When operations get complex, insurance should not make life even harder. That belief sat at the heart of Consilium’s recent work with a retail agent facing a time critical challenge on a waste and recycling risk - one that threatened to stall their client’s trading at the busiest time of year.
The Situation: A Growing Business Under Strain
The client, a leading waste and recycling operator, had recently invested in a new material recovery facility, a major milestone in their growth. But construction delays meant the project overlapped with peak trading season, resulting in a significant build-up of waste on site, particularly timber waste, just as national recycling outlets were reaching capacity.
Their existing insurer only saw a problem. Rigid conditions and costly risk requirements were imposed, including major site reconfigurations and impractical storage changes, leaving the client unable to comply in time. Their cover was suddenly unfit for purpose, and their ability to trade was under threat.
The Challenge: When Standard Cover Does Not Fit
This was not a case of negligence or poor management. It was a case of inflexible insurance, worsened by the nationwide shortage of wood recycling outlets.
The client needed a partner who could understand the real-world pressures of the sector and work quickly to find a solution that fit both their operational and safety needs. That is when Consilium, together with Securus Risk Advisors, stepped in.
Our Response: Fast Thinking. Smart Solutions.
Within two weeks of the broker engaging with us, a full pre-cover risk survey was carried out - a pace matching the urgency of the situation. A site meeting followed, bringing together the broker, underwriter and Securus risk engineer to assess the layout, storage challenges and on-site constraints first-hand.
This collaborative approach turned what could have been a stand-off into a shared problem-solving exercise. Instead of enforcing unrealistic changes, Securus delivered practical, achievable recommendations to reduce fire risk and improve safety, without the need for major capital expenditure.
Adjustments were made to site layout and waste storage configurations, including using temporary concrete block walls to mitigate fire exposure, proving both compliant and cost effective.
The Result: Cover That Works in the Real World
With a pragmatic plan in place, Consilium arranged new cover that kept the client trading. Operations continued without interruption, and all agreed risk improvements were completed well ahead of schedule.
The result provided a solution that worked for the business, not against it. Pricing remained competitive, but the real win was in value, service and understanding, hallmarks of Consilium’s independent approach.
For the broker, this case was a reminder that independence means flexibility and that flexibility delivers real results. Working along with Securus, Consilium provided not only placement expertise but also access to genuine risk management support, giving the client tangible, lasting improvements to site safety and resilience.
Get in touch with our Risk Solutions team to discuss how we can help solve your next placement challenge.
Focus
Inspire
All in