Blog

At the end of February, conflict erupted across the Middle East in the wake of American and Israeli strikes on Iran. Retaliatory attacks on Israel and US-allied Gulf states followed immediately. Although a fragile ceasefire is currently in place, the entire region...

Perceptions often need to be challenged and so I was pleased to read a recent article in The Herald highlighting the fluidity of the Third Sector and some moderate growth within it.    Too often, the charity and not-for-profit sector is portrayed as a slow-moving...

Let’s cut to the chase. What benefits do you get when you use an independent broker to place your insurance? The question came up when speaking to a friend who was starting her own business. Would a broker be interested in small start-up like hers and wouldn’t it be...

Racing to catch a flight recently, I was horrified to notice my phone’s battery was limping along on its last legs. Luckily, it had just enough power for me to scan my boarding pass at security, before I found a socket on the other side for a quick charge.  This...

The recent emotional rollercoaster experienced by Scottish sports fans via results from the men’s football and rugby teams show just how high we can rise and how far we can fall. Rugby’s Autumn Internationals had fans pining for what might have been against New...

This year’s John Lewis Christmas advert has just flashed across our screens and so it seems the time of good cheer is now officially upon us. But before we throw ourselves headlong into the season of goodwill, I want to make sure it’s also one of good sense,...

In the coming weeks, the team at Keegan & Pennykid will be putting on their glad rags to enjoy two glittering awards ceremonies, hosted respectively by Social Enterprise Scotland and Social Enterprise UK.  We sponsor both of these events as part of a wider...

Summer days, drifting away...… The summer might be coming to a close, but a recent forecast of another heatwave got me thinking about insurance.  I know, I can’t help it!  The good weather we get is so sporadic that when it comes, we’re all desperate to make the most...

Early summer arrived in a mirage of heatwaves, hosepipe bans and thunderstorms, adding an extra layer of concern for charities and voluntary organisations planning their summer events.  The Great British weather is famously fickle, and climate change is making it even...

Originally set up in 2010, Small Charity Week runs from 23rd to 28th June this year, with a focus on financial resilience. Its goal is to publicise and promote all of the fantastic work done by these organisations and to support their ongoing development.    ...

Do your premises sometimes host more than 200 people for events? If so, legislation which received Royal Assent in early April, creates new responsibilities and requirements with which you need to comply. The changes seek to enhance the safety of those attending...

The UK has more than 131,000 social enterprises that employ around 2.3 million people and generate a combined turnover of £78bn. The sector encompasses organisations of all shapes and sizes, but one of the things they all have in common is their increasing exposure to...

Have you ever done a parachute jump? Apparently, once you get over the shock of throwing yourself out of the plane, drifting back down to earth is a tranquil and serene experience. That is until you get close to the ground and all of a sudden it seems to rush up...

Keegan & Pennykid has worked in collaboration with Social Enterprise Scotland and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to provide their members with free access to Coalition Control, a powerful cyber security risk management tool developed by cyber...

Social Enterprise Scotland and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) have come together to offer members free access to practical support and digital tools that will transform their ability to pre-empt and combat cyber-attacks. The offer comes on the...

Darker nights and wintry weather throw up all sorts of hazards for organisations. June Pennykid at Keegan & Pennykid offers some practical tips to keep your people and your property safe. The weather in the UK is pretty unreliable, except in the winter when it’s...

Before the sparks fly on Bonfire Night, June Pennykid at Keegan & Pennykid talks through some of the logistics associated with holding an event and the insurance cover you’ll need before you go ahead. If you’re planning to hold a Bonfire Night event in the coming...

In recent months, I’ve had lots of conversations with clients about the rising cost of insurance. In particular, those who haven’t made a claim want to know why they’re receiving renewal quotes with a double-digit hike in the premium. Often, the answer is market...

The calendar says the summer holidays are here, although sadly we’re still waiting for the good weather to arrive. It’s an exciting time of year as we make plans to take some time off work, catch up with family and friends, or maybe jump on a plane to get a glimpse of...

Events are a fundamental activity for the charity sector and offer an exciting way to fundraise, educate and engage with your community. But they also come with a wide range of risks that you need to identify and address. The right approach to risk management and...

In response to a request from one of our charity partners, I’d like to outline some key considerations to think about when buying insurance for your charity. What cover do you need? What’s important when choosing a broker? What should you look for in an insurer? Why...

Business Interruption is an intricate and important insurance cover that acts as an essential lifeline for organisations as they work to get operations back on track following an insured property loss. Sadly, it’s also a common area of confusion and without careful...

In this first article of our new monthly series, Keegan & Pennykid delve into the problematic issue of underinsurance, splitting the topic in two. This month, we unpick the factors associated with underinsurance in buildings cover. Next month, we’ll examine...

Thank goodness you’re here!   June Pennykid celebrates the third sector on her return to the Gathering I’ve attended The Gathering for more years than I can remember.  Whilst it has evolved over this time, it remains a constant in the third sector calendar, providing...

In times of economic uncertainty when income streams are under pressure and costs are spiralling it is only human nature to look for ways to reduce your outgoings. Insurance can feel like a soft target, we all plan for the worst but feel that it’s never likely to...

Many employees use their personal vehicles for work-related purposes, such as traveling to off-site meetings, making deliveries, or visiting clients and service users. While this can be convenient for both the employer and the employee, it can also raise a number of...

I often hear myself say that there aren’t enough hours in the day!  When juggling work and busy home lives, we’re constantly juggling a multitude of priorities and it can be difficult to find the time to address matters which often seem less pressing. However, a...

A few years ago, working from home was reserved for the few but with lockdown forcing this upon most of us, there has been a sea-change in our working environments.  A significant number of people continue to work from home, and as the dust settles on the pandemic at...