@Killa and I had a productive meeting with Export&General last week, meeting face to face for the first time in over 18months of discussion! John Mitchell (our key contact) was joined by Chris Varley (proprietor of E&G), both very much showing their commitment to continuing to support hackspaces and the foundation.
Overall objective for the meeting: get comfortable with new insurance offering; discuss further options for the future.
Rough agenda:
- Review new insurance offering, clarify any remaining concerns/gaps
- Review Lauren’s FAQ doc – agree steps to publish
- Align on how best to offer/scale up the package to UK hackspaces via the foundation
- Align on how to keep tabs on uptake/service/issues
- Frame up options for the future (e.g. umbrella cover)
Headlines from each discussion:
1)
- New policy has been available since end July and is not expected to undergo any pricing changes within the next 6-9 months. There is due to a further rise in insurance tax next year - date TBC.
- Policy is notionally shared with Mens Sheds (who have piggy backed on the scheme we established over the last 12 months), and supported by the same underwriter/fund.
- Further policy clarification is to be worked on by E&G over next few weeks, aiming to publish by Oct (i.e. layman interpretations of policy cover)
- Agreed FAQ document and supporting checklists will complement the policy and provide additional guidance for how hackspaces can maintain compliance (e.g. H&S implementation)
- to be worked on over next few months to get ready to publish by new year - intent is to move to a shared space whilst work continues
- Covered by other discussion points
- E&G to meet with us quarterly to review uptake, issues and any claims - the “us” will need revising, but @Killa and myself will play that role until the foundation can take over “officially”
- Currently ~20 members of the scheme, no claims to date
- Clarified a claim from any hackspace would in principle affect the risk profile and thus future premiums for everyone. However, this effect is softened the more spaces are members of the scheme.
- Agreed to work-up a proposal where members of the foundation would get a discount to the scheme (possibly in the form of free legal cover), as part of a “starter package” - initial thoughts were to combine £2mm public liability, £2k contents insurance and legal cover for approx £100 premium. Larger spaces could scale up from there by selecting additional cover.
- Aim to share aligned proposal by Oct
Please raise clarifying questions here, otherwise will share a further update in October. @Killa please add anything I’ve forgotten! 
thanks
Damian