In Brief

SGRS launches recovery centre

It and business service provider Sema Group (SGRS) has joined forces with PC vendor Elonex to launch a business recovery centre in Cumbernauld, Scotland. The 65,000 sq ft centre has been designed to meet business continuity requirements for companies in every sector.SGRS managing director John Kersley said: “Our clients know that, in the event of a crisis, they will always be able to run their operations at the Cumbernauld recovery centre at performance levels equal to those that they are used to in their own offices.”

Brokers can try PolicyGen free

Broker trade body IIB and technology group The Research Department, have linked up to offer a free 30-day trial of insurance policy comparison system PolicyGen. The system graphically demonstrates the difference between products, allowing consumers to make comparisons between the various insurance policies they are being offered. Brokers can take advantage of the offer either by responding to IIB literature, or logging on to www.policygen.com.

Cover for boy racers

MOTORING assistance cover is now available to UK Ferrari and Maserati drivers from Europ Assistance. The cover includes access to 24-hour assistance and a national network of approved garages.

Online shop for teachers

EAGLE Star, the UK's third largest direct insurer, has launched an online shop for teachers called www.justforteachers.co.uk The site, which has an email facility, up-to-date information on teaching issues and an online chat staff room, offers teachers a 15% discount on its travel, motor and household products.The package is the first in a series of websites planned by Eagle Star, part of the Zurich Financial Services Group, whose 2000 internet budget is £625m.

PI on net is hit with law firms

Firstcity has received nearly 500 responses from law firms for its new online insurance service.The Lloyd's insurance broker is the only online insurance broker to offer PI insurance to the legal sector. Its service is set to go live at the end of July.

Underwriter builds teams

New insurer The Underwriter this week recruited two general liability underwriting teams from its recently acquired rival, Chartwell. As part of The Underwriter's recruitment, the insurer retains renewal rights over Chartwell's £20m general liability book. Last month, Chartwell was taken over by Hiscox in a £500,000 deal. The Underwriter's two new underwriting teams are based in Glasgow and Leeds.

CII opens up in Edinburgh

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) officially opened its Edinburgh office this week The office will act as a permanent base from which the institute will promote its products and services
to companies in the Scottish market. Shona Downie is heading up the team.

PYV updates lawyers on PI

Broker PYV has launched a service providing updated professional indemnity quotes for solicitors.
Premiums quoted are rated according to the firm size and claims history for ease of comparison. The development of the service reflects PYV's intention of becoming a leading source of advice on the solicitor PI market when the Solicitors' Indemnity Fund loses its monopoly on September 1. The site can be found at www.pyv.co.uk.

Miller Fischer profits warning

Miller Fischer has issued its second profits warning of the year, following the publication of preliminary results for 1999. The insurance group anticipates it will record a loss for the first six months of this year, and predicts that profits for the year to December 31 2000 will be significantly lower than the corresponding period last year. The group also revealed it is closing its Sevenoaks branch and is offering to relocate 20 staff to north London because the building's lease is running out.
“It is a strategic change in business practice to consolidate into larger centres,” commented group managing director Stephen Pyatt of the move.

Premium Credit set for flotation

Insurance Times understands Premium Credit may be about to float on the stock market.The premium finance company refuses to be drawn on the speculation, nor will HSBC, which has a 20% stake in the business.

Laird Group claims £40m

LOSS adjuster Crawford and Company has settled a £40m claim with car manufacturer the Laird Group. The Laird Group made the claim after half its plant at Viersen, near Dusseldorf, Germany, was destroyed by a fire in 1998. The insurer was Royal & SunAlliance.

Online access has doubled

ABOUT 6.5m UK households now have access to the internet from a home PC, according to new figures for the first three months of 2000, published by the Office of National Statistics.This represents 25% of households – a figure which has doubled over the past year.

Smokers win damages

FLORIDA smokers have claimed damages of up to $196bn (£130bn) from tobacco firms. A Miami jury is dealing with the case involving five tobacco firms which were found guilty of knowingly selling products that caused illness to users last year. Three smokers in the case have already been awarded $12.7m.