Previous events
This month

Closing the deal - objection handling and closing
In the same way that many salespeople experience ‘call reluctance’, many others fail to ask for the business, or to have appropriate strategies to deal with objections when they do. This session explores how the work you do earlier in the process can make it easier for yourself by minimising objections and creating an ‘easier close’. We then explore how to handle objections when they do arise, and how to help secure the final close.
View event detailsREPEAT EVENT: Business Interruption insurance all you need to know explained in Plain English
Business Interruption insurance is one of the most misunderstood covers in the marketplace and this webinar looks at how these misunderstandings can be overcome. The webinar will deal with all the main aspects of BI insurance apart from extensions which is the subject of a separate webinar. The training will be very suitable for brokers, underwriters and claims staff working in commercial insurance and anyone studying for the CII diploma subject M93 Commercial property and business interruption
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Sales Prospecting Skills – contacting the prospect
This session builds on the previous one where we discussed the importance of a multiple touchpoint strategy to connect with prospects. In this session we drill down to look at best practice for each of the key contact areas.
View event details20th Annual Golf Day for the Andrew Bickerton Trophy
Event under new sponsorship with Macbeth Insurance Brokers ( Chartered Insurance Brokers). This event will still take place at the Club at Mapledurham, Chazey Heath, near Reading in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of our colleague, Andrew Bickerton and will be hosted by the Reading Committee.
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Sales Prospecting Skills – lead generation strategy
Event Overview Having established our Ideal Client Profile [ICP], this session looks at how we can generate target leads in a way that overcomes the challenges of the new hybrid workplace.
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Drone Insurance
Event Overview This is an emerging class of insurance driven by the increasing use of drones by businesses. The session provides a comprehensive exploration into the safe operation of drones and the relevant insurance, risk and regulatory issues.
View event detailsUnderstanding Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) - Hawkins Forensic Investigation
Event Overview Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a debilitating condition caused by prolonged exposure to vibration, typically from the use of power tools or machinery in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and forestry. Personal injury due to HAVS often arises when employers fail to implement adequate safety measures, such as providing proper training, equipment maintenance, or limiting exposure times. The condition can lead to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, loss of grip strength, and even permanent damage to blood vessels, nerves, and joints in the hands and arms. These effects can severely impact an employee’s ability to work, perform daily tasks, and maintain their quality of life, making it a critical issue in personal injury claims. In this presentation, Principal Acoustics Consultant Dr Andrew Peplow provides a comprehensive understanding of HAVS, including its causes and symptoms.
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The Secrets to Successful Retirement
How to achieve wellbeing in your retirement. Retirement is a major life transition. It is likely to last many years. While for many it is the reward for years of hard work, for a significant proportion retirement is not the positive experience they expected. This webinar uses an evidenced based approach to outline the key challenges and adjustments required, beyond the financial planning, to ensure a fulfilling future. Using our bespoke Wheel of Retirement, we will introduce eight Factors to consider when planning your retirement beyond the financial planning. The webinar includes practical ideas and suggestions for you to use in your retirement preparation
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When Audible Warning Alarms Cause Injury
Whether or not an audible warning alarm is effective is dependent on its ability to draw the attention of the listener. If that alarm is not sufficiently distinctive, people can suffer serious injuries. Conversely, if that alarm is too loud, the alarm itself has potential to cause injury. In this webinar, Hawkins’ Managing Director of Acoustics, Ros Lambert-Porter, will define the characteristics of effective audible alarms and where they might fail, and how these failures can lead to catastrophic outcomes. She will also explore the case of Haesel McDonald vs Indigo Sun where a warning alarm was found to have caused injury
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Pairing ESG with Trust: Insights from Wine and Chocolate
Wine and chocolate pairings offer powerful metaphors and practical lessons for understanding trust in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and building closer customer relationships. Through tasting 5 wines and pairing them with chocolates, we will examine how trust, authenticity, and shared values are central to building stronger customer relationships through ESG principles in insurance and financial services.
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Get a Grip: The Investigation of Pedestrian Slips & Falls - Hawkins Forensic Investigation
Pedestrian falls are the single most common cause of major injuries in the workplace, and are a leading cause of injuries across a wide range of non-workplace environments. As a result, claims are very common, and many are considerable, given the severity of the injuries that can result. Personal Injury Expert Dr Paul Lemon, will look at the methods that should be used to investigate slipping incidents, and will consider the many pitfalls that can lead to incomplete or inaccurate slipping incident investigations.
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Business Interruption insurance all you need to know explained in Plain English
Event Overview Business Interruption insurance is one of the most misunderstood covers in the marketplace and this webinar looks at how these misunderstandings can be overcome. The webinar will deal with all the main aspects of BI insurance apart from extensions which is the subject of a separate webinar. The course will be delivered by Alan Chandler, Chartered Insurer who is widely regarded as one of the leading presenters in the UK. The training will be very suitable for brokers, underwriters and claims staff working in commercial insurance and anyone studying for the CII diploma subject M93 Commercial property and business interruption.
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Financial awareness – a plain English overview for all insurance staff on how to understand clients’ accounts and how an accountants figures differ from what insurers need
Event Overview Understanding clients’ accounts has never been more important for brokers and underwriters alike, with tremendous scrutiny now being put on clients' accounts, so account executives, account handlers and underwriters will need to understand the main terminology. The way accountants record financial information is often different from what insurers need and understanding the difference can help you ensure your clients get their sums insured right. This presentation, provided by Alan Chandler one of the most popular presenters in the UK, looks to provide a plain English understanding of what is in a balance sheet, Profit and Loss account and a cash flow statement and how these can be read easily by non-accountants.
View event detailsAnnual General Meeting 2025
Your local institute council invites you to attend our 2025 Annual General Meeting to hear first-hand reports from council members on previous and future activities and vote on the appointment of new council members.
View event detailsMemorabilia: passing phase or appreciating asset?
Collecting things is something humans have always done – from interesting pebbles to glamorous diamonds! It’s a natural urge that many of us experience. Collecting memorabilia has become very fashionable and can be very lucrative. But what is valuable, and what advice and guidance should a client be offered? This webinar explores a range of different types of memorabilia, why it is collectible, and offers insight on what clients should be thinking about.
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An overview of commercial package insurance
This webinar will provide a practical look into the various sections of a typical commercial package insurance policy, what is covered and what protection a commercial customer actually obtains, so that brokers, underwriters and claims staff alike can be confident when explaining the different sections of cover. The reality is, that many commercial customers do not always appreciate the breadth of their cover, and as such the discussion tends to too often focus on price rather than cover and quality. This webinar will look to put the onus back on the essentials of cover and quality so that customers can make informed decisions.
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Time Management Skills
Using our time effectively is a key skill that we all need. How well do you manage your time? Do you find it hard to prioritise your workload and struggle to meet deadlines? Join this interactive session to put into practice tools and strategies that will enable you to be more effective at managing your time.
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What causes a market cycle and are we heading into a soft market in 2025?
Hard markets usually last around a maximum of three years and this latest one started in 2020. This presentation, delivered by Alan Chandler one of the UK’s most popular presenters, looks at what causes market cycles in the insurance industry and what is likely to occur in 2025.
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Kent Annual Conference 2025
We’re delighted to hold our 12th annual conference once again on Tuesday 1st April. The event provides a superb opportunity to enjoy a fantastic day of education, debate and networking. It is always our aim for you to have plenty of take-aways and thought provoking insight from our brilliant speakers. The event is relevant to issues the sector faces and is an enabler to further your knowledge and understanding to assist you within the scope of your role and share within the workplace or even outside! From feedback ‘as the one to attend’ we cover off a wide range of topics from a variety of presenters with lunch and refreshments and certainly recommend you bring along your colleagues or contacts and gain CPD.
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Oakleaf Charity Quiz Night 2025
Join on Friday 28th March 2025 for a fun evening of friendly competition, drinks, dinner and a raffle. This year’s theme is: Around the World Where: St Catherine’s School, Station Rd, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0DF Cost: £20 per person, which includes dinner. Purchase your tickets here. https://www.oakleaf-enterprise.org/event/quiz-2025/ How: Enter a team of 8-10, or join individually.
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