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What is travel insurance?
Travel Insurance may be able to protect you against a range of unforeseen circumstances that can negatively impact your holiday – from losing valuables to medical emergencies. There are several types of travel insurance to cater to the needs of different sorts of travellers, from those taking a gap year and backpacking around the world to those who take an annual cruise. And everything in between. You can make sure that you’re getting the best cover for your needs by reading our policy documents.

Protecting you against unforeseen circumstances
Our cover levels provides a package of travel insurance benefits which can be bought as either a Single Trip or Annual Multi-Trip policy.

Cancellation and Curtailment
Cover for any non-refundable, unused travel and accommodation costs if you have to cancel or cut a trip short due to certain reasons specified in the policy wording.

Emergency Medical Expenses
We may be able to offer help if you need emergency medical treatment, medical repatriation and more outside your home country.

Missed Departure
Cover for additional travel and accommodation costs if you arrive too late to travel on your booked transport due to certain reasons specified in the policy wording.

Delayed Departure
Cover if your first outward or final inward international departure is delayed for 12 hours or more due to certain reasons specified in the policy wording.

Baggage
Cover for items that are usually carried or worn during a trip if they are lost, stolen or damaged (subject to terms and conditions).

Personal Accident
This is cover for the event that you’re hurt, however seriously, in an accident. Look at our policy wording for specific details.

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Travel insurance blog

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Read Copy - Blog 1 - 10 million Brits abroad. Are you one of them?

SAMPLE OF CONTENT:

10 million Brits at risk abroad – are you one of them?

Are you one of the 9.9 million Brits who went abroad without the right travel insurance in the last year?* If so, you could be putting yourself and your family at risk.

Research by ABTA has revealed that 22% of holidaymakers travelled completely uninsured and 27% went without the correct cover. The second group included people who didn’t declare a pre-existing medical condition or took part in activities that they weren’t covered for. Both situations can lead insurers to reject claims and worse, leave you unprotected against dangerous situations.

There’s a huge amount that can go wrong while you’re away, a lot of it being out of your control, so getting the right travel insurance for you is crucial to making sure you’re covered and giving you peace of mind.

7 common misconceptions around travel insurance

Jon, Croydon:
“I travel to Germany often, but I travel light each time and have an EHIC, which gives me health cover if I get sick.”

EHIC doesn’t offer the cover that many people think. You’re entitled to a baseline level of cover at local amenities, but the costly parts of overseas medical emergencies– such as repatriation – are not covered.

Medical problems only make up a small percentage of travel insurance claims. EHIC doesn’t cover you for any of the situations that can cause untold grief on holiday, like lost luggage, cancellation, a bankrupt provider or robbery.

EHICs expire every 5 years, so make sure that yours is valid with enough time to renew it if it’s not.

 

Stacey, Norbury:
“I thought travel insurance was only for getting ill on holiday, so I never got it. Then I went to New York and the flight was five hours late, and not covered by EU law. Now, I never leave without it.”

Delayed flights aren’t the only trauma associated with flying. Luggage being sent to the wrong place, airline closures and more are all reasons you need the right travel insurance.

There are also perks you can add onto your insurance that can make delays less of a gruelling ordeal. Flight Delay Assistance gives you access to airport lounges if your flight is delayed by more than 2 hours.

 

Alex, Bristol:
“My bank gives me free travel insurance, so I don’t need to buy another policy when I go away.”

If your bank gives you free travel insurance, do you know what you’re covered for? Is your partner covered, or your kids?

Free insurance deals need to be scrutinised to make sure they deliver what you need. It’s too late once you’re away to realise that you’re not covered for the activity you’re doing, or that a loved one isn’t on your policy.

When you get your insurance through your bank or credit card, make sure you know exactly what you’re covered for. You might be unprotected in a way that is important to you, such as if you’re going skiing or on a cruise.

It’s always important to get the right travel insurance before going away to ensure you have the best cover.

 

Lottie, Ashford:
“I used to get travel insurance, but I’ve never made a claim so now I don’t bother.”

Travel insurance is about making sure you’ve got the right cover for the unexpected. No one wants to use it, but in the one situation that you really need it, you’ll be glad you have it. As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Sean, Milton Keynes:
“Getting travel insurance is often so far in the back of my mind that I simply forget to buy it.”

Buying your travel insurance when you book your trip means you’re covered in the run-up to your holiday and that you don’t have a last-minute panic – or worse, forget to buy it entirely. If you buy your insurance as early as possible and then have an accident a week before you depart, you can be covered and needn’t lose out completely.

 

Klaudia, Totnes:
“If I’m going on a cheap holiday, I don’t want to spend extra on something I’m probably never going to use.”

The cost of cover is linked to the type of holiday you’re going on. A brief city break in the EU will be much less than a lengthy road-trip across the US for the same applicant.

Compared to the costs you might have to fork out if you lost your holiday, your ability to travel or suffered a medical emergency, the cost of travel insurance is very low.

The cheapest travel insurance options might not provide you with sufficient cover. Always make sure you’ve read the policy documents, agreed to the excess and know what you’re covered for before buying.

It is always going to be preferable to be in a situation where a payout is possible. If you don’t have a travel insurance policy, you are guaranteed not to get a payout if something should happen. This can potentially leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket.

* Kantar Forward Planning

Read Copy - Blog 2 - How to avoid holiday scams

How to avoid holiday scams

  • Make sure you’re not taken for a ride while you’re abroad
  • Check currency exchange rates with the Post Office Money Currency Converter

We all look forward to our holidays, unfortunately more and more people are being affected by holiday fraud and scams, which means not only could you be left without the holiday but also left out of pocket too.

You’re out and about in a new country, taking in the sights – then a friendly, well-dressed man starts speaking to you. He seems nice enough – then he explains that he’s stranded in the city, and needs a bit of cash to help him get home. What do you do?

Don’t let your guard down – chances are, he’s just after your money. Con men, taxi drivers and street vendors have all been known to scam travellers – make sure nobody takes advantage of you or your family.

We’ve put together a list of a few things to watch out for while you’re abroad. But make sure you do your own research too – guidebooks and online guides are always a great place to start.

If the worst does happen, you may need to get a police report within 24 hours to claim it against your insurance. Once that’s sorted, don’t let it spoil your holiday.

Things to consider

Before we get into specifics, here are a few tips:

  • Don’t answer any personal questions from strangers
  • Don’t carry a lot of cash while you’re out and about
  • If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is
  • Be wary of unusually friendly strangers – especially when they suggest you go somewhere together
  • Don’t let good manners get the better of you – if someone won’t leave you alone, ignore them
  • Agree prices of any products, services or accommodation before you hand over any money – and always get a receipt
  • Do your research before you go – find out how much things are going to cost with the Post Office Travel Barometer.
  • Get a feel for the area, and learn a few key phrases in case you need to explain yourself.

Taxis and rickshaws

It’s happened to all of us at least once. Climbing into a taxi, reaching your destination in 5 minutes, and then being presented with an outrageous fare.

You don’t want to cause a fuss (because that’s not what us Brits do) so you pay the driver and fume for the rest of the night.

To avoid this happening, agree a price before you set foot in the cab. To dodge the language barrier, carry a pen and paper handy – write down the fare you’ve both agreed upon for your entire group, and then carry it with you in case of a dispute.

Don’t risk your luggage being held hostage – if you can, keep bags to hand rather than in the locked boot of a taxi.

Read Copy - Blog 3 - How much to tip on holiday

How much to tip on holiday

  • Know how much to tip when you’re abroad
  • Check currency exchange rates with the Post Office Money Currency Converter

No-one enjoys under or over-tipping at a café or restaurant. Never fear – read our guide to tipping on holiday and strike the perfect balance of generous and polite, without going overboard.

Never fear – just read our guide to globetrotting tipping and strike the perfect balance of generous and polite, without going overboard.

  • Europe
  • Asia
  • North and South America
  • Africa

How much to tip in Europe

In most of Europe, tipping is very common. In many cases, it’s just built into part of the bill – very similar to the UK. Tip sizes vary from country to country, but if you get stuck or you’re strapped for cash – just add on 10%, or round the bill up to the nearest €5 or €10.

