Contractors Combined Insurance
Specialist Insurance for Contractors and Construction Businesses
Running a contracting business involves a wide range of risks, from accidental damage to property and workplace injuries to the loss of valuable tools, plant and materials.
Contractors Combined Insurance brings together several types of business insurance under one policy or coordinated insurance arrangement, helping contractors manage their protection more conveniently.
At Edison Ives, we help contractors and construction businesses throughout the UK arrange insurance tailored to their trades, projects and contractual requirements.
Request a Contractors Combined Insurance Quote
Whether you’re a small building contractor, an established construction company or a specialist subcontractor, our team can help you explore suitable insurance options.
Tell us about your trade, turnover, employees, subcontractors and the types of contracts you undertake.
What Is Contractors Combined Insurance?
Contractors Combined Insurance is designed to bring together a range of covers commonly required by businesses operating in construction and contracting.
Rather than arranging every type of insurance separately, eligible contractors may be able to obtain a package combining liability protection with cover for tools, plant, contract works and other business risks.
The precise combination of covers depends on your business activities, insurer appetite and the options selected.
Contractors Combined Insurance can be particularly useful for small and medium-sized contractors requiring several forms of protection.
What Does Contractors Combined Insurance Cover?
A Contractors Combined Insurance policy may include the following types of protection, subject to the policy schedule, terms and exclusions.
Public Liability Insurance
Can provide protection against certain third-party injury or property damage claims arising from your contracting activities.
Employers’ Liability Insurance
Protects against certain employee injury or illness claims. Generally a legal requirement for businesses employing staff, subject to exemptions.
Contract Works Insurance
Can cover insured work in progress and materials against specified accidental damage or loss during construction projects.
Own Plant Insurance
May provide protection for insured construction plant and machinery owned by your business against specified loss or damage.
Hired-In Plant Insurance
Can protect against certain liabilities for loss of or damage to hired construction equipment, subject to policy terms.
Tools & Equipment Insurance
May cover insured hand tools, power tools and specialist equipment against specified theft or damage risks.
Products Liability Insurance
May provide protection against certain injury or property damage claims caused by products supplied by your business.
Business Property Insurance
Can protect insured business premises, contents and stock against specified events.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
May be available separately or alongside the package where your business provides design, specification or professional advice.
Legal Expenses Insurance
May provide assistance with certain insured business legal disputes and associated legal costs.
Important: Not every cover is automatically included. Your insurance schedule should clearly identify the sections selected, limits, excesses and any endorsements.
Who Needs Contractors Combined Insurance?
Contractors Combined Insurance can be suitable for a variety of building, construction and specialist contracting businesses.
General Building Contractors
Businesses undertaking building, renovation, refurbishment and general construction projects.
Electrical Contractors
Electrical installation, maintenance and contracting businesses working on domestic or commercial projects.
Plumbing & Heating Contractors
Businesses carrying out plumbing, heating, pipework and related installation or maintenance work.
Groundworks Contractors
Businesses involved in excavation, drainage, foundations and ground preparation, subject to insurer acceptance.
Roofing Contractors
Specialist insurance considerations for roofing businesses, including work at height and associated risks.
Shopfitting & Refurbishment
Contractors undertaking commercial fit-outs, interior refurbishment and installation projects.
Mechanical Contractors
Businesses undertaking mechanical installation, engineering and maintenance work.
Specialist Subcontractors
Contractors working within larger projects who require cover aligned with their trade and contractual obligations.
Some higher-risk activities may require specialist underwriting or separate insurance arrangements.
Contract Works Insurance for Construction Projects
Contract Works Insurance is an important consideration for contractors responsible for construction work in progress.
Depending on the policy, it may cover insured works and materials against specified events such as fire, theft, storm or accidental damage.
For example, a contractor carrying out a building refurbishment could suffer a substantial financial loss if insured work is damaged before completion.
Cover should be arranged with reference to the maximum contract value, the nature of the work, the contract terms and who is responsible for insuring the project.
Existing structures, testing and commissioning, and certain high-risk activities may require additional consideration.
