On the initiative of Ronald Remmers of the PIA the Architects PI Scheme “APIGIS” * was set up over 25 years ago in consultation with specialist Professional Indemnity insurance advisor and broker, Chris Pearson. Chris has over 30 years of experience in dealing with Professional Indemnity insurance and specifically Architect’s PI.
In order to qualify for access to the APIGIS Scheme and the benefits being offered the Architect had to be a Member in good standing with the Regional Architectural Institutes and/or SAIA.
This obviously created a valuable benefit to Membership of the Institutes.
In 1999 an independent Trust was formed, the APIGIS Trust, solely to represent the interests of Architects.
All the Trustees were practising Professional Architects. The “vision” being a free service to the Profession overseen and managed “by Architects for Architects”.
One of the main functions of the Trust was to oversee and manage the insurance and risk management service providers. Obviously, the administration and management of a Trust requires income to cover the expenses incurred and the insurance brokers appointed to advise and manage the Scheme agreed to share a portion of the insurance commission with the APIGIS Trust.
NMG Risk Managers**/Chris Pearson (who are the appointed Brokers) are willing to abide by these arrangements as marketing costs were reduced plus they benefited from the endorsement and support of the Institutes.
APIGIS was well received by the Practitioners and a base of over 500 policyholders was built up in a fairly short space of time.
Benefits to Architects:
Competitive premiums approx. 20% - 30% below the market and widest available coverage. Independent advice and guidance on insurance and risk management.