As in all countries, it’s polite to tip porters, taxi drivers and the people cleaning your hotel room – the expected tip is much smaller than the standard in bars and restaurants.

If the service has been poor, don’t hesitate to hold back on the tip. As in the UK, it’s meant to be a reward for good service.

Austria:

In restaurants, tipping is very similar to the rest of Europe. As always, keep an eye out for service charge – usually 12.5%. Pay the charge (it’s the tip) and then round the bill up to the nearest Euro. Saying ‘Danke’ (meaning thank you) when you’re paying tells the waiter to keep the change – so keep that in mind. If you’re pleased with service elsewhere, a tip is appreciated but not expected.

France:

French law requires all service charges to be included on the bill. That means tipping is much the same in the UK – a reward for good service, not an obligation. If there is no service charge, tip around 10-12.5%. Taxis, hotel staff and tour guides won’t necessarily expect a tip – but they will be appreciated.

Germany:

Tip 10%. If a service charge is included, just round the bill up to the nearest Euro. And remember – tap water isn’t free in Germany, so don’t be surprised when you see it on the bill.

Greece:

Tip 5-10%. There may be a service charge, but this will usually be a few Euros to pay for bread and water with your meal – it probably won’t go to the waiter. If you take a taxi in a tourist area, you might be expected to tip – but don’t feel pressured to  do so.

Italy:

Tip 5-10% – just round the bill up to the nearest €5 or €10. Keep an eye out for the ‘pane e coperto’ – the restaurant charging you for bread. That’s a general charge that’s different from ‘servizio’ – service charge. You’ll be expected to pay both charges, though don’t feel obligated to include a separate tip as well – especially if the charges are a bit high.

Poland:

Tip 10-15% in restaurants. Saying ‘dziękuję’ – pronounced djen-kooyeh – when you pay means you’re telling your waiter to keep the change. Tipping outside of restaurants isn’t common, or expected.

Spain:

Service charge is usually included, especially in tourist areas. However, it’s polite to add a few Euros – 5-10% on top of the bill. If there’s no service charge, pay 15%.

Turkey:

In Turkey, tip between 5-10%, depending on service. The more luxurious the restaurant, the higher the expected tip.

How much to tip in Asia

In many Asian countries, tipping isn’t especially common. If an area is popular with tourists, it’s more likely that tipping will be expected.

China

You will not be expected to tip in China. However, tourist industries – like tour bus drivers and tour guides – are very likely to expect a tip

Hong Kong

Tipping is more acceptable and commonplace than in mainland China – restaurants may add a service charge of 10-15%, and taxi drivers will usually expect to keep small change from your fare

India:

Leaving a tip of 5-10% in restaurants is fair. Outside of restaurants, tipping is usually not expected

Japan

Leaving a tip isn’t a part of Japanese culture. Good service is considered to come as standard, meaning there’s no need for a tip. Trying to tip in a restaurant may lead to staff attempting to return your money – so to avoid embarrassment, don’t tip.

Staff working for companies connected with tourism – like tour guides – may be more likely to accept a tip. In that case, it is considered polite to place the tip inside an envelope, not to hand it over directly

Thailand

In Bangkok, tipping is expected. Hotels and bars may add a service charge on to the bill – if they don’t, tip 10% or round up to the nearest 20 Baht. Leaving a tip in cash and handing your bill directly to your waiter means it’s more likely that they’ll get to keep it.

Outside Bangkok, rounding up a bill or fare will be considered a fair tip – tipping isn’t usually expected.

How much to tip in North and South America

There’s a big north/south divide in the Americas

In North America – the USA and Canada – you’re expected to tip bartenders, taxi drivers, hotel staff, tour guides and waiters, even if you weren’t especially impressed with their service.

In South America, tipping is more like Europe. It’s not usually expected outside of restaurants and hotels – so only tip if you feel that it’s justified

Argentina

Tip 10-15% at a restaurant, but watch out for the ‘cubierto’ charge – which is essentially an extra charge per person, like Italy’s ‘pane e coperto’. It doesn’t count as a tip – it goes to the restaurant, not the staff

Canada:

Like the USA, tipping is very much the norm – bartenders, taxi drivers, hotel staff, tour guides – will all expect a tip. Expect to tip between 10-15%, depending on service.

Mexico

Keep an eye out for service charge – called propina. If this is added to your bill, don’t worry about tipping more.

USA:

Tipping is always expected. Staff in every service industry will expect a tip – hotel doormen, bartenders, taxi drivers, pizza delivery drivers – the list goes on. Not tipping can easily be seen as rude. Always carry a few dollar bills, just in case.

When it comes to restaurants, tip 15-20% of the bill (before tax). When a bartender serves you a drink, leave $1 or $2. Any food delivery person that comes to your door – like pizza or Chinese – will expect 10-20%.

As for taxis – between 15-20% is acceptable. If anyone handles your bags, tip between $1-2 per bag.

As a general rule, 15-20% will never go amiss.

How much to tip in Africa

Tipping in Africa depends on where you’re visiting. Tourist hotspots almost always mean that a tip is expected. However, the further you go from major tourist locations, the less common it will be.

Kenya:

Tip 10% of the bill if you’re happy with the service at a restaurant. Tipping hotel staff at least 50-100 shillings for good service will also be appreciated.

South Africa

Leaving a tip is expected in South Africa – and in many cases will be included in the bill. Aim to leave between 10-15% in restaurants

Read Copy - Blog 4 - Differences between life insurance and life assurance

Life insurance vs life assurance

There are big differences between life insurance and life assurance. We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision which is most appropriate to for you.

Life insurance and life assurance sound very similar and do very similar things, but they are very different products. They each offer unique features that will have advantages for some people and disadvantages for others. If you are considering taking out a life policy, we’ll explain the key differences between insurance and assurance so that you can assess which is better for you.

Differences between life insurance and life assurance

Assurance is designed to protect against events that will happen, whereas (in general) insurance covers you in case an event happens.

So how do life insurance and life assurance differ? When it comes to life cover, the two terms are used almost interchangeably. In fact, more common names for these products are ‘term life’ and ‘whole of life’. However much we don’t like to think about it, it is certain that we are going to die, as its name suggests, whole of life insurance (or life assurance) covers you for your entire life; there is no end date attached to the policy. So life assurance guarantees a payout on the death of a policy holder (providing premiums are maintained and the policy is valid).

Term life insurance, by contrast, specifies a length of time for your life to be insured for (otherwise known as the ‘term’ of the policy) . There will be a maximum number of years your policy can run for, meaning that the insurer only pays out if you were to die within the life of your policy.

What are the advantages of term life insurance?

It’s worth mentioning that both life insurance and life assurance share the same persuasive advantage: providing for your loved ones when you’re gone, and the peace of mind that brings.

Much will depend on your stage of life and what you intend the insurance payout to cover should you die. For a young, healthy person, term life insurance is a consideration when buying a house or starting a family.

Decreasing Cover

Decreasing cover is a form of term life insurance that stays equal to the size of your repayment mortgage. It is designed to expire at the same time your mortgage is fully repaid, and has the advantage of covering this expense if you were to die during the term of your policy. The payout amount decreases in line with your mortgage, however your premiums will remain the same throughout.

(Decreasing cover usually has an interest rate cap, meaning that if your mortgage’s interest rate is higher than your insurer’s cap, the payout might not completely cover your outstanding repayments.)

Level Cover

Level cover offers a payout of a specific amount. If you have calculated your family’s cost of living and know what they would need to continue life as they know it without your input, then level cover can provide peace of mind that they will not need to undergo dramatic upheaval should you die.

Increasing Cover

Increasing cover has the same basic principle as level cover, however it is index-linked and so rises with inflation. Indexes track the relative costs of goods and services to chart the changing buying power of a currency (‘inflation’). Money tends to be worth less over time (think about the cost of a chocolate bar ten years ago compared to now), and so increasing cover uses the interest rate to increase your payout size to give you the same relative value as when you took out your policy.

Increasing cover will also mean periodically increased premiums with most insurers.

While everything depends on a person’s unique circumstances, it is generally the case that for the same value of payout, decreasing term policies pay the lowest premiums and increasing term pay the highest.

What are the advantages of life assurance (whole of life insurance)?

