28
The Magazine of Bellwood Prestbury HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED Being in the wrong place at the wrong time isn't that difficult. Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor looks at how not to become a kidnap statistic Culture shock and the four phases your employees need to work through Getting the right medical insurance shouldn't be a lottery Why we are proud to achieve ISO 9001 certification Spring / Summer 2016

HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    20

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

The Magazine of Bellwood Prestbury

HOW TO GET

YOURSELF

KIDNAPPED

Being in the wrong place at the wrong

time isn't that difficult. Bellwood

Prestbury’s Security Advisor looks at

how not to become a kidnap statistic

Culture shock and the four phases

your employees need to work through

Getting the right medical insurance

shouldn't be a lottery

Why we are proud to achieve ISO

9001 certification

Spring / Summer 2016

Page 2: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

2

In this issue How to get yourself kidnapped

If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann,

Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor. There are planned kidnaps and express

(opportunistic) kidnaps with the planned ones making the headlines.

Can you avoid the culture shock?

Individuals are born into pre-defined cultures which, in part, define the individual.

At each stage of development, however, individuals struggle to adjust, even to

their own culture.

Laws you break at your peril in the UAE

Moving to the Gulf is for many a once in a lifetime opportunity. But the culture in

the Gulf is very different to other parts of the world so it is important that you get to

know the “do’s and don’ts” of daily life and avoid finding yourself in trouble.

ISO9001

For the fourth consecutive year Bellwood Prestbury have achieved the

internationally recognised ISO 9001 certification. But what is it and why is it so

important for both global buyers and traders?

Meet Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations

This month we chat to Simon Shipway, Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations,

about his life inside and outside the office.

Welcome to another issue of Expatria Magazine

This special edition highlights

the issues facing potential

kidnap threats and what it’s like

to be an Expat.

We also look at Global Liability

insurance and what it means

for your business plus we have

a happy tale from Afghanistan

where one of our clients is

helping to improve the welfare

of animals in Kabul.

EXPATRIA MAGAZINE SPRING / SUMMER EDITION

Bellwood Prestbury is the trading style of Bellwood Prestbury Limited registered in England and Wales as

company number 1100251 Registered Office: 4 Imperial Square, Cheltenham, GL50 1QB, United Kingdom

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Page 3: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

3

Expats experience twice as many mental health issues as domestic citizens

In some cases when depression becomes so severe, expats may feel that returning home is their only option.

Expats who have trouble with anxiety stop undertaking activities that they usually enjoy, because it does not give them pleasure anymore. Instead, they stay at home and worry.

Two factors that contribute to mental health issues are homesickness and social isolation.

Expats can experience a lack of support and find it harder to deal with new circumstances, because their relatives and close friends are back home.

Expats who did not have a choice, for example children or partners, are more prone to mental health issues. Children in the adolescence stage find it difficult to get used to a new country.

This period in their life is already difficult, so adding a whole new environment to the mix makes everything even more complicated.

International Private Medical Insurance

Why Expats choose International Health Insurance

Moving abroad can be a stressful process that requires plenty of planning, time

and energy. When becoming an expat, your employees will have to take into

account many factors about their relocation – and healthcare is an essential one.

Having taken the huge step in life to relocate to a new country, it is important to

secure peace of mind in as many aspects of their new life as possible; and

ensuring that healthcare will be available for them and their family is a must.

Have they figured out how the healthcare system works in their adopted country?

How will they, as an expat, gain access to local health services? Have they

considered the possible language barrier, or know what to do in case of a medical

emergency?

As a foreign national, your colleagues may not be entitled to any free or

subsidised healthcare. In some cases, they may need permanent residency

before they can enter the system – and that could take years, so it is important to

consider an expatriate health plan to provide for their healthcare needs from day

one.

International private medical insurance (IPMI) policies usually provide far better

cover and support to expats than those offered by local insurers, with many of the

benefits tailored specifically to suit expatriates.

Local (or sometimes referred to as state) health insurance can be very different to

what most expatriates are used to and can be of limited service for internationally

mobile citizens. Many local plans offer less in terms of medical services than what

is covered under a private plan. For example, it is unlikely they will be covered for

medical evacuation benefits under a local health plan. They may find that cover

does not extend to getting access to the leading local private facilities.

Page 4: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

4

Moving abroad

is among the most

thrilling experiences

your employees will

ever encounter

Everything is new, and challenging: they must

communicate in a foreign language, every conversation

and each new person they meet adds something to the

experience.

If you felt like you were not living up to your expectations back at home, moving abroad is your time to blossom.

There is of course a dark side to moving abroad and expat life can get you down at times. Cultural displacement,

although a common feature of modern society as more people move abroad, is still pretty hard to get used to.

