Festivals Archives

While Pride events are usually a safe atmosphere, just ask any event planner and they’ll tell you: ‘’Expect the unexpected’’.

As these events usually draw in large crowds with all types of expensive equipment, it is crucial to have the right insurance plan in place to protect your organisation from huge financial losses in case anything bad happens, be it a case of a participant accident or property damage.

Here at Graham Sykes, we are dedicated to helping you customise the perfect insurance plan for your next event so you and your participants can get the peace of mind you need to enjoy every minute of it.

We already provide insurance services to many LGBTQ+ Pride organisations across the UK and we would like to see your organisation as the next one we can assist.The process is three simple steps:

1: Register an account in less than 30 seconds

2: Complete a Fact Find

3: We will set to work on your quotation

Click the link below to register and record your requirements 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Register my Festival

Packages available

We have a wide range of options available for you to choose from, suitable for any and every event type. The following are examples, but not all:

View our full range of events insurance policies and get a quote today!

With Graham Sykes, you can be sure to receive low premiums, have your documents issued within minutes and have a wide choice of options for single and multiple event types. Enjoy the ability to get a quote and buy your policy conveniently online.

Should you have any questions, get in contact with our team.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,

Graham Sykes

PS. Don’t forget to tell your friends

PPS. Advertise your Pride Event on our What’s On page

Is cover available against the cancellation, postponement, relocation or abandonment of events due to new UK Civil Authority restrictions in response to COVID-19?

Covid 19 and your events, should I be buying insurance?

The Government and a group of insurers have been working to set up a new scheme which sees both insurer and the Government underwrite the risk. Details set out on 6^th September 2021 can be viewed on this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/live-events-reinsurance-scheme

Should this be something that I should be looking at?

This depends largely on the amount of money you might lose if any additional restrictions were put in place because of changes to the course of the pandemic. A new variant for example, that meant that you were not able to go ahead with your events as planned, because you were told to cancel by the UK Civil Authority, might have catastrophic impact. If the amount of the losses were such that you would not be able to pay these yourselves, then exploring this cover might well be a good idea.

If you regularly purchased event cancellation insurance in the past, then this extension to that cover might be more important to you.

How do I go about getting a quote?

The first step is to talk to us. At the time of writing details have not been fully released yet, as final wording is still being ironed out. but This does not mean you cannot be ready when it is available, it is expected very soon. Here at Graham Sykes, we deal with this everyday and can arrange for you to be kept up to date as the details are released.

We can then arrange for you to have a quotation so that you make an informed decision about whether it is right for you. This is a FREE part of our service!

What exactly does the policy cover?

An idea of what I covered is outlined in the document above, but more details will be available once the insurers release their products to the public. In general terms it works in a similar way to any cancellation policy currently available. For example, where sums of money can be claimed if certain events such as bad weather may mean your event cannot go ahead.

In this case the insurance is for the risk that your event cannot go ahead because you have been told to cancel by the UK Civil Authorities as a result of Covid 19.

Please remember any claims are dealt with on a claim by claim basis. It is also a good idea to make sure that any losses you are concerned about don’t fall under the exclusions of the policy, so give yourself time to check this out, do let your broker know the details of your concern so that we can make sure you are buying the cover that is right for you.

How much does it cost?

We don’t know just yet, but you can contact us now and we will arrange a quotation once we have the details. Please do remember that you have an obligation to provide a fair assessment of the risk involved, if this is found not to be the case then any claims you make might not be met. You can get in touch now by clicking here

Did anyone predict 2020 to pan out like this? We certainly didn’t!

With the nation working together to protect the NHS, work forces working remotely, daily Zoom calls, DIY projects, virtual birthday parties and weekly quizzes, its safe to the say the event and hospitality industry has been greatly affected.

Here at Graham Sykes Insurance we work with a vast range of Event and Festival organisers and whilst we are sad to see these wonderful events postponed, we can’t help but be fascinated with people’s positivity, creativity and innovation.

We may not be heading out to enjoy these occasions together as a community but that doesn’t mean we can’t get involved. Covid – 19 has encouraged all of us to think outside of the box, work differently and come out of our comfort zones to achieve the impossible.

So, if you are an Event or Festival organiser and you are racking your brains about how you can keep things ticking over during this pandemic, then we might just have an idea for you…

Online Concerts and Performances
Virtual Workshops
Fundraising quizzes and competitions
Online subscriptions for Dance or Yoga classes
Online comedy nights
Baking and cooking demonstrations
Online forums, meetings and discussion groups
Virtual Dinner Parties
Gardening or floristry tutorials
Online music lessons or workshops

So, whilst the world around us changes, and we get to grips with ‘The New Normal’, we’d love to hear from you to capture your thoughts, ideas and plans for your virtual or online events.

If you are also looking to discuss your insurance needs for these types of events then please do not hesitate to contact the team via email, online chat or calling us on 01395 255100.

All the best and happy event planning!

Festival Insurance is designed for anyone organising a festival or an event that is looking for annual insurance cover. Whether you are planning a Festival for a small local community event or something on the larger scale with thousands of visitors then it is likely you are going to need insurance.

Here at Graham Sykes we love working with festival organisers, getting to see the weird and wonderful things you clever bunch are up to really makes our day. We have put together this snippet of top ten tips for sorting out Festival Insurance, so you can ensure you are well on your way to ticking that off of your ‘to do’ list.

1. Start the job early – Your Festival may be a year away; from experience we know that talking about it and getting things in motion will save you stress as your Festival approaches.

2. Share your vision of the Festival with us – We not only love to hear all about your plans, but we also want to ensure all elements of your Festival are covered.

3. Be prepared to answer some questions – When we have a thorough understanding of your needs, we can provide you with a bespoke quotation that suits.

4. Keep your committee up to date – They may think of something you haven’t or have additional questions you may want to ask us.

5. Don’t worry about asking your broker for help – We want to support you and guide you in the right direction, so do not hesitate to ask for help.

6. Check you have got it right – If you are uncertain about something, it is best to ask before you finalise the policy.

7. Examine your quotation carefully (and read the policy wording) – Our quotations are easy to read and show you exactly what you have been quoted for, but if you are unsure about anything, please just shout!

8. Check with your committee before finally agreeing the terms- Making sure your team understands the level of cover you have chosen will make renewal processes simpler (especially if someone else is in charge of insurance the following year).

9. Ask any last questions you may have- Those last minute or ‘quick’ questions you have may prove to be more essential than you thought. So, it’s always best to double check if there is anything you are unsure of. You can call, email or chat to us online and our dedicated Festival team will be happy to help you.

10. Pay your premium and double check your documents carefully – With straight forward payment methods you can have your documents within minutes, then you are ready to go!

Need to know more or totally confused and not sure where to turn? Click here for some more information, call the Graham Sykes Insurance team on 01395 255100 or chat to us on live chat @ www.graham-sykes.co.uk