holiday park insurance

Lock Down

Posted on July 1, 2017

Lockd ownLock Down

In light of recent events, security in the UK is at an all time. While we are assured that the chance of a security breach or incident is highly unlikely, holiday park owners and facility managers are right to be cautious and take appropriate measures to safeguard themselves, staff and visitors.

When the owners of Hampshire-based touring and caravan park Sunnydale Farm were looking for a solution to reduce uncontrolled vehicle access to the site, it was the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system from IDS Group that caught their attention. Open all year round, the park is visited by many campers, tourers and suppliers each day. Having previously tried traditional gates and overhead height barriers to control access to their site, owners Stella and Bill Matthews were looking for a more secure, efficient and automated solution.

For the entrances, IDS Group installed two electronic barriers and two ANPR cameras for incoming vehicles. They also incorporated 1080p HD resolution IP CCTV cameras with infrared night vision to automate the access to the site and give a general overview. As the vehicles are typically caravans and longer than the average car, it was important to strategically position the ground loops effectively to avoid the barrier coming down too soon, due to the length of the vehicle.

The exit required more consideration, such as the safety of children, cyclists and proximity to the main road so IDS Group installed an electronic barrier with a longer loop for the delayed exit. The ANPR cameras provide barrier control and create time log recordings of length of stay.

Barrier“In a lot of cases holiday parks have several entrances and exits and receptions desks are not always located at either of them - this makes it difficult to monitor who leaves or exits their sites. So many holiday parks are having to deal with unwanted guests, as such, this can lead to theft, vandalism and a threat to customer security,” explains Tas Kyriacou, Head of Business Development at IDS Group.

ANPR and barrier solutions have been growing in popularity over the years and the control this security solution provides to staff can significantly reduce risks to the park. According to IDS Group, an ANPR solution can start from around £6,500 up to £12,500 depending on many variables. CCTV solutions can start from £4,000. “Just like anything else in life, you get what you pay for, so if you invest in the right technology, you will be sure to enhance the safety of your customers and property and since your customers are what generates revenue, you will need to protect your assets,” says Tas.

“However before thinking about the technology, it is important to find a security company that can understand your requirements and have the ability to deliver what is required. A good security company is imperative to the delivery of the right solution.”

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY

Earlier this year a caravan was stolen from Bynea’s Gateway Caravan Park in South Wales. The high-value caravan was taken in broad daylight between 9am and 11am in the morning. Elsewhere in the country, offenders gained access to a window of a static caravan at a holiday park in Dorchester and stole valuable items of diamond jewellery. And in Scotland, police appealed to the public for more information after two mountain bikes were stolen from a caravan park in Peebles in August last year. The bikes had been taken along with the chains that had been used to secure them to a tree.

Unfortunately, cases of holiday park crime like these are not uncommon. And worryingly, crime levels across the country are on the rise. The Office for National Statistics said that recent police data showed a nine per cent rise in overall crime in 2016. Last year Avon and Somerset police pledged to increase resources in Burnham, Brean, and Berrow after a number of incidents at holiday parks over the summer months. Police officers and holiday park owners met to discuss ways of cracking down on crime in the area. Owners of holiday parks in BCodeurnham, and its surrounding areas, said they had to deal with a number of caravan thefts, as well as drunk and disorderly behaviour on a regular basis.

This prompted the police to upgrade their Pubwatch scheme - a partnership where independent groups of licensees work with police to pre-empt crime and antisocial behaviour in licensed premises. The scheme saw the installation of more high-quality radio systems and more staff onsite who are able to connect directly with the police. In Lincolnshire, the local police force offers a Caravan Park Watch Scheme to tackle caravan related crime across the county.

Caravan site owners, Lincolnshire Police and other representatives from the caravan industry meet regularly to discuss caravan related issues. The initiative was set up initially to tackle a growing number of burglaries occurring on holiday parks, especially during the winter close down period. Since the Caravan Park Watch scheme was implemented in 2014, caravan related crime rates in the area have dropped by over 45 per cent.

