Workshop insurance

If you have a workshop, office or store at your business premises, then this optional extra will protect the contents that you store there. It protects you if your contents are stolen as the result of a break-in.

Please note: this cover is best suited to smaller businesses storing tools and equipment on-site.

As a tradesperson, you understand the importance of tools and equipment to your trade. If you have a workshop on your premises that you work from, then it’s important that the tools of your trade are protected.

But, what kind of position would you be left in if your workshop was broken into, and your tools and equipment ended up stolen or damaged beyond use? Without workshop insurance, you’ll be solely responsible for replacing the lost items.

And this is only considering the cost of replacements – there’s also the knock-on impact to consider. How many jobs would you have to postpone or cancel? How long would you be unable to work for while you wait for replacements?

There are a few conditions that apply to this cover. These include:

• The total sum insured for all contents of your workshop or store cannot be more than £50,000 in total
• If you’re using your tools away from the premises, you’ll need Own Plant Tools and Equipment
• There must be evidence of forced entry
• All external doors must be fitted and secured with locks
• All windows must be fitted and secured with key operated window locks, or fixed shut

Workshop insurance covers your contents, including:

• Tools and machinery

• Stock

• Computer equipment

• Electronic office machinery

• Tenant’s improvement (fixtures and fittings)

We can also cover your office and store at your business address.

No, if you don’t have a workshop you can still get this cover to protect an office.

Workshops cover can be applied to buildings of standard or non-standard construction. The only difference this will make is the level of excess you’ll get – buildings of non-standard construction are subject to a higher level of excess.

Standard construction applies to common brick and mortar buildings.

Non-standard construction applies to buildings such as wooden sheds or outbuildings.

What excess will I get with this cover?

When you’re getting a quote, you’ll be asked whether your workshop building is of standard construction. Properties of standard construction will have an excess of £300, and properties of non-standard construction will have an excess of £500.