With it comes questions of national identity and triggers a loss of sense of belonging.

All expats experience these symptoms, more commonly known as “culture shock”; you might

be surprised to discover that the first people to give the syndrome a name were the most

open-minded, well-travelled people, namely anthropologists.

1. The first phase is called the “honeymoon” phase. The individual is naturally polite to

everyone, both compatriots and foreigners, during this phase. The individual is likely to

be bewildered when confronted by all things that differ to what he has left behind. You

realise that the cultural and societal flagposts were metaphorically holding you up, and

you feel as though you have been winded by the impact of the new, foreign society.

When you expatriate, you basically take off, and you fly on the wings of your

enthusiasm.

2. The second phase is called the “crisis” phase. In this phase, a person in the grasps of

culture shock becomes tangled up and knotted within the new culture that surrounds

them. According to Oberg, it is not uncommon for such an individual to start paying

extreme attention to cleanliness (even denigrating the hygiene standards of the new

country), and become excessively worried about being cheated. In the worst cases, this

phase can prelude a fully-fledged nervous breakdown. If one overcomes it, the individual

has overcome the worst phase and has the light at the end of the tunnel to lead the way

thereafter.

3. During the third phase, known as the “recovery” phase, your sense of humour makes an

appearance. A conceived sense of superiority towards the locals is the looking glass

through which you see your hosts, but now you can also empathise, easing the

judgement and endearing you to your new culture.

4. The final phase is known as the “adjustment” phase; now you can relate to other people

in a normal manner, mainly because you will have learned how to decipher the cues of

social intercourse.

Page 5: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

5

One size certainly does not fit all, so getting the right advice is important

Understanding all the

different facets about

your colleague’s new

location can be a

daunting process, and

deciphering the way in

which a country’s national

health system works is

not the exception.

When it comes down to

health standards,

statutory care and

emergency treatment,

details vary from country

to country, and there are

major differences in

waiting times, cost, and

accessibility for expats.

The quality of care in their

adopted country may not

be to the standard they

were used to back home.

At Bellwood Prestbury we

specialise in health

insurance policies for

expats, and because we

understand what it is like

to be an expat we cannot

only guide you through

the maze of getting the

right cover for your

employees but we will

also help to ensure your

colleagues have the very

best of care as and when

they need it.

Can you avoid

culture shock?

Individuals are born into pre-defined cultures which, in part, define the

individual. At each stage of development, however, individuals struggle to

adjust, even to their own culture.

Get the hang of the language – you will feel infinitely more integrated into

society and the culture if you do so. Language is the key to communication

and with communication bonds between people are fortified.

Talk to people – people living abroad, Oberg observes, are led to ‘lean heavily

on their compatriots’.

It is natural to migrate towards those in the same situation as you, expats

always manage to find each other, and although there is no shame in this, it is

always great if you can say that you have managed to make ‘local’ friends. It

all helps in the integration process.

If you can think of a time when your culture and your nation’s way of thinking

have ever frustrated you, perhaps you were born to be an expat.

Page 7: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

“Not all 'security' makes you safer,” I said to a potential new client not long ago. He was about to embark on a project in Nigeria that would

expose a number of staff to risks, including kidnap, over three

years. They were about to hire a respected armed risk-

management company, in the belief that their guns would provide

the best protection.

I disagreed. My company, Safer Edge, takes the view that having

a bunch of poorly-paid armed men accompanying a convoy was

at least as much a threat as a help.

Would they be an effective deterrent? Would a firefight make

staff safer? There may be a time and place for serious armed

protection, but token armed protection is often a very bad idea.

We proposed a strategy based around communication and local

community involvement, and won the argument. We helped our

client to develop, and deliver on, a strategy based on people in

the Niger Delta communities knowing who our client and its staff

were, and what they were doing there.

We used local and well-known partners to lead on assessing risk,

driving (safely!) and ensuring that our client's staff always

understood where they were and how to behave in a way that

minimised risk.

This really worked to their advantage when there was an incident

- the only one in three years. On that occasion, a member of our

client's staff went to explore a creek on his own, without going

through the protocol of communicating with the local community

first. When he was detained by local men, his driver managed to

get away and report it.

Our local team were able to approach the community and

apologised for the lack of courtesy, plead a misunderstanding,

and secured his immediate release, unharmed, within a couple of

hours. The detaining group found themselves communicating

with people they understood, and quickly recognised the client

from previous communications.

The fact that was the only security incident in three

years demonstrates the value of contingency planning and

strategy. In another place, another time, that strategy may not be

the right one. Not only is it true that "not all 'security' makes you

safer", what works in practice will vary from situation to situation.

It pays to get it right.

