IT Contractor Insurance

Expect more from your insurer. Specialist IT contractor insurance from £5 per month*.

  • Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds

  • 24hr legal advice helpline and legal hub

  • No hidden fees or cancellation charges

Our specialist insurance for IT contractors combines industry-specific cover with professional and business support services to offer you more than just an insurance policy.

What is IT contractor insurance?

IT contractor insurance is designed to protect IT professionals against the unforeseen – for example, something going wrong during a project for a client.

There is a wealth of cover options to protect your business against all kinds of scenarios, including allegations of professional negligence, personal injury claims or the effects of a cyber-attack.

Why do IT contractors need insurance?

Using expert knowledge of systems and projects to provide specialist services to your client doesn’t come without risks. They have high expectations and, when these expectations aren’t met – for example, a project not being delivered on time – they may blame your work and take legal action against you.

If you, as a contracted worker, are deemed at fault, the financial and legal ramifications can be far-reaching – affecting you professionally and personally.

IT contractor insurance from Markel is designed to protect you against such scenarios so that if something doesn’t go to plan, you’ll be covered.

What it covers

Our IT contractor insurance has been designed to cover against a range of claims that could be made against you, including:

Professional negligence

A new IT system you have implemented for a client does not work as expected, causing wide-scale financial and operational disruption. They hold you responsible for the error and take legal action to recover their losses.  Covered by professional indemnity insurance.

Breaches of contract

A client engages you as a project manager responsible for delivering a system to a specific deadline. The project overruns and they hold you responsible for the additional costs incurred due to the delay.  Covered by professional indemnity insurance.

Intellectual property disputes

One of your competitors alleges that you have copied content from their website and used it on your client's website. They take legal action against you seeking damages.  Covered by professional indemnity insurance.

How to buy IT contractor insurance

Get an online quote in as little as 90 seconds all you need to do is answer a few simple questions about your business and we’ll give you a range of cover options.

You can then select as much or as little cover as you like to build an insurance package that is right for you.

Prefer to speak to someone? Call us on 0800 640 6600 to speak to an insurance expert for help arranging your IT contractor insurance.

How much does IT contractor insurance cost?

Insurance for IT contractors from Markel starts at £5 per month. There are no hidden fees and zero cancellation charges.

*Price based on an IT consultant requiring £1 million of public liability insurance.

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Cover starting at £5 a month

Build an IT contractors insurance policy to suit you

  • Professional indemnity insurance

    Professional indemnity insurance covers the cost of defending your IT business against allegations of professional negligence (such as giving your client incorrect or wrongful advice, or providing sub-standard services) and if unsuccessful, the cost of damages awarded against you.

    Examples of claims include:

    • Breach of contract: a client engages you as a project manager responsible for delivering a system to a specific deadline. The project overruns and you are held responsible for the additional costs the company incurs due to the delay.

    • Negligence: a system you were contracted to design is deemed not fit for purpose after the project finishes. The client takes legal action against you to recover the costs of putting it right

    • Intellectual property: one of your competitors alleges that you have copied content from their website and used it on your client's website. They take legal action against you seeking damages.

    In addition, our policy provides mitigation of loss cover, which pays the costs incurred to avoid a claim being made against you.

    This is essential insurance for IT consultants, contractors and businesses with limits ranging from £50,000 to £5m.

  • Public liability insurance

    Public and product liability insurance covers the cost of defending your business (including damages awarded against you if unsuccessful) if someone is injured, or their property damaged, which arises from you going about your business or supplying products.

    Examples of claims include:

    • You damage a client’s projector using the wrong adapter to plug in your laptop. They send you a bill for a new projector as the original is irreparable.
    • A client trips over a cable and injures themselves while visiting your workplace. They make a personal injury claim against you seeking compensation.

    Limits range from £1m to £5m.

  • Employer's liability insurance

    Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement if your business has employees. It covers your business against claims for injury or illness suffered by employees arising from their employment.

    An example of a claim would be:

    • An employee alleges they are suffering from a chronic bad back as a result of sitting in an unsupportive chair for too long. They make a personal injury claim against you seeking compensation.

    If your business employs other IT consultants, you need this cover. Cover for £10m.

  • Legal expenses insurance

    Legal expenses insurance pays your legal costs and expenses for contract disputes, tax enquiries (including IR35), attending jury service, debt recovery, personal injury, as well as any award you are required to pay following an employment dispute with an employee. There is a limit of £100,000.

    If a client takes legal action against you because of an error you have made, this cover can prevent you from needing to use your own finances to cover legal expenses.

