What Happens When the Builders Have Gone..?

It has been a tough time to be involved in the insurance industry in the Yorkshire area over the last few weeks, but amazingly worthwhile. The sense of worth from dealing with clients at this time has truly given me a new perspective as to how fantastic the industry is and how valuable a contribution it makes.

Its at this time following the floods in the North of England, particularly in Calderdale and other parts of Yorkshire (where our clients have been impacted the most), that someone look forward and plan very quickly as to what to do next.

There is so much focus on what we need to to to prevent a re-occurrence of the floods, which is obviously essential if these areas are to thrive as villages towns and areas of commerce. But in the more immediate future what happens next?

What happens when the builders have gone?…  When the repairs are done?…And most importantly…. When the insurance companies stop paying business interruption claims for affected businesses? The towns will still lack customers and trade and potentially residents, until their homes are restored.

It must be the primary responsibility of the Councillors, MPs, local authorities, tourist boards and central government to immediately start planning on ensuring that the necessary promotion of market towns like Hebden Bridge, Kendal and others who rely on visitors, is ready to roll into action. If the floods of the winter impact on the essential summer trade of these towns, the impact of the these floods will remain a spectre for months and years to come.

I’m proud of the industry I work in, I’m proud of our teams response to this crisis, I’m also proud of the work that lies before us in helping bring businesses back to life following these disastrous floods. I only hope that those organisations that we all rely on can ensure that they do not forget what happens immediately next… a coordinated and planned response is needed so we can ensure that these parts of our country do not suffer longer than they have to.

Neil Grimshaw BA (Hons) FCII Chartered Insurance Broker

Notes for editors – Neil Grimshaw is Founding Director of Ravenhall Risk Solutions Ltd a Chartered Insurance Brokers based in Leeds and Belfast. Neil is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Insurance Broker.

Press contacts 0845 2163000