Tradesman insurance

Public liability insurance covers personal injury and property damage claims made against you by clients or other members of the public. We provide this protection with cover limits between £1 million and £5 million.

Example of a claim:

A handyman accidentally damages fixtures and fittings when rewiring ceiling lights in a domestic property. The client makes a compensation claim for property damage.

Employers’ liability insurance provides financial protection to tradespeople with employees by covering the cost of compensating employees who become ill or injured as a result of their work. If you have staff, you’re legally obliged to have a minimum of £5 million of this insurance type in place. At Markel, our policies will cover you for up to £10 million.

Example of a claim:

A junior electrician is electrocuted while installing an intercom system at a business premises. He is left with severe injuries and sues his employer for compensation.

Tools insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing tools or equipment that are lost, damaged or stolen. Our tools insurance cover limits range from £1,000 to £5,000.

Example of a claim:

A professional gardener’s commercial-grade lawn mower is stolen from their garage overnight. The gardener makes a portable equipment insurance claim to cover the costs of replacing the machine.

Legal expenses insurance can help to cover the cost of defending or pursuing legal actions against other parties such as suppliers, clients or employees. This could be 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.

Example of a claim:

A supplier has failed to deliver building materials you’ve paid for and is ignoring your requests for a refund. You face the costs associated with recovering the debt owed to you.

Occupational personal accident insurance provides payment if you can’t earn a living because of an injury you sustain in the course of your work or on the way to or from your work. This cover provides weekly benefits or a cash lump sum.

Owned plant insurance cover the costs of repairing or replacing your own plant machinery. This can include cement mixers, generators, trailers, and more besides if it's damaged or stolen. Cover limits are available from £10,000 to £50,000.

Hired in plant insurance cover the costs of repairing or replacing plant machinery.This can include forklifts, cherry pickers, concrete mixers and more, that you've hired from a third party, if they are damaged or stolen. Cover limits are available from £10,000 to £50,000.

Contract works insurance covers the work you and your employees are completing on a construction site. If your work is affected by a flood or fire, or by theft or malicious damage, contract works insurance can cover the costs of repairing or redoing the work.

Goods in transit insurance covers you financially against the loss or damage of goods while in transit from one location to another. This can be either goods transported in your own vehicle, or on your behalf by a third-party carrier.

Professional indemnity insurance provides financial protection for your trades business in the event that a client claims you’ve been negligent, made a mistake or offered poor advice. This form of cover can be particularly important if you’re paid to offer advice or designs.