Backchat: May 2025

Flying start to fundraising

Technology and consultancy business Bridgetech Group aims to take its fundraising efforts to new heights this year, as seven of its employees prepare to take part in a 15,000 foot skydive for anti knife crime charity Charlie’s Promise.

Scheduled for 26 July 2025, the planned skydive aims to raise £10,000 for the UK-based charity, which was established by Martin Cosser after the death of his 17-year-old son, Charlie, who was fatally stabbed in 2023.

Cosser, his daughter Eloise and Charlie’s best friend, Will, are also set to join Bridgetech Group staff to participate in the skydive.

Charlie’s Promise was the event charity at 2024’s Insurance Times Awards.

Loss adjusters that lunch

On 11 April 2025, the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (Cila) held its annual President’s Lunch – this year held at London’s InterContinental Park Lane and hosted by current president Adam Humphrey. He assumed this role in September 2024, succeeding Steven Wallace, managing director of Europe, Middle East and Africa at McLarens.

Representing Insurance Times at the lunchtime gathering was editor Katie Scott, who enjoyed a three course meal with industry contacts. The after dinner speaker was British comedian and actor Marcus Brigstocke, who had the audience in stitches.

Motor marvels

Formula One fanatic and supercar lover James Cowen, news editor at Insurance Times, was thrilled to join car and motor broker Footman James on 24 April 2024 for a day at Chippenham’s Castle Combe Circuit.

Cowen had the opportunity to check out and even ride in some of the vehicles due to make an appearance at the upcoming two-day Masters of Motoring event – including rally cars and a Ferrari 296 GTB – scheduled to take place on 7 and 8 June 2025.

Oh deer!

Although many across the market are pleased to see winter’s colder weather and darker skies transform into springtime sunshine, insurer Zurich has flagged that this seasonal change also poses a rising claims risk thanks to deer fawning or birthing season in the UK, which typically takes place between April and July.

Zurich UK’s internal claims data noted a 45% uptick in the number of claims concerning vehicles colliding with deer, with costs across 63 of these claims made between April and May 2024 amounting to £4,317.24 – compared to £2,682.98 across 26 claims made over the same months in 2019.

James Nicholson, chief claims officer at Zurich UK, said: ”Deer vehicle collisions are more prevalent during this time, when the fawn is left in long grass for protection while the mother forages, wandering into oncoming traffic.”