ environmental impact depends on the types of activity you undertake and how effectively you manage your environmental responsibilities.

You must ensure your business complies with a range of environmental rules. These include areas such as preventing pollution and the handling and management of waste. You must also comply with rules regarding dangerous or hazardous waste and the disposal of liquid waste. But a responsible environmental management policy isn’t just about legal compliance. It can also save your business money - and boost your reputation.

If your business manufactures, sells, distributes, recycles or treats electrical or electronic equipment, then you’re likely to be affected by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation when it comes into force. The legislation aims to reduce waste production and improve recycling rates by moving much of the responsibility for waste management onto producers rather than local authorities or taxpayers. The main requirements of the WEEE legislation are expected to come into force later in 2006. Producers - a term that includes manufacturers, sellers and distributors - will have a number of responsibilities.

Producers’ obligations under WEEE legislation

  • Financing the collection and treatment of WEEE products deposited by private households from specially established collection centres.
  • Financing the collection (from users other than private householders), treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE products placed on the market after the implementation date. Producers will need to have "end-of-life plans" for products they produce, sell or distribute after this date. For example, designing products so that most of its parts can be recycled.
  • Financing the collection (fromusers other than private householders), treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE products placed on the market before the implementation date, although they may be able to recoup some of this cost from the user.

Producers will also be obliged to meet demanding targets for the recycling and recovery of different categories of appliance. For more information about producer responsiblities then please go to the DTI website.

To see if your business could qualify for a grant to help with meeting producer responsibilities, search the Business Link Grants and Support Directory.

Remember that if you don’t comply with the WEEE requirements you’ll face a penalty which might be a fine, a ban on your products, or even imprisonment.

Or further information of environmental regulations contact: Environment and Energy Helpline 0800 585 794 or Environment Agency Helpline 08708 506 506.

AXA Expert: Carol Richmond
Category: Regulatory Developments
Date: 14/06/2006

I am a company employing just two people – myself and one other. Do I need to comply with health and safety regulations and employment act regulations?

Yes, you will be required to comply with health and safety regulations and the employment act regulations.

Once one employee is taken on it is required by law that the company takes out Employers Liability Insurance. The prescribed legal minimum is currently [2001] £10m of cover against bodily injury, illness or disease sustained in the course of employment. This class of insurance is often packaged with Public Liability Insurance.

Stakeholder pensions where introduced 06/01/2001. At present these new regulations only affect businesses which employ 5 members of staff or more.

For further information visit the DTI website: http://www.dti.gov.uk/

AXA Expert: Carol Richmond
Category: Regulatory Developments
Date: 14/06/2006

I have noticed a growing problem of absenteeism amongst a few, albeit the same, members of staff. Given that I run a sales agency this time off is literally costing me money. Any ideas or suggestions for how I can tackle this problem?

  • You’ve taken the important first step by wanting to do something about it – ignoring an attendance issue will only allow it to deteriorate. Next, introduce an absence management policy by way of a formal framework for reference for you and your employees (if you have such guidelines already, then review them to ensure they’re fit for the purpose and, in particular, make sure you’re following what the policy says!). Then communicate this (or any revised) policy and apply it. The very act of showing both an interest and a determination to deal with absence should in itself reduce the number of regular absentees.
  • In practice, you must be mindful to treat all sickness as if it were genuine (prefer to look for resolution rather than conflict) and try to maintain a healthy level of support and communication with the employee throughout the period of absence. Don’t forget to keep an accurate record of each of your employees’ attendance as this will help you to analyse absence trends. Introduce return to work interviews and make sure it’s a two-way, open and honest process – above all remember that good communication is the key. If the problem continues you would be wise to gain an independent view from an occupational health professional to establish if there are any medical reasons that you should take into account when dealing with a regular absentee. Finally, if things are getting difficult with an individual and it looks like you’re coming to the end of the road, take proper legal advice and remember, try to remain focussed and professional.

AXA Expert: Dr Mark Simpson
Category: Health at work
Date: 15/05/2006

Through our staff suggestion scheme a number of employees have asked about the possibility of access to a private healthcare scheme. What sort of schemes are available? As their employer would I have to cover all of these costs myself or can employees contribute to the scheme as well? Do I have to provide this sort of scheme by law?

  • There’s a wealth of schemes available to meet your business’ and employees’ needs and you don’t have to shoulder all the costs of providing medical insurance either. For example, you can provide cover for your employees and let them decide whether they wish to pay to have their partner and/ or family on their policy. Or, you can select an excess to lower the overall cost of your scheme whereby members themselves pay the first part (say, £100 or £200) of treatment received. Ultimately, the ball’s in your court – you’re not obliged to offer medical insurance, but since it can play a vital role in helping to keep your business in good shape by returning your people to health – and work – it makes for a good investment.

AXA Expert: Dr Mark Simpson
Category: Health at work
Date: 15/05/2006

What is blogging? Is it important to me as a small firm?

There are lots of different opinions and descriptions of what a blog is, so it would seem sensible to start with a brief overview. The name comes from a contraction of “web log” and it started life as a personal online publishing system. The blog would be a place on the internet where the author (normally an individual) could publish their thoughts and opinions on whatever subject they liked. These would then appear in chronological order.

