Lithium-ion Battery Safety
The safety of the Lithium-ion batteries, on which electric vehicles (EV) run, is becoming a major concern to many businesses as the number of fires has risen...
Aberystwyth
News ArticlesRead all the latest Rees Astley news articles and press releases.
October 2023
September 2023
Falls from Height – what are the dangers in your business?
Falls from height are still the most common cause of death in the workplace death. 30% of all worker deaths in 22/23 and many serious injuries were from falls from height...
August 2023
Warning Electrical Hazard Protective Footwear
There is a potential issue regarding the testing of protective boots to an American Standard - (ASTM F2412-18A)...
July 2023
Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work
As an employer the law requires you to protect your staff and others from harm...
Private Medical Insurance
Why offering Private Medical Insurance could be good for your business...
Climate Change
As a result of climate change, the UK is likely to experience higher temperatures lasting longer than usual...
June 2023
Is it too hot to work?
There is no law for a maximum working temperature, or when it's too hot to work...
May 2023
Ensure your event runs safely this summer
Good planning and organisation is essential when putting on an event that is both safe and enjoyable. For many events all that you need to do is to follow a few basic steps...
March 2023
Creating a Safe Working Environment where Vehicles are the Main Place of Work
It has been estimated that up to a third of all road traffic accidents involved somebody who was at work at the time. This could account for over 20 deaths and over two hundred serious injuries every week...
Creating a Safe Working Environment for Homeworkers
The biggest change in working environments in very recent years has been the increase in working from home...
January 2023
Business Continuity
Here are four good reasons why you should develop a business continuity plan...
Landlords and Businesses Be Aware of April's Change to Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Regulations
If you are a landlord and own commercial properties with an EPC energy rate of 'F' or lower in your portfolio you really need to act quickly! You need to be able to demonstrate that you have strived to achieve the highest Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band possible....
Driving safely in Fog
Before driving into fog check your mirrors then slow down...
December 2022
Driving in Icy and Snowy conditions
Before driving in the winter, you should check the local weather forecast for warnings of icy or snowy weather. If your journey is not essential you should not drive in these conditions...
November 2022
Energy crisis ignites decade-long high in home blazes
Experts have warned last month's rise in average energy bills, together with potential winter blackouts, could trigger an increase in accidental house fires as people turn to candles as a cheaper means of lighting up their homes and log fires to keep warm...
Protecting your business property from water damage
Every year insurers pay out a significant amount of money for escape of water claims in business properties...
Slip and trip accidents significantly increase during the Autumn and Winter!
During the Autumn and Winter season there is less daylight, leaves falling onto paths and becoming wet and slippery and ice and snow building up on paths can lead to more slips and trips...
October 2022
Are you sure your business is insured against a cyber-attack?
Are you sure your business is insured against a malicious or non-malicious cyber-attack? When was the last time you read your policy's wording to check what it says?...
Risk Assessment - Employing Young people at work
As an employer, you should already be managing any significant risks for all staff in your workplace. But you should assess any additional factors if you employ a young person...
September 2022
Watch Out for Cyber Criminals' Hotel Hotspots
As a business owner or employee it can sometimes be tempting to log-in to work if you are away on business or even during your holidays to maybe catch up on emails etc...
August 2022
You Really Cannot Ignore Rebuild Cost Inflation!
A number of factors have coincided to mean that rebuilding costs have hit record highs and the risk of underinsurance is now greater than ever...
Are Rechargeable Batteries Storing Up Trouble?
The UK is seeing an emergence of battery storage systems to power the likes of homes and offices, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and conventionally generated electricity. Lithium batteries are becoming an integral part of all our lives...
How can you be sure that the ladder you have purchased is actually safe to use?
A recent survey conducted by the Ladder Association has expressed some very serious concerns about the availability and use of substandard ladders in the UK – in particular, Telescopic Ladders...
Working safely with display screen equipment
As an employer, you must protect your workers from the health risks of working with display screen equipment (DSE), such as PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones...
July 2022
Time to Get a Handle on New Hands-free Driving Laws
The law relating to mobile phone usage has been tightened up due to the wide variety of functions that can be performed on a smart phone...
Health and Safety - Does Your Workforce Know What They Need to Know?
