What is trades insurance?
Trades insurance is a type of business insurance policy that covers tradespeople. It combines several different covers to ensure tradespeople are protected against claims. Trades insurance often includes covers such as:
- Public liability insurance
- Employers’ liability insurance
- Tools insurance
- Professional indemnity insurance1
Why do trades need insurance?
Business insurance for trades is not a legal requirement, though it’s recommended for every business – including trades. Without business insurance, you’re liable for any costs that come from defending a claim against you, attending court, or paying compensation to a claimant if they’re successful.
Additionally, some clients might require you to have certain covers in place before you can complete work for them, such as local authorities (councils, government bodies etc) who are likely to request you have, at minimum, public liability insurance.
What kind of trades do we cover?
- Electricians and electrical contractors
- Property maintenance
- Carpenters and joiners
- Painters and decorators
- Builders
- Plumbers
- Bricklayers
If you don’t see your trade here, don’t worry. Most tradespeople can find the business insurance that’s right for them - simply search for your trade when you get a quote online.
What other types of business insurance do I need?
So, whether it’s a client that’s been injured on-site, property damage from an ongoing repair, stolen tools or an employee who’s fallen ill – we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most commonly chosen covers for trades.
Public liability insurance
If a third party is accidentally injured, or their property is damaged as a result of the work you’re carrying out, public liability will help cover the costs of defending a claim as well as paying out on successful claims with up to £10† million in compensation payments.
Find out moreabout public liability insurance
Professional indemnity insurance1
Some trades are eligible for professional indemnity insurance if their provide advice, services, or designs to their clients. This cover will help with legal costs and expenses incurred in your defence, as well as paying out on any successful compensation claims.
Find out more
Employers’ liability insurance
If you’ve got people working for you (that includes apprentices, sub-contractors, casual labourers and temporary workers), you legally required to have employers’ liability insurance under the Employers’ Liability Act 1969. If an employee falls ill or get injured as a result of being on the job, you’ll be covered for up to £10 million as standard.
Find out more about employers liabilityOptional extras for trades
Along with the main covers that make up your business insurance policy, there are also various optional extras that you can choose to add to your policy.
Plant, tools and equipment insurance
If you own your tools then our own-plant tools cover will protect you for accidental loss, theft or damage. From machinery, trailers, or caravans – to the tools and stock that you own too, up to the value of £2000.
Similarly, if you have to hire in speciality equipment, like constructional plant, machinery, tools or site huts – our hired-in equipment cover will protect them if they’re damaged or destroyed whilst in your care.
Contract works cover
If you’re building a new house or extending a property and the project is destroyed or damaged part-way through, we’ll cover you against accidental loss, destruction or damage to the new structure. So, you can get back to what’s important - finishing the job.
Personal accident cover
Principals or directors in your firm have an accident? We can help.
Capital cover will give you a lump sum of £10,000 in the event of their death, total disability, loss of limb or sight. If they’re under 75, weekly cover offers them a weekly wage if they’re unable to work – e.g. in the case of a broken arm or leg, until they recover.
Van insurance for trades
Getting from job to job is no easy task when you have to transport tools and materials between sites. For that, you’ll likely have your own van. If you do, you need to make sure you’ve got van insurance.
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1Professional indemnity cover is only available to certain trades
Underwritten by AXA Insurance UK plc. Terms, conditions, eligibility and exclusions apply.
†Not all occupations are eligible for £10 million coverage, the best way to find out which level of cover you are eligible for is to get a quote. Existing customers may want to consult their policy documents.