Insurance for Tradespeople
Comprehensive insurance for UK tradespeople and contractors. From sole traders to small businesses, we arrange public liability, tools cover, and employers' liability tailored to your trade.
Important: Focus Insurance Services is an insurance broker, not an insurer. We arrange cover on your behalf from a panel of insurers. Policy terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
Insurance Solutions for Tradespeople
We arrange a range of insurance products tailored to the specific needs of your trade.
Public Liability Insurance
Cover for claims from clients or members of the public for injury or property damage arising from your work. Required by most commercial clients.
Learn moreEmployers' Liability Insurance
Legally required if you employ staff, apprentices, or labour-only subcontractors. Minimum £5 million cover required by law.
Learn moreTools & Equipment Cover
Protection for your tools and specialist equipment against theft, loss, and accidental damage — in your van, on site, or at your premises.
Learn moreContract Works Insurance
Cover for work in progress on construction and installation projects against damage before handover to the client.
Learn moreProfessional Indemnity
Protection against claims arising from errors, omissions, or negligent advice — particularly relevant for design-and-build contractors.
Learn moreCommercial Vehicle Insurance
Cover for your van and the tools and materials carried inside. Can be combined with a fleet policy for multiple vehicles.
Learn moreUnderstanding Your Risks
Every trade has unique exposures. Here are the key risks we help tradespeople protect against.
Third-Party Injury Claims
A member of the public or client injured on your job site can result in significant compensation claims. Public liability cover is essential.
Property Damage
Accidental damage to a client's property — from a dropped tool to a burst pipe — can result in costly claims without adequate cover.
Tool Theft
Van break-ins and site theft are common across all trades. Replacing a full set of professional tools without cover can cost thousands.
Employee Injuries
Falls from height, manual handling injuries, and equipment accidents are common in trade work. Employers' liability is a legal requirement.
Work in Progress Damage
Fire, flood, or vandalism can destroy partially completed work. Contract works insurance covers reinstatement costs before handover.
Income Loss from Injury
As a sole trader, illness or injury means no income. Personal accident and income protection cover can provide a financial safety net.
Why Choose Specialist Trade Insurance?
Generic business insurance often leaves gaps in cover for trade-specific risks. Specialist policies are designed with your profession in mind.
- Generic business insurance often excludes trade-specific activities — specialist policies are designed for your work
- Access to insurers with experience in your trade who understand the risks and price them fairly
- Cover structured to meet the requirements of main contractors, local authorities, and commercial clients
- Advice from brokers who understand the difference between labour-only and bona fide subcontractors
- Flexibility to add or remove covers as your business grows or your work changes
- Support at renewal to ensure your cover remains adequate as your turnover and team change
Information for Your Quote
- 1Your trade and a description of the type of work you carry out
- 2Annual turnover (actual or estimated)
- 3Number of employees, apprentices, or regular subcontractors
- 4Any previous claims in the last 5 years
- 5Cover limits required (public liability minimum — typically £1m, £2m, or £5m)
- 6Details of any specialist equipment or high-value tools
- 7Whether you work on domestic, commercial, or public sector contracts
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tradesman insurance a legal requirement?
Do I need insurance as a sole trader?
What level of public liability cover do I need?
Does tradesman insurance cover subcontractors?
Can I get cover for tools left in my van overnight?
Tradesman Insurance: A Complete Guide for UK Tradespeople
If you work as a tradesperson in the UK — whether as a sole trader, a small contractor, or a business employing a team — having the right tradesman insurance in place is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your livelihood. This guide explains what tradesman insurance covers, what the law requires, and what to consider when arranging cover through a specialist broker.
Focus Insurance Services is an FCA-regulated insurance broker. We arrange insurance on your behalf from a panel of UK insurers. We do not provide insurance directly, and all cover is subject to insurer acceptance, terms, and conditions.
What Is Tradesman Insurance?
Tradesman insurance is a collective term for a range of insurance products designed to protect tradespeople and contractors from the financial risks associated with their work. It is not a single policy but rather a package of covers tailored to your specific trade, business size, and risk profile.
The core components typically include public liability insurance, employers' liability insurance (if you employ staff), tools and equipment cover, and in some cases professional indemnity insurance. Many tradespeople also arrange commercial vehicle insurance and contract works insurance as part of a broader package.
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance is the cornerstone of any tradesman insurance package. It provides cover for claims made against you by third parties — including clients, members of the public, and property owners — for bodily injury or property damage arising from your work.
Cover limits typically range from £1 million to £10 million. Many commercial clients, local authorities, and main contractors will require a minimum level of public liability cover before allowing you on site.
Employers' Liability Insurance: A Legal Requirement
If you employ anyone — including part-time workers, apprentices, or labour-only subcontractors — you are legally required under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 to hold employers' liability insurance with a minimum cover of £5 million. Failure to do so can result in fines of up to £2,500 per day.
Employers' liability insurance covers claims made by employees who suffer injury or illness as a result of their work. For tradespeople, this includes risks such as falls from height, manual handling injuries, and exposure to hazardous materials.
"The definition of 'employee' under the Act can extend beyond permanent staff. Labour-only subcontractors who work exclusively for you and use your tools may be classified as employees for insurance purposes."
Tools & Equipment Cover
A set of professional power tools, specialist equipment, and hand tools can easily be worth thousands of pounds. Tools cover protects against loss, theft, and accidental damage — whether tools are stored in a van, on site, or at your premises.
Standard tools cover typically includes cover for tools in a locked vehicle overnight, though insurers may apply sub-limits for unattended vehicle theft.
Contract Works Insurance
Contract works insurance covers work in progress on a construction or installation project. If a partially completed project is damaged by fire, flood, vandalism, or accidental damage before handover to the client, it covers the cost of reinstatement.
Particularly relevant for builders, joiners, roofers, and tradespeople undertaking larger projects where significant work can be at risk before completion.
Sole Trader Insurance
Sole traders face the same risks as any other tradesperson, but without the financial buffer of a limited company structure. A significant claim can have serious personal financial consequences.
It is also worth considering personal accident and income protection insurance. As a sole trader, if you are unable to work due to injury or illness, income protection can provide a replacement income during recovery.
What Affects the Cost of Tradesman Insurance?
The premium for tradesman insurance is influenced by a range of factors, including the type of trade, the level of risk associated with your work, your annual turnover, the number of employees, your claims history, and the cover limits you require.
Higher-risk trades — such as roofing, scaffolding, and demolition — will typically attract higher premiums than lower-risk trades such as painting and decorating or carpentry. Working with a specialist broker gives you access to a panel of insurers who understand trade-specific risks and can offer competitive terms.
Arranging Tradesman Insurance Through a Specialist Broker
Focus Insurance Services is a specialist commercial insurance broker with experience arranging insurance for a wide range of UK tradespeople and contractors. We work with a panel of established UK insurers to find cover that reflects your specific trade, risk profile, and business requirements.
To arrange a quote, we will typically need to know your trade, the nature of your work, your annual turnover, the number of employees, any previous claims, and the cover limits you require. Our team will then approach suitable insurers on your behalf and present you with options for your consideration.
Regulatory notice: Focus Insurance Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Ref: 717691). We act as an insurance broker, not an insurer. Insurance is arranged on your behalf from a panel of insurers. Cover is subject to underwriting acceptance, terms, and conditions. This page provides general information only and does not constitute advice on the suitability of any insurance product for your specific circumstances.
Ready to Protect Your Business?
Get in touch with our team for a no-obligation quote tailored to your trade.
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm