It can reasonably be declared that people are the reason your business will succeed. You need customers to spend money with you and strike up trade relationships with you no matter what you’re doing. Even if you have some form of remote work, there will be some human-driven angle to what your doing.

Unfortunately, people are also probably your biggest risk when it comes to business.

A force of nature

There are certainties in this life that we are all aware of. There are the oft-quoted death and taxes, but there is also the certainty of stupidity. Even if people are not themselves stupid by nature, you can guarantee that otherwise perfectly normal individuals will from time to time do stupid things.

This does indeed apply to everyone. This applies to those super-smooth people-savvy business owners, this applies to, dare I say it, yourself and it most definitely applies to me. We all have bad days. Unfortunately, somebody having a bad day in the wrong place can be devastating if that wrong place happens to be your place of business.

There are all manner of things that you need to be on the look out for as a business owner and several things that you need to be constantly on your toes about. You can plan for most of them, but you can never really plan for someone being an idiot on your property and injuring themselves.

Blame culture

If a member of the public trips, slips or falls, or even has something trip slip or fall onto them, if it’s on your property, it is likely to be your responsibility and could easily end up in a lawsuit. A public liability lawsuit of this kind can get wildly expensive if you are found to be in the wrong and has the potential to set you back millions.

Many will bemoan the fact that they don’t believe people are careful enough and that they should take more responsibility for their personal safety. In many cases this is absolutely fair, but sometimes it isn’t. Some places of business are indeed un-sprung fully baited man-traps waiting for hapless customers to try and reach that one particularly juicy morsel placed atop an eight-foot-tall rickety shelf.  Other times however people will just fall and blame you for having steps that aren’t clearly sign posted, marked in yellow and black tape and emitting a frequent warning klaxon.

You might not be exposed to third parties on your site that often. If you run an office that very rarely receives visitors, you are definitely less susceptible to people having bad days, but if on the other hand you run a busy shop, then it’s not a matter of if but more a matter of when someone is going to hurt themselves. No matter where you work, if you trade for long enough, something like this will happen eventually.

Good housekeeping

You can definitely mitigate the risk of people injuring themselves on your property. You can ensure that everything is always stowed away properly, you can make sure that floors are regularly mopped clean and dried before anyone enters the premises and you can make sure you clearly signpost anything remotely approaching hazardous.

Unfortunately, the misplaced ingenuity of some people means they will still find a way to critically injure themselves. With your efforts, you also reduce the risk of being found responsible for a person’s mishap, but that still doesn’t negate the fact that you could face a lengthy court case. Even if it has limited merit, a lawsuit can eat up a lot of your resources.

 Better housekeeping

You’ll be pleased to know there is an answer to all of this and utterly unsurprised to know I’ve been building up to offering an ideal solution. As well as implementing good housekeeping standards in your place of work, the best thing you can do is take the financial risk out of the equation entirely with a straight forward public liability insurance policy.

This will simply cover an amount of money you are required to pay out in the event of a public liability court case going against you and means you don’t have to worry about a potential careless customer or client bankrupting you in compensation costs.

 Public liability insurance is not compulsory and no one will punish you for not having it, but it can simply stop you worrying about encountering that one clumsy customer. With an insurance policy like this in place, it can let you get back to focusing on people from a business point of view and not as a form of risk management.

Written by Richard King for YOUR Insurance, a broker specialising in public liability insurance for small businesses.

Why choose dental insurance in the UK?

The main reason to choose this type of insurance is that you’ll be able to cover the cost of your dental treatment, and considering how quickly the bill can add up (particularly if you need emergency treatment or go to a private surgery) it makes sound financial sense to be prepared. You can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll get the treatment you need without needing to worry about where the money will come from, arranging things via affordable monthly premiums for a cost-effective method of payment, and if you’ve got a large family that can be a huge weight off your mind.  

Type of policies to choose from

As a general rule you’ll be able to choose from two core packages, one which provides cover for private patients and one that insures NHS patients, and you’ll often be able to choose from varying levels of cover too depending on the claim limit you’re looking for and the firm you’re with. As a general rule you’ll be covered for everything from general check-ups to emergency care and even treatment for oral cancer with most policies operating on a cash back basis, and you’ll be able to find individual policies as well as those which can cover your whole family for total peace of mind.

Cost considerations

Cost will always come into it, and the price of your premiums will vary depending on the type of treatment you receive (private or NHS), the claim limit you choose, the company you’re with, the level of cover you’re getting and your own personal circumstances, and that’s why it’s so important to do your research. You need to make sure you’re getting the level of cover you need at a price you can afford, but remember that paying on a monthly basis will often be far more cost-effective than paying for dental care in one lump sum—a lot of people are choosing to overlook dentist visits to keep costs down, but with the right insurance in place you needn’t sacrifice your oral health.

Find the insurance policy to suit

It’s all about doing your research, and if you make sure to spend the time scouring the market to search for the best deal you’ll soon find dental insurance in the UK that will meet your every requirement. Having it there can mean that even if you had a dental emergency you wouldn’t have to foot the bill, being good for your financial wellbeing as much as anything else, so make sure to seek a suitable policy and you can be safe in the knowledge that your dental health is properly protected.

Why opt for specialist insurance?