It might seem at first that, given the main difference between life insurance and life assurance, the latter is more tempting. Since the policy does not expire, there is no risk of you dying after the end of your contract and not receiving a payout. Yet due to this, premiums for lengthy life assurance policies (or those with large payouts) tend to be significantly greater than those of term life policies.

Policies designed for people entering later life (usually entitled things like “over 50s life insurance”) are usually whole life policies that payout regardless of how long you live after you have taken out the cover.

Most often, this type of policy is used to contribute towards funeral expenses, pay outstanding debts or leave as a gift to family. Payouts are too small to contribute meaningfully to a mortgage, but some have the benefit of having a fixed length with respect to your contributions. Post Office Over 50s Life Insurance, for example, enables you to stop paying your premiums after 30 years, or on your 90th birthday (or subsequent policy anniversary; whichever is soonest).

Your cover is still in place and will remain so until you die, but the premiums no longer need to be paid.

Which is right for me?

Whether to choose life insurance or life assurance needn’t be as confusing as their names might imply. With the above information and based on your stage in life and plans for the future, we hope that you’ll be able to make a choice between insurance and assurance that is right for you. Post Office offers serveral life insurance options that might be right for you, if you’d like to discuss your options with an advisor in more detail, contact our team on 0330 123 3947.

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AXA PPP HealthcarePress and PostersOnline

50,000 years younger

Sadly, many people’s health age is higher than their real age.
This guide was written to help businesses encourage their employees live healthier lives and make them years younger. The goal was for companies across the UK to collectively make their workforces 50,000 years younger.
It suggests ways HR and business leaders can motivate their people throughout the year to stay on track.

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We’ve a plan to be years younger.
You’re committed to reaching your targets, but can you make your workforce committed too? Come lunchtime will they be eating their sandwiches at their screens or jogging round the park?

This guide is packed with ideas and suggestions to literally get your people up and running.

Our plan is to encourage meaningful and lasting lifestyle changes
Fingers crossed it will also have your employees eating better, losing weight giving up bad habits like smoking and generally living a healthier lifestyle too. Because – hopefully just like your employees – Years Younger will go the distance.

 

On your marks
Pledge and plan

Remember, this isn’t a sprint it’s a marathon, so prepare well by following this guide.
First, you’ll need to agree your pledge – how many years will your workforce improve its Health Age in total?

You’ll want an ambitious but achievable target.
Setting it will depend on your current health and wellbeing status and strategy.
Don’t worry if you find it hard setting a figure, just ask your account manager for help.

When you are ready, make a pledge of the number of years your organisation aims to lose on our Younger Together site and tell us why you’re getting involved.
To show recognition of your commitment to employee wellbeing, we’ll add your company to our “Who’s pledged” page.
We can also highlight your pledge on our LinkedIn page too.

Make sure we know you’ve pledged, so we can keep you updated with new tools and resources as they become available during the campaign, right up to 2020.
You’ll see other likeminded companies and how they’re achieving their targets here.

 

Ready, steady … and go
Launch
Direct people to the Proactive Health Gateway, so they can find their Health Age. Make the most of the launch toolkit. You’ll find it on the “Inspire your people” page on our Younger Together site or on YourHQ where you can add your own logo and Gateway details. Use the launch email template to let your colleagues know about your pledge and how they can get involved. Raise awareness around your workforce with the posters and flyers provided.

Put the banners on your intranet or use them as screensavers. Link banners to your Gateway to make it easy for people to get involved. Reinforce your message across other media too, such as employee newsletters and business social networks like Yammer. If you’ve the budget, encourage employees to pledge their own commitment by entering them into a draw with prizes like FitBits or healthy recipe books.

 

Make sure everyone’s talking about Years Younger
Month 1 – 2
Keep up the pace. Send reminder emails to keep people involved. Remind work employees to regularly log in to keep an eye on how they are doing. Put toolkit posters in prominent positions at work. Set up a “pledge wall” on the intranet and

use it to display how many years individuals or teams think they can lose. Be ambitious and set the bar high. Encourage senior leaders to find out their Health Age and blog how they’re going to improve it. Use our social media banners, internally and externally, to remind everyone what a great employer you are.

 

Raise the excitement
Month 3 – 5
Don’t slow down. People will be getting fitter and feeling healthier now.
Keep up the momentum – and the enthusiasm.
Create a place in a communal area where people can pin their pledges.
Use YourHQ to make sure the Younger Together logo goes on all your health and wellbeing communications – a great way to raise awareness.
Use the #YoungerTogether hashtag on social media channels and encourage your employees to do the same. That way, people can be inspired by tips from our expert physiologists and share ideas with employees at other pledged companies too.
Point out ways employees can improve their Health Age with our Health and Wellbeing Calendar resources.
Remind everyone to keep an eye on their progress Month 6.
Stay on track.
Organise drop in sessions to excite interest. These could focus on the Proactive Health Gateway and how to get the most out of it, or perhaps on a particular health topic.
Remind employees to check in on the Proactive Health Gateway.
Encourage them to update changes on the Health Age Calculator so they can see their progress and be motivated to keep going.
Ask your Account Manager for your Proactive Health Gateway MI report which will show any improvements in your business’ health.
Use the information to help target your health and wellbeing activity.
Update on your company’s Years Younger progress to let people know how you’re doing as an organisation.

 

Make sure everything looks fresh and new
Month 7 – 9
Keep everyone up to speed. Don’t be afraid to ask your employees how they‘re getting on. Prompt them to regularly check their Health Age. Use the “Little Things” campaign materials to refocus your Years Younger message

and remind people that they don’t have to make massive changes to improve their health. Put up your posters somewhere prominent at work. But change them every few weeks, so there’s always something new to engage your colleagues.

 

Let people know how it’s going
Month 10 – 11
Your campaign has been running almost a year, so don’t slacken the pace. Send an all-staff, email update on your company’s progress. Encourage people to go the extra mile to reach the one year milestone.

Use a topic from our Health and Wellbeing Calendar to encourage people to push themselves a little harder. Organise some onsite events or activity to bring colleagues together and get them talking.

 

Celebrate your progress
One year
You’ve reached the twelve month mark.
Hopefully you’ll have hit some significant targets by now too.
Use the milestone visuals to let everyone know how you’re all doing.
If you have the budget, reward your employees with something healthy like a voucher for a free exercise class, or an onsite smoothie bike.

 

This one will run and run
Now you’re on your second lap.
Use this guide and our Health and Wellbeing Calendar to plan for the next year.
Analyse what worked well and what didn’t.
Use our Year 2 “Try It” campaigns throughout the year to help your employees make small, sustainable changes that will last.

Use your best ideas again – they might work even better second time around, as people become familiar with initiatives.
Ask your team for feedback and ideas.  The more you involve them the harder they’ll try.
If you are likely to reach your Years Younger target before the 2020 deadline, consider adding a few years to it.

 

Make our Health and Wellbeing Calendar work harder for your business
Use the monthly posters to relate health and wellbeing topics back to your Years Younger message by adding your Gateway URL using YourHQ.
Remember always to add the Years Younger logo to any health promotion to keep  the focus. Pick key topics to highlight throughout the year, and arrange activities around them. For example, you could promote National Fitness Day as a special date to put in extra effort on the Years Younger challenge too.

 

Find the channels that work for you
Use different media to keep up the momentum
To keep the excitement going, use more than one medium. There’s lots of ways  to make Years Younger top of mind.  So mix up the channels you use. Use different messages too, to keep them fresh and relevant to where you are in your campaign.

Ask for help.
Appoint health champions in your company to spread the word.
The more volunteers you can enlist to help people get excited about Years Younger, the better.

OnlinePress and PostersAXA PPP Healthcare

Business Healthcare cover

Can a small business afford to offer a healthcare plan to its employees?
This brochure argues it can’t afford not to.

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Helping you build a stronger, healthier business
Building a business takes hard work, dedication and focus. It takes a lot of love too.
As the driving force making things happen, you’re devoted to your business and never switch off. Profit, cash-flow, finding new customers and keeping your people on top of their game are what keeps you up at night.

You need your team to be focussed, fit and healthy because you’re relying on them – they’re your most valuable asset. And as a small business, you can’t afford for anyone to be off work – including yourself – for long.

