Chippy owner's despair over inability to gain insurance for home delivery service

Months on it's still not possible to find a provider

A Peel fish and chip shop owner says he's hit a brick wall in his attempts to obtain insurance cover for delivery drivers to start a home delivery service.

Dave Matthews, who runs the Peel Fisheries chippy, first approached Manx Radio last month to raise awareness of his predicament. 

"We're basically sat here dead in the water."

Several weeks on, and despite full support from government and local brokers he's been unable to make any progress.

Mr Matthews told Simon Richardson more:

The Department of Enterprise has given Manx Radio a statement.

It says: "The Department for Enterprise continues to actively investigate the issues currently facing businesses in regards to hot food delivery insurance in the Isle of Man. Since the issue was brought to our attention, the Department has engaged with both on-Island and off-Island brokers, who have made clear that they too are experiencing difficulties sourcing a provider for the Island. The Department has also discussed with counterparts in Jersey and Guernsey to understand their position.

"Following these conversations, the Department have further engaged with the Association of British Insurers who are supportive of our concerns and are reviewing information about the Isle of Man’s market to better understand the position. They are not at this stage able to provide any guarantee that this will result in a solution, and it remains a commercial decision at the discretion of individual insurance providers themselves.

"The Department understands there remains a continuity of insurance for many existing on Island firms who already have this cover, however appreciates that this is still a concern for new local businesses in this industry. Whilst this issue is not unique to the Isle of Man, the Department recognises that it is of importance to local businesses and the wider community, and will continue to look for options to provide a resolution."