From left to right: Professor Soyer and Dr Wang (IISTL), Peter Macdonald-Eggers KC (7KBW), Ms Kaenprakhamroy (Tapoly), Mr Brooks (Wynterhill LLP) and Ms Williams (UCL).
Professor Soyer and Dr Jia Wang (members of the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law) have been awarded a research grant by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) to collaborate with insurance providers—including insurers and brokers—on evaluating whether current insurance services adequately support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The project explores how existing products and practices influence SMEs’ risk awareness and understanding of insurance coverage. The primary aim of the initiative is to identify practical, industry-informed solutions that can strengthen SMEs’ risk resilience and help them thrive in an increasingly complex risk environment.
Since July, the research team has held a series of engagement sessions with SMEs and insurance providers. Their emerging findings were recently presented to insurers, academics, and policymakers at a seminar hosted at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London.
Alongside Professor Soyer and Dr Wang, the event featured contributions from leading experts: Peter MacDonald Eggers KC (7KBW), Janthana Kaenprakhamroy (Founder of Tapoly), Lucia Williams (UCL and Consultant to Clyde & Co), and Dan Brooks (Wynterhill LLP). Speakers addressed a range of key issues in SME insurance, including policy construction, the application of the duty of fair presentation, the role of technology and brokers in procuring cover, and how insurance can help SMEs respond to the challenges posed by climate change.
The seminar concluded with a lively and productive discussion, followed by a networking session that brought together stakeholders from across the insurance and academic communities.