Specialist and High Risk Tradesman
Wide Insurance Panel With 80+ Providers
Cover Options Designed Around Your Business
Excellent Customer Reviews
High Risk Tradesman Insurance
If you work in a higher-risk trade, having insurance that reflects the work you actually carry out is important. High Risk Tradesman Insurance can be tailored for businesses carrying out work where there may be increased risks of injury, property damage, working at height, use of specialist equipment or other hazards.
At 1st Choice Insurance, we help arrange insurance for a wide range of trades and contractors, from self-employed tradespeople and sole traders to established businesses with employees, subcontractors, vehicles and multiple sites.
Whether you’re a roofer, scaffolder, electrician, welder, demolition contractor, plant operator or construction professional, our experienced team can help you understand the cover available and arrange a policy around your business activities.
Get a High Risk Tradesman Insurance Quote
Every trade is different, so the right insurance depends on the work you carry out, where you work and the risks associated with your business.
Our team will take the time to understand your requirements and review suitable insurance options from our panel of providers.
Call 03301 081615 or complete our quote form below.
What Is High Risk Tradesman Insurance?
High Risk Tradesman Insurance is a type of commercial insurance designed for tradespeople and contractors whose work may involve higher levels of risk than some standard trade activities.
This can include working at height, operating machinery, carrying out hot works, working on construction sites or undertaking projects where accidental injury or property damage could result in a significant claim.
Rather than assuming every business has the same requirements, a high-risk trades insurance policy can be structured around your individual activities.
Depending on your business, available cover can include:
- Public Liability Insurance
- Employers’ Liability Insurance
- Tools and Equipment Insurance
- Contract Works Insurance
- Contractors’ All Risks Insurance
- Hired-In Plant Insurance
- Professional Indemnity Insurance
- Commercial Vehicle Insurance
- Legal Expenses Insurance
- Personal Accident Cover
- Business Interruption Insurance
The covers available will depend on your business, the work you undertake and the insurer’s policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.
Who Needs High Risk Tradesman Insurance?
High Risk Tradesman Insurance can be suitable for businesses carrying out work where there are increased risks associated with the trade or working environment.
This can include:
- Roofers
- Scaffolders
- Electricians
- Gas engineers
- Welders and metal fabricators
- Demolition contractors
- Groundworkers
- Steel erectors
- Cladding contractors
- Plant operators
- Construction contractors
- Industrial maintenance contractors
- Working-at-height contractors
- Civil engineering contractors
It can also be suitable for businesses that use specialist machinery, undertake hot works, work on construction sites or employ subcontractors.
Whether you are a self-employed tradesman, sole trader, subcontractor or larger contracting business, we can help you explore suitable insurance options.
What Does High Risk Tradesman Insurance Cover?
There is no single policy that is suitable for every high-risk trade. Your insurance should reflect the work your business actually undertakes and the risks associated with it.
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance can protect your business against claims made by members of the public or other third parties following injury or accidental damage to property arising from your business activities.
For example, if your work accidentally damages a customer’s property or a third party is injured as a result of your activities, public liability cover may help with eligible claims, subject to the policy terms.
Public liability insurance is particularly relevant to tradespeople working at customer premises, construction sites or other public-facing environments.
Employers’ Liability Insurance
If you employ staff, employers’ liability insurance is generally a legal requirement in the UK.
It provides cover for claims made by employees who suffer an injury or illness as a result of their work.
If you use subcontractors, it’s important to explain how they work for your business when arranging insurance, as their status and the way they are engaged can affect your cover requirements.
Tools and Equipment Insurance
Tradespeople often rely on tools, machinery and specialist equipment to carry out their work.
Tools and equipment cover can provide protection against insured events such as theft or accidental damage, depending on the policy.
Cover may be available for equipment kept at your premises, in vehicles, on construction sites or taken between different jobs.
Contract Works Insurance
Contract works insurance can provide cover for work in progress and materials used as part of a construction or contracting project.
Depending on the policy, this may protect against events such as accidental damage, fire, theft, storm or other insured risks before the work has been completed.
Contractors’ All Risks Insurance
Contractors’ All Risks insurance can provide broader protection for certain construction and contracting projects.
It may cover contract works, materials, temporary works and equipment, depending on the policy selected.
This type of cover can be particularly relevant to contractors undertaking larger projects or working across multiple sites.
Hired-In Plant and Machinery
If you hire machinery or equipment for particular projects, hired-in plant insurance can help protect your business against certain costs if the equipment is accidentally damaged or otherwise affected by an insured event while in your care.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Some tradespeople and contractors provide design, technical advice, consultancy or other professional services alongside their physical work.
