We're happy to introduce a range of new products and enhancements to the Commercial Express offering for our brokers. In the upcoming months, we'll have more exciting updates to share with you. Your feedback matters to us, and we continuously strive to enhance our products and services. Our goal is to provide brokers like you with an exceptional experience. Stay tuned for the next edition of the Underwriter's Newsletter to receive the most up-to-date information from the Commercial Express team. We sincerely appreciate your valued partnership as a broker.

Many of you will most likely already be aware of the news that earlier this year Covéa announced they were pulling out of the delegated authority space and purely focusing on direct market underwriting. This has affected a number of brokers and MGA’s throughout the UK and CE also have a number of schemes with Covéa. For the many strengths that I believe MGA’s have, consistent capacity is a continual problem for this sector, and we need to be agile enough and have good relationships in place to be able to withstand these setbacks.

It is of comfort to me, that CE does have these strong relationships in place, and I am pleased to say that with effect from 24th July this year the below-mentioned seven schemes will move to Ascot.

Catering Trailer, Trailer, Let Secure (RPO scheme), Covéa CPO, Per Capita Covéa, Wages & Turnover Covéa and Commercial Combined (renewal book only).

Ascot represents fantastic capacity and the schemes are all in safe hands. I can confirm that there will be no change to rates or cover and the only real amendment you will see is via the documentation and wordings which will all be amended to Ascot. All changes will be detailed in our renewal letters sent out with every invite.

You may also notice that we have decided to change the name of a few of our Liability schemes. It is a name change only so we can better differentiate the schemes and make clear the different rates, trade appetites and coverage the various schemes offer. We are following along the same lines as our RPO schemes and thus our two Per Capita schemes will be renamed Per Capita Protect and Per Capita Shield, and our two W&T schemes will be renamed Wages & Turnover Protect and Wages & Turnover Shield. You may recognise a theme! I can reassure you that this is purely a name change and no alteration to the existing rates or covers offered.

Tom Bolstridge - Head of Underwriting

We would like to inform you that there have been no alterations to the ratings or referrals regarding Let Shield. However, we have made a noteworthy adjustment to the wording used in Let Shield. The primary objective was to enhance its consumer-friendliness, resulting in modifications to the language, layout, and formatting of the document. It is important to note that no coverage has been removed or altered in any way. In fact, several improvements have been made, including the addition of cover extensions and increased coverage limits. These enhancements are detailed below.

Let Shield Cover Enhancements

Section 1 – Buildings – Extensions

Section 2 – Contents – Extensions

We are pleased to announce a significant update to our Contract Cleaners scheme, specifically regarding the efficient capture of multi-trade information. With this improvement, the question set will be revised to enable brokers to conveniently select all the trades that the insured/proposer undertakes. Subsequently, our system will automatically apply the appropriate trade endorsements and terms based on the highest-rated trade.

In addition, we have made refinements to the trade names, resulting in a more organised and user-friendly display. The revised trade names are listed in the table below:

The objective behind these modifications was twofold: first, to enhance the clarity and presentation of trade names; and second, to reduce unnecessary referrals.

We are happy to announce some favourable developments regarding the Wages & Turnover scheme. The modifications to the question set outlined below have been implemented and are now in effect.

Enhancements to Heat Questions

The Wages & Turnover question set has been upgraded to incorporate the same improvements previously introduced to the Per Capita scheme in 2022. As a result, there will be a notable reduction in referrals.

The following changes have been implemented:

• The heat endorsements (burning and welding condition) and (heat exclusion) will now apply dependent on the answer to the main heat question, as opposed to the trade. So, if you answer Yes to there being heat work, the burning and welding condition will apply. Whereas if you answer No to heat work, then the system will apply the heat work exclusion.
  

• The main heat question has been updated so you don’t need to answer yes, if there is any use of a soldering iron (see below):
  

Is there any application of heat undertaken away from the premises? (use of a soldering iron only is not considered heat work)”

• If the above question is answered yes, then the following sub-question will appear:
  

When undertaking heat work away from the premises do you only use any of the following items of plant: blow lamps, blow torches, flame guns, hot air guns, electric, gas or other welding, cutting or portable grinding equipment? Yes / No

If the answer to this question is NO, then the system will refer for further assessment.

Updates to Haulage Questions

If either of the trades: “Haulage and Drivers of HGVs” or “Drivers of HGVs” is selected, then the following sub-questions will appear :

• Do You transport any UN Classified Dangerous Goods?
  
• Do You transport any gravel, sand, aggregates, agricultural items, machinery, chilled goods, or livestock?
  
• Do You operate at any quarries or any other mining facilities?
  
• Do You use any of the following type(s) of vehicle(s): Tipper Lorry, Digger Lorry, Grab Lorry or Crane Lorry?
  
• Do You drive Road/Fuel Tankers?
  
• Do You transport any goods airside or at any recycling centres?
  
• Do You transport any goods trackside or dockside?
  

These questions are frequently posed by CE underwriters. We believe that capturing detailed risk information from the outset will significantly reduce referral time.

Inclusion of Plant in Isolation

Plant in Isolation will now be available on the Wages &Turnover scheme. To accommodate this the following question will appear prior to the contract works cover questions:

Is cover required for Contractors All Risk? Yes/No

We are delighted to announce that the above trade now benefits from a host of unique selling points.

The “Dog Walking/Pet Sitting” trade under our Wages & Turnover scheme with capacity provided by Ascot has been enhanced to provide wider cover, encompass more trade activities in this area and reduced minimum premiums. Please see below the detailed list of updates:

• Minimum Premium
  
• If PL is selected with no EL then the minimum premium is £40.00 (plus IPT + £30 Fee)
  
• If both PL & EL are selected then the minimum premium is £80.00 (plus IPT + £30 Fee)
  

• Below is a list of clauses that apply
  
• Trade Activities Extension (this extends the trade to include dog grooming, dog boarding and dog training)
  
• Dog Walking Condition (this restricts the number of dogs able to be “walked” at any one time and has conditions around handling)
  
• Dog Groomers Treatment Extension (this extends cover to include some treatments)
  
• Dangerous Dogs Exclusion (excludes cover for dangerous dogs)
  
• Excess Amendment (reduces the standard PL excess to £200)
  
• Damage to Customer’s Keys Extension (this extends cover for loss / damage to customer’s keys - £5,000)
  
• Damage to Customer’s Dogs Extension (this extends cover for loss / damage to customer’s dogs - £5,000 per dog / £50,000 claim and in the aggregation. This includes non-negligent cover as well)
  
• Person(s) Employed Extension – Family (this extends the PL section to provide cover for close family working as “employees”)
  

If you run under Per Capita, you will not see any endorsements etc so ensure you always use Wages and Turnover.

• Clause wording:
  

Trade Activities Extension

The Insured’s trade also includes dog grooming and dog boarding.

Dog Walking Condition

It is a condition precedent to liability that at all times during which any dog walking activities are undertaken

a) the dog shall be kept under physical restraint and (if not adequately tethered or confined) under the control of a competent handler

b) a maximum of five dogs to be walked at any one time

Dog Groomers Treatment Extension

Sections B and C are extended to include legal liability, directly or indirectly resulting from or in consequence of Treatment rendered by any qualified Dog Groomer or Operator.

For the purpose of this extension Treatment shall mean:

Brushing, Shampoo & Blow Dry, Clipping, Hand Stripping, Teeth Cleaning, Ear Cleaning, Nail Clipping and De-shedding.

For the purpose of this extension Qualified Dog Groomer or Operator shall mean:

Any person 18 years or over who has either:

a) More than 3 years of continuous experience in dog grooming and/or

b) A professional dog grooming diploma.

We shall not be liable for any claim arising out of or attributable to:

a) application by the Insured or anyone acting on behalf of the Insured or use upon the Insured(s) advice or anyone acting on the Insured(s) behalf of any lotion or other preparation wholly or partly manufactured, produced, mixed or treated in any way by the Insured or anyone acting on behalf of the Insured

b) Use contrary to the makers or vendors instructions as regards failure to make the prior skin tests before use and/or subsequent procedures required or recommended by them in respect of any lotion hair dye or other preparation

c) Any Treatment carried out by any person other than a Qualified Dog Groomer or Operator except

Dangerous Dogs Exclusion

We shall not be liable for any claim arising out or attributable to all dogs classified as dangerous under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 or any subsequent legislation. This exclusion includes any crossbreeds that include a dangerous breed.

Excess Amendment

The Excess in respect of Public/Products Liability at the Premises and Public Liability (work away) is £200 and not as stated in the Schedule.

Damage to Customer’s Keys Extension

Section B is extended to include legal liability, directly or indirectly resulting from or in consequence of Damage to customer’s keys for premises temporarily occupied by the Insured or any Employee of the Insured whilst undertaking trade activities as noted in the schedule.

This extension will also cover any resulting fees and expenses that are incurred:

a) if there is an error in setting or re-setting any intruder alarms

b) in replacing any keys or locks

c) in putting in place any temporary protections that relate to a) or b) stated above

Liability in respect of this extension is limited to £5,000 any one claim, in the aggregate.

Person(s) Employed Extension – Family

The Person(s) Employed Definition is extended to include family members whilst working for You in connection with the Business.

For the purpose of this extension family members shall mean a:

Grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, grandson, granddaughter, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, wife, husband or civil partner.

This extension only applies to Section B and C of the Policy.

Damage to Customer’s Dogs Extension

Section B is extended to include legal liability, directly or indirectly resulting from or in consequence of Damage or Injury to customer’s dogs whilst in Your care, custody or control or any Person(s) Employed. Cover by this extension includes non-negligent damage or injury.

We shall not be liable for any claim arising out of or attributable to:

a) any activities involving vaccinations or breeding

b) any pre-existing medical conditions, physical defects or disabilities

Liability in respect of this extension is limited to £5,000 any one dog and £50,000 any one claim, in the aggregate.

We would like to inform our broker customers that an important update has been made to the policy wording of Let Protect & Let Assured. Specifically, the previously implemented exclusion regarding portable heaters has now been removed. This modification ensures that our comprehensive coverage extends to all heating devices, offering greater flexibility and convenience to policyholders.

It is worth noting that Let Secure, our trusted insurance product, has always maintained a policy wording that did not include this exclusion. Therefore, Let Secure continues to provide uninterrupted coverage for portable heaters, reflecting our commitment to meeting the needs of our valued clients.

We would like to notify our brokers that Ascot has recently finalised the rates for a substantial £10 million coverage of Public/Products Liability on Shop, with certain restrictions in place. This policy excludes sales of products in North America, manual work performed outside the designated premises, and baking activities that occur overnight or without supervision.

However, it is important to note that any risks beyond the specified criteria will require referral to CE underwriters. They will assess the additional factors and determine the appropriate premium adjustment accordingly.

Commercial Express Quotes Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - 311067.

Commercial Express Quotes Ltd is registered in England and Wales at B1 Custom House, The Waterfront, Level Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 1XH.

Company No. 03862468