The Macbeth Team

Macbeth Director makes CII Young Achiever shortlist

12/03/2011 in The Macbeth Team

It was announced this week that Ben Butler, Operations Director at Macbeth Chartered Insurance Brokers has been shortlisted to the final three of the prestigious Reading & Oxford Chartered Insurance Institute’s Young Achiever of the year award.

Ben is a product of Macbeth’s acclaimed trainee development programme, joining the ambitious firm at the age of 16. His dedication, talent, and knowledge has surpassed our own expectations and he is now a true driving force behind our recent growth and success.

Paul Macbeth, Managing Director commented; “Ben is an outstanding individual and a very talented businessman. We are incredibly proud of his achievements to date and he would be a truly worthy winner of this prestigious award which rewards the finest young talent throughout Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the M4 corridor. We remain the only Chartered Insurance Broker in Reading and are committed to improving professional standards within our industry. Ben is a fantastic example of what our company represents.”

David Mann joins the Macbeth Team

21/09/2010 in The Macbeth Team

Reading based Macbeth Chartered Insurance Brokers (MCIB) have announced the appointment of David Mann as senior client manager.

Prior to joining MCIB, David was commercial account handler at Jelf Group. He has 25 years experience in the insurance sector having also worked for Axa as a motor fleet underwriter, and for BJP and AON in commercial account handling roles.

Paul Macbeth, Managing Director of MCIB said, “This is a terrific appointment for us as David brings a wealth of experience and expertise with him.

“He will be an important asset to our business as we strive to become recognised as the specialist insurance broker for both wealthy individuals and commercial organisations in Berkshire and surrounding counties, including the M4 and M3 corridors, and London.

“MCIB prides itself on providing a very high level of service to our clients and providing them with suitable professional advice on their insurance needs – underlined by our Chartered status.”

Mann said, “MCIB is a professional modern business with a fresh approach to insurance that offers experience, integrity and an extremely high level of personal customer service, and I look forward to being part of that team.

Higher profile for Reading’s Macbeth

22/03/2010 in The Macbeth Team

Macbeth Chartered Insurance Brokers has hired specialist agency Concise PR to handle its public relations activities.

Reading’s only Chartered firm, Macbeth, specialises in insurance for wealthy individuals and commercial organisations, and is looking to expand further throughout the Thames Valley and London areas.

Macbeth’s Managing Director, Paul Macbeth said: “Concise specialise in the insurance and financial services sector and we look forward to working closely with them to raise Macbeth’s profile as a provider of modern and professional insurance solutions which are tailored to each client’s requirements.”

Tips for businesses in the run-up to Christmas

18/11/2009 in Office Insurance, Professional Indemnity Insurance, The Macbeth Team

Businesses should be aware of the additional risks they face in the run-up to Christmas. Why not follow these top tips:

■ Make sure your sums insured are adequate for increased stock
■ Don’t block intruder alarms, sprinkler systems or fire exits with piles of Christmas stock
■ Make sure you have alarms, sprinklers or other security equipment in good working order particularly if you are closing premises for any period over the Christmas holidays
■ If you’re taking on additional staff, carry out thorough background checks and provide adequate training
■ Consider extra security to protect your staff against drunken behaviour and prevent theft
■ Regularly remove cash from tills during the working day and place takings within a safe (preferably with a time delay) – this will reduce the amount of cash stolen should a hold-up attack occur
■ If large amounts of cash need to be banked or collected on a regular basis, then the safest method is to employ a recognised cash carrying company
■ Be aware of how much money your policy will cover while on site, off site and during transit

Macbeth Chartered Insurance Brokers are business insurance specialists. Based in Reading, we have particular specialist knowledge in Property insurance, Business combined insurance, Liability insurance, Professional Indemnity insurance, Cyber Liability insurance and Motor Fleet insurance. For further information call Tony Gibbs on 0118 9452 944.

Macbeth in the Daily Mail

24/09/2009 in Insurance Industry News, The Macbeth Team

We are delighted that the Daily Mail recognised Macbeth as an expert in insuring wealthy individuals in a recent article titled “It’s expensive to repair a listed property…so don’t scrimp on cover” Read on for details!

Living in a listed property may seem like a dream, but while the appeal of a beautiful and historic home is obvious, the hidden costs are not. There are more than 500,000 listed properties in the UK and specialist insurers are warning that many owners of period and listed homes are unknowingly underinsured.

The cost of rebuilding and repairing damage is high because the character of the property has to be maintained. This usually means finding specific and often rare materials, along with skilled craftsmen and builders. With the arts of thatching, stone masonry and glazing dying out, even repairing a small amount of damage can be expensive.

NFU Mutual, which offers specialist valuations and buildings insurance for listed homes, says detailed and regular valuations by surveyors who understand listed buildings are essential. It recommends they are done at least every five years.

Retired GP Jeremy Barnes, 72, from Ashleworth, Gloucestershire, and his wife, Mary, 70, a retired magistrate, are the owners of a Grade II-listed farmhouse
Finding the right insurer is also important. Tracey Warren at the Listed Property Owners Club says owners of listed buildings should not rely on insurance from mainstream providers.

‘Homeowners who just go onto comparison websites or buy basic cover online usually won’t be asked if their property is listed and this can be dangerous,’ he says.

‘Ordinary insurance policies will miss the fact that the rebuild cost of a listed building can be substantially higher than the value of the property. We’ve seen terrible cases of underinsurance where a High Street insurer has refused to pay up because it says it was the owner’s responsibility to inform them the property was listed.

‘We recommend owners of listed properties seek specialist valuation and insurance advice from a broker.’

Always check reinstatement or rebuild cover against the property valuation on your policy. English Heritage, the charity that protects and promotes historic buildings, can insist that you use like-for-like methods and materials to rebuild a listed property. These will usually be more expensive than the modern equivalents.

If you are thinking about buying a listed property check that any alterations have been approved.

Warren says: ‘Buyers can find themselves liable for costs of returning the property to its original state if it is found that the alterations did not have official approval or are detrimental to the fabric of the building.’

A number of insurers – such as Adrian Flux, Aviva, Ecclesiastical and Norwich & Peterborough Building Society – cover listed properties, although for homes with thatched roofs there is a smaller selection. Many insurers who specialise in wealthy clients, such as Hiscox and Macbeth, will also cover period homes.

If you would like to discuss your high value home insurance further, please contact Paul Macbeth ACII (Managing Director) on 0118 9452 944 or paul.macbeth@macbeths.co.uk.
Macbeth are Chartered Insurance Brokers based in Reading with a premier client division dedicated to providing advice and insurance solutions to wealthy individuals. Our area’s of expertise include high value homes, fine art and antiques, valuables, second homes and overseas homes and high value cars.