Steve McCann is Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor and a director at Safer Edge

Kidnap is only one of the threats

that you may face on your

travels

Page 8: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

8

$500 million dollars. That’s what is earned by criminal gangs every year

through kidnap and extortion. And up to 30,000 people are being

kidnapped every year.

Reliable data is hard to come by, and the type of kidnap can vary greatly, making the numbers almost

meaningless on their own. But only one kidnap really matters anyway. Yours.

Choose Your Kidnap Experience

If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice writes Steve McCann, Bellwood Prestbury’s Security

Advisor. There are planned kidnaps and express (opportunistic) kidnaps. It’s the planned ones that make the

headlines: Hassan, Henning, Bigley.

But when it comes down to you, which kind of kidnap would you prefer? The initial experience is similar, but after

that you might find yourself locked in a room full of mosquitoes for a day or two, or tied to a radiator for five years

like Terry Waite. Or losing your head. Literally.

There are many similarities on the way to achieving either, but some differences too.

If it’s the Express Kidnap you prefer, that’s quite easy to arrange. In an Express Kidnap you will be taken and

forced to extract money from an ATM with your bank card, often over several days, taking ‘the max’ each day of

your ‘millionaire tour’.

how to get yourself

kidnapped

Page 9: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

9

Kidnap

Hotspots of

the World

Whether one employee or

hundreds of employees

are deployed overseas,

for short or long-term

assignments, there are

unknown and unseen

dangers in sending

employees to foreign

lands.

Today, the largest

proportion of recorded

kidnappings takes place

in Asia and the Pacific,

particularly in India,

Pakistan, Afghanistan

and the Philippines.

While Mexico remains

the top country for

kidnappings, the oil-rich

regions of Africa –

Nigeria, Kenya, the

Sudan, Mali and Libya

are seeing increases too.

To protect employees

and company facilities,

most prudent global

companies buy kidnap,

ransom and extortion

(KRE) coverage.

However, there’s a catch

22 to KRE coverage.

The employee isn’t

supposed to know about

the coverage. If they do,

the coverage may not be

valid.

The whole point of a

kidnapping is to collect a

ransom and knowing that

coverage exists could

make the employee even

more vulnerable.

how to get yourself

kidnapped

You probably won’t get the chance to check out the sights – but you will

experience the all-too-real life of some local people.

It all started in the USA in the 1980s, but to book a place on this tour

nowadays head over to Latin America. Mexico is best, but Venezuela,

Peru, Brazil and Argentina are satisfactory alternatives. Nigeria is watching

and learning.

Just identify the most lawless part of the city at night, and between 11 and

12pm, wander around, looking lost, on your own, ideally a bit drunk, and

approach an isolated ATM without looking around you first. There is a good

chance that quite soon you will find some new friends who will host you for

a couple of hours or even a few days, emptying your bank account.

The risk of you being kidnapped is always the happy coincidence of the

level of threat combined with your vulnerability to that threat. Where you

go, who you are, and how you behave are the factors that will establish

your likelihood of successfully being kidnapped. The table overleaf is a

guide, but as ever you need to look into the data, to understand who is

being taken and why, for it to be useful.

Page 10: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

To succeed at being the target of a planned kidnap, what you really need is a failed State or post-

conflict country, where the effective authority of the State is undermined. Libya would be a great

choice this year, as Iraq was earlier this decade (and it’s still a not too shabby choice!).

Once there, you can make it easy for the kidnappers with poor personal security. Being predictable in your travel

and accommodation routines will help them to know when and how to most easily take you. Having established

yourself as a high economic value target, make sure you take no precautionary measures such as using an

armoured car or even close protection – which can be very effective in some circumstances be it armed or

unarmed.

To top the target list, these are the behaviours likely to get you kidnapped… one way or another:

Travel alone. This always seems to improve your chance of successfully being taken .

Appear wealthy and high profile.

Make it obvious you don’t know your way around.

Appear drunk, or better still, be drunk.

Go looking for drug dealers or sex workers late at night.

Adopt a very regular and predictable routine in travel and accommodation.

Stay ignorant of where the threats in your environment are, and what time of day they are most likely to

be at their greatest.

Broadcast to the world where you are and what your plans are on social media; make sure to include

very personal information that only your close friends and family would know.

Carefully research your destination to expose yourself to the kind of kidnap you prefer - Latin America

for the opportunistic variety and Libya or Syria for the planned version, where it will likely be criminals

who take you and sell you up to a more political entity. For the latter a one-way flight ticket will suffice, to

avoid wasting your legacy…

Country 2014 2013

Mexico 1 1

India 2 2

Pakistan 3 4

Iraq 4 10

Nigeria 5 3

Libya 6 14

Afghanistan 7 8

Bangladesh 8 26

Sudan 9 20

Lebanon 10 6

TOP TEN KIDNAP RANKINGS BY COUNTRY

Page 11: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

Alternatively, you can choose to minimise your chances of becoming a kidnap victim.

