Specialist insurance, tailored to you

At Markel Direct, we offer specialist insurance combined with unique support services for contractors, small businesses, tradespeople, charities and community groups.

Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds

24hr legal advice helpline included

No hidden fees or cancellations

About Markel

Established over 25 years ago, we have insured over 200,000 professionals, businesses, charities and community organisations. Our experience gives us an unrivalled knowledge of the risks facing our customers and our policies are specially designed to cover them.

Insurance for professionals, contractors, consultants and freelancers We offer a wide range of cover for professionals, freelancers, contractors, consultants and businesses, including professional indemnity insurance, public liability insurance and more for over 200 professions, including (but not limited to):

  • Management and business consultants such as marketing consultants, training consultants and education consultants
  • IT professionals including IT contractors, consultants, programmers, project managers and developers
  • Technical and engineering contractors
  • Teachers and tutors including private tutors
  • Fitness professionals including personal trainers, dance teachers and yoga instructors
  • Marketing and media professionals, including branding consultants, web designers and graphic designers
  • Photographers and videographers

Our cover is available from as little as £8 a month – get a quote now.

Expect more from your insurer.

  • Professional indemnity insurance from £8 a month
  • Instant cover tailored to your needs - add public liability and more
  • Fast, easy quote in 90 seconds
  • Industry-specific cover combined with 24hr legal advice helpline and document hub
  • Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 200+ customer reviews on Feefo
  • Pay in ten interest free instalments or by credit card
  • Trusted by over 200,000 businesses and established for over 25 years

Insurance for tradespeople

We offer specialist insurance to many different types of self-employed tradespeople, including (but not limited to):

  • Builders
  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Gardeners
  • Handymen
  • Carpenters
  • Painters and decorators
  • Locksmiths
  • Plasterers
  • Tilers
  • Bathroom installers
  • Carpet fitters

Our cover is available from as little as £7 a month – get a quote now.

Insurance for charities, community groups, clubs and societies

We offer specialist insurance for small charities and community groups, including public liability, trustee indemnity, professional indemnity, employer's liability and much more for:

  • Small charities
  • General community groups
  • Clubs and societies
  • Hobby and interest groups
  • Friends of fundraising groups
  • Nurseries, playgroups and after school clubs
  • Counselling, advocacy and support groups
  • Training and education groups

Our cover is available from as little as £3 a month – get a quote now.

Why insure with Markel?

Our customers rate us 4.8 out of 5 for service on independent feedback website Feefo.com and our UK based insurance experts are more than happy to help you if you need assistance buying your policy – simply call 0371 705 3598 or request a free callback. Alternatively, get an online quote now and call us later if anything needs clarifying.

We are one of the longest established specialist insurers around today – we are a division of Markel International, the London based subsidiary of Markel Corporation, a leading name in specialist insurance since 1930. In 2023, Markel International wrote gross premium of $2.4 billion. Markel Corporation has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 1986.

You can be confident when you insure with us - we are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority, and are part of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Cover starting at £5 a month*

*Based on a public liability insurance policy (including products liability) with a £1 million level of cover.

Our claims service

  • A dedicated claims handler from our UK based claims team

    Your claims handler will see your case through from start to finish, giving you a fixed point of contact for the life of your claim. So whether your claim is for a slip or trip, allegation of professional negligence or a stolen laptop, you won't be passed around a call centre having to explain the details of your claim to different operators.

  • Specialist solicitors

    If your claim requires the attention of a solicitor, we instruct specialist firms that are an expert in their particular field of law.

    Be it professional negligence, personal injury or employment related, our panel of solicitors comprises some of the longest established and most respected firms in the UK, giving the best chance of defending your claim successfully. The vast experience of these firms means that they are likely to have handled a claim similar to yours in the past and will know the strategy to take to achieve the best possible outcome.

  • Support from the outset

    If you have reason to believe a claim may be made against your policy, our claims team comprises of experienced, legally qualified professions that are there to support you. Even if the situation doesn't develop into a full-blown claim, they will be able to advise on the best outcome.

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

  • What is professional indemnity insurance?

    Professional indemnity insurance protects your business when a client alleges that you’ve made a mistake in a piece of work for them. This can include providing poor advice, inadequate services or an error in a design. These mistakes often cost clients money, which is why they may make a claim for compensation against you.

    While everyone aims to provide their clients with the best possible service, things don’t always go to plan. Professional indemnity insurance gives you the peace of mind that you’ll be covered if you make a costly mistake or error. Read more.

  • Why should I insure with Markel?

    With over 25 years of experience insuring contractors, consultants and self-employed professionals, at Markel, we insure over 200,000 micro businesses and are highly rated by our customers at Feefo.com.

    In 2023, Markel International wrote gross premium of $2.4 billion. Markel Corporation has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 1986.

    To talk about your insurance requirements and better understand our cover, call us on 0800 640 6600 or get a quick quote online.

  • What limit of cover should I choose?

    When choosing your limit, you should first check if your clients require you to have a certain amount of public and product liability before entering a contract with you.

    However, if this isn't the case, make sure you have considered a worst case scenario and the costs that could likely be involved with not only defending the allegation, but also the compensation you might have to pay to put your mistake right. Markel offers limits ranging from £1m to £5m, so you are sure to find the right cover for your business' needs.

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Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited who is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 202570). Registered office address, 20 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 3AZ.

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