Business interruption – what is your risk?

June 4, 2018

Out of Business

A manufacturer had a fire at their premises and lost everything. When they took out their insurance they had decided that they could recover from any major event within twelve months and therefore had taken out insurance to cover them for loss of income over that period. 

Unfortunately, although the repairs and replacement machinery were covered by their property insurance, the extent of the damage and the specialist nature of their business meant that planning permission, building repairs, the lead time for machinery and time to regain lost custom would take three to four years. This was significantly longer than they thought, and they were seriously underinsured. 

The company needed to fund the costs relating to the loss of income themselves after the insured twelve-month period. Unfortunately, they could not carry these costs and sadly, the business closed with the loss of many jobs.

In addition to deciding the correct indemnity period, we recommend the following calculation should be used to establish the annual sum insured. Future budgets and contracts should be considered.

Turnover                                                            £

Closing Stock including 

Work in Progress                                             £

Total                                                                   £_________________

LESS

Opening Stock including

Work in Progress                                             £

Purchases                                                         £

Uninsured Working Expenses                      £

Total                                                                   £_________________

Difference                                                         £_________________

Increase necessary to allow 

for future trading and orders                        £_________________

‘Estimated Gross Profit’                                £_________________

  • Uninsured Working Expenses are business charges which can confidently be expected to reduce proportionately with a drop in turnover following damage (items such as carriage and packing often fall into this category. 
  • Bad debts are not insured. 
  • Your Sum Insured should include an amount in respect of Professional Accountants’ charges for producing and certifying details of a claim. 
  • Where the indemnity period exceeds 12 months the sum insured should be increased proportionately. 

We’ve been busier than usual here at AE Insurance Brokers lately. As part of our ongoing commitment to staying current and effective, we recently underwent a brand refresh. While it looked like a cosmetic change - a new logo, a fresh colour palette and font - the process was actually a deep dive into who we are, how we serve our clients, and where the industry is heading.

And while we were looking in the mirror, something struck us: many businesses don’t look in theirs often enough.

When we talk to UK business owners one pattern emerges consistently. Companies grow, pivot, hire, launch new products, or expand into new territories. Yet their insurance policies often remain frozen in time, reflecting the version of the business that existed twelve months ago - or worse, five years ago.

Insurance is often treated as a compliance checkbox: a bill that needs paying, a certificate that needs sending. But if your business has changed, your risk profile has changed too, and when your policy doesn’t match your reality, you’re likely overpaying and potentially leaving dangerous gaps in your protection.

Related Posts

September 8, 2026

Growing Up: Why Your Insurance Needs to Evolve With Your Business

We’ve been busier than usual here at AE Insurance Brokers lately. As […]

August 19, 2026

What the Renters’ Rights Act Means for Your Portfolio

The landscape of the private rented sector (PRS) has shifted dramatically. Following […]

newspaper headline saying cyber attack

June 18, 2026

Commercial Cyber & Cyber Crime Insurance: A Critical Protection for UK Businesses

Cybercrime is no longer just an IT issue – it is one […]

0 Comments