Support when you need it
At AXA PPP healthcare, we’re here to take care of you and your people when they need us the most, supporting them with healthcare cover so you can feel safer knowing their health is looked after.

Because we know every company is different, we’ll help you create a plan that suits your business and budget. You may want the option to see the right specialist to get speedy diagnosis and treatment, or mental health support for the pressures which come with your area of work. Or maybe it’s physiotherapy support you know would be beneficial to your team.

No matter what benefits you choose, everyone covered will have access to Doctor@Hand,  our online GP service, to help your team quickly get the service they need. They’ll have unlimited consultations with a doctor, wherever they are and whenever they want – and less time away from work makes great business sense.

To help you decide what’s best for you and your team, we’ve illustrated some examples on pages 10 and 11 of how you could build your healthcare plan.  And you’ll also find out more about the healthcare benefits we offer.

We’re devoted to putting good health in your hands.
Welcome to AXA PPP healthcare.

 

The benefits for your business
When you’ve got bold plans for your business, you need the right talent to help you realise them. Healthcare cover can help you attract the best people to your growing business and it can make it easier for you to keep them.

With healthcare cover, you’ll show your employees that you really value what they do for you. That you’re ready to invest in their health and wellbeing – and in getting them back on their feet again if they become unwell. From the IT expert upstairs who keeps every member of your team up and running, to the indispensable office manager who gets things done, they’ll know that their loyalty, dedication and willingness to go the extra mile really make a difference to your shared success.

 

Some of the benefits we offer, depending on the cover options you choose

Quick to get back to work
Everyone plays a crucial role in a small business. So just one person being off for a while can make it hard for you and your team to keep to the commitments you’ve made. And that can increase the pressure on you all and affect business plans.

Quick to see a doctor
With our Private GP option, your employees can choose to see a GP face to face privately, so there’s no need for them to wait for an appointment at their local practice.

Quick to book an appointment
We’ll help your employees get the care they need, fast. With our Fast Track Appointment service, we can book them in speedily with the right specialist. And because we work with over 17,000 specialists and practitioners across the UK, appointments can be at a place and a time that best suits your people.

Quick to see a mental health specialist
Mental health support can be more accessible too.
With our Stronger Minds support, that you access with the Mental Health option, there’s no need to see a GP.
If an employee feels concerned about their mental health, they can speak to and get a phone appointment with a trained expert who will assess them and guide them to the right support, so they get the help they need quickly.

 

Whatever your plan, these services come as standard
Unlimited access to our online GP service
Everyone covered on our plans enjoys unlimited access to our Doctor@Hand online GP Service1. That means your employees can have a 20 minute video or phone consultation, whenever they want and wherever they are: before work, in their lunch break or when the children are in bed. Doctor@Hand is delivered by Doctor Care Anywhere.

 

Cancer and heart care
Cancer and heart conditions touch everyone. So if one of your employees is affected, your whole team is. Our experienced nurses make sure no one has to find their way on their own.

They know all about side effects, medication and the way your employees might be feeling. They’re there for them at the end of the phone, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. And they’re there for family and colleagues, too. They’ll guide everyone through how to talk about cancer and heart conditions, what to expect and how to be supportive.

Physio support to ease the pressure
A sprained ankle from the Sunday game. Posture problems. Backache that won’t go away. Trouble with bones, joints and muscles. These are some of the most common reasons for needing time off work. With Business Health your employees can get a phone appointment with a physio in our Working Body team, to assess their symptoms and discuss next steps. They won’t need to wait to see a GP to refer them.

Healthy rewards for members
You can reward your people for putting their health first. As AXA PPP healthcare members they’ll get everything from 50% off an annual membership at PureGym3 to discounts across all products at ActivePlus, our online health store.

Answers online, and on the end of the line
Everyone wants answers they can trust. With AXA PPP healthcare membership, your team won’t need to waste time wading through the web. Our online health centres take them straight to the health information they need. We can help identify the right local support group or charity for their health concern too, with our online service delivered by Health Unlocked.

If they’d rather speak to someone to put their mind at ease, our experienced Health at Hand experts are just a phone call away, ready to answer their questions, 24/7.

Our online health & wellbeing platform
With Proactive Health Gateway your team will benefit from wellbeing support tailored to their individual goals. They can use the AXA Health Age Calculator to find out their ‘Health Age’ and follow in-depth guidance or make suggested changes to get healthier. It’s available 24/7 via our website and app.

 

Building your plan
Want healthcare cover that’s right for you and your business? Build it yourself.
Don’t get us wrong. We’re not asking you to create your own healthcare insurance from scratch. But we are offering you a choice of healthcare options and benefits that you can pick from, to create something that’s right for your business.

Not one size fits all
Some of your team are more senior than others, a few are absolutely essential to your business, others have been loyal employees for many years. So you may want to reward them differently.

That’s why, if you have six or more people, you can choose different bundle options. Each bundle must cover at least three employees and you can have up to six different bundles.

Choose just a single option if that suits your business
Perhaps your biggest priority is getting your staff access to quick medical help when they need it. Or maybe you only want cover for therapies like physio.
If that’s the case for you, then just buy the option you need, all on its own.
Our Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) are only available to buy when you choose other healthcare options in your plan for at least three employees.

If you want guidance, just give us a call
From talking to our small business customers, we know that they need flexibility but can also feel a little daunted about building their own healthcare package.
If you feel that way too, don’t worry. We’re at the end of the phone if you want help to understand what your options are, and how much they will cost.

When family matters
You and your employees can also add family members to get healthcare cover at business rates.

 

You don’t have to be an expert
To make it simple, we’ve created some illustrations which show how your plan might look. That way, you can get a feel for a solution that might suit your business, people and budget. It’s a great starting point to work out the type of cover you might need, but is flexible so you can pick and choose whatever benefits are right for you.

Plan costs are representative as of April 2019, and prices will vary depending on location, cover options and ages. *Pricing is based on a group of 6, aged 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50, living in Milton Keynes, paying yearly with an excess of £100 and a two-year moratorium

Bundle example A for diagnosis and support
If you or your employees need to see a doctor, you can use our online GP service, Doctor@Hand, to speak to a GP whenever you want, wherever you are. With our Diagnostics option, they’ll be able to refer you to a specialist for a consultation or tests to find out what’s causing the problem.
Anyone who needs treatment for a bad back or niggling shoulder pain can have hands-on care with a therapist if they need it with our Therapies option.
And with our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service, your employees can talk over the phone to a professional counsellor about any stresses or worries they might have, such as problems with a relationship or a financial concern.

Bundle example B for diagnosis and treatment
If your business is more established, then step up to a bundle like this.
It has everything in bundle example A.
What’s more, with our Treatment and Out-patient options, if someone in your team falls ill, they can choose from a long list of private hospitals for their treatment.
They’ll also get follow-on consultations with a specialist.

Bundle example C for diagnosis and treatment at any UK hospital of your choice
If you are a bigger company, or want your key people to enjoy the benefits of fuller healthcare cover, this could be the right choice for you.
It includes all the cover in the other bundle examples, so your employees can quickly find out what’s wrong. However, with this bundle, they can also be treated at their preferred UK hospital – the choice is unlimited.
And what’s more, this bundle also offers mental health support with consultations with a mental health specialist and treatment in a private hospital.
You and your staff will even get cashback on dentist and optician visits throughout the year.

 

 

Managing the costs
Investing for the future while managing your bottom line. It’s what makes you good at business. Here are some ways you can manage your subscriptions.

Pay up front
A simple way to save 5%. Pay your subscription yearly instead of monthly. Select the Six-week option

Select the six-week option
If you have the Treatment, Diagnostics or or the Mental Health option, and your employee can get eligible treatment on the NHS within six weeks of the date they should have treatment, they use this route. If they need to wait more than six weeks, they can go private straight away. You could save up to 20% a year and you’ll still get your people back to work quickly.

Pay less for using specialists that we have sourced
If you choose our Guided option, your people will use our Fast Track Appointment service every time they need to see a specialist. We’ll do the work for them — sourcing up to three specialists, who focus on their condition. We’ll book the appointment they choose at a time and place that’s right for them. This option can’t be taken out with our Extended Cover option.

Fix your subscription for two years
Feel reassured that you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be investing in each employee for a couple of years. Tax changes may still apply.