As an employer, you are required by law to display the HSE-approved poster or to provide each of your workers with the equivalent leaflet ...
May 2022
Do you Need an International Operators' Licence?
New EU rules that come into force on 21 May 2022 ...
March 2022
Don't risk losing thousands of pounds by underinsuring your business premises
When did you last check out how much it would cost to rebuild all or part of your business premises?...
February 2022
Cover Late Payment Risks with Trade Credit Insurance
Small businesses should take note of the warnings being issued by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) who are suggesting that 440,000 of small firms are likely to be at risk of being unable to trade, because of the UK’s late payment culture...
January 2022
Preparing your Business Premises for Winter
Climate change has brought about an increase in the number of storms and floods each year. And this is bad news for your business (and your personal assets). That frozen water pipe or icy conditions can have devastating consequences if you have not planned ahead...
December 2021
Keeping Your Vehicles Safe
Some useful advice from West Mercia Police for keeping your vehicles safe...
Motor Accident Notification
As the seasons change, the conditions on the highways change as well.
Autumn brings fallen leaves, damp and cold weather, lower sun, frosts and longer periods of darkness.
All of this can impact your driving performance and contribute to an increase in road traffic collisions...
September 2021
Cyber Insurance: Why Buying Wisely is Crucial
All too often, cyber insurance is bought because it is a requirement for a contract or because a business fears the impacts of a data breach on third parties, such as its customers...
April 2021
Can Insurance Assist Cash Flow Following Reverse Charge's Introduction?
On March 1, 2021, the new VAT domestic reverse charge, known as the 'reverse charge' came into force for many construction sector companies, changing the way in which VAT is collected within the building and construction industry...
April 2021
What happens if you're underinsured?
The very real and damaging consequences of underinsurance is that your insurer refuses to pay the full value of your claim and decides to pay only a proportion of the sum that you're claiming for...
December 2020
Green Cards for travelling to the EU after 31 December 2020.
The UK formally left the European Union earlier this year and we have been in a transition period since the end of January...
Cab fires on Ford Transit vans - safety concerns.
The purpose of this guidance is to raise awareness for employers and employees of the safety concerns and risk of cab fires occurring on Ford Transit vans (known models to date include Mk6, 7 and 8 versions, within a date range from 2010 to present date). QBE has not seen any reported issues with 2020 Mk9 models...
August 2020
Do Not Archive Your Business Continuity Plan … Update it!
Business continuity plans (BCPs) have been put under great strain by the Coronavirus.
Where a BCP considered a 'worst-case scenario', it is unlikely to have been a pandemic affecting global and national supply chains and the entire UK workforce. Since the introduction of social distancing, many businesses have adopted new modes of working but may have also archived their business continuity plan. There are good reasons why this is ill-advised...
July 2020
Sara's retirement
Big congratulations to colleague Sara who retires today. Thanks for all your hard work and loyalty to Rees Astley! Wishing you all the best for your retirement. Take care and keep in touch, we're gonna really miss you
From everyone at Rees Astley.
June 2020
Why Directors & Officers Insurance is More Important Than Ever
As a business owner, you will know the impacts that the Coronavirus has had on your balance sheet. But if you are a director or manager, are you aware of the possible legal ramifications that could arise from the pandemic and affect you personally?...
May 2020
Colin's retirement donation after 54 years in the insurance industry
Account executive Colin Peate retired on Monday after more than half a century of service to the insurance industry, most of which was spent in Shropshire and Mid Wales...
Cyber Risks Emerging due to COVID-19
Cyber threats are evolving as businesses are making changes to how they operate. Remote working and new technology may not be as secure as first thought...
April 2020
Unaccompanied vehicle demonstrations on trade plates allowed
As dealerships plan a gradual return following the lockdown, we anticipate we will be required to operate the 2-metre social distancing between customers and staff...
March 2020
Coronavirus: What UK employers and employees should know
As we all know, the deadly coronavirus has spread from China and entered the United Kingdom. Knowledge, caution and preparation can help protect employees and businesses...
November 2019
Is your business ready for winter closure?
The festive season in on the horizon and the obligatory Christmas adverts in November are nearly here. But preparing your business for the challenges this time of year presents can take some time, so they are worth considering early...
