Punk Poet John Cooper Clarke Unveils New Poetry Series Inspired by Insurance Claims
- John Cooper Clarke tackles his most challenging role yet as ‘(Under)Writer in Residence’ for insurance company Hiscox
- From thieving baboons and a pilfering poltergeist to a claim over a prize bull’s semen, Cooper Clarke shares five new poems inspired by extraordinary insurance claims
- New data commissioned by Hiscox reveals that almost one in four (23%) small business owners have made an insurance claim for something they could never have predicted
- To hear and see John Cooper Clarke (aka the bard of Salford) with his poetic take on the world of insurance, please visit: www.hiscox.co.uk/JCC
London, UK (20 March 2024): Ahead of World Poetry Day on Thursday 21 March, the original punk poet John Cooper Clarke is set to release his most unexpected body of work yet; a series of poems inspired by unusual insurance claims.
In a move that sees two very different writing worlds collide, the ‘bard of Salford’ has been appointed by Hiscox as its first ‘(Under)Writer in Residence’. In his new role, Cooper Clarke has composed five original poems, inspired by some of the most colorful claims handled by the insurer – from a wildlife photographer who had his equipment stolen by baboons to a thieving poltergeist and a farmer who claimed for the loss of his prize bull’s semen.
The appointment of the wordsmith follows new data revealing that almost one in four (23%) small business owners have made claims for events or mishaps that they would never have expected.
Commenting on his new role as Hiscox’s (Under)Writer in Residence, John Cooper Clarke said: “Just as nobody would have predicted that I’d end up in the insurance bracket, it turns out there’s not much that you can safely predict in running a small business. Insurance may seem like a mundane realm, but as the poems show, it’s a rich tapestry of human chaos, from tragedy to comedy and beyond.”
Fiona Mayo, Chief Marketing Officer at Hiscox UK, added: “We’re delighted to welcome John Cooper Clarke to the Hiscox family as our (Under)Writer in Residence. His passion for understanding people and their stories resonates with us, and it’s been fascinating to observe his creative take on our customer claims. His new poems are there to be enjoyed but are also a great reminder of how important it is to be ready for life’s unexpected challenges.”
Are business owners ready for the unexpected?
New data released by the insurer highlights that a quarter (26%) of small businesses don’t have business insurance to help when things go wrong and amongst those that do, 23% have made a claim for something they could never have predicted would happen.
Further statistics showed that in the continued tough economic climate, 40% of small business owners who do have insurance are thinking about making cuts to it, and over a third (36%) felt a business should be generating more than £25,000 a year before getting cover. Despite being a legal requirement3 for most businesses that employ staff, 34% don’t think insurance is a necessary outlay until a business takes on a second employee.
To hear and see John Cooper Clarke’s claims-inspired poems please visit hiscox.co.uk/JCC
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