Barking mad pet claims, news of an upcoming nuptial, Square Mile stunt doubles and an afternoon at the races. What has the insurance industry been up to of late? You heard it here first…
Pet pandemonium
Pet insurance brand Waggel has reviewed its internal claims data for 2025, to share the most barking mad claims it has encountered and pinpoint accident prone dog breeds that owners need to keep a tighter leash on.
Reported claims include a labrador that ate a watering can, a French bulldog that consumed a bottle of Champagne – glass and all – and a cocker spaniel that ran off a cliff while chasing a seagull. Two dachshunds, meanwhile, drank their owner’s matcha latte, while another cocker spaniel ate its pet parents’ wedding cake the night before the ceremony.
Waggel identified cocker spaniels as the most accident prone dogs, accounting for 10% of dog accident claims so far this year.
Breaking nuptial news
Insurance Times would like to congratulate news editor James Cowen on the occasion of his wedding day this month (7 September 2025), to his lovely fiancée Miri.
The entire Insurance Times team wish the new Mr and Mrs Cowen all the best on this next era of their relationship – although we are keen to see how well Cowen’s requests to watch the Italian Grand Prix post-ceremony will go down with his new bride…
Lights, camera, action
Lloyd’s insurer MS Amlin is striving to prove that a career in insurance is anything but dull by appointing four professional Hollywood stunt doubles to step in for its Square Mile underwriters and feature in a newly released (September 2025) short film, entitled Stunts.
The film shows the underwriters’ stunt doubles throwing themselves off buildings, leaping through windows and setting themselves alight. It hopes to demonstrate that underwriters and stunt doubles have more in common around managing risk than might be expected.
Andrew Carrier, chief executive at MS Amlin, explained the thinking behind the film: ”While underwriters and stunt performers might seem worlds apart, both are experts in planning for the unpredictable and managing extreme risks.
”For stunt people, this skill results in movie magic and for our people, it provides invaluable peace of mind for businesses worldwide.
“By pairing the two professions, we hope to shine a light on the industry’s often hidden risk expertise and show future talent that a career in insurance is anything but ordinary.”
GG glamour
Insurance Times was hot to trot over the summer, with reporter Harriet Scott joining E2E Total Loss Vehicle Management at Ascot Racecourse’s King George Day on 26 July 2025.
Alongside the firm’s head of business development, Mia Constable, Scott enjoyed watching a collection of Europe’s middle distance race horses compete in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – a group one flat horse race open to horses aged three years or older.
An enjoyable day was had by all attendees.
Foodie finds
Ever wondered where to take colleagues, peers or business connections for a lunch time two courses, or an after work meal? Insurance Times rounds up some of the spots it has enjoyed with market firms recently…
- A stone’s throw from Liverpool Street train station, Insurance Times editorial staff caught up with members of the press team from insurer Axa at The Ivy City Garden, luxuriating with three course dining. Highlights include truffle flavoured arancini balls, The Ivy’s steak specialty and a very impressive chocolate dome dessert, which was unveiled from underneath a fog filled cloche.
- If looking for a breakfast venue, check out Paradise Green, situated on Lloyd’s of London’s doorstep, where editor Katie Scott caught up with Robert Gerrard broker Ellie Jackson. The banana bread sandwich and Victoria sponge like pancakes ensured the duo basically had cake for brekkie.
- Fans of Argentinian cuisine would very much enjoy a meal at Bife, which has a branch in
the Square Mile’s Middlesex Street. Insurance Times met broker Verlingue UK for steak, chips and cheesecake.
- With one-third of Certus Communications having a chef in the family, this means restaurant recommendations are rife – Farringdon’s Cloth certainly did not disappoint, as Insurance Times met with the public relation experts for lunch and wine.
During her tenure so far, she has taken home prizes such as Best Trade Award and Publication of the Year from Biba’s annual Journalist and Media Awards, been annually shortlisted in the General Insurance Journalist of the Year (B2B) category at Headlinemoney’s yearly awards event, as well as received numerous highly commended prizes in the Insurance and Risk Features Journalist of the Year category at WTW’s annual Media Awards.View full Profile
No comments yet