Choose an excess
Depending on what you choose for your plan, you may be able to reduce your annual subscription by including an excess of between £50 to £750 per employee

Choose your underwriting options
You can also decide how you’ll cover your team members for any conditions they might have before joining us. These underwriting options will depend on the options that you choose and will affect the cost of your plan in different ways.

Fully underwritten
Your employees get the private healthcare cover that means so much to them, but pre-existing medical conditions aren’t covered.

Two-year moratorium
We’ll cover any pre-existing medical conditions your employees have after two years of cover, as long as they have been completely free from advice, treatment or a special diet for the previous twelve months.  Obviously, we’ll also take care of any new health concerns that begin while they are with us too.

Continuing medical exclusions
If you’re coming from another provider, you can ‘lift and shift’ any underwriting you had with your previous health insurer across to your new plan. The terms and conditions for your new plan will apply.

Medical history disregarded
We cover your hard-working employees for pre-existing medical conditions, subject to your membership terms. Available if you’re looking to cover 15 people or more.

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How we support you and your people
We’re devoted to caring for you and your team, and to be there when you need us most.

Support for you
Your time is important to you, so it’s important to us. As your business grows, we’ll help make sure the time you spend looking after your team’s health doesn’t grow too.

Experts who know how busy you are
When you need to call us about your plan, you’ll get straight through to an account manager from our small-business team (8.30am to 5.30pm).

Quick access to all your important paperwork
When you join us, you’ll find your company membership information ready for whenever you need it, on our Group Health hub.
Log in to see your plan, or to check documents, like your membership handbook, and information about the services members can enjoy.

 

Never miss a small-business insight
Find the latest insights and information about keeping your employees (and your business) healthy at our online hub for SMEs at axappphealthcare.co.uk/ smallbusinessadvice

Support for your team
Your people are your greatest asset. Our cover helps you to invest in their health and makes them feel valued.

No need to go through you
Their plan is all set up. We’ll send them a series of emails in their first year to help them learn about their benefits, our services and how to get in touch with us.

We’ll also point them towards their secure Member Online portal. Whether it’s a health issue that’s troubling them, a detail on their plan, or the progress of a claim they want to check – they’ll find the support and information they’re looking for.

Pre-authorisation to simplify claims
Whether it’s surgery to fix a bad knee, physio to ease their aches and pains or a diagnostic MRI scan that could put their mind at ease: if your employees are planning to claim, we ask them to check with us first.

Our expert personal advisers can confirm the cover that’s available straight away. So you and your employees will know they’re covered before receiving treatment, saving time down the line.

Expert help, any time of the day
We’re medical experts and we’re here to support your team. If someone has a health worry – whether it’s a question about medication or a niggling cough – they just need to pick up the phone and speak to us at Health at Hand.

They’ll be able to discuss their symptoms with a nurse, check their medication with a pharmacist, talk to a counsellor about how they’re feeling, or ask a midwife about their pregnancy. The faster it’s sorted, the sooner they’ll feel better and be back at work.

When they want a second opinion
If a member of your team is unhappy with a diagnosis – and you’ve chosen a diagnosis or an out-patient option as part of your plan – we can arrange for another specialist to go through everything with them.

They’ll either confirm what the doctor has said or suggest a different course of action, helping to put their mind at ease.

When they want to live a healthier life
It’s not just about support in ill health. With AXA PPP healthcare cover you can feel healthier every day. That’s great for your business, because healthier people are better motivated and more engaged with their work.

Your team will be able to take out half price PureGym membership* or enjoy discounts at Nuffield and British Military Fitness gyms.

They’ll also receive discounts across a range of products available on AXA ActivePlus, our online health store. It offers your employees a huge variety of the smartest health products on the market, from blood marker tests to the latest wearable tech, making good health for your team more achievable than ever.

 

A closer look at your cover
Getting good care. Feeling supported. Being seen by a specialist sooner. Ask your employees what private healthcare cover means to them and they’re likely to describe it in terms like these.

At AXA PPP healthcare, we offer all the benefits your employees would expect from their healthcare cover – plus incentives to support their health and wellbeing for as long as they’re with us. Choose the cover options that are right for your business and your budget.

Press and PostersOnlineAXA PPP Healthcare

AXA PPP Global Healthcare package

This was written with the international business person in mind. It’s a plan that includes everything from a virtual doctor that patients can talk to anywhere on the globe, to an emergency flight to the nearest appropriate medical facility.

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Front page
MORE OF WHAT MATTERS

Sometimes we could all do with a little extra support or a helping hand. We’re here to give you just that. This helpful guide will explain all of the services available to you as part of your plan and how you can make the most of them.

 

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The doctor will see you now

With the virtual doctor service, you have reassurance and advice that you can trust from an independent doctor at a time and a place that suits you. You can have virtual appointments over the phone or by video consultation with an internationally qualified doctor who speaks your language. And because it’s unlimited, you can use it as often as you need to.

How it works
We’re working with a highly experienced global provider, Advance Medical, to make sure you get expert support, advice and a medical diagnosis you can trust. If you need medication, the doctors can also provide prescriptions – depending on what it is you need and where you are. They can even give you a referral if you need to see a specialist. Anyone covered by your plan can use the service, but if you have children who are under 18, you’ll need to book the consultation and be there with them to speak to the doctor. You don’t need to make a claim for a consultation with a virtual doctor,  so you can use the service as often  as you like – it won’t affect any of  your benefit limits. But if you do need any further treatment, please contact AXA to make sure it’s covered by your health plan.

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Get the treatment you need, when you need it
Finding a doctor when you’re ill can be tricky, and if you’re somewhere unfamiliar, it can cause even more uncertainty. We’ve made things easier with MyGlobe.

How it works
Wherever you are in the world, you can search our global network of hospitals and clinics so that you can get the treatment you need, when you need it. We have AXA Select medical providers in nearly 150 countries and provide access to over 1 million healthcare facilities. By seeing a provider in this network, in most cases we can pay the bills for inpatient or day case admissions directly so you’re not out of pocket. As well as helping you find treatment fast, MyGlobe gives you up-to-the-minute information about the country you’re in or travelling to, such as the local emergency number, vaccinations you might need, disease outbreaks and security alerts. So if anything happens that could put you at risk, you’ll know immediately.

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Care and support around the clock
If you have any health questions or concerns, you don’t need to face them alone. With access for you and your loved ones to our health information helpline, Health at Hand, advice is available 24/7 helping to put your mind at rest.

How it works:
If it’s the middle of the night and  your mind just won’t settle, the team of experienced nurses and counsellors will be there to give you a helping hand and that extra reassurance.* If you have questions about your pregnancy or baby, the team of midwives are there to help.**

You can discuss your symptoms with a nurse, check your medication with a pharmacist, talk to a counsellor or just check something with a midwife – whatever you need, our medical professionals are here to put your mind at ease – so you’re not worrying a minute more than you have to.

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Reassurance wherever you are in the world
Getting the right diagnosis is essential if you’re to receive the right treatment  and care. Sometimes, when it’s a complex or life changing diagnosis, you’ll want to know that every option has been explored before making any big decisions. That’s why we’ve teamed up with independent medical experts to provide a  full review of your diagnosis and treatment plan, giving you extra reassurance  when you need it most, wherever you are in the world.

How it works:
When you use the second opinion service we’ll put you in touch with independent health consultants, who offer you a reassessment of your initial diagnosis – and much more. With your permission, your dedicated Case Manager will gather all of the necessary medical reports and test results from your previous treatment. They’ll manage your case as it’s reviewed by the world leading specialists.

If you’re interested in using this telephone consultancy service and want to find out if you’re eligible, call us on your usual helpline number.

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Extra support when you need it most
Receiving an unexpected diagnosis can leave you feeling overwhelmed – and being far from home can make this diagnosis all the more frightening. With cancer cases on the rise around the world, we want to be there for our customers throughout their care and treatment. That’s where our dedicated Cancer Case Managers can help. They’re here to provide extra support for you when you need it most.

How it works:
You’d be assigned your own AXA Cancer Case Manager who can work with your treating specialist to manage your claim and be a dedicated point of contact throughout your treatment. They’ll take care of your appointment bookings, paperwork and invoices, giving you one less thing to think about.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer and would like to find out more about this service, get in touch with us anytime on your usual helpline number. Alternatively, you can send us a message via the inbox on Customer Online.

