Catalyst’s Paul Duddle joins expert panel at ILC conference

The expertise and experience of the Catalyst Services UK team will inform a debate about the impact of subsidence on insurance claims at a national conference.

The company’s operations director, Paul Duddle, will join a panel to discuss the topic at the I Love Claims (ILC) Property Claims Conference 2025 being held on Wednesday 26^th and Thursday 27^th November.

Shaping how subsidence claims are managed

Paul, who is also chairman of the Subsidence Forum, the national meeting place for professionals involved in responding to subsidence, said it is a timely topic following the hottest UK summer on record.

He explained: “It’s a real honour for the Subsidence Forum to be involved in this conference and to help to play a part in shaping how subsidence claims may be managed in the future.

“With the longer hotter drier summers we are seeing an increase in subsidence claims and also noticing a slow migration north of subsidence issues from the usual clay bands of London and the southeast.

“The UK is forecast to see more frequent long summer droughts and heavy rain that can also play a part and even though subsidence is currently a small spend for insurance companies are we going to see volumes dramatically increase.”

Improving the subsidence claims experience

Topics that will be debated by the panel include what UK insurers could do to prepare for these climate changes, said Paul Duddle.

They will be considering what might be done to streamline the sometimes-lengthy process of a subsidence claim to give property owners a better claim experience.

They will also be answering the question, is there are skills shortage in the industry and, if so, how do insurers and the industry plan to fill the gap?

ILC is the largest UK forum for the insurance claims industry. It brings together insurance professionals and service specialists, like Catalyst, to discuss key issues and trends affecting the claims sector.

The Property Claims Conference, being held at Telford International Centre, in Shropshire, has a main theme of ‘quicker and more effective property claims’. Other key topics also include complex claims, high net worth claims and claims challenges in Scotland.

Working together to tackle subsidence

The subsidence specialist panel will provide the audience with updates and progress on responding to subsidence risks.

Paul Duddle said: “I am very much looking forward to representing the Subsidence Forum at this event and sharing on our subsidence experience here at Catalyst.

“I will also be encouraging insurers, loss adjusters and all sectors of the subsidence industry to join us in the forum, so we can share our experiences and insights—and work together to respond more effectively to future subsidence challenges.”