The 12 days of Riskmas

Welcome to The 12 Days of Riskmas, our festive (and practical) countdown highlighting some of the most common and costly risks facing UK businesses, alongside simple steps and insurance considerations to help keep operations running smoothly.

From floods and fires to cybercrime and fleet risks, Riskmas is all about helping businesses stay resilient, prepared and protected not just at Christmas, but all year round.

🎶On the first day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… a flood in a property! 🎶

When floodwaters hit your premises, the impact can be costly and disruptive. But there are steps you can take to protect your assets, stay safe and start recovery:

• Floodwater often contains sewage, chemicals and debris. Ensure staff or contractors wear protective clothing, gloves and appropriate masks when entering affected areas.
• Never touch electrical equipment if it’s wet or you’re standing in water. Arrange for a qualified electrician to assess damage before restoring power.
• Begin controlled drying and ventilation as soon as it’s safe. This helps prevent mould, and protects stock and equipment.
• If your premises was evacuated, only return once authorities confirm it’s safe.
• Flooding can contaminate drinking water. If tap water looks, smells or tastes unusual, contact your water supplier and switch to bottled water until it’s declared safe.

🎶 On the second day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… two accidents and a flood in a property! 🎶

Car accidents can happen in seconds but the impact on drivers, vehicles and operations can last much longer. Here’s what to do after an accident to stay safe, informed, and in control:

• Prioritise the safety of drivers, passengers and other road users.
• Even minor accidents may require reporting. Always contact the police if the road is blocked or anyone is injured.
• Take photos, note details and exchange driver and witness information. This supports accurate reporting and faster claims handling.
• Report the incident to your broker or insurer as soon as possible to begin the claims process.

🎶 On the third day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… three burglaries, two accidents and a flood in a property! 🎶

Commercial properties face an increasing risk of break-ins, with criminals now using advanced methods such as cyber-assisted entry tools, smart lock bypass techniques, and AI-driven hacking, making outdated security systems ineffective.

If you want to protect your commercial property (and avoid downtime), here are some simple but effective precautions:

• Ensure only authorised staff can enter restricted areas, and regularly update key codes, passes, or fobs.
• Store laptops, stock, cash, and sensitive documents in locked rooms or secure cabinets, and ensure high-value items aren’t visible from windows.
• Make sure CCTV cameras, alarms and sensors are functioning properly and cover key entry points.
•  Install high-security, anti-pick and anti-drill locks. Use smart locks with multi-factor authentication and reinforce doors and windows.

🎶 On the fourth day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents and a flood in a property! 🎶

Laptop theft is on the rise, and for businesses, it’s about far more than losing a device. Stolen laptops can mean compromised data, lost work, and operational disruptions. Whether you work from an office, café or co-working space, protecting laptops and sensitive business information is critical.

Here’s how businesses can safeguard laptops and data:

• Be vigilant when travelling – airports, transport hubs, and hotels are high-risk locations for laptop theft.
• Never leave your laptop in plain sight (even in a locked car – visible devices can attract thieves).
• Consider avoiding using obvious laptop bags, and instead consider carrying your laptop in a backpack or case to reduce theft risk.
• The loss of data can be far more damaging than the physical device. Ensure files are encrypted and backed up regularly to secure cloud or offline storage.

🎶 On the fifth day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… FIVE CYBERCRIMES, four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents and a flood in a property! 🎶

Cybercrime is a growing threat to businesses of all sizes, and according to the 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey, UK organisations continue to face significant cyber risks:

43% of businesses experienced a cyber-breach or attack in the past 12 months. Phishing attacks are the most prevalent and disruptive method, responsible for breaches in 85% of affected businesses.

To help protect your business, consider adopting these essential cyber hygiene practices:

• Use complex, unique passwords for all systems and accounts, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of verification for logins to reduce unauthorised access.
• Ensure regular data backups are completed and store backups securely offline or in a protected cloud environment to ensure business continuity.
• Keep antivirus, firewalls, and endpoint protection systems current.
• Educate employees to recognise phishing emails, suspicious links, and other common cyber threats.

When everything’s digital, everyone’s vulnerable.

🎶 On the sixth day of Riskmas, my business gave to me…six patents pending, FIVE CYBERCRIMES, four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents and a flood in a property!🎶

Intellectual Property (IP) insurance does two crucial things:

1. It helps you defend yourself if another business accuses you of stealing their idea.
   2. It covers the cost of pursuing other businesses that may have copied your idea.