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We’re with you all the way
In an emergency, you need to know that you can access the treatment you need, and fast. Therefore emergency evacuation and repatriation is included as part of your global healthcare plan.

How it works:
If you find yourself in an emergency and need immediate in-patient treatment that’s not available locally, we’ll organise for you to be evacuated to the nearest medical facility where you can access the care you need. Whether it’s a short drive or an international flight away, we’ll get you there quickly and safely. When you’re feeling better, we’ll get you back home safe and sound. Should you need to use this service, simply call our Emergency Assistance Centre on: +44 (0) 1892 513 999.*

If you can’t call us, the hospital or someone you’re with can call us on your behalf – they’ll just need your membership details. Our agents are on hand 24/7 to  help and will be able to take the details of where you are and where you need to get to. You’ll be kept updated throughout the whole process, right up until you’re back home and recovering.

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Wherever life takes you, we’re by your side
With new adventure comes a whole host of new experiences and questions.  You want to be as prepared as possible before you set off, and know that you have somewhere to go and someone to ask when these questions come up. That’s why we’ve worked with experts to bring you our World of Wellbeing hub, a new and growing home of information and experience all in one place, to  help you navigate life in a new country.

Global access to healthcare
In this section of the hub you’ll find guides and articles about how healthcare works around the world, as well as useful tips and checklists to clarify anything you’re unsure of.

Expat lifestyle
Here we have insight from experienced expats about how to tackle the challenges that moving to another country can bring to family life, relationships and mental health.

VitalityOnline

This explains Vitality’s unique reward scheme for investors.

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Investment Booster

How to boost your savings by up to 15% over 25 years

Vitality has always rewarded customers for looking after their health. Now we also reward you for looking after your wealth.

Our Investment Booster motivates you to invest earlier, put in more and let it grow for longer. If you stay invested in Vitality funds it could amount to a cumulative boost of 15% over 25 years.

How it works
When you invest in Vitality funds in our ISA, Junior ISA or Retirement Plan continuously for five years, we’ll boost your investments with extra money, on top of any growth.
As long as you stay invested in Vitality funds, every five years we’ll boost them again.

If you invest more in Vitality funds in subsequent years, we’ll boost these investments too, once they’ve been invested continuously for five years.

So after five years, you could receive a boost each year.

How we’re able to reward you
When you save for longer, your money has a better chance to grow. That’s good for us, and good for you. What’s more, we believe it’s only right to share some of our earnings with you. It’s part of what we call shared value. Think of it as motivation to get where you want to be.

What you get back
That depends on how much you invest in Vitality funds and how long you save for. The boost starts at 2% of your investment in our Vitality funds – plus any returns – after five years, and increases over time.

VitalityOnline

This describes how Vitality encourages people to invest sensibly and enjoy a better retirement.

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Our Retirement Booster

The more you keep invested in your retirement plan, the more you could get back.
We all want to live a longer, healthier life with enough money to make the most of it. But the longer we live, the harder our retirement savings need to work. With our Retirement Booster we could boost your pension pot every year on top of your returns, helping your savings last longer. The more you keep invested in retirement, and the more you look after your health, the more you get back.

How it works
Currently, when you reach 55, you have many ways to access your money. One way is to allocate your savings into a VitalityInvest Retirement Plan for income drawdown. That is when you keep most of your pension pot invested and draw a regular income from it. When you do this we could reward you for saving wisely and staying healthy.

  • Join our healthy living programme. You’ll need to have a qualifying VitalityHealth or VitalityLife policy, or you can add Vitality Plus to your VitalityInvest Retirement Plan
  • Take part in the programme, earn Vitality points and improve your Vitality status
  • Keep your pension pot invested in Vitality funds

Each year we look at how much income you’ve taken from your pot, how much you have invested in Vitality funds, and your Vitality status. We’ll use this to work out how much you can get back with our Retirement Booster. The more you engage, and the more you keep invested, the more you could get back – up to 50% of what you draw down each year.

What’s a qualifying policy? By holding one of these policies you will be a member of our healthy living programme.

  • VitalityHealth Personal or Business Healthcare plans or Corporate Healthcare plans with Vitality Plus
  • VitalityLife Policies with Vitality Plus, excluding Vitality Care and Vitality Life.

How we’re able to reward you
With Vitality you could lead a longer, healthier life. This benefits you and us. And we believe it’s only right to share some of our earnings with you. It’s part of what we call shared value. Think of it as motivation to get the retirement you want.

What you could get back

The amount you get back each year with our Retirement Booster is a percentage of the amount you draw down over the year. Take a look at the table below.

The amount you get back will also depend on how much you have invested in Vitality funds and your Vitality status. The more you invest in them, the more you could get back.

An example of how you can boost your retirement pot:

You have £100,000 in your investment pot at the start of the year, from which to draw down your income. By the end of the year you’ve withdrawn £2,500 (2.5%) and achieved Gold status with Vitality, giving you a Retirement Booster of 15%. You have 80% of your retirement income pot invested in Vitality funds.

Your Retirement Booster for the following year is :

£2,500 x 15% x 80% = £300

OnlineVitality

This introduces Vitality’s unique way of investing that helps investors to earn extra money plus enjoy discounts from leading brands.

https://www.vitality.co.uk/investments/

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Get 100% cashback on your first year’s ISA product charges

Paid back into your plan after the first 12 months

 

What is VitalityInvest?
VitalityInvest offers a unique way to help you grow your money tax-free, by investing in stocks and shares.
Whatever you’re saving for, we reward you for investing in our Vitality funds, with extra boosts to your money – on top of any returns. Maintain good lifestyle habits and you could pay no product charge, too.
To start boosting your wealth – and your health – invest from £50 a month, or a lump sum of £1,500.

1.You could earn extra money – on top of returns
Our unique Investment Booster rewards loyalty by adding extra money to your savings every 5 years when you invest in Vitality funds

2. Access to discounts from leading brands
Open a VitalityInvest plan, and you’ll automatically be part of our Vitality Core healthy living programme which includes a range of discounts from well-known brands including Champneys and Garmin

3. You could pay no product charge
Maintain healthy lifestyle habits and you could save up to 100% on the product charge with our Healthy Living Discount

Choose your investment plan
The simple and tax efficient way to save

Stocks and Shares ISA
Invest across a range of funds with a flexible, tax-efficient plan. Plus, you could grow your money even more with our Investment Booster and Healthy Living Discount

Junior ISA
A Stocks and Shares ISA to build up a tax-free savings pot for your child. You could grow their money even more with our Investment Booster and Healthy Living Discount

Retirement Plan – available only through advisers
Get tax relief on your contributions, enjoy flexibility in how you take your money at retirement and get access to our Retirement Booster, Investment Booster and Healthy Living Discount

A world of funds from leading investment managers
To make the most of our unique benefits, invest in one or more of 15 Vitality funds. Each is designed to help you achieve your financial goals at a level of risk that is right for you.  We also offer a range of complimentary funds from other well-known providers. Our leading investment managers, Investec Asset Management and Vanguard, together currently manage over £4 trillion in assets, meaning your money is in experienced hands.

Regulated
VitalityInvest is authorised and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Backed
We’ve partnered with leading investment managers, Investec Asset Management and Vanguard

Protected
You may be eligible for protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), up to 100% of the value of your plan*

Choose ComparisonOnline

Choose Price Comparison Site

These articles were all written to boost the SEO for this price comparison site.
Because they were “news” stories, deadlines were very tight, and copy had to be written and approved within a day and a half of receiving the brief.

  1. EE’s 4G were on the ball in the FA Cup final.
  2. Are providers limiting your options for “flexible” drawdown pensions?
  3. If you are paying for the same energy through a different brand, why is there a different price?
  4. When broadband speeds aren’t as promised, you should be able to switch provider without penalty.

Read Copy - Article 1

EE’s 4G Cup Final trial helps keep the football flowing

EE TRIALLED its new 4G Broadcast at this year’s FA cup final to give a select group of football fans a
unique view of the match.
Half a billion people watched the 2015 FA Cup Final from around the globe. But this year a select 20 guests inside the stadium saw the game differently on their tablets.
Using a custom built app and 4G-powered mobile broadcasting for HD viewing they were able to watch the game from whichever camera they liked and choose when to view action replays.

