Penny Black's Social World - 28 January 2016

The Big Picture
Graham High, pictured centre, of The Graham High Group, won Insurance Technician of the Year at the British Damage Management Association Awards held in November 2015.

The award finalists gained the highest overall marks of those taking the BDMA examination up to 30 September 2015. Based on the individual who showed the greatest understanding of damage management, High was the winner.

Pictured with High are BDMA executive committee member Damian Cross (left) and awards host and former Formula 1 racing driver Perry McArthy.



Fresh from Facebook
Insurance specialist Caravan Guard has celebrated raising £12,575 in 2015 through its paperless policies initiative with a Healthy Heart day, for national charity Heart Research UK.

Staff served fruit smoothies, had heart checks, wrote their healthy heart pledges for 2016 and took part in a physical challenge, Plankity Plank.

Managing director Ryan Wilby heaped praise on staff and customers for continuing to raise money for the Yorkshire-based charity, to help fund its ground-breaking projects and research across the UK.

“This is the biggest cheque we have written yet for Heart Research and I’m delighted that our customers have helped us to raise so much money by choosing to have their policy documents emailed.”

Heart Research UK national director, Barbara Harpham, said: “As Yorkshire’s national heart charity we’re really proud that this Yorkshire company has now raised nearly £50,000 to help hearts on their own doorstep. We will use what they have raised to fund pioneering medical research and to help people to live healthier, happier and longer lives. It’s a great milestone to celebrate.”

Big debate
Are ABS’s falling out of favour? The importance of insurers finding the right legal partner to enter into alternative business structure arrangements with has been highlighted by experts, after four such entities recently either changed partners or entered into run-off. LV, the latest insurer to establish a legal services business, opted for a different arrangement than a typical ABS partnering with Lyons Davidson on an independent advice service. Do you think offerings similar to the LV/Lyons Davidson partnership will prove more popular than ABS’s in the future?

Katie Marriner, senior reporter, Post
Have your say at bit.ly/PostLinkedIn

Tweet of the week

Insurance will be one of the areas most affected by FinTech: Tom de Swaan, Chairman and Group CEO, Zurich Insurance Group #wef

— World Economic Forum (@Davos) January 20, 2016