To find out more about security measures subscribe to Holiday Park Scene

Company Contacts

Crosby Intruder Alarms  Tel. 0800 917 1441  www.crosbyintruder.co.uk

IDS Group  Tel. 0208 819 1044 www.idsgroup.uk.com

Leisure Days Tel. 01422 396 770 www.leisuredays.co.uk

Wilby  Tel. 01422 358 525  www.wilbyltd.co.uk

 

Working Smarter on Insurance Matters

Posted on June 26, 2015

Working Smarter on Insurance Matters

Peter Heffer, director of holiday and residential parks at Lorica Insurance Brokers offers his views on the ever-growing world of glamping

Peter Heffer, director of holiday and residential parks at Lorica Insurance Brokers offers his views on the ever-growing world of glamping

 

Selecting the right insurance company can be more complex than is readily apparent. For example, the lowest price is not necessarily the best value.

Smart buyers seek out insurers that offer a tailored product to suit their requirements at a competitive price.

Peter Heffer of Lorica Insurance advises buyers to take their time when choosing a provider: “Look for a partner who specialises in the sector and tailors cover to your specific needs.

“Failure to understand the level of cover provided by a policy is a common pitfall for buyers, particularly in the holiday park sector. A generic broker is unlikely to understand the nuances of the sector - you need a specialist.”

With this in mind, Lorica has created an exclusive holiday and residential parks combined policy. The product is both competitive in terms of premium and provides extensive cover designed specifically for parks.

Peter comments: “Of course we cannot guarantee to save you money and improve your cover, but you can be confident that we will give it our best shot. We have experts around the country who are on hand to meet you to explain more about how we can help.”

The biggest type of claims affecting holiday parks can be split into two categories; the first is low likelihood but high severity, meaning they don’t happen very often but when they do the impact is catastrophic, for example a flood. The second type is high likelihood but low severity, meaning they happen frequently but only impact individual policyholders. For the privately owned parks these tend to be customer injury related.

Peter adds: “All policyholders have a duty to ensure reasonable precautions are taken to prevent injury or damage. This is an underlying principle applying to all insurance and owners should act as they would were they not insured.”

Lorica Insurance Brokers
Tel. +44 (0)7827 895671
www.loricainsurance.com

 

It Pays To Be Crystal Clear On Glamping

Posted on June 10, 2015
Peter Heffer, director of holiday and residential parks at Lorica Insurance Brokers offers his views on the ever-growing world of glamping

Peter Heffer, director of holiday and residential parks at Lorica Insurance Brokers offers his views on the ever-growing world of glamping

It Pays To Be Crystal Clear On Glamping

As more and more parks take the plunge into the ever-growing glamping market, there’s more to it than meets the eye in terms of having the right insurance policy.

“From an insurance perspective, glamping raises a few questions,” says Peter Heffer, director of holiday and residential parks at Lorica Insurance Brokers.

“Firstly, it is important to check whether a policy provides cover for property in the open. This is a common exclusion particularly for storm, flood and other weather related perils.

“Secondly, park owners should be aware of how the policy will operate in the event of damage to a tented structure. Will the insurers insist upon repairing a tear leaving a potentially unsightly blemish in the quality of the customer experience or will they provide a replacement?”

Peter also advises park owners to think carefully about other glamping accessories that could potentially affect the insurance policy. Glamping tents with cooking facilities, for example, could increase the likelihood of fire and insurers should be made aware – otherwise they could use this as a way to avoid a claim settlement. Likewise all portable electrical devices should be considered and routinely PAT tested.

“The key message really is that you need to make your insurer aware of what you are doing and that they must fully understand the exposure,” says Peter. “Once again, working with a specialist insurance broker really does add value.”

Talk to the Lorica team today for advice on glamping insurance policies that are tailored to suit your needs.