Watching the best football action
It’s not just the massive worldwide audience that broadcasters have to cater for. There are almost 90,000 spectators inside the arena too. With that many people watching on devices in a confined area there can be congestion, and video content can buffer.
EE consider themselves to be pioneers of both 4G broadband and television technology. So it’s no surprise that EE used Wembley Stadium as a test for 4G Broadcast.
Instead of unicast streams being transmitted to different users individually, content is made available to everyone in a given area. That means the number of people connecting to it won’t interfere with the quality or speed of the viewing.
At the Wembley trial, viewers could switch between camera angles and between live footage and replays at any time (although during their 4-0 defeat Aston Villa fans were probably not enamoured with an action replay option).
There’s not even been a price set for it yet. But 4G Broadcast has obvious advantages over traditional streaming in places where there’s a crowd, from busy train stations to pop venues to sporting fixtures.

Available soon at a shop near you
At the moment 4G Broadcast is only on trial and not available to the general public.
And although some of the latest handsets already include the necessary hardware to decode signals, firmware and software must still be loaded first.
However in the not too distant future, devices will no doubt be mass produced with everything viewers need to enjoy 4G Broadcast pre-installed.
Although EE ran the trial, they had to collaborate with other tech companies such as Qualcomm, Huawei, EVS and Intellicore to bring the live feeds and action replays to their network.
It’s not the first time EE have worked with these partners. They demonstrated 4G in collaboration with BBC Research & Development, Huawei and Qualcomm at the public Commonwealth Games Showcase in the Glasgow Science Centre.
The demonstration here showed off something called a 4G Congestion Meter, which enables people to see how congestion affects the mobile network in real-time.

Different match, different network, same experiment
EE aren’t the only mobile network to explore the exciting potential of 4G Technology in a crowded football arena.
Vodafone Spain and Valencia CF joined forces to offer spectators five simultaneous channels of HD content when the Mestalla Stadium played host to Celta de Vigo.
Similarly to the Wembley EE experience, Vodafone delivered exclusive video content using its 4G Broadband network infrastructure in the stadium to a select group of fans on their mobiles.
Olaf Swantee, CEO at EE says it won’t just be mass live music and sporting events where viewers will enjoy an enhanced 4G Broadcast experience. He predicts, for example, that in the near future it will make live television available to mobile audiences in a way that “we have never seen before.”
The prediction is that 4G Broadband will soon be available to all. It’s not easy to give a precise time. But with the massive resources being invested into mobile technology the world may not have too long to wait.

What next?
The answer is blindingly obvious and simultaneously bewildering.
5G.
Because even as 4G Broadcast is being made ready to launch companies across the globe are investing into the next generation of mobile phone.
It will run up to 100 times faster than 4G, and connect inanimate devices to its network. So it could enable amazing things to happen, like a fridge ordering another bottle of milk before it runs out, or a train directing commuters to empty seats.
Ericsson, Samsung and Huawei are already working to launch a trial around 2018.
And it will revolutionise and improve mobile technology like never before.
Until, that is, 6G launches sometime around 2040.

Read Copy - Article 2

Inflexible insurers can’t provide flexible pensions
PROHIBITIVE administration costs have led to a major insurer reversing its decision to provide flexible drawdown pensions.

The Government may have reformed pensions, allowing people to access them like a bank account, but what use is that if the finance industry won’t play game?
Friends Life, part of Aviva, has made a u-turn, to the dismay of their customers; advising investors their pension options are limited and do not include flexible drawdown.
Originally customers had been told they would be able to take money from their funds as often as they needed if they were 55 or older.
But as reported by the Telegraph, Friends Life have said their pension books are of such a “complex nature” it would require “a lot of manual and time consuming work” for them to adapt them to options like flexible drawdown.

Friends Life options
Customers of Friends Life who had been expecting more choice as a result of the Government’s pension freedoms, now have limited options.
While the Government’s reforms had promised those nearing retirement the choice to access their pension funds more flexibly, Friends Life customers are now limited to:

  • Cashing in their entire pension but being exposed to tax liabilities of up to 40% tax on three-quarters of the fund.
  • Swapping their pension pot for a guaranteed lifetime annuity.
  • Transferring their pension to a more flexible provider, but being exposed to high fees that could run into the hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

Mike Wade, a Friends Life customer on the cusp of retirement, is quite aggrieved. “When I read about the u-turn in the paper it made me quite angry as I had transferred tens of thousands of pounds into my Friends Life pension the previous week.
“Now it looks like I am going to have to pay penalty fees for uplifting the whole fund and moving it somewhere that will allow me to take advantage of the flexibility the government had intended me to have.”

Could, but won’t
Although George Osborne promised the “biggest and most exciting change” to the pensions system in a century, companies are under no legal obligation to offer people flexible access to their pension.
But however annoyed customers may be that their retirement plans have been frustrated the insurers are completely within their legal rights. They aren’t obliged to offer the new flexible pension options.
It’s clear at the moment that the degree of benefit from the changes customers experience depends on their choice of insurer.
For example, Aegon, Scottish Widows, Standard Life and Phoenix have promised that they will allow over-55s to dip into their pensions as and when they like, taking their 25% tax-free lump sum too.
But both Legal & General and LV= have not been so flexible, and refused customers “bank account style” access to their pensions.
Worryingly, even if an insurer has already inferred that they will provide customers with flexible pension options there is no guarantee they will.
For example, the Telegraph discovered Friends Life had initially told customers applications to make partial withdrawals had only been delayed. It wasn’t until two months later that it was revealed they weren’t offering a flexible drawdown option.
Another concern is whether Friends Life will set a precedent for other pensions providers to follow suit.

Start of a landslide?
If more pensions providers decide not to offer all the options available under the reforms, not only would that impact on individual savers, but there could also be a negative impact on other financial companies.
For example, many people have already put down deposits on buy-to-let properties in anticipation they’ll be able to fund the purchase with their pension.
But if they’re denied access to their money, not only will they lose out, but so will estate agents and property companies.
Buy-to-let broker Landlord Mortgages said an industry wide U-turn would affect the future of some financial service companies.
Tim McPhail, head of pensions research at independent financial adviser Hargreaves Lansdown, went further, estimating the cost of the u-turn “at several hundred millions in wasted effort” and saying it could even undermine people’s confidence in pensions.
But Friends Life may yet reverse their decision.
A spokesperson from the company has already told the Telegraph, “we apologise to those customers who wish to partially withdraw their savings through the new pension freedoms as we are not offering this service at the moment. We are planning to offer partial withdrawals in due course”.

Read Copy - Article 3

Same energy, different brand. But what’s the best price?
CUSTOMERS need to be told who’s offering the best energy deals, Ofgem says.
The energy regulator is bringing in rules to make it easier for people to find out the lowest
prices.
From September, suppliers will have to inform customers of their cheapest tariff, whichever brand names their energy is sold under.
Ofgem are also trying to encourage more companies to sell energy under their own brand by giving them the flexibility to set their own tariffs – so not only will customers find energy prices clearer, they will find them lower too.

Make it clear
Ofgem has told suppliers who sell their energy on to other companies, also known as “white labels”, that they must make it clearer to customers who provides the best prices.
Current arrangements between suppliers and resellers often don’t aid price transparency. For example, not only does British Gas supply the energy that Sainsbury’s Energy sells to its customers, it even provides the call centres and sales teams for Sainsbury’s.
Yet the tariffs of the two companies are somewhat different. Sainsbury’s Energy’s cheapest deal saves customers more than £60 a year than the best on offer from British Gas.
It’s a similar story with SSE and M&S Energy.
SSE’s cheapest deal costs an average of £1,115 a year. But the supplier is under no obligation to tell them they could do better by switching to M&S Energy, paying an average of £1,079 a year.
Yet it’s the same energy from the same source. M&S Energy simply re-package and supply SSE’s product.

