Tradesman Insurance

Types of insurance cover your trades business may require

Insurance programmes for trades businesses would typically include a combination of the following cover:

• Public liability insurance: Tradesmen are likely to work near other people and their property. Public liability insurance for self-employed tradesman will help to ensure that you’re covered against potential claims, offering protection if your business activities kill or injure a third party (non-employee) or damage their property.
• Product liability insurance: If a product that you have supplied, manufactured, adapted or imported has caused damage or injury to people or property, this will provide cover for any financial losses.
• Employers’ liability insurance: This is a compulsory type of insurance for employers, regardless of whether the member of staff is permanent, temporary, volunteer, contractor or freelancer. The minimum level of protection is £5m, which will cover the cost of compensation claims if staff get injured or fall ill as a result of carrying out their required duties.
• Contractors all risk (CAR) insurance: If damage occurs to site materials and works that you have been contracted to undertake, CAR insurance (also known as contract works insurance) will provide protection.
• Professional indemnity insurance: If your work causes a problem for your client (for example if a construction project is delayed) or you have given negligent advice, this will ensure that you are covered if your client makes a claim against you. Some clients also require construction businesses to have a certain level of cover in place before they start work on a project, so it is worth checking this before you start work.
• Structural warranty: If your construction business is responsible for building or buying new buildings, then a structural warranty will provide you with 10 years’ worth of protection. This includes cover for latent defects that occur during the build period, but which are not discovered until after completion has taken place and is also known as latent defects insurance.
• Tools insurance: Provides cover for the things that your business needs to operate, such as mechanical equipment, tools and materials.
• Plant and machinery insurance: If you use plant and machinery on site (such as diggers, cherry pickers or generators), regardless of whether you own the equipment or you’ve hired it, this will help to cover the replacement or repair costs in the event that it is stolen or damaged.
• Personal accident insurance: This type of cover will provide financial protection in the event of accidental injury or death on site.
• Van insurance: Do you use a van as part of your work? Then you will need to ensure that you have the correct amount of van insurance in place to cover you whilst driving it.

These are just examples of some of the types of trades insurance policies that we look after at [broker_name]. 

What insurance do I need for my trades business?

If you are responsible for the running of a trades business of any kind you should consider taking out a tailored insurance programme. The wide variety of risks to both the staff and customers create the need for an insurance solution that provides comprehensive protection.

We know that no two trades businesses are the same, so speak to us today to find out which policies will best meet your needs.

What else do I need to know about trades insurance?

There might be some exclusions that won’t be covered by your tradesman insurance policy.

These could include:

• General wear and tear: The normal deterioration of your equipment through everyday use is unlikely to be covered by your tradesman insurance policy.
• Security features: If your policy specifies that you need to have certain security features in place (such as locks), your policy may be void in the event of any claims for damage, theft or loss.
• Limits for single items: Some policies may have single items limits, and if you have already made a claim for an item of equipment then you may not be able to make further claims.
• Irresponsible behaviour: If any injuries have occurred due to the use of alcohol or drugs whilst working, you might not be able to make a claim.

To ensure that you have a clear idea of what is and isn’t covered by your trades insurance policy, make sure you take the time to read your policy documents properly in order to avoid any nasty surprises.