The death of Diana, Princess of Wales, 9/11 or the Boxing Day Tsunami…our subconscious is littered with poignant dates that shaped the world and many others beside that are deeply personal! Forever etched with the when, our whereabouts and what we were doing!
Covid-19 will make the shortlist too and for the bus and coach industry, Thursday 12th March will be marked as a day, when desperate news on what the British Government were going to do next, progressing from the contain to delay phase of the current pandemic, long remembered.
The following week was worrying for all, schools closing indefinitely from Friday 20th March and the private hire, tours and holiday diaries being torn up across the country. It was almost as if we had a week or so head start on what was coming!
There have been many stories featuring the volumes of vehicles being parked up, SORNed and out of use. For every single one, there is a conversation and procedure for us as Insurance Brokers and further reciprocated by an Insurer. Whilst there has been some negative press with one or two commercial insurers over their handling of business interruption claims, it would be irresponsible to portray PSV Insurers and the wider Insurance community, as anything but sympathetic.
The Wrightsure Insurance Group put its disaster recovery strategy into place and from Monday 23rd March, 99% of staff were working from home…seven UK hubs becoming ninety and seamlessly keeping 45 years of independent insurance broking operational.
Insurance is a people business and at every level throughout the Group, staff have been working above and beyond the call of duty. All the training and planning in the world could never have prepared us for such an extraordinary situation and with each request for a portion or whole fleet being parked up, another heart-breaking conversation with a first, second or third generation family business padlocking the gate.
Yes, we are first and foremost, insurance intermediaries, but for the bus and coach industry, we have in the last six weeks, also been business advisors, accountants, mentors, counsellors and above all, friends to our clients. Attributes that will enhance our relationship with the Industry for many years.
For all Wrightsure Group clients and the probable 10,000 vehicles that we have processed as SORN in the last six weeks, the hotels that are closed, the much needed respite of a coach holiday cancelled for our most vulnerable, we are sincere in our wish, that we have been there for you.
For all Operators that have joined the Wrightsure family in the same period and where perhaps, the insurance industry has failed you in some way, welcome and thank you for entrusting us.
For any Operators who are worried that their voice is not being heard in this difficult time and you need an additional layer of protection for your business, our door is open.
To all Operators, Tour organisers and Hoteliers across the country, whoever you are. We are here, we are listening, will do everything we can to assist you through this devastating period and, be ready for when our great industry can get back to what it does best!
#CoachCrisis
#BackBritainsCoaches
