Zurich Municipal has launched a new insurance product designed to support England’s largest programme of local government reorganisation in more than 50 years, as over 200 councils prepare to be abolished or merged. Shadow Authority Insurance is designed to cover the newly-formed shadow authorities that are overseeing the transition to unitary councils.

UK businesses could lose as much as £1bn from a major cloud outage as growing reliance on cloud infrastructure leaves much of the economy increasingly exposed to disruption, according to a new report. Analysis by the Cyber Monitoring Centre and Parametrix found that more than 60% of UK businesses rely on cloud services for critical operations,

Speeding events have increased by as much as 83% after England’s World Cup matches, according to analysis of connected telematics data by insurtech firm ThingCo. The analysis of driving behaviour before, during and after England’s fixtures found a consistent pattern, with roads becoming quieter during matches, before traffic levels and speeding incidents rose sharply after the final whistle.

Concern over food safety and health risks has risen sharply among food and drink companies, with 45% of respondents to a survey conducted by Willis now identifying it as a major threat, up from 29% in 2024.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched a 60-day public consultation on proposed restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in firefighting foams to reduce risks to human health and the environment.

The deadline for entries for the 2026 Risk Management Awards has been extended. Celebrating the very best in risk management, the awards are free to enter, with numerous opportunities for entrants to showcase their best people, products and projects. The Risk Management Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in risk management.