Commercial

Time to stop the long-term training rot

Where underwriting is concerned, insurance companies have traditionally focused on getting the job done, rather than long-term investment in employees' skills. Trevor Smith believes training and development is vital for the sector's future - as well as…

Appointment at NIG

NIG has made some new appointments. Chris Reynolds is being promoted to special risks manager, warran...

The state of America

The US market is struggling to right itself, following the turmoil of last year's terrorist attacks. Industry opinion is divided over whether the current hard market is part of a cycle or not. Gordon Feller investigates past trends to try and shed light…

Running smoothly

Keyman cover saw a huge, if brief, surge after the 11 September attacks. While all companies are greater than the sum of their parts, this insurance is now more widely accepted as essential to keep them running smoothly if a vital member of staff is out…

Making a brand stand

Do insurers - especially those that mainly distribute their products through brokers - really need to have a recognised brand? Yes, is the emphatic finding of new research, as Michael Payne explains.