However, over the past 12 - 18 months, this technology has been adopted to a much larger extent by businesses as a new and very powerful marketing tool which has allowed them to communicate with their customers, enter into dialogue with them and helped to create relationships and networks online. As a result, many companies have successfully used them to help to dominate their niche and market themselves more effectively to customers and prospects alike.

When you start to put a Business Blog together, the planning phase is very important and ideally you should spend time working on these elements rather than diving straight in and writing your first post - as we all want to do! In terms of whether a blog is important to you, in this planning phase, you should identify what you hope to achieve with your blog and who you are writing for. These initial elements will really help you to focus the content of your posts and align them as closely as possible with the requirements of those who will be reading them.

What is important is to answer three key questions:

  • What is the Blog looking to achieve?
  • Who is the Blog aimed at?
  • What results are you looking for?

Make sure that you spend time on this part of the set up of your Business Blog. If you do, you will reap the rewards because you will ensure that the Blog maintains its focus in terms of its content and, as a consequence, provide your readers with what they are looking for. It is important to note that blogs suit content that will be frequently updated. If content is not updated frequently then a standard website would be better. Blogs are really for an on-going communication with an audience.

AXA Expert: Chris Horlick
Category: Sales and marketing
Date: 15/05/2006

How would I go about doing some viral marketing – would it be expensive?

'Viral marketing' describes the incredible, unmatched power of the Web to promote your business by marrying email to the traditional concept of "word-of-mouth." "Viral Marketing" is giving something away for free and allowing people to pass it on to others. The main purpose of viral marketing is to spread your message to as many people as possible without having to spend any money for advertising. It is also a good way of capturing email addresses or other registration details.

Viral marketing, the concept of making each customer a marketer by encouraging word-of-mouth referrals, is indisputably one of the most effective mediums of ongoing self-promotion a site can employ. It gives companies a cost-efficient, proven tool to increase traffic and lower advertising costs.

Viral marketing campaigns both online and off are especially important to small businesses and start-ups because they usually cost almost nothing. The real investment in getting a viral marketing campaign going is the time and effort that it takes to build a product worth talking about. So the small businesses who might have more creativity than available marketing budget, may find this a great way to raise awareness of a product or service.

In order to start an effective viral marketing campaign, you need to provide people with a reason for passing your information around. For example, jokes are often passed around just because they are funny. However, how often have you forwarded an advert for an eBook on to other people? Unless you were an affiliate of that eBook, you probably never sent it on to a single person.

So, when you think about using viral marketing online to attract free traffic for your website, be creative! Think about the various reasons that a person would have for passing your message around.

AXA Expert: Chris Horlick
Category: Sales and marketing
Date: 14/05/2006

I am drafting a business continuity plan for my business but don't know where to start - can you give me some guidance?

Put simply, business continuity is about anticipating the events or circumstances that could hinder the running of a business, and planning to make sure that the business responds swiftly and continue to function in the event of an emergency.

A business continuity plan sets out clear roles and responsibilities, for example those assigned to manage all liaison with customers, employees and the emergency services. It lists a series of contingencies that enable key business activities to continue in the most difficult circumstances.

Being prepared is the name of the game. Organisations that have a business continuity capability are far more likely to survive the effects of a major incident than those that don't. Our free guides provide comprehensive information on how to construct a continuity plan that is right for your business. Click here for details: http://www.axa4business.co.uk/bc/guide.asp

AXA Expert: Doug Barnett
Category: Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning
Date: 14/05/2006

My business has expanded over the past 18 months requiring us to relocate to larger premises. I want to install a burglar alarm to protect the premises however having contacted 3 local installers they are all giving me conflicting advice - can you help?

The requirements for burglar alarms in the UK have recently changed with the introduction of a single common European standard. Systems for commercial business should be installed to either grade 2 or grade 3 with grade 3 the most common system for the majority of businesses.

Not all burglar alarms now receive a response from the Police and it is important to check with your insurer and your local police crime prevention officer what local standards are currently applicable as these will vary dependant on where your premises is located. It is essential that the alarm system is correctly designed to reduce the probability of false activation.

It is important that the installer you choose is competent and we would recommend that you check with your insurer that your preferred contractor is acceptable and the protection being considered is appropriate prior to signing any contract.

AXA Expert: Doug Barnett
Category: Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning
Date: 14/05/2006

I have a plumbing business where my staff are regularly encountering what may be asbestos - can you give me guidance on what my responsibilities are as an employer?

Yes of course, the short answer is to:

  • Prevent employees from coming in to contact with asbestos materials which could give off harmful fibres. (Ensure you carry out a proper risk assessment before starting work. Find out from the landlord, tenant or householder if there is asbestos in the premises, for commercial properties ask if an asbestos survey has been carried out and if so ask for a copy, this will help you to prepare your risk assessment)
  • You will also need to consider who else could be exposed during work, for example if you disturb what you think could be asbestos you need to ensure that third parties (the public) are not at risk, this must be addressed in your risk assessment
  • Educate all employees as to what asbestos in its various forms can look like and where it is most likely to be encountered in premises that you may regularly work in for example domestic properties, council housing stock, commercial buildings a number of organisations run asbestos awareness training courses, make sure you record all training given.
  • If in any doubt you should assume asbestos is likely to be present and prepare your risk assessment accordingly.

AXA provides a short guidance to asbestos which can be downloaded from the resource section on this website.

AXA Expert: Doug Barnett
Category: Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning
Date: 14/05/2006