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INSURANCE BUILT AROUND SMALL BUILDERS & TRADES
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PUBLIC LIABILITY
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EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY
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TOOLS & PLANT
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CONTRACT WORKS
Cover for Small Contractors, Big Responsibilities
Whether you are a one-man band, a small building firm or a subcontractor working under a main contractor, you still carry site risks, client responsibilities and legal obligations. Insure24 helps you choose the right mix of liability, tools, plant and contract works cover for the jobs you actually do.
Key Covers for Small Builders & Trades
Pick and mix the sections you need – in one simple policy.
Liability Cover
- Public Liability – cover if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged due to your work.
- Products Liability – for injury or damage caused by materials or fixtures you’ve supplied or installed.
- Employers’ Liability – compulsory cover if you employ staff or labour-only subcontractors.
- Optional Professional Indemnity – for design, advice or specification work (e.g. design & build).
Property, Tools & Works
- Tools & Handheld Equipment – cover at your premises, in transit and on site.
- Owned Plant – excavators, mixers, small plant and machinery you own.
- Hired-In Plant – meeting hire contract conditions and continuing hire charges.
- Contract Works – materials and work in progress on site, including part-built structures.
- Temporary Buildings / Site Huts – welfare units, containers and cabins.
Who Is This Insurance For?
Typical Trades We Cover
- General builders & small building contractors
- Carpenters & joiners
- Plumbers & heating engineers
- Electricians
- Roofers & cladding installers (subject to height limits)
- Painters & decorators
- Groundworkers & landscapers
- Dryliners, plasterers, tilers and many more
Small Builders & Subcontractors
- One-man bands and micro-businesses
- Partnerships and small limited companies
- Trades working direct for homeowners
- Labour-only subcontractors under a main contractor
- Specialist trades working on commercial sites
- Firms needing cover to meet site / contract requirements
Common Risks Faced by Small Builders & Trades
- Damage to a client’s property while working (e.g. burst pipe, electrical fault, falling materials).
- Injuries to members of the public – trip hazards, falling objects, slips on site.
- Theft of tools or plant from vans, lock-ups or sites.
- Fire, flood or storm damaging materials or work in progress.
- Subcontractor injuries where you may be held responsible in law.
- Contractual requirements to carry specific limits of liability.
Why Insurance Matters
One serious incident on site can wipe out the profits from several jobs – or worse, threaten the future of your business. Having the right policy in place helps protect your own finances, keeps you compliant with contracts and gives clients confidence in working with you.
Why Choose Insure24 for Small Builders & Trades?
- Specialist construction knowledge – we understand trades, subcontracting and site risks.
- Access to multiple UK insurers for competitive pricing and flexible cover.
- Ability to combine liability, tools, plant and contract works in one simple policy.
- Help with wording around bona fide vs labour-only subcontractors.
- Support with claims – from first notification to settlement.
Support With Site & Contract Requirements
- Help checking insurance conditions in JCT and main contractor agreements.
- Confirming cover limits to clients and site managers.
- Guidance on risk information insurers need (turnover, wages, height limits, hot works etc.).
- Mid-term adjustments as your business grows or changes trade mix.
How to Arrange Small Builder / Trades Insurance
- 1. Tell us about your trade – what you do, where you work, and your turnover / wages.
- 2. Choose your covers – liability only, or add tools, plant, hired-in plant and contract works.
- 3. Agree limits – public liability (e.g. £1m, £2m, £5m, £10m) and sums insured for tools / works.
- 4. Review your quote – we’ll explain the options and answer any questions before you buy.
Insure24 sorted our public liability, employers’ liability and hired-in plant on one policy. It ticked all the boxes for the main contractor and was set up quickly so we could get on site.
James T, Small Building ContractorPROTECT YOUR BUSINESS
- Injury to members of the public or site visitors
- Claims made by employees or labour-only subcontractors
- Theft or damage to your tools and plant
- Damage to work in progress or materials on site
- Contractual liabilities imposed by main contractors or clients
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What insurance does a small builder typically need?
Most small builders will need public liability as a minimum, and employers’ liability if
they have staff or labour-only subcontractors. Many also add tools cover, owned and
hired-in plant, contract works and sometimes professional indemnity if they provide design
or specification services.
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Is public liability insurance compulsory for builders and trades?
Public liability is not a legal requirement in the UK, but it is effectively compulsory in
practice – many main contractors, local authorities and commercial clients will not let you
on site without it, and homeowners increasingly expect builders to hold cover.
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Do I need employers’ liability for subcontractors?
It depends whether they are bona fide or labour-only subcontractors. Labour-only subs who
work under your direction, using your tools or materials, are usually treated like
employees and may require employers’ liability. We can help you explain your labour
arrangements so insurers can set the cover up correctly.
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Can I insure my tools and hired-in plant on the same policy?
Yes. Many small builder policies allow you to combine public liability, employers’
liability, tools, owned plant and hired-in plant under one package, with separate sums
insured for each. This keeps things simple and ensures you meet the conditions of your
hire agreements.
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How quickly can cover be arranged?
In many cases we can arrange cover the same day, subject to receiving the key information
about your trade, turnover, wages and claims history. If you have more complex work or
higher-risk trades, we may need a little more time to approach specialist insurers.
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What insurance does a small builder typically need?
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Is public liability insurance compulsory for builders and trades?
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Do I need employers’ liability for subcontractors?
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Can I insure my tools and hired-in plant on the same policy?
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How quickly can cover be arranged?
Related Covers
Small-builder pages should route visitors into the cover sections that matter most for smaller firms, trades and subcontractors. These links keep that intent focused on related construction insurance pages.