Media release

Vero survey finds up to 1 in 3 SMEs considering changes to their business insurance

18 June 2020

Vero has surveyed over 600 New Zealand Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the impact of the virus on their businesses and their current and planned insurance purchasing behaviour.

Research reveals around 30 per cent of the SMEs surveyed are currently considering changes to their business insurance. In the current environment, 20 per cent are looking to increase their cover and 10 per cent are thinking about decreasing cover.

“71 per cent of the SMEs surveyed say they’ve taken a revenue hit post COVID,” says Mark Wilkshire, Executive General Manager Customer Experience. 

“We found business owners are twice as likely to be impacted by financial vulnerability compared to householders. 39 per cent of business owners say their household is now struggling to make ends meet, compared to 21 per cent pre-COVID.”

Vero has implemented comprehensive support options to help its SME customers, including Suncorp New Zealand’s $2 million hardship fund  to assist Vero and Asteron Life customers who are experiencing financial pressure as a result of COVID-19 to maintain their insurance cover. 

“Our concern is that some business owners may not be connecting with that support. Our hardship fund is there to assist our customers with retaining their insurance cover, while Vero’s other support options can help our SME customers as they recover from COVID,” says Mr Wilkshire.

Vero’s support options for its SME customers include payment assistance options for SME customers when their policies renew, flexible payment terms and adjusting excesses on business insurance policies.  Vero’s SME customers can access this assistance by reaching out to their insurance broker.

“Our 2019 Vero SME Index findings showed brokers providing tailored risk management advice add substantial value to SMEs. That advice is independent, impartial and can help businesses face the future with confidence,” says Mr Wilkshire.

Vero will be using the findings to work with brokers and advisers to help them offer a compelling proposition to SMEs, but there is also a role for business owners to play by asking themselves where expert advice could help.  

“Having insurance is vital in building a financially resilient business. Cancelling a policy might cut some costs in the short term, but it can come back to bite you. If you’re looking to the future, have a chat with your broker. They’ll be able to give you impartial advice.”  

About the Vero SME Insurance Index and Yabble
The findings come ahead of the full 2020 Vero SME Insurance Index, which delves into the insurance market for New Zealand SMEs. Vero’s findings from this year’s survey will be released in July 2020.

Insights have been sourced from leading insights platform Yabble. The COVID Business Tracker is commissioned by Suncorp New Zealand and has surveyed more than 600 SME businesses sentiment across COVID alert levels two and three. The tracker continues to run across alert level one.