Lorica Insurance Brokers
Tel. +44 (0)7827 895671
Email. pheffer@loricainsurance.com
www.loricainsurance.com

 

Holiday Parks Need Business Safety Net

Posted on February 9, 2015

Holiday Parks Need Business Safety Net

lorica

Peter Heffer, Lorica’s director of holiday parks, believes holiday parks need to accident proof their future income.

According to statistics gathered by business insurance specialist, Lorica Insurance Brokers, 50 per cent of holiday parks do not purchase ‘business interruption’ insurance.

Hostages to the fortunes of the impact of severe weather, many holiday parks are gambling with their future security.

“There is a distinct lack of awareness over the extent of cover available,” advises Lorica’s director of holiday parks, Peter Heffer.

He adds: “Many think that it is either unnecessary or is purely there to provide cover for a loss of gross profit following loss or damage.”

However, this form of cover is inappropriate for the park industry, advises Heffer. “When structured correctly, cover actually provides for loss of gross revenue less any costs the park no longer incurs during any period of downtime resulting from a loss.

“By insuring in this way, the park has access to funds that allow it to continue to meet its fixed costs obligations despite a lack of incoming revenue.”

Lorica advises that cover should also apply to alternative accommodation expenses along with additional expenditure incurred to maintain the business such as overtime, temporary rental on other parks and advertising.

“Fit for purpose cover is an absolute asset to a park,” says Peter. “It is there to maintain profit levels, meet ongoing fixed costs, provide alternative accommodation and assist with recovery.”

He advises: “Park operators are urged to speak to an insurance advisor who understands the sector and is able to offer a tailored solution. Off the shelf commercial policies are unlikely to meet your needs.”

 

Lorica Insurance Brokers
Tel. +44 (0)7827 895671
Email. pheffer@loricainsurance.com
www.loricainsurance.com

Prize Draw Pays Off For Lucky Park Owners

Posted on December 19, 2014

Prize Draw Pays Off For Lucky Park Owners

mower

Compass account executive Paul Willcox (right) congratulates Clive and Lisa Wilson of Swallow Point Holiday Park in Somerset.

Four lucky holiday park owners have taken delivery of brand new ride-on lawnmowers, after being selected as winners of a prize draw organised by Compass Insurance.

Hundreds of park owners and operators entered the competition when they visited the Compass stand at two major caravan shows in the north and south of England last September.

The first four names pulled out of the hat have each been presented with a state-of-the-art Kubota mower. The winners were Julian Hiles from Friary Farm Caravan Park in Norfolk, Elspeth Sutton of Sandgreen Caravan Park in Dumfries, Nicky Colls of Brean Down Caravan Park in Somerset and Clive Wilson of Swallow Point Holiday Park also in Somerset.

Winner Clive Wilson commented: “We take great pride in providing an immaculate and well cared-for environment for our caravan holiday home owners, and this will help us maintain the high standards they expect. “We’re very grateful to Compass, and our new Kubota mower will prove a wonderful asset.”

Adrian Scott, managing director of Compass Insurance added: “We are delighted that these four parks have won the ride-on lawnmowers offered through the Compass Insurance prize draw.

“We wanted to offer some really great prizes – we hope that the parks get years of mowing satisfaction!”

Don’t Take Employment Chance

Posted on November 28, 2014
hire me

Employment claims can arise even where a potential candidate alleges discrimination resulting in them not being chosen for the job.

Don’t Take Employment Chance

We have all seen the publicity surrounding high-profile employment cases and the enormous sums of money awarded by the courts. Yet, how many of us appreciate these types of claims are far closer to home than we realise.

“Even if a claim is groundless or fraudulent, the legal costs can be hugely expensive as can be the loss of time and resources needed to prepare the defence,” advises Peter Heffer of Lorica Insurance who provide a bespoke scheme for holiday park operators.

“In reality, a business has no control over who will raise an allegation against them and you have no control over, nor can you prevent, a disgruntled employee from lying or exaggerating.”

