Catalyst’s Paul Duddle ready to join national debate as Subsidence Forum chairman

Catalyst Services UK Operations Director Paul Duddle is looking forward to being a key contributor to the I Love Claims specialist subsidence conference in April as chairman of the Subsidence Forum.

He will be taking part in an expert debate at the event on Thursday 30^th April 2026 at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Subsidence has aways been a particularly thorny issue in terms of its technical difficulties, which feeds into potential complexities in the way insurance claims are resolved.

Subsidence forum’s ‘important role’

Climate change is making finding new ways to respond to subsidence more urgent than ever, given that there is already evidence that subsidence surges are becoming more frequent and will impact more properties across wider areas of the country.

For example, last summer’s very dry conditions, which severely dried out ground across a large area of the UK, triggered a subsidence surge into the autumn. As soils dry, they contract, reducing support for building foundations, which can then subside.

One area for debate at the ILC subsidence conference will be how much the subsequent record levels of rainfall over the late autumn and winter will impact on continuing problems over the next 12 months.

Paul said: “The conference will allow us to consider both tactical responses and strategic trends, in terms of gathering and using data, technical innovation, sustainability and practical decision-making.

“The Subsidence Forum has, in my view, an increasingly important role in guiding this debate as the need to respond to the growing impact of subsidence more thoroughly and in a timely way becomes more urgent.

“Responding to subsidence needs a multi-agency approach, that uses insights drawn from experiences across the UK to develop effective solutions that are applied fairly for all involved. The Subsidence Forum is well placed to facilitate this process.”

More solutions now – Brad Jackson

Catalyst Managing Director Brad Jackson backs Paul’s work with the Subsidence Forum, given its importance to the wider property management and insurance industry.

He said: “I share Paul’s view that we need to encourage a more positive culture in our response to subsidence. It’s rightly a concerning issue, but handled properly, and sensitively, there are more solutions now than ever before.”

As forum chairman, Paul is championing wider forum membership, and is urging insurance providers and loss adjusters, in particular, to join the body and share their insights and expertise.

Paul contributed to a discussion about just these issues at the ILC Property Claims Conference held at the Telford International Centre, in Shropshire, in November 2025.

Joining an expert panel debating the persistent challenges of subsidence, he pointed out our understanding of underlying issues has grown, a process that needs to continue given the increasing pervasiveness of the problem.

Setting expectations is vital

Where subsidence surges once happened every decade, they are now taking place much more frequently, to the point they are ‘business as usual’, the conference audience was told.

Systems thinking and effective communication are essential, Paul explained. Being aware of new tools to better understand subsidence and choosing the right solutions will also be important. Effective training for both subsidence technicians and claims handlers is vital to allow this to happen.

In terms of communication, Paul said: “Explaining the process properly from the start sets expectations. If a soil sample needs lab testing, we should explain why that takes time. That reduces frustration.”

Paul also said subsidence professionals and insurance claims specialists need to be aware of how inadequately explained technical issues, such as potential liability relating to third-party trees, can damage neighbour relationships and cause unnecessary stress.

Catalyst delivers a comprehensive range of services to resolve claims for a growing number of insurance providers, brokers, and loss adjusters.

They include: subsidence investigations, drainage surveys and repairs (mains and off-mains), water supply pipe repairs and replacement, water leak detection, and environmental services.

Find out more

Find out more about the Subsidence Forum’s work: visit the forum’s website

Consider becoming a member: request a membership pack

Find out more about subsidence: view Catalyst’s 3-part guide