Adrian Sutton B Eng (Hons) ACII, Chartered Insurance Broker

Adrian has 25 years’ insurance broking experience and heads up the commercial insurance division. In addition to Chartered Insurance Broker status, Adrian has a NEBOSH Certificate in health and safety. His specialist areas are commercial combined policies for industry, larger property owners, fleets, larger construction risks and risk management advice. In addition, Adrian provides larger clients with detailed on site assistance in the presentation and negotiation of claims.

Case Study 1 – Thorntons Cycle Centre was gutted by fire in 2010. On the day of the fire, Adrian arranged a viewing of an available alternative property owned by another of our clients. Local planners were contacted for approval of the necessary temporary change of use, but they refused. Having accompanied the client to view 2 other properties neither of which was suitable, Adrian contacted the then Conservative candidate for Rugby Mark Pawsey and explained that without suitable premises, jobs would be lost. An impromptu meeting of the planning committee agreed to permit the temporary change of use. Immediate occupancy was permitted and, within 2 weeks Thorntons were open for business. Adrian oversaw negotiation of the contents claim, progress chased the buildings repairs and presented the business interruption claim. Over the 18 months of interruption from the day of the fire, including the move back to the refurbished premises, Thorntons managed to achieve nearly 90% of its normal turnover. This case study was selected from thousands of members nationwide to appear in the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) 2013 Manifesto which was launched in the House of Commons to an audience of Ministers, MPs, Lords and senior government officials under the heading ‘How brokers help customers’.

Case Study 2 – In 2005 a client’s premises suffered a significant burglary loss where the alarm had been disabled by use of an authorised alarm code. The initial estimate of the loss was £150,000. Despite the client premises being over 100 miles away, Adrian

  • Attended the initial loss adjuster meeting to discuss the details of cover and the wording of the alarm warranty,
  • Sat in on interviews of various employees by the loss adjuster’s anti fraud specialist.
  • Ensured underwriter’s acceptance of liability for the claim under the policy.
  • Assisted in the presentation of the claim from an early stage.
  • Progress chased throughout the claim.
  • Renegotiated the business interruption claim, achieving an increase of £20,000 + over the loss adjuster’s offer.

This client had been approached by loss assessors shortly after the burglary who had quoted over £10,000 to perform the services that Adrian had undertaken at no charge.