With this in mind, Lorica provides employment insurance protection. Cover is provided against claims made by employees, former employees and potential employees for discrimination, wrongful termination of employment, sexual harassment and other employment related allegations. Cover extends to both the employing company and its directors and officers.

We tend to think of employment claims being made by current employees but equally, claims can arise during the pre-employment phase where a potential candidate alleges discrimination resulting in him/her not being employed. We all hope this will not happen to us but can you afford to take the chance? Do you know where to go for specialist support should this happen to you?

First class employment lawyers are expensive, could you meet these costs? Talk to the Lorica team today to be sure you are prepared and covered for all eventualities.

Lorica Insurance Brokers
Tel. +44 (0)7827 895671
www.loricainsurance.com

 

Don’t Slip Up On That Inevitable Accident

Posted on August 29, 2014
lorica

Talk to Peter Heffer of Lorica Insurance today about their fresh approach to insurance claims.

Don't Slip Up On That Inevitable Accident

Accidents happen. Making the best of them can lead to a happy customer who will come back to your park time and time again.

We asked Peter Heffer of Lorica Insurance Brokers for his insight into how, despite common belief, insurance claims can improve the customer experience.

“All the best efforts in the world won’t stop accidents, it is a fact of life that they can and will happen,” advises Peter. “We can do our best to avoid them but at some point they will occur. Insurance companies accept this fact and make provision within their cash reserves.”

Peter advises: “There is a way to approach claims for injury to third parties (and employees) where the insurer takes a much more proactive stance shortly after the accident has occurred.

“The concept is based around customer care, where the insurer contacts the injured party as soon as reasonably practicable to ask how they are, is there anything they need, would they like someone to arrange various forms of care for them such as physiotherapy and the like.

“Ultimately this early intervention makes the customer feel that they are being treated fairly and they may not bring a formal claim against you, or should they do so then the legal fees are far lower as most of the investigative and medical attention has already been addressed,” adds Peter.

“Some claims won’t even involve a lawyer as the customer has built up a rapport with the insurance company and is happy to work with them.”

Contact Peter today to learn more about Lorica’s fresh approach to insurance matters and how it can benefit your business.

Lorica Insurance Brokers
Tel. 07827 895671
pheffer@loricainsurance.com
www.loricainsurance.com

Insurance Surgery Opens For Holiday Park Operators

Posted on July 3, 2014
lorica

Peter Heffer, of Lorica Insurance, believes it is time to provide the holiday park sector with greater clarity and certainty of cover.

Insurance Surgery Opens For Holiday Park Operators

Feeling as passionately as he does on business insurance cover, Peter Heffer, of Lorica Insurance, believes it is time to provide the holiday park sector with greater clarity and certainty of cover.

A unique ‘insurance surgery’ is being created, in conjunction with Lorica Insurance Brokers, to allow park owners and operators the opportunity to have an expert on hand. The service will launch later this year and will be available to all park owners and operators regardless of whether they are members of any trade association(s).

With over a decade’s worth of sector experience, we asked Peter, Lorica Insurance Brokers’ director of holiday parks, to provide insight into policy exclusions park owners, operators and individual holiday home owners should be alert to when purchasing insurance:

• Anything containing the words ‘warranty’, ‘condition precedent’ or variants thereof

• Other conditions requiring the policyholder to do or not to do something

• Theft of property from the open

• Theft not involving forcible and violent entry to or exit from a building

• Water or frost damage during the winter

• Theft and malicious damage during sub-letting

• Business interruption unless specifically arranged

• Caravans and the like whilst in transit and during siting and un-siting

• Buildings constructed in non-standard materials

• Package travel regulations

Many, if not all, of these exclusions are negotiable in the current climate, yet despite this he continues to see a large amount of inferior insurance products in the marketplace. A simple case of ignorance and complacency over customer need and product evolution, advises Peter, who is available for no obligation advice during normal office hours.