AN insurance brokerage has launched a free emergency helpline to support businesses impacted by the fire that destroyed a B-listed Victorian building in Glasgow city centre on Sunday.
Octo Insurance Brokers is providing access to its claims specialists to provide guidance to business owners who may be unsure what their insurance policies cover in the aftermath of the incident.
While the blaze has directly damaged premises within the affected building, the wider impact reaches far beyond the immediate site. Road and rail closures, restricted access and reduced footfall are disrupting trading for businesses across surrounding streets.
Octo’s 24/7 helpline will be live for the next four weeks to help affected businesses understand what support may be available within their policies, including potential claims relating to property damage, business interruption, and extensions that may apply where businesses are unable to trade due to access restrictions.
Richard Davis, director at Octo Insurance Brokers, said, “Events like this show just how vital it is for businesses to fully understand the cover they have in place. While the immediate focus is understandably on those premises directly affected by the fire, there are often wider implications for neighbouring businesses who suddenly find roads closed, access restricted or customer footfall significantly reduced.
“In many cases there may be policy extensions or business interruption protections that could help bridge that gap. Every policy is different, and the key thing is ensuring businesses receive clear guidance as early as possible so they can access the support available to them and relieve some of the financial pressure during a very difficult time.”
Fellow director Domenico Davis added, “When something like this happens, the complexity of insurance policies can become overwhelming for business owners who are already dealing with a stressful situation. Our priority is to help people understand what options are available to them and ensure they are making full use of the protection they have in place.
“We launched Octo last summer to bring back a more personal, relationship-led approach to insurance broking, combining experience with data-led insight to support clients properly when they need it most. Situations like this are exactly when having the right guidance can make a meaningful difference. Having been born and raised in Glasgow, seeing a historic piece of architecture go up in flames is sobering, so we want to do what we can to help.”
Businesses affected by the fire, whether directly impacted or experiencing disruption due to surrounding closures, are encouraged to contact Octo’s support line on 0141 846 0647 to review their insurance cover and understand the options available.