At a glance price checks
When the rules come in, people will be able to see at a glance on their bills and other regular communications from their supplier, if and where they can find a better deal.
From September suppliers will have to include two messages on bills showing people how they can save money, based on their current personal use of energy.
One explains how much they could save if they switched to a similar tariff supplied by their current supplier.
That means they would be comparing costs with the same sort of service, with a similar contract (fixed or variable prices) and the same online or offline account management.
The second message won’t compare like with like. Instead it will point out where savings could be made by switching to the supplier’s cheapest tariff regardless of the nature of the contract, and regardless of the brand the same energy is being sold under.

Encouraging competition
Not only do Ofgem want to make it simpler for customers to see if there’s a better deal to be had, they also want there to be more genuine choice.
So under Ofgem’s new rules white labels will have the same flexibility to set prices or offer bundles as the energy supplier. Each will be able to set their own four tariffs, distinct from their partner suppliers.
The intention is to make it easier for new companies to enter the energy market, and for this extra competition to help bring down prices.
Rachel Fletcher, Ofgem senior partner, is an enthusiast of selling energy through white label brands. She says it has “potential” to increase choice and encourage customers to shop around using well-known brands.
But she adds that it’s important people have the “complete picture” about all their potential supplier’s tariffs.
Understandably some of the existing energy suppliers aren’t happy.
They’ve already been obliged by the authorities to make their pricing less complicated.
British Gas, for example, claimed this new ruling wasn’t appropriate because products and services “would not be comparable”; SSE want to keep the existing brand-specific pricing because it “reduces the risk of customer confusion”.

The pros and cons of selling on services
Ofgem recognises that white labels bring value to the energy market with genuine benefits for customers.
That’s because the differences between them and the companies they buy their energy from aren’t purely cosmetic.
As well as lower prices the white label company may provide a prompter reaction to service calls, for example. Or they may promote unique discounts or special offers such as shopping vouchers.
People might feel more reassured when they buy from a name they already know and trust too, like Sainsbury’s or M&S.
By catering for the different needs of particular customers, these companies provide people with more choice. If they perform particularly well in a specific area, they may spur the entire industry to do better.
For example, research by Which? in November 2013 on telephone response times revealed British Gas and SSE performed significantly worse than Sainsbury’s Energy and M&S Energy. But their performance more than matched them in October 2014.
And yet there are few price advantages in different companies selling the same energy.
Suppliers and secondary companies tend to collude on the price of their tariffs. So M&S and Sainsbury’s didn’t choose the prices they would charge on a whim. They agreed them together with British Gas and SSE respectively.
That means there just isn’t the same pressure to lower prices that an independent supplier might bring.
If the advantage of energy suppliers selling on their services is purely about providing more choice, the drawback is that it also brings more confusion.
Ofgem’s ruling won’t completely remove that confusion, but come September, customers will be able to tell at a glance – at their fuel bill or the supplier’s website – whether they can get the same energy for a better price.
Whether to change company or not is up to them.

Read Copy - Article 4

Ofcom brings broadband providers up to speed
BROADBAND customers will be allowed to cancel their contracts at any time if their broadband speed is slower than promised under new rules.
At present, customers have to continue to put up with poor speeds once they’re beyond the first three months of their contract, or pay what could be a high fee to move to another provider.
Now a strengthened version of Ofcom’s Code of Practice on broadband speeds, coming into effect in October this year, will allow customers to exit their contract at any time without penalty.

Quickly does it
For many people, ISPs become associated with two broadband speeds: the one they promise to provide, and the one their users actually get.
Now the industry regulator Ofcom has ruled that they must be the same.
And they’ve given people new rights to be released from their contract if their provider doesn’t deliver the broadband speed they estimated at the time of sign up.
Problems with broadband speeds can be caused either by the provider or issues within a user’s own home.
For example, a device might be set up incorrectly, wiring in the home could be damaged, the outside line connection damaged, or the provider’s traffic management system could be operating inefficiently.
So the provider must have an opportunity to resolve an issue before a customer can sever their contract.
The new ruling is line with the Government’s aim of making UK broadband quicker – they want 90% of UK households to have “superfast broadband” by the end of the year.
That may still be an ambitious target. Currently only one in three UK households receives speeds that fast even though the average UK broadband speed is now 22.8Mb, up from 18.7Mb in May 2014 – at 4.1Mb, the largest absolute rise in broadband speeds Ofcom has recorded.

How slow can it go?
As well as pushing for faster, more reliable, speeds the new Code insists people must be better informed before they buy.
Providers are already obliged to provide customers with estimated line speeds before they buy. Salesmen are trained to explain exactly what customers will require to get those speeds. They even advise people if there are limits on the service to be provided and how performance may suffer.
However, at present, they normally advertise broadband at the headline speed. Under the new ruling they’ll also have to display the minimum guaranteed access line speed (MGALS) too.
This is the speed for the bottom 10% of users on a similar service: for example, if there are 1,000 homes receiving broadband in a given area it’s the 900th fastest that sets the MGALS.
Somewhat unambitiously, it’s this speed that will be the benchmark: only if a customer’s connection falls below that, and the provider cannot resolve it, will the customer be entitled to pack up and move providers without penalty.

Ofcom’s six month review of contracts
Ofcom has simultaneously launched a six-month monitoring and assessment programme to address communication providers that make it hard for customers to cancel or switch.
Unfair cancellation and termination arrangements are a perennial problem that has required frequent Ofcom interference over recent years.
ISPs have been accused of creating obstacles for customers who want to exit their contracts without fuss. These include difficulties in securing the Portability Access Code (PAC) that people need to move to a new provider and long call waiting times when phoning up to try to cancel.
The problems are so widespread and complaints so numerous that Ofcom accuses providers of “systematically making it difficult” for customers to exit their contract.
Recent history makes it hard to predict what steps Ofcom will take next.
They have attempted to address fixed term telecoms contracts and problems with contracts that are automatically renewed before, and the regulators have also been criticised themselves for not doing enough by the Government before.
Changes are being introduced to make it easier for customers to switch too.
For those switching from one Openreach-reliant provider to another – anyone but Virgin, essentially – a single simple migration system is replacing the three currently in place.
All people will need to do to switch is give their new provider their existing telephone number and postcode. The rest of the details will be sorted out between the providers, old and new.
And ISPs won’t be allowed to obstruct the process, or offer customers special offers or discounts when they want to switch.

Voluntary code of practice
Ofcom Codes of Practice are only voluntary and providers have a track record of sometimes failing to observe them.
New Ofcom chief executive Sharon White puts the delivery of first class communications firmly in the hands of the providers and says it’s their “responsibility”. Customers will be hoping that the ISPs agree.
However only time will tell if the communications industry will raise its levels sufficiently to meet Ofcom’s preferred standards.

OnlineMorgan BerkeleySEO

The site was also written for SEO

https://www.morganberkeley.com/

Sundrop Farms AdvisorsOnline

I created the tone of voice and wrote all the copy for Sundrop Farms, a new global initiative to grow fruit and vegetables using sustainable energy. I worked in liaison with London design agency Conker after an introduction by Write Arm

This copy set up the tone of voice

Read Copy - Sample 1

This is going to change the world forever.

 

Yes, we know it’s a tomato.
It looks like a tomato. (Although we think it tastes rather better than most other tomatoes.)
But it’s been grown somewhere tomatoes have never grown before.
Using just sun and sea water and a little bit of clever technology.
So what does that mean?
It means we can grow delicious tasting fruit and vegetables without using scarce finite water and soil resources.
And if our way of growing crops becomes commonplace it means that one day there will be enough food for everyone.
Today your salad. Tomorrow the world.

Sundrop.
A fresh way of growing, a fresh way of thinking

Read Copy - Sample 2

This is a world changing, revolutionary cucumber.
(Wait until you see our gooseberries.)

 

Power to the cucumber. And the gooseberry. And the cauliflower. And to all the produce at Sundrop.

Everything’s packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre, so it’s as good as it tastes.

But – and this is the world revolutionary bit – our way of growing doesn’t need fresh water, or use soil, or burn fossil fuels. It’s grown using only the sun’s rays, sea water (don’t worry, we’ve taken the salt out) and a little bit of clever technology.

Which means, for the first time, farming isn’t using finite resources.

We hope the world will be grateful. We know your taste buds will be.

Here’s the site, written working with a London-based design company

http://templates.newsoftdemo.info/sundrop/html/index.html/