Padiham engineering company praises insurance cover for helping them bounce back from Boxing Day floods

By Financial Affairs Ltd

19 Dec 2016

Almost one year on from the Boxing Day floods that could have put them out of business, Padiham’s Xavier Engineering reflects on the first class service their insurance company and insurance brokers provided to guide them through a stressful time.

Located off Wyre Street in Padiham, an area at the heart of the devastating floods, it was inevitable that their premises would be affected. Yet theirs is a wholly positive story of how swiftly their insurance claim was dealt with to get the business back up and running.

Xavier Engineering’s 3,500 square foot factory floor became entirely flooded on Boxing Day 2015 – yet it was in the following days that the true extent of the damage became known.

He said, “After seeing images on Facebook, we jumped in the car to see the situation in our premises for ourselves, but we couldn’t get anywhere near because of the levels of water from the River Calder in Wyre Street and Fleetwood Road, which were like rivers themselves.

The following day the levels of water had dropped enough to allow Ken and his business partner Debbie Welch access to the building. Greeted by silt and sludge, they began to assess the damage to their machinery and premises and to make contact with their insurers.

“The whole process of claiming on our business insurance was dealt with smoothly. Helen Guy at Financial Affairs was on hand to advise us at every stage, and our insurer NIG arranged brand new machinery and business interruption payments. All in all, we were back up and running within six weeks of the floods. We realised how fortunate we were when other local businesses were waiting months.

Laurence O’Connor, Managing Director at Financial Affairs, said, “With high levels of rainfall and floods becoming more prevalent in the UK, it’s becoming more difficult – and expensive - to get insurance cover. But as the tale of Xavier Engineering highlights, it’s an essential part of an insurance policy for any business close to a flood plain.

“This year we have continued to work with Xavier Engineering to arrange their insurance renewal. To satisfy their insurer – and give themselves peace of mind – they have installed a flood barrier to their roller shutter door and doorways, which they have designed and manufactured themselves.” After the worst possible start, 2016 has turned out to be a great year for Xavier Engineering. Ken McIlvennie added, “2016 has been extremely busy: we’ve expanded with two new machines and won new customers. I think we deserved it after the turmoil of last Christmas!”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Financial Affairs Ltd

Latest news

1

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

2

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

3

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted Training 2000

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted

01 Jul 2025

4

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons Colin Fisher, Paul Fox CEO and Gary Fisher.

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons

01 Jul 2025

5

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners Dean Curtis and Joe Diston

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin