Author Archives: Tom Collins

Common car insurance myths unravelled

After results from a survey carried out by Swinton showed alarming gaps in car insurance policyholders’ knowledge, we at Independent Insurance Services decided to give clarity on common misconceptions around this essential cover:

MYTH: If you have comprehensive car insurance, you’re covered to drive anyone else’s car.
STATS: 33% believed this to be true and 14% didn’t know.
FACT: Depending on your age and driving experience you might be covered to drive someone else’s car, but this is not a given on all comprehensive insurance policies as it’s dependent on these factors. Even if you are covered, it’s only third party, so any damage to the car you’re driving won’t be covered. If you’re going to be driving someone else’s car extensively, it’s best to be put down as a named driver. Some insurance providers will allow you to put someone else on the policy for one day or one journey at no extra cost. Continue reading →

Winter is coming – Stay safe on the roads

Car insurance is not only a legal requirement, but it can be extremely helpful for breakdown recovery and collisions caused by bad weather. It’s not a miracle worker though, and even the best car insurance policy in the world can’t prevent you from running into problems.

Give yourself the best chance of a smooth journey, whatever the winter weather throws at you, with these top tips. Continue reading →

What keeps construction customers awake at night?

Since the economic downturn in 2008, the construction sector has experienced a bumpy recovery, with several large firms issuing profit warnings to investors this year. While the industry as a whole shows promising growth – in terms of new project orders – it could take some time before this filters down to businesses’ bottom lines. Continue reading →

Nepal Earthquake Appeal

Update: Unfortunately due to the huge amount of donations we have received, we are no longer able to accept donations of goods. However, there is still an urgent need for funds to the area and we are accepting cash or cheques payable to Folkestone Rotary Club. It is possible to send donations to the address below, payable to Folkestone Rotary Club or BACS by using reference “Nepal” to Lloyds TSB, Folkestone Rotary Club, 30-93-34, 00575212. A receipt will be issued upon request.

Following the vigil last night in Cheriton, the Nepalese community along with the Gurkhas and local residents got together to pray and offer a tribute following the earthquake in Nepal. The community would like to support the tragic situation by raising finance to pass over to the Red Cross as a local coordinated approach. Continue reading →

British SMEs are unclear about the general election

An overwhelming 89% of British SMEs are interested in what the general election could mean for their business, according to data from Zurich, but opinion is divided about the potential consequences.

One in five (21%) SME decision makers surveyed predict the outcome of the election will be positive for their business, but 27% think it will have no impact, and 40% say they don’t know. Just 12% are worried that the outcome will be negative for them. Continue reading →

DIY safety tips

Do it safely

Longer days, lighter evenings and a sudden urge to tend to those things that have been waiting all winter to be fixed often cause us to get the DIY bug at this time of year. Some of us find DIY relaxing. Others find it frustrating. And, unfortunately, more than a few of us find it painful because DIY is one of the major causes of accidents in the home. So here are some tips that can help make sure you don’t need fixing up after fixing things in the home. Continue reading →

Risks and rewards of using personal devices for work

  • Up to 47% of people in the SME industry now use their personal mobile devices for work purposes
  • Employees could inadvertently expose company data through use of personal devices
  • However, staff using their own devices at work could help boost efficiency and effectiveness
  • SME’s should consider enabling their workforce through a bring your own device (BYOD) strategy which seeks to minimise risk

Safeguarding their IT network is already a challenge for many companies. Add to this the trend for employees to use their own tablets and smartphones at work, and keeping your corporate network safe becomes a serious headache.

But, as long as employers follow careful steps, staff using their own devices at work could help boost efficiency and effectiveness and be something businesses should embrace, rather than fear.

Continue reading →