Crystal ball gazing – a new Olympic sport for 2012?

I’m now back firmly in the saddle following a few days R&R. You go away for a few glorious days only to come back to yet another conflict, more depressing statistics from the government about the economy and atrocious weather that supports the global warming theories. But, at least the UK seems to be doing rather well at the Olympics especially if it involves wheels or water – which gives us all something to feel good about.

It was great not having access to newspapers or television while I was away and I certainly had no intention keeping up with what was happening in the media on my BlackBerry.

September is fast approaching and it’s time to get the crystal ball out and look ahead and plan for 2009.

Defending and promoting our sector’s issues remains a pressing need. BIBA is firmly at the centre of issues both current as well as those bubbling under and we intend to stay there. Undoubtedly, members will voice their opinions too about where BIBA should be focusing its efforts in the coming months during my travels round the UK.

“Defending and promoting our sectors issues remains a pressing need.

Eric Galbraith

Access to advice and broker services is also something that I believe commercial clients and individuals find difficult. How to find a broker and what a broker does is clouded by technology and commoditisation. The media tends to be focused on personal lines issues and raising the status of commercial business is one of the many challenges that BIBA will be embracing in the coming months.

Regulation is a subject that will continue to perplex and perhaps one day we can look into that crystal ball and see principles based regulation working as it should be for our sector with a subsequent reduction in FSA staff numbers and costs. This should not be an area of increasing costs: now that would be an interesting target.

Now, while I’ve got my crystal ball warmed up I must plan my next holiday.