Whether you're carrying out repairs in people's homes, doing building work on domestic properties or working on larger commercial projects, you can face many unique hazards as a tradesman. And as your work is often carried out in isolation and with little to no backup, it’s often up to you alone to manage risks and deal with the fallout when things go wrong.
Unfortunately, even with the utmost care and attention, things can go wrong. Tradesmen encounter a variety of risks to their own health and safety, including electric shocks, falls from height and fire. These hazards can also pose a threat to other people, including employees and clients. Then there’s the potential for property damage and tool theft. With all this in mind, having suitable tradesman insurance in place is crucial.
At Markel, we help tradespeople from all sectors to protect their finances with cost-effective insurance policies to suit their needs.
What is tradesman insurance?
Tradesman insurance is a type of business insurance that provides specialised cover for the risks that trades professionals typically face. It can include a variety of cover types, such as tradesman public liability insurance, employers’ liability protection and tool theft cover. Tradesman insurance is there to protect your finances by covering you against the legal costs and repercussions you might face if something goes wrong in the course of your work.
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Do I need tradesman insurance?
From a legal perspective, tradesmen are only required to have employers’ liability cover (if they have employees). However, this really is the bare minimum and many professional bodies and trade associations will demand that you have other insurance policies in place to become a member. Prospective clients may also refuse to hire you unless you have a public liability insurance policy. This means that not having suitable insurance could result in missed opportunities and lost business at the very least.
The consequences for neglecting to take out insurance could be more severe. The fact is, no matter how skilled and experienced you are, mistakes can be made. And in the trades, mistakes can be very costly to put right. For example, if a plumber incorrectly fitted a boiler and ended up causing carbon monoxide poisoning, they could face a professional negligence claim with hefty legal fees and compensation costs. Or if an electrician were to cause a fire by making an error when installing a heating system, they could be left with a bill for tens of thousands of pounds.
Could you afford to cover these costs out of your own pocket? If you couldn’t, then tradesman liability insurance is essential.
You should also consider the possibility of your tools and equipment being lost, stolen or damaged. Even if you’re very careful and take all the right steps to keep your tools safe, there’s always the possibility that you could be left without essential equipment. By insuring your tools from £12 a month**, you can enjoy peace of mind that you wouldn’t be left out of pocket if the worst happened.
Who needs tradesman insurance?
If you’re self-employed and you specialise in manual, skilled work in a particular field, you could benefit from tradesman insurance.
While the term ‘tradesman’ is often used to market this type of insurance, you certainly don’t have to be a man to take out this cover.
We provide specialist insurance to many different types of self-employed tradespeople, including:
Why choose Markel for tradesman insurance?
Here are a few of the many reasons why you can trust Markel when it comes to your tradesman insurance.
✔ Quick quotes
We don’t make you wait. Discover how much you can save on your insurance with a quote in as little as 90 seconds.
✔ No hidden fees
We believe in offering excellent value for money and we pride ourselves on our transparent pricing model. When you choose Markel, you’ll never have to worry about hidden fees.
✔ 24/7 legal helpline
Get your questions answered any time with our legal advice helpline. Run by qualified solicitors, you can access this facility round the clock.
✔ Highly experienced
With more than 25 years of experience providing insurance to tradespeople, we are well placed to advise you on the best policies for you.
✔ Highly rated
Our customer reviews speak for themselves. Check out what our customers have to say about us at Feefo.com.
How to buy tradesman insurance
To buy tradesman insurance, simply fill out our quick and easy online quote form. Just answer a few questions about your trades business and we will tailor your cover to your needs and provide you with a personalised quote.
You can purchase your cover immediately or up to 30 days in advance.
How much does tradesman insurance cost?
The cost of tradesman insurance will depend on a variety of factors, including:
- your trade
- the risks you face
- the size of your business
- your business turnover
- your claims history.
To find out how much you can expect to pay, simply fill out our quick quote form. With policies starting from £7 a month, you might be surprised by how much you could save when you choose Markel.
* Price based on a handyman requiring £1 million of public liability cover.
** Price based on a handyman requiring £1,000 of tools insurance cover on a 24 hour basis.
24/7 access to a legal advice helpline manned by qualified solicitors
Access legal templates and resources with the Markel Business Hub
Receive discounted IR35 contract reviews with your policy
Expert management of public relations crises with The Counsel House