Working as tradesman probably gives you a lot of freedom but with that freedom comes responsibility as you are liable for your work and any issues that arise from your activities or products/services.
Having the right insurance cover in place can save you a lot of expense in the future and protect your business from losses. Below we have investigated the options available to tradesmen from some of the leading insurance providers.
The table below gives a quick comparison of the top UK providers for tradesman insurance.
Company | Minimum cover | Maximum cover |
---|---|---|
Aviva | £1 million | £5 million |
RSA | £1 million | £10 million |
AXA | Not stated | £5 million |
Direct Line Group | £1 million | £10 million |
Zurich | £1 million | £5 million |
Allianz | £2 million | £10 million |
Ageas | Not stated | Not stated |
QBE | £1 million | £10 million |
LV= | £1 million | £10 million |
NFU Mutual | Not stated | Not stated |
Lloyds Banking Group | £1 million | £10 million |
Covéa | Not stated | £5 million |
Hiscox | Not stated | Not stated |
Markel Corporation | £1 million | £10 million |
NIG | £1 million | £10 million |
Churchill | £1 million | £10 million |
ARO Insurance | £1 million | £10 million |
Glemham Insurance | Not stated | £10 million |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in no particular order and this no way indicates one solution is better than another.
Topics
1. Aviva
Some of the features and benefits of Aviva’s tradesman insurance.
- Self-Employed Business Insurance
- Covers contractors, freelancers and sole traders
- Tailored cover
- Add optional extras
- Public liability insurance
- Tools, stock and business equipment
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Employer’s liability
- Building and contents
- Business vehicle and van cover
Aviva is an insurance provider that caters for small to medium-sized businesses with a range of insurance products that cover a wide variety of risks with either general insurance products or specialist products. Their range includes Self-Employed Business Insurance.
Aviva’s Self-Employed Business Insurance has been designed to meet the requirements of a wide range of professions and trades including contractors, freelancers and sole traders. They allow you to build the cover you need such as public liability up to £5 million, employer’s liability, tools, stock and business equipment up to £30,000, professional indemnity up to £2 million, buildings and contents, business vehicles and van cover, and business income insurance.
2. RSA
Some of the features and benefits of RSA’s tradesman insurance.
- Tradespeople and Homeworkers Insurance
- Tailored cover
- Choice of optional extras
- Public and products liability cover
- Employer’s liability
- Tools cover
- Business stock
- Contract works
- Own and hired plant
- Personal accident
RSA is an insurance provider that offers a variety of business insurance to protect businesses from risks and incidents with a range of standalone and combined insurance packages. One of their combined packages is Tradespeople and Homeworkers Insurance.
RSA’s Tradespeople and Homeworkers Insurance offer standard cover of public and products liability of £1 million that can be extended to £5 million, legal defence and expenses costs. Optional cover includes employer’s liability up to £10 million, tools cover up to £5,000 per person, business stock up to £5,000, business equipment up to £10,000, contract works up to £500,000, own and hired plant up to £50,000, and personal accident.
3. AXA
Some of the features and benefits of AXA’s tradesman insurance.
- Business insurance for tradesmen
- Covers a variety of trades
- Tailored cover
- Range of optional cover
- Public liability
- Employer’s liability
- Tools and equipment
- Hired plant equipment
- Contracts works
- Personal accident
AXA is an insurance provider that caters for a variety of small to medium-sized businesses with their business insurance products. They have a range of business insurance products which are tailored to meet the needs of a variety of trades and professions which includes business insurance for tradesmen. This policy is suited to a wide range of trades such as electricians, builders, joiners, decorators, maintenance, plumbers and plasterers.
AXA’s tradesmen insurance offers public liability and employer’s liability as standard. They also offer a range of optional cover including tools and equipment, hired plant equipment, and contract works. You can also add personal accident cover and van insurance to your policy.
4. Direct Line for Business
Some of the features and benefits of Direct Line for Business’ tradesman insurance.
- Dedicated Tradesman Insurance
- Tailored cover
- Offers a range of optional extras
- Public liability insurance
- Employer’s liability
- Business stock
- Plant cover
- Contract works
- Suited to business with under 15 staff
- Guarantee to beat your renewal quote
Direct Line for Business offers a range of business insurance products designed for specific professions. Their tailored insurance products include Tradesman Insurance which is designed to meet the needs of a variety of trades with under 15 employees.
