What we learnt from Naidex

In April, the Fish Insurance team was at the innovative Naidex event, held at the NEC in Birmingham. The two-day annual exhibition is a huge event showcasing a wide variety of products and services to people with a medical condition or disability, as well as those who work in the sector.

We hosted our very own Safety Assessment Track to allow both visitors and trade professionals to test their skills and abilities when driving their wheelchairs, scooters and trikes. Our partners from TPG Disabled Aids and motor scooter manufacturer, Kymco Healthcare, were also at the show, with specialist assessors from TPG providing guidance to those completing our safety course.

The stand was a huge success. Over 150 attendees participated in the assessment, with many more visiting the stand seeking out advice and guidance from our friendly team of experts.

A growing market

During the event, visitors to our stand stressed how important their mobility scooters and wheelchairs are for giving them greater independence. These mobility aids make a real difference to everyday life.

The sales of mobility scooters are increasing rapidly every year and manufacturers are keen to suit growing customer needs. As a result, many manufacturers are making huge investments to enhance existing products and introduce new models and features.

Consumers can now choose from a huge range, from lightweight and compact options to more rugged models to tackle rough terrains. More stylish and luxurious versions with added comfort are very popular with consumers too.

Feedback from the event highlighted that the huge choice can also be quite daunting, with people feeling confused about which model is right for them. With online retail growing at a rapid pace, often attracting consumers with competitively priced products, people don’t always have access to the right information and assessment of their needs specialist retailers can offer.

Safety is key

One of the key topics of discussion raised by both wheelchair and scooter users was safety. Often consumers don’t have access to specialist advice or training, or the option to try before you buy, especially when purchasing online.

Our Safety Assessment Track proved popular with both the general public and healthcare professionals. Everyone agreed that more assessments should be made available to help owners learn basic driving skills and build confidence.

Many people were also concerned about the rising number of accidents and possible theft or vandalism to their vehicles. And remember, even the most careful drivers can be affected by circumstances out of their control.

Our team explained that if a scooter user has an accident without liability cover, they could face a large bill arising from both the damage to their scooter and third party costs. We provided details on our range of affordable insurance options, dedicated to protecting not just mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, but our customers too.

Everyone who took part on our Safety Assessment Track was rewarded with a free Fish Insurance goodie bag and entry into our prize draw to win a three-year mobility scooter and breakdown policy.

It was fantastic to meet and provide helpful advice to a huge number of people, and we hope to see many more at the next event in 2019.

To find out more about our scooter safety initiative and see coverage of us debuting the assessment track at Naidex, watch our video here.