Public Liability Insurance for Contractors
Contractors frequently work at third-party premises, construction sites and locations where their activities could cause injury or property damage.
Public Liability Insurance can provide protection against certain compensation claims where the contractor is legally liable.
However, standard liability policies may contain exclusions relating to defective workmanship, damage to property being worked on, or specific high-risk activities.
It is important that your declared business activities accurately reflect the work you undertake.
Does Contractors Combined Insurance Cover Subcontractors?
Many contracting businesses use subcontractors to deliver projects. The insurance implications depend on how those subcontractors are engaged and supervised.
Insurers may distinguish between labour-only subcontractors and bona fide subcontractors, and may apply different terms to each arrangement.
Labour-only subcontractors may need to be included within relevant employee or wage declarations, depending on the circumstances and policy requirements.
Bona fide subcontractors may be expected to maintain their own liability insurance, and your policy may impose conditions requiring you to check their cover.
It is important to declare subcontracting arrangements accurately and understand any insurer conditions before work begins.
Meeting Construction Contract Insurance Requirements
Construction contracts can impose specific insurance obligations on contractors and subcontractors.
These may include:
- Minimum Public Liability Insurance limits.
- Employers’ Liability Insurance requirements.
- Contract Works Insurance obligations.
- Professional Indemnity Insurance for design responsibilities.
- Specific requirements for hired plant or specialist activities.
- Joint names insurance or other project-specific arrangements.
Not all contractual obligations are automatically covered by standard insurance policies.
Our team can help you review the insurance requirements of your contracts and explore appropriate arrangements.
What Does Contractors Combined Insurance Not Cover?
Contractors Combined Insurance does not automatically cover every construction-related risk.
Common exclusions, limitations or areas requiring additional cover may include:
- The cost of correcting defective workmanship.
- Damage to existing structures unless appropriately insured.
- Professional design errors without suitable Professional Indemnity Insurance.
- Motor liabilities requiring separate motor insurance.
- Undeclared high-risk activities or work outside the agreed trade description.
- Certain losses involving tools left in unattended vehicles.
- Specified underground services, hot works or work-at-height exposures without appropriate terms.
The exact position depends on the insurer and policy wording. Always review your schedule and endorsements.
How Much Does Contractors Combined Insurance Cost?
Premiums vary according to the nature, size and complexity of your contracting business.
Trade & Activities
The type of contracting work undertaken and its associated risks can influence pricing.
Turnover & Payroll
Business turnover, employee wages and subcontractor payments may affect premiums.
Contract Values
The size, duration and nature of your construction projects can influence cover requirements.
Plant, Tools & Equipment
The value of owned or hired equipment and the protection selected may affect costs.
Claims History
Previous claims and loss experience can influence insurer terms.
Cover Limits & Excesses
The liability limits, policy sections and excesses selected can affect the premium.
Benefits of Contractors Combined Insurance
A combined policy can offer a convenient way to manage several important business insurance requirements.
Coordinated Insurance Protection
Several relevant types of cover may be arranged together, helping simplify the management of your insurance.
Cover Tailored to Your Trade
Insurance sections can be selected to reflect your particular contracting activities and risks.
Support with Contract Requirements
Our team can help you consider insurance obligations arising from commercial contracts.
Ongoing Broker Support
We can assist with reviewing your insurance requirements as your contracting business develops.
Why Choose Edison Ives for Contractors Combined Insurance?
At Edison Ives, we understand that contracting businesses can face complex insurance requirements.
We take time to understand the work you undertake, your workforce, subcontracting arrangements, equipment and contractual obligations.
Our team can approach appropriate insurance markets and help explain important policy terms, exclusions and cover limits.
We aim to provide straightforward advice and a personal service, helping you make informed decisions about protecting your business.
Looking for Contractors Combined Insurance?
Whether you’re starting a contracting business, taking on larger projects or reviewing your existing insurance, speak to Edison Ives about your requirements.
Speak to Our Contractors Insurance Team
Call 0113 390 4646
Email info@edinsure.co.uk