Direct Line for Business’ Tradesman Insurance offers public liability insurance as standard with a range of optional extras. They offer £1 million public liability insurance as standard with the option to increase it to £2, 5 or £10 million. Their optional cover includes employer’s liability up to £10 million, business stock up to £5,000, own and hired plant cover up to £50,000, and contract works up to £50,000.
Direct Line for Business website
5. Zurich
Some of the features and benefits of Zurich’s tradesman insurance.
- Dedicated Tradesman Insurance
- Tailored cover
- Public liability insurance
- Tools cover
- Personal accident
- Employer’s liability
- Stock
- Contract works
- Own and hired plant
- Provided in partnership with Trade Direct Insurance
Zurich is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance products that are offered as insurance packages that are designed for specific professions. Their insurance packages include Tradesman Insurance which is provided in partnership with Trade Direct Insurance. It provides cover for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies.
Zurich’s Tradesman Insurance offers tailored cover with public liability insurance up to £5 million with a choice of £1, 2 or £5 million, tools cover up to £1,000 and personal accident cover. They offer a range of optional cover which includes employer’s liability, stock cover, contract works, own and hired plant cover.
6. Allianz
Some of the features and benefits of Allianz’s tradesman insurance.
- Complete Contractor Insurance
- Flexible cover
- Caters for a variety of trades
- Suited to businesses with up to 9 employees
- Public liability
- Employer’s liability
- Commercial legal expenses
- Personal accident
- Contract works
- Available only through brokers
Allianz is an insurance provider that has a variety of business insurance products that cater for a wide range of trades and professions. They offer business insurance packages which include Complete Contractor which is designed for a wide range of trades with up to 9 employees.
Allianz’s Complete Contractor Insurance offers public liability insurance with £2 million as standard cover which can be extended to £5 million and commercial legal expenses. They also offer a range of optional extras which includes employer’s liability up to £10 million, personal accident, contract works up to £500,000, business interruption up to £1 million, and property damage.
7. Ageas
Some of the features and benefits of Ageas’ tradesman insurance.
- Dedicated Tradesman Insurance
- Suited to the self-employed, partnerships and limited companies
- A tailored policy with a choice of cover
- Public and product liability
- Employer’s liability
- Contractors all risks
- Tools cover
- Legal expenses
- Personal accident
- Only available through a broker
Ageas is an insurance provider that specialises in combined insurance packages that cater for smaller businesses, self-employed and sole traders. This range of packaged insurance products is designed to meet the needs of specific trades and professions. This packaged range includes their Tradesman Insurance designed for a variety of trades.
Ageas’ Tradesman Insurance is a flexible product that enables you to build the policy you need from a range of cover. Their cover options include public and product liability, employer’s liability, contractors all risks, stock in transit, tools all risks, plant, legal expenses, business interruption and personal accident.
8. QBE
Some of the features and benefits of QBE’s tradesman insurance.
- Specialist Tradesman Insurance
- Or Contractors Combined Insurance
- Tradesman Insurance suits smaller business
- Contractors Combined Insurance is for larger businesses
- Suited to a variety of trades
- Public liability insurance
- Legal expenses
- Offers a range of optional extras
- Employer’s liability
- Business interruption
QBE is an insurance provider that operates internationally offering a range of business insurance products designed to meet the needs of a variety of businesses. Their product range includes standalone products and tailored packages which includes two suited to tradesmen – Tradesman Insurance and Contractors Combined Insurance.
QBE’s Tradesman Insurance is designed for businesses with less than 25 employees and turnover below £2.5 million, and Contractor Combined Insurance caters for larger businesses. Both of these policies offer up to £10 million public liability and legal expenses as standard, and Contractors Combined Insurance also includes employer’s and product liability. You can also add contract works, material damage, business interruption and non-negligence.
9. LV=
Some of the features and benefits of LV=’s tradesman insurance.