The principles are similar, but the behaviours will vary from the above. When you know the threat and understand

your individual vulnerability, you can manage the risk.

Find out about where you are going, not just at country level, but at a local level. What is the profile of crime?

Who is targeted? Where are the dangerous places?

Follow a sensible process of minimised exposure. Be low profile, do not look like a target and do not make it

easy.

Vary your routines, your routes, your timings. Do not stay in the same place long enough to be ‘cased’.

Be very thoughtful about who knows your itinerary.

If the risks are high, consider whether you have to be there in person.

Be thoughtful about what you say in your social media – it can make you more vulnerable and provide vital

insights for a planned kidnapping.

How to not become a kidnap statistic will vary according to many factors. Common sense is always im-

portant, and other more sophisticated strategies can pay a significant part.

To find out how to manage your duty of care to your staff and yourself, and to come back safely, call us on

+44 (0)1242 584558

Steve McCann is Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor and director of Safer

Edge with more than 21 years of practical security industry experience across the

humanitarian and development sectors along with extensive UN and military

experience. Steve’s army career saw him responsible for troop logistics whilst his

post-military life has included working in logistics and security for the UN.

www.bellwoodprestbury.com

Minimise your chances of being kidnapped

Page 13: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

It’s easy to forget about

health insurance … after all you will not be away for long and medical issues always happen to someone else, don’t they?

However, if you have an accident or become ill, can you afford the cost of medical treatment? What

happens should you need to be medically evacuated? Will the treating doctor be able to get hold of clean,

uncontaminated blood should an emergency transfusion be needed?

The International Contractors Health Plan answers these questions and provides peace of mind no matter

where in the world you’re working, and assistance is only a phone call away 24 hours a day, seven days a

week.

You will be covered for medical treatment costs and also the expense of an emergency medical evacuation

if it’s needed. The policy is supported by emergency experts who are understanding, sympathetic and

knowledgeable to handle any situation that may arise.

If you are working in a place where you feel a little uncertain about a diagnosis and want a second medical opinion on a proposed treatment plan, you will have access to Best Doctors. They will be able to arrange a review of the medical diagnosis and treatment plan with a world class specialist in a field that relates to your medical condition.

You will also become a member of the Blood Care Foundation. Worryingly, unclean blood is still being used

in operations in many parts of the world, so should you be badly injured and require a blood transfusion,

your membership will provide access to a global network of blood banks, enabling clean uncontaminated

blood to be sent to almost any location in the world within 12-18 hours.

Security, quite rightly, is high on everyone’s agenda at the moment. Therefore, built into the policy is access

to the very latest travel safety tips and advice, and up-to-the-minute information on civil unrest, natural

hazards and travel disruptions from Red24, covering hundreds of countries and cities worldwide.

And on top of all this, if there is a death of a close family member back home whilst on assignment, the plan will even pay for a return flight home.

Page 14: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

14

Laws you break at your peril if you are living and

working in the UAE Moving to the Gulf is for many a once in a lifetime opportunity. A time to enjoy great weather whilst living a life

that others can only envy. But the culture in the Gulf is very different to other parts of the world, so it is

important that you get to know the “do’s and don’ts” of daily life and avoid finding yourself in trouble.

Storing alcohol at home, having a satellite TV or simply washing your car on the road may seem harmless but these are

just a few of the offences that carry heavy penalties in the UAE and could get you into serious trouble.

Illegal satellite TV: Since your building owner did not specify it, you may think installing Dish TV, Sky TV or other

such illegal satellite TV decoders was permitted. You are mistaken.

Laws you violate: The UAE Intellectual Property Law and UAE Trademark Law.

Penalty: Fines could go up to Dh50,000. Those providing such services could face jail and deportation.

Keeping alcohol at home: You may have taken it from a friend or bought it from an outlet but remember, keeping

alcohol at home without a liquor permit is an offence. Anyone consuming, transporting, possessing or selling alcohol in

the UAE needs a licence.

Law you violate: Penal Law.

Penalty: Penalties can lead to imprisonment of six months and a fine of Dh5,000. People can find themselves in trouble if

they have consumed liquor in the event of an accident or public disturbance.

Employing illegal domestic help: Illegal workers include housemaids on someone else’s visa or even those

helping you in odd jobs without a proper visa.

Law you violate: UAE immigration laws.

Penalty: Fines could go up to Dh50,000.

Page 15: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

15

Jaywalking: You may be in a hurry but it does not give you freedom to dash across the road. Crossing

streets at undesignated streets or crosswalks is not only life-threatening, but also a pedestrian infraction punishable

by law.

