VW_winter_once_over

Yes it sounds dull, but preparing your vans and premises for bad weather can literally be the difference between staying in business and going bust

ARE your vans and your business premises ready for a cold snap?

We shouldn’t need to tell you all how important it is to prepare your vehicles for winter. After all if you get caught out it could be inconvenient at best and at worst it could even spell the end of your business, so it’s worth taking a bit of time out to make sure everything is hunky dory.

AXA claims that in the bad weather of 2010 a quarter of UK businesses had to close

And if you think that’s alarmist, evidence from insurance specialist AXA claims that in the bad spell of 2010 a quarter of UK businesses had to close temporarily.

With this in mind AXA has out together an action plan so firms can prepare for the worst:

  • Get winter maintenance work done as soon as possible – don’t wait for the freeze to arrive before checking your vehicles and your premises.
  • Prepare an action plan for bad weather so that your business can continue to operate even if you or your employees can’t make it into work.
  • Make sure you/your employees have access to emails/contact numbers/documents if they need to work from home
  • But if you do find you have to work from home when you are normally in business premises, check that your business cover extends to equipment used in your home.
  • If you have business premises that are going to be left vacant over the weekend or because employees are unable to make it in, ensure that the heating is left on low. Burst pipes are a huge risk once the temperature dips below freezing and can cause tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage, not to mention destroying important documents and equipment. Added to which, the clean-up process can mean continued disruption to your business for several weeks.
  • If you need to leave your premises unattended during poor weather, ensure you lock up properly and set intruder alarms. A savvy thief will make the most of your absence if you don’t secure it.

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