  • Directors and officers insurance

    Directors and officers insurance can cover you, as a director or an officer of your company, against claims of negligence or wrongful working practices – and any damages awarded against you as a consequence.

    Legal cost cover extends to additional claims such as disqualification as a director or extradition proceedings, as well as general investigations.

    Limits range from £100,000 to £5 million.

  • Office insurance

    Protect your business against theft or accidental damage with Office insurance. Cover secures yo against damage of:

    - Office contets

    - Office buildings

    - IT equipment and computer hardware

    If you travel frequently for client work, this insurance also offers optional worldwide cover for business equipment, such as mobile phones and laptops.

    Our cover also give you the option to insure against any resulting loss of income or addtional trading expnses that aris as a result of damage or theft.

  • Cyber and data risks insurance

    Cyber and data risks insurance can help cover the financial costs in the aftermath of a cyber-attack. Costs can include:

    -       Meeting ransom demands

    -       Informing clients

    -       Restoration of IT equipment

    -       Recovery of client data

    -       Net profit losses for client

    Cover helps to pay your legal costs and penalties you must pay out to affected parties.

    If you store sensitive data on your devices, IT equipment and software, you should consider purchasing this cover.

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Frequently asked questions

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Cover starting at £5 a month

Frequently asked questions

  • I need to arrange IT contractors insurance to secure a contract – do you provide proof of cover?

    Yes. Once you take out a policy with Markel, you will receive your policy documents via email. This includes your ‘Confirmation of Liability Insurance’, which can be presented to clients as proof of your insurance cover.

  • Is my past work covered?

    Markel’s insurance can cover your past work if you have held uninterrupted professional indemnity insurance before taking out a policy with us.

    If you did not hold professional indemnity insurance for a certain period of time, unfortunately, your past work will not be covered. Examples of where past work would not be covered include:

    • You have never held professional indemnity insurance before
    • You chose not to renew a past insurance policy
    • You decided to cancel a policy at the end of a contract

    If you would like clarification on your past work, please call us on 0800 640 6600.If you have held professional indemnity insurance uninterrupted prior to arranging your policy with us, we will be happy to cover past work.

    However, if for any reason you have not had professional indemnity insurance in place for a period of time – if you’ve never arranged it, allowed cover to lapse, or cancelled a previous policy – we won’t be able to cover past work.

    Don't hesitate to call us on 0800 640 6600 if you require further clarification.

  • What limit of cover should I choose?

    Different industry bodies and clients have their own requirements regarding the minimum level of cover required to begin contracted work. Before you arrange cover, you may wish to check their requirements on specific cover limits.

    Should you still be unsure about what limits are needed, or if this is the first time you have taken out insurance, it is worth considering what the cost of putting right a worst-case scenario would be.

    With the individual policies available from Markel, there is a range of cover limits, so you can choose the cover which is relevant to your contracting work.

  • What's the difference between professional indemnity and public liability?

    Professional indemnity insurance is designed to cover you against certain claims of professional negligence – such as giving incorrect advice or a sub-standard service – that causes your client to lose money.

    On the other hand, public liability insurance protects you against instances of third party illness and injury claims – or property damage - where you are liable. For example, if a client were to have their laptop damaged.

    Professional indemnity and public liability insure against different liabilities, so consider taking out both types of cover where applicable.

  • Why should I insure with Markel?

    Markel has over 25 years’ experience insuring IT contractors against the ever-changing risks they face. Policies have been developed to give you peace of mind, knowing that when it comes to legal assistance and advice, you have a support network in place to help you.

    We are a division of Markel International, a Lloyd’s and London market insurer that wrote gross premium totals of $1.2 billion in 2018.

    Prefer to speak to someone? Call us on 0800 640 6600 to speak to an insurance expert who can provide guidance on the IT contractor policies available.

    Alternatively, get a quote in 90 seconds - and call if you need further clarification.

  • How are Markel regulated?

    Markel International Insurance Company Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Find out more on the Financial Services Register.

Expect more from your IT insurer.

When you take out cover with Markel, you receive these exclusive services as standard:

24 hour legal helpline  24/7 access to a legal advice helpline manned by qualified solicitors

 Access our fee dispute service to assist with unpaid invoices

 A specialist cyber response helpline to help in the event of a cyber attack

Legal hub access  Access legal templates and resources with the Markel Law Hub

  Receive discounted IR35 contract reviews with your policy

  Expert management of public relations crises with The Counsel House

Discover more about these services

Cover starting at £5 a month

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