Tough at the top

Martin Friel chairs an in-depth power hour that covers burning issues from recruitment, the state of the regional market in Ipswich, the national picture for insurers and brokers and how the industry will exit its current phase in the cycle

How is business in Ipswich? Are you feeling the effects of the economic downturn yet?

Paul A: Nationally, there are high-level issues like Woolworths, which has had a huge impact countrywide and locally. In terms of individual businesses, I insure a lot of the pub business locally - individual tenancies and sole traders who are running their own businesses. They are all under massive pressure at the moment.

Paul S: The feedback we have had from brokers in the region is that they are expecting