April 2019
An end of an era.
An end of an era as colleague Keith retires after forty years of working in the Insurance Industry. He will be missed by everyone Rees Astley, clients and insurers. We wish him all the best for a happy and healthy retirement.
March 2019
Catalytic Converter Thefts are Again on the Rise.
With recent reports of gangs stripping cars of their catalytic converters in broad daylight it appears that factors are again aligning to cause a new wave in thefts...
February 2019
Rees Astley Celebrates 50 Years of providing Business and Personal Insurances.
2019 marks a very special year for Rees Astley who are celebrating fifty years of looking after their client's business and personal insurances...
Trade Credit: The lifeline Brexit-Era Businesses Require.
Uncertainty over any deal with Brussels coming to fruition is one more issue British businesses could do without...
October 2018
Everyone is now familiar with the term fake news...
It makes sense to regularly scan the internet for news about your business and create a Google alert, to spot any fake news quickly and quash it...
July 2018
Have you thought about Travel Insurance for your holiday?
Are you planning on getting away for the summer? Have you thought about taking out Travel Insurance to protect you if the worst should happen?..
June 2018
Reducing the Risk to Help Save on Motor Fleet Premiums
Businesses need to continually review their costs and expenses in any way they can and reducing fleet motor claims is one of the ways a company can keep their insurance premiums in check and save money on the excesses...
March 2018
Trade Credit Insurance
Since mid-January, the news headlines have been dominated by the collapse of the UK's second biggest construction firm, Carillion. It is said that 30,000 supply chain businesses are directly, or indirectly, affected by its insolvency and inability to pay suppliers...
Accidents happen, but are you protected?
All businesses would like to think their workers are safe, but sometimes things happen that are beyond control and these may well endanger their employees ...
January 2018
Are your garage premises a safe environment.
Over 7,000 people in the Motor Industry have injured themselves in the last 5 years according to the Health and Safety Executive. The most common injuries being slips or trips, falls and ill health from exposure to chemicals, gases and engine emissions...
Press Release - Meet the neighbours success at Battlefield.
Shropshire Chamber of Commerce organised a highly successful 'Meet the Neighbours' event which was held at SBC Training on Battlefield Enterprise Park in Shrewsbury...
Weather-proof your business against the winter.
Winter is soon on its way, bringing with it the prospect of strong winds, heavy rain, frost and snow. Are your business premises prepared for winter and are you adequately insured?...
November 2017
Public Liability For Sports Clubs.
Public Liability Insurance is designed to provide cover if a club or organisation is accused of injuring someone or causing damage to their property.
Is your business data more secure with a Cloud provider?
It is a common belief that data is more secure on company-owned servers at an onsite data centre but can Cloud providers offer a more secure environment?
October 2017
Oktoberfest.
Thank you to all staff, clients and members of the public who joined us at Oktoberfest, it was a wonderful weekend!
September 2017
We were so pleased to have met so many of you at the Interplas Exhibition!
August 2017
General Data Protection Regulation.
A new data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), comes into force in May 2018, overhauling current data protection legislation.
July 2017
Gas Safety Checks – Who Needs Them?
You must ensure that any gas appliances (permanent or portable), and gas flues that you own and provide for use by your tenants have regular gas safety checks.
Gas safety checks are needed by Landlords, Housing associations, Local authorities, Hotels and B&Bs, Colleges, Boarding schools and Hostels.
June 2017
Landlords, Make Sure You Don't Fall Foul of New Energy Efficiency Regulations.
The new energy performance regulations have been finalised by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and come into force in England and Wales in 2018, which means landlords should be acting now to ensure they are compliant.
May 2017
Insurance Implications Following Ogden Rate Change.
As has been widely reported in the national media, The Lord Chancellor recently announced that, from 20 March 2017, the Odgen rate of discount will be reduced from 2.5% to -0.75%. But what does this actually mean?
Are You Ready for a Cyber Attack?
Cyber threat is one of the most significant risks facing UK businesses and is on the increase. Government figures in 2015 revealed 81% of large businesses and 60% of small businesses had suffered a cyber security breach. Cyber claims statistics from 2013 - 2016 show cyber extortion and ransomware to be the fastest growing cybercrimes.