Professional indemnity insurance can provide protection against certain claims alleging professional negligence, errors or omissions that result in financial loss.
Commercial Vehicle Insurance
If you use vans, pickups or other vehicles for your business, appropriate commercial vehicle insurance is essential.
Depending on your requirements, cover can be arranged for individual vehicles or fleets, with options varying according to the vehicle, drivers and how it is used.
Benefits of High Risk Tradesman Insurance
Cover Based Around Your Trade
Insurance can be structured around your actual business activities rather than relying on a generic tradesman policy.
Protection Against Liability Claims
Public and employers’ liability insurance can help protect your business against eligible claims involving injury or property damage.
Protection for Tools and Equipment
Your tools and equipment are essential to your day-to-day work. Appropriate cover can help protect them against insured risks such as theft or accidental damage.
Support for Contract Work
Depending on the policy, contract works and contractors’ all risks cover can provide protection for projects, materials and work in progress.
Cover for Higher-Risk Activities
By explaining your activities in detail when arranging insurance, your policy can be structured to take account of factors such as working at height, hot works, specialist machinery and construction sites.
Help with Contract Requirements
Some contractors, principal contractors and commercial clients require specific levels or types of insurance before allowing work to begin. Appropriate cover can help you meet these requirements.
Insurance That Can Adapt
Your requirements may change as your business grows. Your insurance can be reviewed when you take on employees, add new activities, purchase equipment, increase your turnover or take on different types of work.
High Risk Trades Covered
We understand that higher-risk work can vary considerably from one business to another. Our team can help with insurance for a wide range of trades, including:
Roofing Insurance
Roofers face particular risks when working at height and on residential, commercial or industrial properties. Cover can be arranged around activities such as roof installation, repair and maintenance.
Scaffolding Insurance
Scaffolders work with heavy materials and structures at height, often on busy construction sites. Specialist scaffolding insurance can include liability, equipment and other relevant covers.
Welding and Hot Works Insurance
Welding, cutting and other hot works can create additional risks of fire, injury and property damage. It’s important that your insurer is aware of the full range of activities your business undertakes.
Construction Insurance
Construction contractors may require a combination of liability, contract works, plant, tools and other insurance depending on the projects they undertake.
Demolition Insurance
Demolition work involves significant risks and can require insurance specifically suited to the activities, equipment and sites involved.
Plant and Machinery Insurance
Businesses operating or hiring specialist plant and machinery may require additional protection for equipment, liability and associated risks.
Frequently Asked Questions About High Risk Tradesman Insurance
Do self-employed tradesmen need high-risk insurance?
Being self-employed does not automatically mean you need a specific high-risk policy. However, if your work involves higher-risk activities, it’s important to arrange insurance that accurately reflects what you do. Public liability insurance is particularly important for tradespeople working at customer premises or construction sites.
Is employers’ liability insurance required for tradesmen?
If you employ staff, employers’ liability insurance is generally a legal requirement in the UK. The requirements can also depend on how people working for your business are engaged, so it’s important to provide accurate information when arranging cover.
Does high-risk tradesman insurance cover working at height?
Some policies can provide cover for work at height, but this depends on the insurer and the activities disclosed when the policy is arranged. Roofers, scaffolders and other trades working at height should make sure these activities are clearly declared.
Can I insure my tools and equipment?
Tools and equipment cover can often be included or added to a tradesman insurance policy. The available protection depends on the equipment, where it is kept and the risks you want to insure against.
Can I include subcontractors on my policy?
The way subcontractors are engaged and the work they carry out can affect your insurance requirements. It’s important to tell your insurer how you use subcontractors so the appropriate cover can be considered.
Can high-risk tradesman insurance cover multiple vehicles?
Depending on your circumstances, commercial vehicle or fleet insurance can be arranged alongside your business insurance. This can be useful for contractors operating several vans, pickups or other commercial vehicles.
Can I get insurance for a new trades business?
Insurance can be arranged for new and established businesses, although insurers will consider factors such as your trade, experience, activities, turnover and the level of cover required.
How often should I review my tradesman insurance?
You should review your insurance whenever your business changes and at least at renewal. Tell your insurer if you take on new types of work, employ additional staff, use different subcontractors, purchase equipment, move premises or change how your vehicles are used.
Request a quote - it’s simple
We’re here to help Monday-Friday, 9am-5pmÂ