Construction, Energy & Engineering Newsletter - September 2007

Dear SIG Member

Firstly I must apologize for the absence of recent communications, resultant from a change of employment and, as UK members will appreciate, the influx of flood work. That does not however stop CILA’s Executive team from soldiering on for the benefit of all. Consequently, I can report some developments.

As you will be aware a SIG conference has been organized at Aston University for the end of October, and Construction, Energy and Engineering have been allocated Wednesday 31st October 2007. By the time that you receive this note, a programme for all three days will have been published on the website, but as a summary we are organizing a choice of two lectures for delegates after certain formalities commencing at 10.00 and concluding by 10.45 hours. The options will be a talk on gas turbines by David Dimelow or DSU by Geoff Lord of Kennedys.

As you know, Kennedys have agreed to be our sponsors and their commitment to the SIG is more than demonstrated by their involvement in this event. After a coffee break, between 11.00 and 12.30 hours, I will be chairing a “Question Time” event. Geoff Lord has agreed to represent the lawyers on the panel, and I’m currently working on a broker and Insurer to complete the team. In the tradition of the BBC the panel will not be forewarned of the questions to be posed by the audience, but there is a need for me as the Robin Day replacement to ensure a lively debate ensues through a suitable number and the quality of those questions. Can I therefore ask you all to consider those issues you have always wanted to raise with such an eminent cross section of the market, and submit questions to me (if you are able to attend or not). Submissions can be anonymous if any one is shy.

After lunch, the Liability SIG will join us for a complex and/or major loss workshop, where teams of delegates will be asked to consider various aspects of a particularly cunning scenario, and verbally report back to the conference.

Hopefully, the overall programme will be intellectually challenging for all levels of experience and a bit of fun. The success of the event does however depend upon as many of us as possible getting involved. Please do try to attend, and remember that guests are welcome so that it’s an opportunity to network with the market and help us to achieve our objective to become a true forum for adjusters, brokers and Insurers alike.

On other matters, the CILA Council has approved a number of changes to the examination structure recently and there is an ongoing review to ensure we continue to meet future requirements. In the short term however, the examinations are now held twice a year, and the compulsory C3 paper “Adjustment of Claims” has been revised to introduce a selection of specialist questions which a candidate can choose on the day to fit with their work experience. Beyond domestic and commercial property these now include Business Interruption, Liability and Subsidence. Whilst helpful for the majority of junior adjusters, as yet no account has been made for our specialist field. Having discussed this with the Chair of the examinations committee, if there is a demand, the selection could be extended to include at least Construction for the next exams to be held in April 2008.

Before acting upon this I would appreciate an indication from you as to whether there is such a demand. I hope there is. If so is anyone interested in setting the questions and taking on an examiners role?

Many thanks and best wishes.

Let me know if this causes any difficulty.

Best wishes,
Mike Roberts, ACII FCILA
Chairman, Construction, Energy & Engineering SIG