Access discounted services from Markel - exclusive to Ember clients

Enjoy preferential rates on specialist business insurance from Markel Direct and access to the Markel Business Hub

  • Be protected by an award winning insurer

  • Trusted by over 200,000 organisations

  • Rated 4.8 out of 5 by our customers

Ember have partnered with Markel to offer discounts on specialist business insurance and access to the Markel Business Hub.

Business insurance from Markel Direct - 10% discount* for Ember clients

Business insurance is designed to protect you against the unforeseen – from making a mistake in a piece of work that results in your client losing money, to personal injury claims from third parties and employees.

If a claim is made against you (even if it's unsubstantiated) and you don't have cover in place, you could be left to pay thousands of pounds in legal fees and compensation payments out of your own pocket.

10% discount* for Ember clients

Ember clients enjoy a 10% discount* on contractor insurance from Markel Direct, including professional indemnity, public liability, employers' liability and more with promotion code EMBER10.

Fast, easy online quote

Markel's hassle-free website offers instant cover online in a matter of minutes

Be protected by an award winning insurer

Markel are an award winning insurer with over 25,000 customers in the UK and are rated 4.8 out of 5 from 2,400+ customer reviews.

Instant documents

Policy documents are emailed instantly when you arrange cover, so you can prove to your client you are insured straight away.

No hidden fees or cancellation charges

There are no hidden administration charges to make a change to your policy or cancel mid-term.

Markel Business Hub - get access for £79 + VAT with voucher code EMBER23**

Usual price £158 + VAT - saving you £79

What is the Business Hub?

Our Business Hub is a website that our experts at Markel have created, providing information and templates designed to help you run your business.

It’s a place where you can both learn something new that impacts your business, or simply make sure your understanding is correct. You may even discover a better or more efficient way of doing things. In addition, we’ll help you stay up to date with the both the law and the issues that matter to you.

What will you find on our Hub?

  • 900+ DIY contracts, policies, and other templates
  • 500+ guides and documents on popular topics
  • Toolkits, videos and business health checks

What topics do we cover? 

  • Employment
  • Health and safety
  • Contracts and general trading
  • Property matters
  • Data protection (GDPR)

Why trust us?

Our Hub has experienced over 1million downloads of documents and guides. Markel has a wealth of experience in helping business owners just like you, across all sectors. Our team of solicitors, tax and care experts have come together to provide trustworthy, practical, and relatable content, all of which can be found on our Hub.

Ember

Customer reviews

4.8/5

Rated 4.8 stars from 351 customer reviews at Google

Sign up for the Markel Business Hub

Tailor your insurance with these covers

  • 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 any compensation or damages subsequently awarded against you. This is vital protection for all home consultants and advisors and insurance cover is available with limits ranging from £50,000 to £5m.

  • 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. This is an important cover for consultants that regularly deal with clients or members of the public. 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. Cover for £10m.

  • 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.

  • 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 add cover for business equipment (such as laptops and mobile phones) whilst off your premises and for loss of income and/or additional trading expenses following events such as damage to your property.

  • 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).

  • Cyber and data risks insurance

    Cyber and data risks 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.

Need some help?

0800 640 6600

Mon - Fri 08:30 - 17:30

Local rate and mobile friendly

Frequently asked questions

Contact us

Sign up for the Markel Business Hub

Frequently asked questions

  • I need professional indemnity insurance to secure a contract - do you provide proof of cover?

    Yes. If you purchase your policy with us, your documents are emailed to you instantly and include a dedicated 'Confirmation of Liability Insurance' document (detailing the cover you have with us) which you can present to agencies and clients as proof of cover.

  • Is my past work covered?

    We cover past work if you have held professional indemnity insurance uninterrupted prior to arranging your policy with us.

    If there was a period of time where you did not have professional indemnity insurance in force (for example, you have never arranged professional indemnity insurance before, you chose not to renew a previous policy or you cancelled a previous policy at the end of a contract) we are unable to cover past work.

    If you require further clarification, don't hesitate to call us on 0800 640 6600.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Why should I choose Markel’s insurance?

    Markel 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 and 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.

  • How are Markel Direct 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.

Insure with Markel and access unique business services

As a specialist insurer of small businesses, we've designed a range of business services (included as standard with certain covers) designed to make your life easier.

24 hour legal helpline 24 hour legal advice helpline

When you insure with Markel, you'll benefit from 24/7 telephone access to a qualified solicitor at no additional cost. Expert legal advice can be costly when you're working for yourself and it's difficult to know who to turn to for a trustworthy answer. Whether it's a question on health and safety, employment law, legal structures for your business or how to handle a difficult client, an experienced team of solicitors are on hand day and night to help you with any business-related legal queries. Included as standard with all policies.

Legal hub access Markel Business Hub access

In addition to our 24 hour legal helpline, you'll have access to the Markel Business Hub - an award winning online resource of legal and business guides, templates and content written and created by our team of expert solicitors. Instantly download ready-made contracts, policies, procedures and guidance you can use for your business - without paying any expensive legal fees. Included as standard with all policies.

Fee dispute service

Customers don't always pay on time and chasing fees or invoices costs time and money. Mindful of the impact this has on your business, we offer our policyholders access to a unique fee dispute helpline operated by one of the UK's leading law firms, who will provide specialist legal guidance and support on fee dispute issues. Included as standard with professional indemnity insurance.

Public relations crisis management service

In today's 24 hour news culture, public relations disasters can occur at any time. Having to deal with the press whilst managing a difficult situation can be hugely stressful as well as being a potential minefield. When there is a risk to your business as a result of negative press attention, our specialist public relations crisis management firm, The Counsel House, will work with you to help manage allegations of fraud, injury caused to employees or the public, and official investigations into your company's affairs. Included as standard with professional indemnity insurance, directors and officers insurance, cyber and data risks insurance and legal representation and employment disputes insurance.

Cyber response helpline

If you're the victim of a targeted cyber attack, our cyber response helpline provides access to specialist solicitors and information security experts who will give expert legal and technical IT security guidance on the issues arising from cyber and data protection risks. Included as standard with cyber and data risks insurance.

Terms and conditions

*Discounted business insurance for Ember clients

The 10% discount will be applied to the net policy premium before insurance premium tax is applied . All quotations provided will be subject to meeting underwriting and claims criteria acceptance . All cover will be subject to full policy terms and conditions which are available upon request.

**Discounted Business Hub for Ember clients

Ember clients enjoy a discounted price of £79+VAT for Business Hub, which normally retails at £158 + VAT, using discount code EMBER23. Business Hub is an online tool containing 850+ DIY contracts, policies, forms and letters and is provided by Markel Law. Full terms and conditions are provided as part of the registration process on the Business Hub. Markel Law LLP is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority no. 459781. Registered Number OC325244. VAT no. 245 7363 49. Registered office: 11th Floor, 82 King St, Manchester, M2 4WQ. Markel Protection Limited is the corporate member of Markel Law LLP.

Sign up for the Markel Business Hub

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