Breach of confidence – unintentionally or accidentally sharing confidential or sensitive information without consent.  So, for example, telling a third-party about a problem with a site that then causes investors to lose faith in the project

Negligence or breach of duty of care – making a mistake in your work or giving bad advice to a client

Breach of confidence – unintentionally or accidentally sharing confidential or sensitive information without consent.  So, for example, telling a third party about a problem with a site then causes investors to lose faith in the project

Defamation – making false or damaging claims about a person or organisation

Professional indemnity  – should the advice you give your client be misleading or wrong and it costs them money and they decide to sue, you’ll be covered for legal fees and compensation claims should they win

Civil liability – if a claim occurs because of your business’s activity for a client

Public liability insurance – or PL insurance as it’s also known, forms the basis of most construction or building site insurance policies.  It will protect you/your business should a member of the public be accidentally injured or their property damaged because of your work.  Construction often involves working in public spaces and as accidents do happen it makes sense to have PL insurance in place

Employers’ liability insurance – or EL insurance, protects employers from compensation claims from their employees should they be sued for loss or injury at work.  If you have people working for your construction business, be they full-time, part-time, or contracted or sub-contracted, then having employers’ liability insurance cover is a legal requirement.  Failure to have a policy in place can lead to a £2,500 fine for each day you are without it.

Personal injury insurance – construction sites can be hazardous places and if someone is injured on your site then you could be left facing a hefty compensation claim. According to the latest Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) latest report, there were 69,000 workers off work-related ill health, 45 fatal injuries, and 53,000 non-fatal injuries in 2022/233. Injuries and claims are on the rise in the UK, so this is an important cover to have in place

Contract works insurance – contract works insurance – also called contractors all risks (CAR insurance) cover or JCT Option C – protects you against risks like fire, theft, vandalism, and accidental damage to materials, ensuring your projects are safeguarded from unexpected setbacks

Plant and hired-in plant insurance – also known as construction plant insurance or construction fleet insurance, plant insurance will cover your cranes – be they owned or hired – from loss, accidental damage, and ongoing hire charges for a fixed period. There’s been a sharp rise in the number of construction plant thefts in recent years and this is now a £1bn problem for the industry

Shop around – like any other insurance policy, it can pay to shop around.  Better still, get an independent construction insurance broker such as us to do the shopping around for you

Use an independent insurance broker – construction PI insurance quotes can involve multiple complex risks with policies containing exemptions and limits that may not be obvious to the layman.  By getting some advice from an independent broker that specialises in construction insurance, such as us, you can be sure of getting the cover you need

Pay annually – while it’s convenient to pay monthly, it will cost you more

Limit the amount of advice you give and who within your business can give it

Stick to what you know – if recommending products, then stick with tried and tested ones that you can rely on