Law you violate: Federal Traffic Law.

Penalty: Dh200.

Washing your car on the road or letting water drip from the air conditioner: Washing your car on the streets,

disposing of vehicle water in the open, or water leaking from your air-conditioner onto the roads is a strict no-no.

Law you violate: Dubai Municipality’s orders.

Penalty: Dh100 for a leaking air conditioner, washing vehicles on the road or flushing vehicle water on the road.

Using illegal phone cards: You are tempted to buy phone cards to make cheap international phone calls.

Law you violate: UAE Penal Law.

Penalty: Jail term, fine and deportation.

Sharing flats/live-ins: Sharing a flat with a person of the opposite sex who is not a blood relative is an

offence. Sharia law prohibits two unmarried and unrelated persons from the opposite sex living together.

Law you violate: UAE Penal Law.

Penalty: Fine, detention or both and possibly deportation.

Sex out of wedlock: Having sex outside marriage can land you behind bars.

Law you violate: Article 356 of the UAE Penal Law.

Penalty: Fine, jail, deportation, depending on the judge’s discretion.

Public display of affection: Kissing or hugging someone unrelated to you in public can also

have serious consequences.

Law you violate: UAE Penal Law of 1987.

Penalty: Up to six months in jail and deportation.

Page 16: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

16

Where were you born, where did you study and

where do you live now?

I was born in Gloucester and went to Severn Vale

Comprehensive school. I then moved to Gloucestershire

College of Art and Technology gaining a First Diploma in

Business and Finance and a National Diploma in

Business and Finance.

How did you come to join Bellwood Prestbury?

A chance meeting with one of the directors I had known

from my time at Eagle Star… during some general chit

chat they asked how things in my current role were going

and I advised I was looking for new opportunities. This

was perfect timing as Bellwood Prestbury were in the

process of applying to become a Lloyd’s of London

Coverholder and they were aware of my experience.

The rest is history…

What do you think makes Bellwood Prestbury

different to other insurance intermediaries?

The ability to deliver quality bespoke service and

products in complex niche markets where there is no

room to get things wrong – the solution has to work and

deliver when needed!

Technology plays a big part in our industry. How

does it help you in your role today?

The ability to have quick access to accurate information

at a click of a button is so important to the service we

offer. Whether underwriting or reviewing procedures and

processes I need to be able to view and rely on accurate

data to ensure the correct decision is made. Using

technology and in particular bespoke industry software

(such as Acturis) provides the ideal solution.

Other more traditional software such as Word and Excel

This month we chat to Simon Shipway, Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations, about his life inside and outside the office

also provide us with the ability to create tailored solutions

allowing us to respond quickly and accurately to clients’

needs and requirements.

You are heavily involved in looking after the

compliance side of the business. What tips can you

give to anyone working in a regulated environment?

I think the majority of people would rather deal with a

regulated company than a non-regulated company.

By embracing regulatory requirements and making them

core to what we do we can offer the client peace of mind

that they are being looked after and protected in a proper

manner, enhance our service and also afford the company

protection – regulation affects all parties involved.

Compliance is generally a case of applying common sense

to your actions and often supports/evidences the work

already being done. It is not as complicated as people

think and I would always challenge colleagues to treat

others like they would expect to be treated themselves,

remembering that for a lot of people insurance is a

maze and they are looking to us to help them through.

What major changes have you seen at Bellwood

Prestbury since you joined the Company?

There have been a number of changes due to the very

nature of the market we operate in which is changing and

evolving all the time. Technology has been used to help

cope with the changes, staff are becoming more

experienced and products are constantly being reviewed

and improved to ensure we remain at the forefront.

If you could do any other job in the world other than

the one that you do now, what would it be?

I spend a lot of time in my garden so perhaps a landscape

gardener but it would definitely be something creative –

I’ve always liked the idea of working for Pixar and being

involved in developing an idea, where the only limitations

Page 17: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

17

Bellwood

Prestbury’s

website wins

Silver at the

Horizon

Interactive

Awards

The Horizon Interactive

Awards, one of the

world’s most prestigious

events, when recognising

the very best global

websites has awarded

Bellwood Prestbury’s

website “Silver” in the

highly-fought Banking

and Finance category.

Bellwood Prestbury’s

leading edge website was

created by international

award winning design

company Liquid Light.

Simon Shipway, head of operations

are your own imagination, and bringing it to life.

What are you most proud of both personally and

professionally?

On a personal note it’s hard to say if there is any single

thing I am most proud of … I have a circle of close family

and friends and I really value the time I am able to spend

with them.

When it comes to professionally, I am proud of what I have

achieved by using commitment and hard work, regardless

of the role I have been asked to fulfil.

