Cover for every
contractor trade,
top to bottom.
Principal contractors, subcontractors, civils, groundworks, and specialist trades. Contractors All Risks, Professional Indemnity, and contract-aligned cover built around the whole contractor spectrum.
Whether you run the site
or work on it,
the cover needs to fit.
A principal contractor has different obligations to a civils subcontractor, a groundworks firm, or a specialist trade. The contract terms, the chain of liability, the scope of design responsibility — all of it varies. A standard package rarely reflects how construction actually works.
We cover the full contractor spectrum. From the principal managing the whole programme to the subcontractor named in the contract, we make sure the cover is structured around your position in the chain and what that actually means for your liability.
Eight questions
we’re asked every week.
Plain-English answers. If yours isn’t here, call us on 01455 244630 and we’ll talk it through directly.
As a principal contractor you will typically need Employers Liability, Public Liability, and Contractors All Risks as a minimum. The JCT sets out specific insurance obligations and the contract should be read carefully alongside your cover. We work through the contract requirements with you to make sure the policy is properly aligned.
Employers Liability is a legal requirement. Public Liability will be required by the principal contractor and is often specified at a minimum limit in the subcontract. Where you carry any design or specification responsibility, Professional Indemnity may also be required. We can review any subcontract requirements and make sure your cover meets them.
Contractor PI is a specific class and not all PI policies are written to cover design liability arising from construction activities. It is important that the policy wording properly reflects the design responsibility you are taking on. We place contractor PI as a distinct class and will ensure the cover is fit for purpose.
Contract works cover protects the physical works in progress against loss or damage before handover, including materials on site awaiting incorporation and temporary works. What the contract requires will vary depending on the project and the terms agreed. We will review what is being asked for and make sure the cover is structured correctly.
The risk profile for civils and groundworks differs from building work in a number of ways, including ground condition risks, third-party liability from excavation, and the proximity of utilities. Civils is a class we place regularly and know well. We will make sure the cover reflects the specific nature of your work rather than treating it as standard construction.
We will take you through exactly how an insurer views the subcontractors you are using. Cover required will vary dependent upon the nature of the agreement. We make sure you understand exactly what is and is not covered, and what warranties you need in place from your subcontractors to ensure you are protected.
Yes. Existing structures, adjacent occupants, and the increased risk of disruption to third parties all need specific consideration. This is a more complex risk than new-build work and the policy needs to reflect that. Bring it to us early and we will make sure the placement is right.
The core of a CAR policy is contract works cover, which protects the physical works in progress against loss or damage before handover. Beyond that, a number of additional sections can be added depending on what your business needs. Own plant and equipment, hired-in plant, tools and small items, and employees' tools are all optional sections rather than automatic inclusions. We build the schedule around what you actually own and use, so you are not paying for sections that do not apply and not exposed where they do.