- Trades and Professions Insurance
- Flexible cover
- Public liability
- Plant and tools cover
- Contract works
- Optional cover
- Employer’s liability
- Contractor’s all risks
- Choice of the level of cover
- Available through a broker
LV= is an insurance provider offering a range of business insurance products that largely cater for life protection products, but they also offer a range of tailored insurance packages for specific business sectors which includes Trades and Professions Insurance. These are available only through a broker.
LV=’s Trades and Professions Insurance is a flexible policy designed for contracting trades and professional occupations. Standard cover includes accidental damage or loss and public liability insurance of £1 million that can be increased to £2 or 5 million. You can add employer’s liability insurance of £10 million and contractor’s all risks which include contract works, tools, own and hired plant.
10. NFU Mutual
Some of the features and benefits of NFU Mutual’s tradesman insurance.
- Dedicated Tradesman Insurance
- Tailored cover
- Caters for a variety of trades
- Public, product and environmental liability
- Offers a range of optional cover
- Employer’s liability
- Building, contents and stock
- Goods in transit
- Contractor’s all risks
- Commercial legal expenses
NFU Mutual is an insurance provider that is different from other providers as they are run by its members for their benefit. They offer a flexible range of business insurance products that are tailored insurance packages that combine the cover needed for specific professions and trades such as Tradesman Insurance.
NFU Mutual’s Tradesman Insurance offers standard cover with a wide range of extra cover. Their standard cover includes public and product liability and environmental liability. Their optional cover includes employer’s liability, building, contents and stock, goods in transit, contractor’s all risks, commercial legal expenses, business interruption, money and malicious attack.
11. Lloyds Bank
Some of the features and benefits of Lloyds Bank’s tradesman insurance.
- Dedicated Tradesman Insurance
- Tailored cover
- Choice of cover limits
- Public liability insurance
- Offers a range of optional cover
- Employer’s liability
- Tool cover
- Commercial vehicle cover
- Personal accident
- Offer in partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher
Lloyds Bank is a financial institution that offers business insurance products in partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher. They offer a broad range of insurance products that are designed as standalone products and as combined insurance packages that cater for specific trades and professions, which includes Tradesman Insurance.
Lloyds Bank’s Tradesman Insurance is a tailored policy that allows you to build a policy to suit you. The policy has public liability insurance as standard at £1 million but this can be extended to £2 or 5 million. Their optional cover includes £10 million employer’s liability cover, tools cover, commercial vehicle cover and personal accident.
12. Covea
Some of the features and benefits of Covea’s tradesman insurance.
- Tradesman and Professionals Insurance
- Caters for smaller business and the self-employed
- Public and products liability
- Employer’s liability
- Tools
- Goods in transit
- Contract works
- Own and hired plant
- Accident death cover
- Cover for up to 10 employees
Covea is an insurance provider that offers a variety of business insurance products through a network of brokers and its small business products through their e-trade portal. Their product range includes a range of combined insurance packages that cater for a variety of sectors, which includes Tradesman and Professionals Insurance.
Covea’s Tradesman and Professionals Insurance caters for smaller businesses and self-employed traders with public and product liability as its core with cover up to £5 million. They offer a range of optional extras to tailor their cover which includes employer’s liability, contract works, own and hired plant, tools and goods in transit.
13. Hiscox
Some of the features and benefits of Hiscox’s tradesman insurance.
- Construction and Tradesman Insurance
- Flexible cover
- Suitable for start-ups as well as established businesses
- Choice of optional extras
- Public and product liability insurance
- Optional professional indemnity insurance
- Covers legal expenses and compensation costs
- Protection against claims for injury and property damage
- Includes third-party financial loss
- Provides cover on your own premises and away
Hiscox is an insurance provider that offers a variety of business insurance products that are designed as standalone cover or as combined packages tailored to specific trades such as Construction and Tradesman Insurance.
Hiscox’s Construction and Tradesman Insurance is a tailored product designed to meet the needs of builders and associated trades. They include public and product liability insurance as standard with the policy with the option to add professional indemnity insurance. This provides you with protection against claims for injury or damage from members of the public. It covers defending any claims, legal expenses and compensation costs as well as any third-party financial loss.
14. Markel direct
Some of the features and benefits of Markel direct’s tradesman insurance.
