Meet Paul Franklin, Risk Management Regional Manager

Day to day management of Risk Management Surveyors. We are a team of nine within the wider Risk Management Department, covering a diverse area that stretches from the Isles of Scilly to the Peak District, and everything in between - including South and Mid-Wales.

Our role is to support clients and broker partners by providing specialist risk management guidance and valuation advice across all customer groups.

I’ve always enjoyed the variety this role offers, not just in the places and buildings we visit, but in the wide range of people we meet along the way. From heritage buildings of national importance to hotels, fine dining restaurants, schools, charities and real estate properties, there is always something new and different to experience.

It has also taken me to places I might never otherwise have considered visiting, often with behind-the-scenes access that many people don’t get to see.

It’s not all churches and heritage buildings (although we are very good at those!). Our team has a broad mix of experience and expertise across all aspects of risk management, which means we can support customers in a wide range of situations.

Underinsurance is a key example. It’s been an issue throughout my career, and one where we can really support customers through our valuation advice service.

I’m also fascinated by the pace of change we’re seeing in areas like technology and climate-related risks. There’s always something new to understand to support customers effectively. The challenge often lies in balancing competing priorities, for example, embracing renewable energy solutions such as solar panels, while also managing the additional risks they can introduce.

A few things are currently in progress that we can’t mention just yet (watch this space!)

That said, I tend to take satisfaction from the smaller wins. One example that comes to mind is helping a customer reconsider the insulating materials they were planning to use during the refurbishment of their care home. Their original specification fully met Building Regulations and resident safety requirements, but it presented challenges from an insurance perspective, which would have been reflected in higher premiums.

We identified an alternative material that addressed these concerns. Although it carried a slightly higher upfront cost, this was more than offset by the long-term savings in insurance premiums over the building’s lifetime.

I also really enjoy the challenge of thinking creatively to solve problems, particularly when applying standard risk management principles to heritage buildings, where conventional solutions aren’t always feasible.

I’m a keen cricketer, and I’m both Chair and a youth coach at my club. Most Friday nights during the summer you’ll find me coaching our Under-13 team, and then on Saturdays doing precisely what I’ve told them not to do.

“Enthusiasm over talent” is probably the best way to describe my playing style.

The UK Sepsis Trust is a charity I have supported for many years for very personal reasons. Thankfully, my wife survived this surprisingly common condition, which claims five lives every hour in the UK.

What began as a sinus infection rapidly developed into something far more serious, leading to a prolonged stay in intensive care. At one point, she was not expected to survive. Having mentally rehearsed how I would tell our young children such devastating news is something that stays with you forever.

The UK Sepsis Trust is dedicated to ending preventable deaths from serious infection by raising awareness and providing vital support to survivors.