Beazley Creates Ground-breaking Risk Education Tools for Architects and Engineers

FARMINGTON, Conn., Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Beazley Group (BEZ.L), a leading insurer of professional liability insurance for design firms, has launched a redesigned web portal that gives clients and brokers access to industry-leading risk management materials.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/NY46066 )

"Good risk management is not only protection against hugely expensive and time-consuming professional liability claims," said James Schwartz, US architects and engineers focus group leader at Beazley, "but can also be an important source of competitive advantage."

The web portal was created to heighten firm-wide awareness of risk issues and to offer insights and solutions. It includes:

• An instructional video series titled "By Design" that walks firm employees through typical business scenarios that may lead to costly claims and lost business. The story lines for the series are based on real life examples.
• A "Beazley Box Broker toolkit," containing presentation materials that allow brokers to host risk management educational sessions for insureds.
• More than 30 on-demand webinars hosted by industry experts on topics that pertain to design professionals. Beazley's live risk management webinars, which have been hosted quarterly since 2006 for brokers and insureds, now often draw 1,000 plus attendees. 
• Interactive state map with actual case information regarding state statutes and the courts' interpretation of the law directly impacting liabilities and exposures facing design professionals.

"As a leading insurer for design firms of all sizes and with more than 25 years of experience, we have a unique perspective on the types of risks that are most threatening to design firms' finances and reputation," Mr Schwartz said.

"Risk management is not the responsibility of just one individual in the company, but of the entire firm. We urge risk managers to share these tools with all of their employees."

Note to editors:

Beazley plc (BEZ.L), is the parent company of specialist insurance businesses with operations in Europe, the US, Asia and Australia.  Beazley manages five Lloyd's syndicates and, in 2011, underwrote gross premiums worldwide of $1,712.5 million.  All Lloyd's syndicates are rated A by A.M. Best. 

Beazley's underwriters in the United States focus on writing a range of specialist insurance products.  In the admitted market, coverage is provided by Beazley Insurance Company, Inc., an A.M. Best A rated carrier licensed in all 50 states.  In the surplus lines market, coverage is provided by the Beazley syndicates at Lloyd's.

Beazley is a market leader in many of its chosen lines, which include professional indemnity, property, marine, reinsurance, accident and life, and political risks and contingency business.

For more information please go to: www.beazley.com

SOURCE Beazley Group