If you could have a long relaxing lunch with

anyone alive today or from the past, who would it be

and why?

This is a difficult question but if I was to pick one person it

would be Sir David Attenborough. I have always been

fascinated by the natural world and his enthusiasm and

passion for the subject is infectious… he has been

involved in so many ground breaking series and I would

have so many questions it would be a very long lunch.

You are known for your interest in sports. If you could

have been a professional sportsman, which one would

you choose and why?

A golfer. The ability to travel the world, playing some of the

most iconic sporting venues (mainly in warm weather) and

following in the footsteps of so many sporting legends.

Page 18: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

Before heading off on your first venture as an expat or for your next posting, please give some extra

thought to protecting you and your family before you leave.

Having the right protection in place is an aspect of financial planning that is often overlooked when

moving abroad. Insurance can become harder to source, more complicated and costly for that matter.

Adequate protection - or insurance cover - can provide peace of mind for you and your family. It means

you can safeguard a desired quality of life for your loved ones and help avoid any financial hardship if

long-term plans change through an accident, illness or loss of life.

Types of Cover

There are various types of personal protection policies available. In general, it's always important to

ensure that the cover you have is adequate for your circumstances and your family members know the

details of what you have in place.

The type of protection available includes:

Life insurance – often inexpensive, these policies are designed to pay a lump sum if you die and will

often enable you to claim earlier if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, enabling you to get your

affairs in order.

The cost of the cover will be based on your age, smoker status, state of health, and occupation as well

as how much cover you need and how long you want it to last.

Income protection insurance - this provides a replacement income if you are unable to work due to an

accident, illness or disease. The benefit is set as a percentage of your salary and will come into payment

after a waiting period, usually 13 or 26 weeks. Your premiums will depend on your age, occupation,

benefit amount and waiting period.

Critical illness insurance - this will provide a lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with a serious

illness or are permanently disabled.

Depending on the level of cover - which again can be altered if required - this could

help to pay living expenses and the costs of moving if illness means you have to

retire early.

Private health insurance - depending on your circumstances, for

example your home and host country, you may be eligible for free or

subsidised healthcare. The extent of this provision and the quality of

local healthcare services are likely to be key factors in deciding whether to have

private health cover or not. If healthcare is not state provided or subsidised, the costs

of even minor or routine medical treatment can quickly mount up over time. When

arranging cover, check whether the whole family is covered for investigations,

inpatient and outpatient fees, hospital stays, transport to a specialist unit and

repatriation. Such policies can be very expensive, so you

may wish to include a voluntary excess to keep premiums down.

If your circumstances change, such as a move to an area

with higher risk, it may be that existing cover isn't valid or or

sufficient.

Protecting what matters as an Expat

Page 19: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

Equally, if you're relocating abroad with a company that provides insurance, read the small print carefully

to check that the cover is adequate for your requirements and circumstances. If not, you may need to

supplement it with your own policy.

Global Cover

Insurance provides vital protection against the impact of unexpected events and should be structured to

reflect you and your family's needs and circumstances.

Having the right level of cover is vital, so get an insurance assessment carried out. Over-insurance means

that you are spending more than you need to on premiums, whilst being under-insured will lead to a pay-

out which is not sufficient for your circumstances.

Everybody has a set of individual circumstances that are clearly unique, and your cover will need to reflect

this. For example, an accident in the family may result in higher medical costs for non-nationals depending

on where you are, as will extras, such as an interpreter, if required.

For expats, it is likely to be important to arrange insurance policies that have international coverage.

Always inform your insurance company if you move to a posting in a new country as the rate, level and

type of cover may need adjusting. In effect, this could mean changing or updating your policy every time

you move.

An easier solution could be to take out a portable policy that can move with you wherever you are in the world.

what matters as an Expat

Page 21: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

What is an emergency medical evacuation?

This is a question that we often hear from our clients. What exactly is

medical evacuation cover? Why or when do we need this coverage and

how does it work in practice?

Medical evacuation (sometimes referred to as “med evac” or “medivac”) is

the transfer from one hospital to another for medical treatment. Medical

evacuation doesn’t happen for minor scrapes, bruises and breaks and you

just want to get home. Rather, it’s coverage to get you to better treatment

and in some cases to your hospital of choice back home when you need

ongoing, inpatient care for a serious illness, injury, or other medical condi-

tion.

Sometimes we travel to amazing places that can be some way off the

beaten path and where the medical care isn’t great. A lack of a proper

medical specialist for your condition, insufficient equipment, or substandard

care means that you may need to move quickly to somewhere there is a

hospital which is better suited to give you the most appropriate treatment.

