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Our specialist recruitment consultant insurance can provide cover for a host of risks facing recruitment consultants, HR consultants, employment consultants and personnel consultants.
Sourcing staff for clients does not come without risks. Improper referencing checks, a candidate injuring themselves during a visit to your office or the theft of confidential client data could be disastrous for your business. Our insurance for recruitment consultants offers expert cover in a single policy that covers these risks and more.
We can help you tailor your recruitment consultant insurance online. Our simple quote system asks questions about your business activities and offers you covers that may be of interest. You can choose to buy all or just some of the covers quoted, so you will only pay for the cover you need.
Cover at a glance:
- Includes essential public liability and indemnity insurances
- Add legal expenses with tailored policies to suit your needs
- Covers errors in candidate selection and employment advice
- Cyber cover available
- Suitable for freelance consultants and small practices
What is recruitment and HR consultant insurance?
Recruitment and HR consultant insurance refers to a group of insurance policies designed to protect professionals who provide recruitment, staffing, and human resource consultancy services. This insurance typically covers risks such as professional indemnity for errors in advice, liability claims if a candidate or client alleges negligence, and protection against legal costs. It may also offer coverage for accidental damage to property, employee injuries, or breaches of confidentiality.
Securing this insurance can help consultants to operate with confidence, knowing they are financially protected against unforeseen claims and incidents that could arise during their work.
Cover starting at
£5 a month*
*Price based on an employment consultant requiring £1 million of public liability insurance.
Why do I need recruitment and HR consultant insurance?
Recruitment and HR consultant insurance is important for anyone who provides recruitment or HR consultancy services–whether as a sole trader, small business, or contractor. You may need this insurance if you regularly advise clients, handle sensitive information, or work with candidates and employers, or if your client requires proof of insurance before you begin your services. This coverage is especially valuable for professionals managing large projects or working in regulated industries as it helps protect against third-party claims and accidental damages.
Example policy documents
If you have an existing policy with us, please sign in to view your policy documents.
Below you will find examples of the documents provided.
Build your recruitment consultant insurance policy with these covers
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Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance covers the cost of defending your business against allegations of professional negligence (such as giving your client incorrect or wrongful advice) and if unsuccessful, the cost of damages awarded against you. This is vital cover for all recruitment consultants and insurance cover is available with limits ranging from £50,000 to £5m.
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Public and product 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. The legal fees alone could cost your business thousands of pounds. Limits range from £1m to £5m.
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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. If you employ staff in your business, this cover is vital. Cover for £10m.
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Legal expenses insurance
Commercial legal expenses insurance covers the costs of defending you as a director or officer of your company against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you. Cover is also provided for the legal costs and expenses of defending actions for disqualification as a director, investigations and extradition proceedings. Limits range from £100,000 to £5m.
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Directors and officers insurance
Directors and officers insurance covers the costs of defending you as a director or officer of your company against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you. Cover is also provided in respect of the legal costs and expenses of defending actions for disqualification as a director, investigations and extradition proceedings. Limits range from £100,000 to £5m.
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Office insurance
Office insurance covers your office buildings, office contents and computer equipment against accidental damage (including theft) whilst on your business premises. You can also choose to cover your business equipment (such as laptops and mobile phones) on a worldwide basis, and insure your business against loss of income and/or additional trading expenses following events such as damage to your property.
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Occupational personal accident insurance
Occupational personal accident insurance provides a weekly payment if you are unable to work due to temporary total disablement (subject to a 14-day deferment period) due to an accident at work, or when travelling to and from work. In the event of loss of limbs, sight, speech, hearing, permanent total disablement or death, a lump sum would be paid out. You should consider this cover if you would struggle to maintain an income following an accident that left you unable to work. Limits from £100/week to £500/week for temporary total disablement (£25k lump sum to £100k lump sum for permanent total disablement).
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Cyber and data risks insurance
Cyber insurance pays the costs of restoring data and equipment, informing clients, meeting ransom demands and loss of your net profit following a cyber-attack. It also pays your legal defence costs and damages you are legally liable to pay to other parties. If you hold confidential information about your clients and their projects on computers and other internet connected devices, you should consider to this cover.
How it works
Choose the cover you require
Get a quote you need in minutes
Buy online or contact one of our advisors
How much does recruitment and HR consultant insurance cost?
The cost of recruitment and HR consultant insurance depends on several factors, including:
- The type of coverage you require
- The risks associated with your work
- If you have employees
Here at Markel Direct, you can secure recruitment and HR consultant insurance from £5 per month*.
*Based on a HR consultant requiring £1,000,000 public liability cover.
Ready to build your quote?
Our simple quote process will help you to find the right business insurance for your individual needs.
Frequently asked questions
These frequently asked questions are designed to help you and include questions relating to policy cover, pricing and ‘technical’ terms.
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Does the policy cover the actions of people I supply to my clients?
No. The policy is designed to cover your professional activities as a recruitment consultant/agency and does not extend to include cover for the actions of the people that you supply to your clients.
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What's the difference between professional indemnity and public liability?
Professional indemnity insurance covers against allegations of professional negligence - which means it would cover you if you were to make an error or mistake in a piece of work (such as a project or report) for a client.
Public liability insurance covers against allegations of injury or illness caused to third parties by your negligence. This includes many of the slips, trips and falls that are associated with personal injury claims. In addition, public liability insurance covers against damage to third party property - for example, if you were to damage a client-owned laptop or smartphone.
As they insure against different scenarios, it's important you consider arranging both types of cover to ensure you are properly protected.
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I need to arrange insurance to start work - do you provide proof of cover?
Yes. We provide a dedicated 'Confirmation of Liability Insurance' document (detailing the cover you have with us) as part of the documents that are emailed to you if you purchase your policy with us. You can present this document to agencies and clients as proof that you are insured.
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What limit of cover should I choose?
Many clients and industry bodies with regulatory requirements will require you to have a minimum level of cover for you to undertake a contract, so it's worth checking this before you arrange cover. If you're unsure, give some thought to a worst-case scenario and the likely costs involved in putting your mistake right. We offer a range of limits on insurance, so you're sure to find the right cover for your business.
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Why should I choose Markel Direct's Insurance
Markel Direct has over 25 years of experience insuring contractors, consultants and self-employed professionals. We insure over 200,000 micro businesses and are highly rated by our customers at Feefo.com.
We are a division of Markel International, a Lloyd’s of London market insurer that wrote gross premium totals of £2.4bn in 2023
To talk about your insurance requirements and better understand our cover, call us on 0800 640 6600 or get a quick quote online.
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How are Markel Direct regulated?
Markel Direct is a trading name of 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.
We are a division of Markel International, a Lloyd’s of London market insurer that wrote gross premium totals of £2.4bn in 2023
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