IP disputes can lead to injunctions that stop product sales, and without insurance, that kind of disruption can be devastating, particularly for startups or businesses launching new product lines.

So how does Intellectual Property Insurance help protect your business?

• Defence against infringement claims – legal costs to defend yourself if someone alleges that you’ve infringed a patent, trade mark or copyright.
• Enforcement of your own IP rights – legal costs to pursue or challenge unauthorised use of your intellectual property.
• Contract dispute protection – legal defence costs (and sums awarded) if your customer or supplier is affected by a challenge to your Intellectual Property Rights.

While registering a patent, design or trade mark may alert people to the fact that your idea exists, it’s IP insurance that sends a strong message that you can afford to protect it.

🎶On the seventh day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… seven fires-a-burning, six patents pending, FIVE CYBERCRIMES, four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents and a flood in a property!🎶

Workplace fires continue to be one of the most serious risks for UK businesses, with thousands of commercial fires reported each year, often resulting in financial losses, business disruption, and even loss of life. Many fire related incidents can be prevented through awareness and regular maintenance, so it’s essential to put procedures in place to reduce the risk to your property, people and livelihood.

Here’s our top 5 tips to keep your property and people safe:

• Maintain electrical systems – Inspect wiring, outlets, and appliances regularly to prevent faults that could spark a fire.
• Control ignition sources – Keep heaters, open flames, and any heat-generating equipment away from flammable materials. Clearly mark smoking areas, provide proper disposal bins, and reinforce no-smoking policies across your premises.
• Manage combustible materials – Store paper, packaging, chemicals, and waste safely, and remove rubbish regularly.
• Install and maintain fire safety systems – Smoke alarms, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers must be tested and easily accessible.
• Stay compliant – Every UK workplace must appoint a ‘responsible person’ to manage fire safety and ensure compliance. This includes regular risk assessments, staff training, and equipment maintenance. Ensure everyone knows the evacuation procedure, and how to respond in an emergency.

Proactively managing these hazards is key to preventing fires before they start.

🎶 On the eighth day of Riskmas, my business gave to me…eight mergers merging, seven fires-a-burning, six patents pending, FIVE CYBERCRIMES, four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents and a flood in a property! 🎶

Did you know, you may be more at risk after you’ve sold your business than when you were running it? That’s because when you sell all or part of a business, you are personally liable for any accidental breaches or misrepresentation about the business you’ve sold for up to seven years after the sale.

So, what if you could float off into the sunset and not have to worry about being sued? That’s where SME mergers and acquisitions insurance comes in, available for business transactions between £250k and £20million.

Here’s how SME mergers and acquisitions insurance can protect you:

• Reassurance for uneasy buyers – M&A insurance gives your buyer comfort and confidence that cover is in place for any innocent mistakes, which can help the sale of your business go through smoothly.
• Accidental breach of warranties – cover for financial loss or liability following a breach of a warranty in the Sale and Purchase Agreement.🎄 Defence costs – cover to defend yourself if accused of accidental misrepresentation or inaccuracy
• Claims paid direct to buyer – you can add your buyer as a ‘loss payee’, which means any settled claims are paid directly to your buyer.

🎶 On the ninth day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… nine fraudsters frauding, eight mergers merging, seven fires-a-burning, six patents pending, FIVE CYBERCRIMES, four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents, and a flood in a property! 🎶

From employee dishonesty to social engineering scams, crime costs businesses more than money, it disrupts operations, damages reputations and erodes trust fast. PwC’s 2024 Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey reports procurement fraud (non-existent suppliers, fictitious invoices and diverted payments) ranks among the top three most disruptive economic crimes worldwide, alongside cybercrime and corruption.

Fraud can happen right under your nose, so an ‘all risks’ crime insurance policy is essential for protecting your business against theft, fraud, and dishonest activity. And alongside the right cover, there are several ways businesses can minimise the risk of employee fraud:

• Vet candidates and suppliers thoroughly: double-check references, employment history, and background checks.
• Separate financial responsibilities to prevent any one person from having too much control or access to sensitive information.
• Conduct regular audits and account reconciliations to spot discrepancies early.

And don’t forget reputational damage cover, because protecting your brand is just as important as protecting your balance sheet.