By choosing specialist insurance you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll have access to diagnostic tests and treatment as soon as you need it. There’ll be no lengthy waiting lists to contend with and no worrying about what clinician will be treating you—you’re in complete control and can choose the hospital you visit and even the specialist you see, and with access to the latest tests, drugs and treatment options you can be confident that your health is in good hands. You’ll have the kind of high-level care that you won’t be able to get unless you went private, and by having insurance in place you won’t have to pay for treatment in one lump sum but can instead spread the cost through monthly premiums.

Types of policies available

There are a huge range of policies available depending on your needs and circumstances, and in a lot of cases you’ll be able to adjust the level of cover to suit. Most specialist firms will have a comprehensive core package (which might include the likes of hospital fees, diagnostic tests, consultation fees, surgical procedures and cancer care) but you’ll often be able to go on from that to add additional features should you need them, with dental cover, psychiatric care and complementary therapies being common considerations. You might be able to find the likes of cash back plans too which can be used for NHS as well as private treatment, including cover for optical treatment and physiotherapy (for example).

Cost implications

A lot of people assume that medical insurance will be incredibly expensive, but in fact it can be highly affordable if you know where to look. It’s all about doing your research to see the type of policies you can find and remember that the level of cover you’re after can drastically affect the price you pay, but don’t let that stop you—your health should always come first, and investing in a suitable insurance policy will always be money well spent.

Find the policy you need

There are plenty of specialist firms that will be able to offer medical insurance in the UK, and if you compare a few options and make sure you’re getting a policy built around your needs you could soon find one to fit the bill. Opting for private insurance can be one of the best things you ever do and will ensure you’re truly putting your health first, so make sure to do your research and you’ll be one step closer to finding the policy you need.

Types of policy available

These days you’ll be able to find plenty of different policies depending on your specific needs, medical history and chosen insurance firm, with a lot of specialists giving you the option of having a policy built around your unique requirements. You’ll often start with a core package but could add certain features as necessary (such as cancer cover, dental treatment or complementary therapies), letting you select the level of cover to suit your needs as well as your budget, and you’ll often be able to insure other family members in one single policy so everyone can get the same kind of treatment.  

Benefits of health insurance

The main benefit is that you’ll be ready for anything that could come your way. You needn’t worry should you or your family fall ill as you’ll be able to undergo treatment as soon as you need it, and long waiting lists will be a thing of the past. You’ll get access to diagnostic tests, treatments and aftercare from experts in their field, will often be able to choose your hospital and even your clinician for total peace of mind and will benefit from the latest treatments, technologies and drugs, all from the comfort of a private establishment that puts your needs first. Plus, because you won’t have to pay for treatment in one lump sum, it can be good for your finances as well.

Cost considerations

Cost will of course be a vital consideration when choosing health insurance, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a policy to suit. A lot of specialists will be able to offer policies that can accommodate all budgets whilst the level of cover you choose will have a huge bearing on your monthly premiums, but remember that you should never put price before quality. Insurance is all about knowing your health is properly protected which is why it comes down to research, and if you compare a few options you’ll find the policy you need without breaking the bank in the process.

Finding the policy you’re after

Luckily there are plenty of insurance firms that specialise in offering health insurance in the UK, and all it could take is a bit of research to ensure you’ve got the policy to suit. Make sure to thoroughly discuss your needs with your chosen insurer so nothing gets overlooked and always go for the most comprehensive level of cover you can afford, and if you invest in a suitable policy you’ll be putting your health first for the peace of mind you need.

What types of insurance might you need?

There are various kinds of insurance you can choose from depending on your requirements, with just a couple of choices being health/medical insurance and dental insurance. Even within these core types you’ll be able to choose from any number of different plans, with many specialist insurance firms being available who will build your policy around your requirements. You’ll be able to find policies on an individual basis or could insure your whole family, and you’ll often be able to choose the type of cover you need depending on your circumstances and medical history.

The same applies for dental insurance. By heading to the specialists you’ll be able to choose from a number of different policies and will often be able to alter the level of cover according to your requirements, and you could even get insurance for NHS care as well as private treatment. It can give you the peace of mind you need to know you’re totally covered whether it’s for a routine check-up, general treatment or emergency situations, ensuring you’re prepared for the unexpected with the level of cover necessary.

Why opt for clinical insurance?

There’s nothing worse than falling ill, and you want to do everything you can to get back to full health as quickly as possible. That’s why clinical insurance can be so beneficial—you won’t have to wait to get diagnostic tests underway and treatment can be delivered as soon as it’s required, with long waiting lists being a thing of the past. You’ll get the treatment you need when you need it, will be able to book appointments around your other commitments and can even choose the hospital and consultant you want to work with, and the care you’ll receive will be second to none.

In many cases you’ll be able to enjoy a private room with unrestricted visiting hours, excellent facilities and medical staff with more time to dedicate to your needs, ultimately ensuring you get the high-level care needed to boost your recovery and get back on track. Then there’s the fact you won’t have to pay for private treatment in one lump sum—by opting for insurance you can be confident that you’re totally prepared no matter what’s around the corner by paying in regular monthly instalments, protecting your finances as well as your health.

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits in choosing clinical insurance and a whole range of plans available to suit, and if you make sure to do your research and discuss your needs with your chosen insurance firm you could have all the cover necessary for the peace of mind you need.