What kind of tradesmen do AXA cover?

Electricians and electrical contractors, Property maintenance, Carpenters and joiners, Painters and decorators, Builders, Plumbers, Bricklayers, Plasterers, And more. If you don’t see your trade here, don’t worry. It doesn’t mean we can’t insure you. Search for your trade when you get a quote online. Or get in touch and we’ll talk you through your options.

Why do tradesmen need insurance?

Whether you’re a one-man-band with a van or an established firm that’s been around for decades, your business needs to be protected in case of accidents, theft or damage. Because if you’re not, you risk losing a lot of money and are putting your business in danger. But it’s about more than just peace of mind. Having the proper protection in place is about professionalism. Which sends the right message to your customers – and your staff too. And should things go wrong, getting back to business quickly keeps jobs on track for your customers and your reputation intact. Because being proud of a job well done is important to you – and it’s important to us too.

Who and what does business insurance for tradesmen cover?

Our business insurance can offer the protection that fits your trade and can be tailored to your needs.

Trades insurance

Building your business takes time and commitment - protect its future today

Choose the covers that work for your business with public liability, employers’ liability and more
Option to add tools insurance – choose own plant or hired-in plant cover
Professional indemnity cover available to select trades occupations

Get a business insurance quoteClick to start a business insurance quote Retrieve your saved quoteclick to retrieve your saved quote

What is trades insurance?

Trades insurance is a type of business insurance policy that covers tradespeople. It combines several different covers to ensure tradespeople are protected against claims. Trades insurance often includes covers such as:

Public liability insurance
Employers’ liability insurance
Tools insurance
Professional indemnity insurance1

Why do trades need insurance?

Business insurance for trades is not a legal requirement, though it’s recommended for every business – including trades. Without business insurance, you’re liable for any costs that come from defending a claim against you, attending court, or paying compensation to a claimant if they’re successful.

Additionally, some clients might require you to have certain covers in place before you can complete work for them, such as local authorities (councils, government bodies etc) who are likely to request you have, at minimum, public liability insurance.

What kind of trades do we cover?

Electricians and electrical contractors
Property maintenance
Carpenters and joiners
Painters and decorators
Builders
Plumbers
Bricklayers

If you don’t see your trade here, don’t worry. Most tradespeople can find the business insurance that’s right for them - simply search for your trade when you get a quote online.

Get a business insurance quote

What other types of business insurance do I need?

So, whether it’s a client that’s been injured on-site, property damage from an ongoing repair, stolen tools or an employee who’s fallen ill – we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most commonly chosen covers for trades.

Public liability insurance

If a third party is accidentally injured, or their property is damaged as a result of the work you’re carrying out, public liability will help cover the costs of defending a claim as well as paying out on successful claims with up to £5 million in compensation payments.

Find out moreabout public liability insurance

Professional indemnity insurance¹

Some trades are eligible for professional indemnity insurance if their provide advice, services, or designs to their clients. This cover will help with legal costs and expenses incurred in your defence, as well as paying out on any successful compensation claims.

Find out more

Employers’ liability insurance

If you’ve got people working for you (that includes apprentices, sub-contractors, casual labourers and temporary workers), you legally required to have employers’ liability insurance under the Employers’ Liability Act 1969. If an employee falls ill or get injured as a result of being on the job, you’ll be covered for up to £10 million as standard.

Find out more about employers liability

Optional extras for trades

Along with the main covers that make up your business insurance policy, there are also various optional extras that you can choose to add to your policy.

Plant, tools and equipment insurance

If you own your tools then our own-plant tools cover will protect you for accidental loss, theft or damage. From machinery, trailers, or caravans – to the tools and stock that you own too, up to the value of £2000.

Similarly, if you have to hire in speciality equipment, like constructional plant, machinery, tools or site huts – our hired-in equipment cover will protect them if they’re damaged or destroyed whilst in your care.

Contract works cover

If you’re building a new house or extending a property and the project is destroyed or damaged part-way through, we’ll cover you against accidental loss, destruction or damage to the new structure. So, you can get back to what’s important - finishing the job.

Personal accident cover

Principals or directors in your firm have an accident? We can help.

Capital cover will give you a lump sum of £2,000 in the event of their death, total disability, loss of limb or sight. If they’re under 75, weekly cover offers them a weekly wage if they’re unable to work – e.g. in the case of a broken arm or leg, until they recover.

Van insurance for trades

Getting from job to job is no easy task when you have to transport tools and materials between sites. For that, you’ll likely have your own van. If you do, you need to make sure you’ve got van insurance.

Find out more about Van insurance