🎶 On the tenth day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… ten builders building, nine fraudsters frauding, eight mergers merging, seven fires‑a‑burning, six patents pending, FIVE CYBERCRIMES, four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents and a flood in a property! 🎶

A bespoke Contractors Combined policy provides financial protection against the unexpected losses and liabilities that can arise during construction projects, because even the most careful contractors can encounter serious risks.

HSE data shows that the construction sector recorded 51 worker fatalities in 2023‑24, making it one of the most dangerous industries for workplace deaths. To protect your team and your business, ensure you comply with health and safety laws and maintain adequate Employers’ Liability Insurance in case employees are injured on the job and pursue a claim.

To prevent injuries, employers should consider adopting the following safety processes:

• Real-time injury reporting: Modern construction is fast and complex. Digital reporting replaces slow paper-based processes and helps protect workers more effectively.
• Identifying recurring hazards: Technology-based systems highlight trends and patterns, enabling businesses to act on risks sooner.
• Continuous risk assessments: Spot potential hazards before they cause injuries, helping improve worker safety and regulatory compliance.

Combining robust insurance cover with proactive safety systems leads to safer sites, safer workers, and greater peace of mind.

🎶On the eleventh day of Riskmas, my business gave to me…eleven phishers phishing, ten builders building, nine fraudsters frauding, eight mergers merging, seven fires a-burning, six patents pending, FIVE CYBERCRIMES, four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents… and a flood in a property! 🎶

Cybercrime often feels like someone else’s problem, until it disrupts your business.

UK businesses of every size and sector are being urged to strengthen their cyber defences as nationally significant incidents now average four per week, according to the National Cyber Security Centre. And phishing remains one of the most common (and most disruptive) forms of cybercrime, with 93% of businesses that suffered a cyber incident targeted by phishing attacks (Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025).

What many businesses may not realise:

• Phishing is among the most claimed for cybercrimes, yet a standard cyber insurance policy may not cover you. A Cybercrime extension can be added to a standard cyber policy, offering additional protection against fraudulent electronic invoicing, fraudulent electronic funds transfers, and fraudulent emails (phishing).
• Cyber insurance is no longer a passive safety net, it’s an active partner in prevention helping you strengthen defences and reduce risk. Delivering value long before a breach occurs, it can equip your business with a range of proactive tools including network vulnerability scans and dark web monitoring.
• Humans are the weakest link – most cyber incidents stem from human error. Regular staff training, mock phishing tests, and awareness of news-jacking scams can significantly reduce risk.
• AI is raising the stakes – cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to analyse social media, websites, and public records helping to create highly personalised phishing emails that are far harder to spot.

This Riskmas, give your business the gift of resilience. Review your cyber policy and ensure you’re protected against the threats that matter most.

🎶 On the twelfth day of Riskmas, my business gave to me… twelve drivers driving, eleven phishers phishing, ten builders building, nine fraudsters frauding, eight mergers merging, seven fires-a-burning, six patents pending, FIVE CYBERCRIMES, four laptop thefts, three burglaries, two accidents… and a flood in a property!🎶

Even Santa knows the importance of a well-managed fleet.

With one sleigh, nine reindeer, and a tight delivery schedule, he can’t afford breakdowns or accidents, and neither can your business. Whether you run a couple of company cars or a full fleet of HGVs, vehicles off the road mean lost time, disrupted operations, and rising costs. That’s where a Fleet Insurance policy comes in:

• Covers all your vehicles under one policy
• Reduces downtime with efficient claims handling
• Supports safer driving through risk management tools

As winter sets in, risks like heavy rain, snow, and ice increase. Keep your fleet safe this winter, follow National Highways ‘T.R.I.P’ advice and remind drivers to:

T – Top up: fuel, battery, charge, oil and screen-wash
R – Rest: plan a rest stop every 2 hours
I – Inspect: tyre pressure and tread
P – Prepare: for weather conditions, plan routes, and carry essentials.

The right cover and safe driving practices keep your vehicles (and your business) moving. And in Santa’s case, delivering presents right on time. 🎁

🎄And that wraps up our 12 Days of Riskmas! From flooding to fleet, we hope our festive tips help keep your business protected, and your operations running smoothly.🎄

From flooding to fleet, Riskmas highlights one simple truth: risks may be unavoidable, but being unprepared isn’t.

We’re always happy to help, so don’t hesitate to call or email