In the Beginning...

Insuring student property was certainly very unusual - no one else touched it. Harrison Beaumont started in 1968 by looking after students possessions whilst away from home at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and swiftly spread to other towns and cities. Initially the Student Property policy was launched at a premium of 7/6d (39p in today's language) for a Sum Insured of £100 against theft only. The next logical step was for Harrison Beaumont to offer cover for students going off across the world on all sorts of expeditions, as well as those long summer vacation activities which became more and more adventurous.

As students graduated, got jobs and moved into rented or shared property, they needed a different kind of insurance cover - once again, Harrison Beaumont stepped into the breach with their Young Professionals policy. This is still going strong today because although many things have changed, this basic requirement has not.

Harrison Beaumont Insurance Services, with over 35 years experience of offering specialist cover, has grown in expertise, diversified into other areas - but still offers insurance cover for students and graduates - and can meet most unusual requests.

Up, Up and Away...

In 1968, insurance companies would only provide a standard travel package with exclusions in cover for any country beyond Western Europe, and the total exclusion of North and South America and Canada. However, 30 years on, the world is a different place. In terms of travelling, it has become smaller, more and more remote areas of the planet have become accessible to the adventurous. As a result, people have become much more intrepid in terms of destinations and particularly the type of activities they undertake.

In 1994, Harrison Beaumont acquired West Mercia Insurance Services - a company set up by a parachuting enthusiast and one of the first to offer cover for novice or one-off parachute jumpers. Let's face it, most of us nowadays seem to know of someone who has 'jumped for charity' - but accidents do happen and cover was needed to protect these brave (crazy?!!) people. Being off work with a couple of broken legs (or worse) without any money coming in to pay the bills is a worry most people wouldn't want to consider.

So, for One Off Charity Jumps or for the greater challenge of Free Fall, contact us for cover. On-line cover is available, but our staff are always there to answer your queries.

Adventurous Lives...

Adventurous sports are often seen as an essential ingredient of a modern holiday - you probably know of many people who have experienced the thrills of white water rafting, abseiling, parachuting, sky-diving, mountain climbing, and even potholing. You may even have taken part yourself. Consider your last holiday - what did you do? Did you go on holiday with every intention of lazing on a beach for a fortnight? And what happened when you got there?  

What sort of exciting and unimagined activities were on offer - jet skiing - parascending from the back of a speedboat - water skiing - banana riding - the list is endless. But - and it is a 'but' to be considered - if you had the misfortune to be injured whilst participating in one of these 'fun sports' - who would have paid all the bills? Doctors and hospital fees which, particularly in the States and Canada, can be astronomical. Repatriation of someone who broke a leg skiing, for example, would mean not only medical expenses but also most likely having to travel back on a scheduled airline and taking up two or even three seats at the full price!  

Most people know about 'travel insurance' and indeed the travel agents often offer 'special deals' on package holidays with the small print saying you have to take out their own insurance - which is most unlikely to cover you for any of the sports mentioned above! But how many people stop to think about this, miles away from home? How many people ask the 'funsports operator' if he is covered for third party liability? No, you just get strapped in, believing nothing will go wrong! You do NOT have to take the Tour Operators insurance now - you do have freedom of choice, so long as you can show that you do actually have insurance!  

Harrison Beaumont offers cover for a very wide range of risks and activities - you name it and we can probably cover you. Who had heard of bungee jumping 10 years ago? Now everyone knows what it means - even if they don't actually fancy having a go themselves!  

Don't forget that if you are the one who makes all the arrangements for a group travelling together (you might be classed as a Tour Leader - and that in itself could lead to all sorts of unpleasantness if one of the party is injured) Leaders Liability Insurance is therefore something to be looked into. Harrison Beaumont can help there too.