In Brief

Eastgate opens online service
Insurance service provider Eastgate Group has launched its new internet site, which can be found at www.eastgate-group.com The site will contain information on Eastgate's range of products and services, its different business areas, as well as press releases and case studies.

Charitable sum
Iindependent Insurance staff broke the £100,000 barrier in their charity fundraising last year. BBC TV charity Children in Need was the main beneficiary, receiving £60,000, with the remainder being shared among other children's charities.

New products focus at Tyser
Lloyd's broker Tyser has formed a new division as part of its marine insurance and reinsurance broking business. It will specialise in developing new products within the marine and ancillary areas, as well as continuing to provide traditional cover for clients. The new division will be headed by Lew Channing, who was previously managing director of Lambert Fenchurch Marine.

Francis keeps tabs on press
ABI director general Mary Francis is to join the Appointments Commission of the Press Complaints Commission. The body was set up to ensure that PCC members are appointed independently of the press. Francis joined the ABI in July last year. Before that she was assistance private secretary and deputy private secretary to the Queen.

More room at Harrogate HQ
The Broker Network is to create an underwriting room at its headquarters in Harrogate following research into brokers' requirements. The room will initially comprise of representatives from AXA Insurance, Avon and Hiscox. Additional carriers are currently in discussion with the network.

RoSPA reaps just rewards
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is celebrating a double success in a charity awards scheme after winning both the "strategic leadership" and "exceeding customer expectations" categories of the 1999 Best Practices Benchmarking and Awards programme. The society also finished runner-up in the "motivating and retaining employees" section of the scheme.

Skandia sets sights on UK
Scandinavia's biggest insurer Skandia P&C has changed its name to P&C Insurance and opened a new office in London's Lime Street. Formed from a merger of Skandia of Sweden, Storebrand of Norway and Pohjola of Finland – P&C has 20% of the Nordic market with a premium income of £1.5bn. It intends to target, via brokers, new business in the UK paper and freight industries.

Masterplan strike new deal
Masterplan, the marketing arm of software house Policy Master, has agreed a deal to market the products of accident management and claims assistance company, Accidentcare. Under the deal, PM will promote Accidentcare's Gold service to its 650 brokers. The software company will also integrate the service into its broker administration systems.

Reel action
The Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) has launched a video for its staff explaining its commitment towards social responsibility. The video includes segments on customer expectations and service levels, as well as interaction between CIS and its employees.

One-stop shop
One of Highway Insurance's premier approved crash repair facilities, GB Flint Coachworks, has opened a new £1m facility in Nottinghamshire. Highway underwriter Quin Lovis said: "This crash repair bodyshop is one of the best in the country. GB Flint is able to do everything in one place, cutting out the middleman to save time and money."

Supreme ruler
King & Co International have re-branded their European operations as King Sturge, with a view to establishing a single unified brand for the company throughout Europe. Peter Walsh, partner responsible for continental Europe, said: "Our European clients will recognise that each individual office is an integral part of the King Sturge international business – to their benefit, particularly if their businesses trade in several European countries."

Woolf revisited
Law firm Morgan Cole has unveiled a series of hard-hitting seminars for brokers to celebrate the first anniversary of the Woolf civil justice reforms. The seminars, led by insurance division director Iain Tenquist, will examine how the reforms have affected the insurance industry. They kick off at London's Law Society Hall on Wednesday April 26, before moving on to Cheltenham and Southampton in May.