- Offers a variety of specific trade cover
- Cover for builders, engineers, gardening and self-employed
- Public and product liability
- Professional indemnity
- Employer’s liability
- Office insurance
- Occupational personal accident
- Directors and officer’s insurance
- Legal representation and employment disputes
- Cyber and data risks
Markel direct is an insurance provider that offers a wide variety of specialist insurance products that are catered to meet the needs of specific professions. Their diverse range includes many tradesman roles including building services, electrical engineer, heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineer, landscape architects and garden design, mechanical and refrigeration engineer, as well as freelancer and contractor, and self-employed and start-up insurance.
Markel direct’s tailored policies include public and product liability of £1 or £5 million, £10 million employer’s liability, professional indemnity, office insurance, occupational personal accident, directors and officer’s insurance, legal representation and employment disputes, cyber and data risks.
15. NIG
Some of the features and benefits of NIG’s tradesman insurance.
- Dedicated Tradesman Insurance
- A flexible policy tailored to your needs
- Public liability insurance
- Employer’s liability
- Tools and business equipment
- Business stock
- Own and hired plant
- Contract works
- Personal accident
- Money cover
NIG is an insurance provider that offers a wide range of business insurance products that are designed to meet the needs of specific trades and professions with tailored cover. They offer a variety of packaged insurance products which cater for tradesmen and contractors including their Tradesman Insurance.
NIG’s Tradesman Insurance provides public liability insurance as standard at £1 million with the option to increase it to £10 million. They also offer a range of optional covers which include £10 million employer’s liability, tools and business equipment up to £10,000 per worker, £5,000 business stock, £50,000 own and hired plant, £500,000 contract works, personal accident and £5,000 money cover.
16. Churchill
Some of the features and benefits of Churchill’s tradesman insurance.
- Specialist public liability insurance for the trades
- Designed for tradesmen and self-employed professionals
- Flexible cover
- Public liability insurance
- Employer’s liability
- Equipment cover
- Personal accident
- Business stock
- Contract works
- Own and hired plant
Churchill is an insurance provider that specialises in offering business insurance to smaller businesses and the self-employed. They offer public liability insurance to a wide range of small businesses with a variety of optional cover. They provide cover to builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and gardeners amongst other trades and professions,
Churchill’s public liability cover comes with £1 million of protection as standard which can be extended to £2, £5 or £10 million. Their optional cover includes £10 million of employer’s liability insurance, £10,000 equipment cover, personal accident, up to £5,000 business stock, contract works up to £500,000, own and hired plant up to £50,000.
17. ARO Insurance
Some of the features and benefits of ARO Insurance’s tradesman insurance.
- Dedicated Tradesman Insurance
- Designed for smaller business with under 10 employees
- Caters for a range of trades and professions
- Public liability
- Employer’s liability
- Option to increase your cover level
- Standard excess of £250
- Competitive rates
- Must have a minimum of 1 years trading experience
- Only available through a broker
ARO Insurance is an insurance provider that offers niche business insurance products to smaller businesses and property owners. They offer packaged insurance products that are tailored to meet the needs of their target audiences which includes Tradesman Insurance.
ARO Insurance’s Tradesman Insurance caters for businesses that have less than 10 employees and sole traders that are in manual or non-manual trades or professions. Their cover includes £1 million of public liability insurance as standard which can be increased to £10 million. They also include £10 million of employer’s liability insurance. This policy has a standard excess of £250 for their tradesman insurance.
18. Glemham Insurance
Some of the features and benefits of Glemham Insurance’s tradesman insurance.
- Construction Insurance
- Caters for small tradesmen, second fit trades and medium-sized builders
- Public and product liability
- Employer’s liability
- Contract works
- Goods in transit
- Commercial legal expenses
- Business interruption
- Personal accident
- Work is only covered on residential and small commercial works
Glemham Insurance is an insurance provider that offers business insurance to businesses that demonstrate they have control over their risks. Their range of insurance products includes combined insurance packages that are tailored to meet the needs of small tradesmen, second fit trades and medium-sized builders that work on residential and small commercial works.
Glemham Insurance’s Construction Insurance includes liability insurance up to £10 million for employer’s, public and product liabilities. They also offer contracts works, property damage, goods in transit, money and assault, business interruption, business all risks, computer cover, personal accident, commercial legal expenses and excess liability cover.
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