Romero Insurance talks to Liam Adkin-Truelove, the founder of Be Cooled Air Conditioning
Client Stories focusses on local businesses who have a special relationship with Romero Insurance Brokers – demonstrating how dedicated insurance professionals can positively impact their local area. A sector where we are seeing incredible growth at the moment is the air conditioning and HVAC sector. Climate change and rising temperatures are causing businesses and individuals to pay more attention to the heating and cooling capabilities of their property. A spike in energy prices is also impacting the sector, with the desire for more affordable solutions ever-present.
Liam Adkin-Truelove walks us through the intricacies of providing air conditioning units and the variety of premises his business, Be Cooled Air Conditioning, has serviced. Such variety invites a complex insurance policy that can adequately provide cover across Be Cooled’s activities and liabilities. Liam comments on the growth of the sector post-pandemic, the range of risks involved and his experience with a dedicated insurance broker.
What are the origins of Be Cooled and how were you impacted by the pandemic?
Liam: I set up Be Cooled Ltd in April 2020 at the age of 23, but I didn’t start fully trading until April 2021. The pandemic was still in full force so starting a business was a risky move. I had gained my qualification in air conditioning and refrigeration following a 3 year apprenticeship, which included obtaining my F-Gas Certificate. My previous employer had begun working on the Knightingale Hospital in Harrogate, getting it ready for COVID-19 patients so I stayed and we worked on that to get it up and running.
What clients have you serviced, and what are the typical types of business who require your air conditioning services?
Liam: I’ve worked with multi-million pound businesses as well as the small shop down the road. Anybody with a building will benefit from air conditioning. Recently I’ve been working with large vet practices, five star hotels, supercar showrooms and a local hairdresser and tanning salon.
Another typical individual who enquires about air conditioning are domestic residencies. Domestic installs are becoming very popular, especially during and after a heatwave. On domestic installs the government introduced a 0% VAT scheme which is available until March 2027 – combined with the recent 2026 sunshine has made us very busy.
What are the range of services you provide?
Liam: At Be Cooled, we offer full installation, repair and maintenance on all types of units from the single splits to VRF/VRV’s. In commercial properties, people don’t tend to be bothered about the look of the air conditioner, as long as it performs – however in domestic properties, people are often concerned about the style of the unit.
I’ve done a lot of work in domestic properties particularly on high-net-worth homes; I’ve hidden units within cupboards and even installed a bespoke unit on a wall to be covered by a painting. The three main brands I use are Toshiba, Mitsubishi and Dakin. To source the units I either go direct to the manufacturer or I do use the local wholesalers in my area.
What financial pressures are challenging you, and what challenges are most critical for the air conditioning sector?
Liam: Fuel prices are the main pressure. I’m on the road a lot going from job to job, I can be in Scotland one day and London the next so fuel expenditure can spiral – although I do try to stay near my home in Yorkshire as much as possible.
Material costs are also another financial pressure. All our pipework is copper which has never been a cheap metal. Replacing tools is also a big expense, we have specialist equipment that needs calibrating each year.
Air conditioning is becoming more and more popular each year. As the summers are getting hotter people are looking for solutions, but also considering the benefits of the units in the colder months. Gas is expensive, and it takes time for a gas boiler to kick out heat, whereas air conditioning units provide heat instantly, reaching temperatures much faster, as well as being easier and cheaper to maintain.
The biggest challenge for the air conditioning sector is recruitment. Most people in construction will train to be a plumber or electrician, where as air conditioning tends to be forgotten about. Trying to recruit an experienced air conditioning engineer with the right certifications can be challenging.
How much interaction have you had with your insurance broker, Romero Insurance?
Liam: Romero Insurance handlers regularly enquire about any updates or changes to my operations, particularly before renewal. I don’t feel bombarded. I’m always on the road or up a ladder so there’s never a good time to have a conversation between 9am – 5pm. I prefer to be able to review my options on an evening in my own time. If I have any questions I can drop my Romero Insurance account handler, Lewis Bairstow, an email and by the time I check my inbox they’ll have sent an answer.
What are the complexities of your policy, and why would standard insurance not be suitable?
Liam: Due to the peculiarities of our trade, we do work at height and we also work with heat, including Oxy-Acetylene. Other risks include gas work, which is an area few insurers will cover or will only offer a certain public liability limit. I understand Romero Insurance have covered the business the best they can at an affordable price. I currently have covered on my policy liabilities, contract works, my tools, my fleet, professional indemnity, and personal accident for both the directors and employees. I also have Excess of Loss, a reinsurance which tops up the public liability to provide a higher limit.
An example area where Romero Insurance have had to find an insurer to cover a niche area of operation involves our fleet. We carry gas in our vans, therefore a standard fleet or car policy would not be suitable. Handlers at Romero Insurance found an insurer who is happy to cover this, potentially avoiding a costly uninsured incident.
How have Romero Insurance staff gone above and beyond to benefit your business?
Liam: The team at Romero Insurance are constantly ensuring I fully understand my policy and obligations. They are on hand, ready to take my call or answer an email, and go that extra mile.
As an air conditioning installer, my clients will occasionally request a sub-contractor’s form to be completed for us to be able to perform the work. These forms can be very complex and involve questions relating to insurance. This is my obligation, yet I am able to send the section of the form to Lewis Bairstow at Romero Insurance. He will always complete it promptly, stamp it, and send them back for me to forward onto the client.
Furthermore, when I moved my policies away from a large broker about 3 or 4 years ago, Romero managed to find a saving on my main liabilities policy. This saving then enabled me to have the funds in the pot to take out the personal accident policy for myself and my employees. At the early stages of the company funds were limited, so I was really pleased with that saving, enabling me to purchase a key insurance for the benefit of my staff.