When this happens an air ambulance may be needed. The patient is

usually strapped to a stretcher, with a nurse and physician attending to any

medications and other appropriate treatments needed to keep the person’s

condition stable for the flight.

Because most air ambulances tend to be fairly small, there’s usually only

room for one travelling companion to accompany the patient and a bare

minimum of carry-on luggage. The more weight on the plane, the more fuel

stops required, the longer it takes to get to the new hospital.

Why do you need medical evacuation coverage?

We all expect our trips to go off

without a hitch, and most times

they do. However, if you suffer a

serious illness or injury away

from home in a country where

the medical care isn’t up to

scratch, then having a medical

evacuation service is critical.

A medical evacuation will

transport you to a better care

centre and/or home to your own

doctors.

Additionally, medical evacuation

coverage not only protects

well-being, but also your

finances. As an example, the

cost of an air ambulance from

Europe could be as much as

$ 50,000 and up to $100,000 or

more from China. Would you

have that kind of money available

on short notice? Making sure

this benefit is included in your

upcoming travel plans will cover

those unexpected emergency

transportation costs and leave

you at ease knowing you will be

covered.

Page 22: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

Most businesses insure their vehicles and their office contents but fail to put in place ade-

quate protection should they be faced with a claim as a result of their business activities.

This can be due to one or more reasons, with cost-savings often topping the list. Some believe they

have the cover when they haven’t. And then there are those who convince themselves (often due

to the cost-saving) that they have the cover when, in fact, they have not.

Third-party claims can and do happen. Defending a claim can be both time consuming and costly,

often eating up reserves and denting profits. Third-party claims can come from many different

sources, whether it is customers, members of the public, investors or shareholders. Some claims

may come from a no-win, no-fee solicitor which makes bringing a claim all the easier.

Furthermore, if you employ people or bring in contractors, then you are likely to have a

responsibility (duty of care) for that person whether they are working for you for a year, a month, a

day or even an hour. Just imagine the total sum a loss of income claim could amount to should a

high earner not be able to work again and you are found at fault – we are talking millions.

What is liability insurance? Liability insurance covers your legal liability for paying compensation for successful claims brought

by employees, clients, customers, shareholders, investors, or members of the public. Defence

costs can also be included to provide legal expenses.

Liability insurance usually covers the cost of compensation for:

Personal injury – bodily injury, sickness or disease, and/or

Loss of or damage to property

The main types of liability insurance are as follows:

Employers’ liability: covers the cost of compensating employees or contractors who are

injured at or become ill through work.

Public liability: covers the cost of claims made by members of the public for incidents that occur

in connection with your business activities.

Product liability: covers the cost of compensating anyone who is injured by a faulty product

that your business designs, manufactures or supplies.

Professional indemnity: covers the cost of compensating clients for loss or damage

resulting from services or advice provided by a business or individual.

Directors’ and officers’ liability: covers the cost of compensation claims made against your

business’s directors and officers for alleged wrongful acts.

However, there are other types which are industry specific such as aviation, pollution, environment

and many others.

Global

Page 23: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

Global Liability Insurance

How much cover do I need?

It is important to ensure you are not under insured, or over insured for that matter. This will very much depend

on your activities, where you are working or what you are working on. If you are working on a contract, the UN

would be a good example, then it will stipulate the type of insurance you need and the amount. Policies can be

arranged which are contract specific, client specific or covering all your business activities.

Is my cover adequate?

If you are operating in a high-risk region or providing specialist services, then buying an off-the-peg insurance

product is unlikely to offer comprehensive coverage. As always, seek the advice of a specialist with the

necessary international expertise.

If you would like to find out more, please contact our team of specialists on +44 (0)1242 584558 or e-mail us at

[email protected].

Page 24: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage
Page 25: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

A happy tale from

Afghanistan

Kilo Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines arrived in the war-torn town of Now Zad in Helmand

Province of Afghanistan in November 2006. Their mission: to provide stability for the local people

during a period of ever-decreasing security.

Despite what was happening all around them, the Royal Marines soon realised that it wasn’t only the

local people that needed their help. Many of the stray dogs that roamed the town of Now Zad now had

a guardian for the first time in their lives in the form of Royal Marine Sergeant ‘Pen’ Farthing.

Breaking up an organised dog fight taking place right outside their remote compound, Pen never

realised that one of those fighting dogs would then befriend him. He couldn’t say no to those big sad

eyes and the now very former fighting dog became the Royal Marine’s four legged buddy which they

named ‘Nowzad’ after the town where he was rescued.

A year later and the Nowzad charity was born to improve the welfare of animals in Afghanistan,

including humanely reducing the stray dog population which in turn has helped to reduce the incidents

of canine rabies, provide animal welfare education for the Afghan people and develop training

programmes to improve the lives of working animals. The charity operates the only official small

animal clinic and purpose-built facility to provide a safe environment for over a 100 stray dogs, 40 cats

and so far 4 donkeys on the outskirts of Kabul.

Incidentally, it just so happens that ‘Nowzad’ in Farsi actually means ‘New born’, a fitting name for the

first ever animal welfare organisation in Afghanistan.

Nowzad the dog is sadly no longer around having enjoyed a long and comfortable life in Europe but

his inspiration has now helped over 800 soldiers serving in Afghanistan to be reunited back in their

home countries (USA, UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Holland and Germany) with the dogs

or cats they rescued from the front lines of Afghanistan.

The ‘tail’ of the rescue of Nowzad and his other canine buddies from the remote desert outpost of Now

Zad, was published as a best-selling book ‘One Dog at a Time’, which helped to promote and fund the

running of the Nowzad charity.

Bellwood Prestbury are proud to provide and manage the Personal Accident and Life insurance cover

for the Charity’s expatriate team and visiting volunteers.

Pen Farthing, the charity's founder, comments ‘I would like to thank the team at Bellwood Prestbury

for a thorough and professional service, providing the comprehensive cover we need for operating in

Afghanistan but more so for making the application process painless and simple!’.

Page 26: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

Our certification can help to benefit your business

For the fourth consecutive year Bellwood Prestbury have achieved the internationally-recognised ISO 9001 certification. But what is it and why is it so important for both global buyers and traders?

ISO 9001 has been in existence for over 20 years and has grown to become a well-respected, internationally-recognised standard. Being awarded ISO 9001 communicates an important, positive message to both the company’s customers and its employees: that it takes itself seriously by striving to be a well-managed and organised business,

focused on delivering efficiencies where possible.

ISO 9001 does improve productivity and increases profitability, as it highlights where businesses can cut costs and reduce waste. ISO 9001 also encourages businesses to implement risk assessments into their processes in order to create an exceptional Quality Management System.

Of course there are huge benefits for customers, both old and new. When making a decision on who to work with or who to purchase from, you can be reassured that a company with ISO 9001 adheres to strict standards and will have been audited by an independent body.

the audit The audit is carried out onsite and will include a thorough check of the company’s quality manual, documents and records plus the following:

Management review process

Review of resources

Review of purchasing procedures and supplier selection process

Review of client satisfaction and continual improvement processes

Review of problem reporting and complaint management

Review of internal audits

Legal compliance – health and safety, risk assessment

Gaining the certificate is the recognised global benchmark for best practice in quality management. Important government tenders and supply chain questionnaires often stipulate that any companies bidding must have ISO 9001, so that procurement teams can be sure they only choose from the best.

Therefore, by successfully achieving ISO 9001 certification, an organisation is able to distinguish itself from its potential competitors, winning new business and retain existing customers.

These extensive benefits are why millions of organisations across the globe have or are implementing the ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard. ISO 9001 also helps workforces know exactly who does what, when they do it and how, saving time and cost by reducing mistakes.

In a client-focused and service-driven world, this is a win-win scenario as ISO 9001 ultimately creates improved levels of customer service whilst creating a more disciplined and efficient working environment.

Page 27: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

business travel insurance that protects your

employees and your business

Page 28: HOW TO GET YOURSELF KIDNAPPED - Bellwood Prestbury · How to get yourself kidnapped If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann, ... At each stage

Contact Us

Give us a call for more

information about our

services and products

Bellwood Prestbury

4 Imperial Square

Cheltenham

GL50 1QB

United Kingdom

+44 (0) 1242 584558

[email protected]

Visit us on the web at

www.bellwoodprestbury.com

About Bellwood Prestbury

As leading Global Insurance specialists, we have been arranging high-risk and

complex cover for individuals, companies and organisations throughout the world

for more than 15 years. We are strongly independent, but work closely with the

industry’s leading international insurers.

From oil and gas contractors to humanitarian workers providing vital support

across the globe, from High Net Worth individuals to corporate groups, our

independent, affordable and tailored solutions help provide the right balance

between premiums and benefit protection.

Our clients are worldwide. From the UK and Europe, Middle East and Africa, to

Asia and America, we are perfectly placed to offer the right experience and

expertise for your business.

Bellwood Prestbury are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct

Authority. We are a member of British Expertise, the leading UK organisation for

British companies offering professional services internationally, and members of

a number of other specialist industry bodies. Bellwood Prestbury are proud to be

accredited by the British Assessment Bureau to ISO 9001.

.

EXPATRIA MAGAZINE

Our international medical insurance plan for global

contractors could be just what you are looking for.

Call us for a FREE quote on +44 (0)1242 584558.