2007 News
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11 December 2007
Business crime up by a fifth
The latest findings from the AXA Business Crime Index reveal the number of business crime claims settled between July and September 2007 is 20 per cent higher than the same period in 2006.
3 December 2007
Demand from the Far East is causing a rise in metal theft
AXA is advising businesses to guard themselves against metal theft. Increased demand for metal from India and China has raised prices, resulting in higher incidents of metal theft. Commercial properties are being caught out through inadequate security or lack of, and under insurance.
26 November 2007
AXA launches specialist insurance packages for Tradesmen and Professionals
AXA today launched Tradesmen and Professionals, two new products designed specifically for small businesses without premises to insure. Both products can be tailor-made to ensure that a small business only pays for the insurance cover it requires. Business owners are provided with the flexibility to choose the precise areas and level of cover they need to fit their business needs.
14 November 2007
Huddersfield’s Applied Language Solutions scoops UK "Business Oscar"
Applied Language Solutions topped a 10-strong field of finalists to win the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year category at the UK’s National Business Awards at glittering award ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel, London last night (13 November).
26 October 2007
Employees spend more than 14 hours a month “social not-working”
We spend more than 14 hours a month, or 40 minutes of our working day, “social not-working”, according to new research* from AXA. Employees use up on average around five and a half days of the working year sending text messages, emailing friends and family, visiting social net-working websites, making personal phone calls, and gossiping, the new study reveals.
13 October 2007
AXA calls on business leaders to give employees an hour to spend on their finances in the office to help reduce UK apathy to money issues
AXA is asking all employers to get involved in My Budget Day, which is a national initiative being launched by the company to encourage all UK adults to commit one hour a month to sorting out their finances in a bid to make individuals more motivated to dealing with money.
9 October 2007
Crime against business continues to increase
The latest findings from the AXA Business Crime Index reveal the number of business crime claims settled between April and June 2007 is 11 per cent higher than the same period in 2006. Malicious damage claims, a term which covers acts of vandalism such as deliberately smashed windows and graffiti, have increased by 28 per cent between the two periods. More worrying still, the number of arson claims have risen by 43 per cent. It’s not all bad news for businesses however, as incidences of theft have decreased by two per cent.
24 September 2007
HR Directors called to action to help employees take control of their finances
AXA is calling on all UK business owners to make a commitment to helping employees take control of their finances by giving them one hour off work to spend on personal money management. In November AXA will launch My Budget Day – a national programme designed to encourage all UK adults to commit one hour a month to sorting out their finances. AXA believes that employers are in a unique position to help individuals kick start this programme by giving them an hour of work time – it has pledged this to its 12,000 UK employees and is asking other employers to do the same.
14 September 2007
Glasgow firm takes AXA “Business Oscars” crown
AXA last night announced that Glasgow firm BiP Solutions (www.bipsolutions.com) is the winner of the Scottish AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards for Scotland – dubbed by the prime minister as the ‘Business Oscars’.
12 July 2007
Newtown firm is once again regional winner of AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Newtown firm Quartix (www.quartix.net) has won the Wales and West Country regional final of the AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year Awards.
12 July 2007
Hamble’s Point Source is regional winner in AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Point Source (www.point-source.com) has won the South East regional final of the AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year Awards.
10 July 2007
Huddersfield firm is regional winner in AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Huddersfield firm Applied Language Solutions (www.appliedlanguage.com) has won the North East regional final of the AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year Awards
10 July 2007
Wigan firm is once again a regional winner in AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Wigan firm Valueworks (www.valueworks.co.uk) has won the North West regional final of the AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year Awards.
4 July 2007
Tyrells is once again regional winner of AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Leominster success story Tyrells (www.tyrellspotatochips.co.uk) has won the Midlands and East of England regional finals in the AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year Awards for the third year running.
19 June 2007
Glenrothes business shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Glenrothes firm McDonald Engineers has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Scottish AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards for Scotland – dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
19 June 2007
Kirknewton business shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Kirknewton firm Maximillion has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Scottish AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards for Scotland – dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
19 June 2007
Two Edinburgh businesses shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that two Edinburgh firms have made it through to the finals of the Scottish AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards for Scotland – dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
19 June 2007
Dundee business shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Dundee firm Legal Services UK has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Scottish AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards for Scotland – dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
19 June 2007
Glasgow business shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that Glasgow firm BiP Solutions has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Scottish AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards for Scotland – dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
12 June 2007
Business crime increases by a tenth in the last 12 months
The latest findings from the AXA Business Crime Index* reveal the number of business crime claims settled in the first three months of 2007 is 10 per cent higher than the same period in 2006. Arson claims have risen dramatically, increasing by 28 per cent between the two periods, compared to theft which has increased by just five per cent.
12 April 2007
South East businesses shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that four South East businesses have been shortlisted as finalists in the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards – dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
12 April 2007
Wales and West Country businesses shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that four Wales and West Country businesses have been shortlisted as finalists and one has been highly commended in the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards
12 April 2007
North West businesses shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that four North West businesses have been shortlisted as finalists and a further four highly commended in the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards.
12 April 2007
North East businesses shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that four North East businesses have been shortlisted as finalists in the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards – dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
12 April 2007
Midlands and East of England businesses shortlisted for AXA ‘Business Oscars’
AXA today announced that four Midlands and East of England businesses have been shortlisted as finalists in the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards – dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
11 April 2007
Environmental focus for AXA small to medium business of the year award 2007
Scottish businesses invited by AXA to star in ‘Business Oscars’ AXA today announced that firms’ attitudes towards climate change are now a crucial part of entries to the Scottish AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year’s prestigious National Business Awards for Scotland– dubbed by Gordon Brown as the ‘Business Oscars’.
14 March 2007
Business crime increases by a fifth in the last year
The latest findings from the AXA Business Crime Index show a 20% increase in the number of crime related insurance claims made by companies in 2006, compared with the 2005's figures. Business crime claims increased by 6% in the last quarter of 2006 compared with the previous three month period. The Index, which is based on AXA's own data, also reveals that over the same period the number of claims for violent and forced entries more than doubled, while arson claims soared by a fifth (20%). However, incidences of malicious damage including vandalism and graffiti; fell by 2% over the last quarter of 2006. Arson is an increasingly expensive problem for businesses; based on the amount paid out to victims it accounted for over half (51%) of all claims made.
22 January 2007
Loophole leaves UK plc at risk of £60m backdated unfair dismissal claims in next 12 months
Leading insurer AXA today warns that UK employers could be sued to the tune of £60m in backdated discrimination claims for forcing people to retire at the age of 65. Employers who do so are acting within the law as it currently stands, however a ruling awaited by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) could leave them facing expensive compensation claims in the future.