Contractors Combined insurance is a single package policy designed for UK construction and trade businesses. It combines multiple covers into one programme — typically including Public Liability, Employers' Liability, Contractors All Risks (CAR), tools and plant, hired-in plant, business interruption, and legal expenses. The "combined" approach eliminates the gaps and overlaps that can occur when contractors arrange covers separately, and gives you one insurer, one claims process, and one renewal.

Most UK construction and trade businesses with employees or contract work benefit from Contractors Combined. This includes general builders, groundworkers, civil engineering firms, demolition contractors, scaffolders, roofing contractors, electricians, plumbers, fit-out contractors, multi-trade businesses, and principal contractors. Sole traders with no employees and minimal plant may not need the full Combined — a tradesman package may suffice. For anything beyond a single van with one operative, Combined is typically the right structure.

Standard scope includes: Public Liability (third-party injury and property damage); Employers' Liability (staff injury and illness); Contractors All Risks (work in progress, site materials, partial completion); tools and small plant; owned and hired-in plant; legal expenses; and often business interruption. Optional add-ons include temporary buildings, Delay in Start-Up (DSU), Professional Indemnity for design work, Environmental Impairment Liability for groundworks/demolition, and Cyber for project management systems.

Employers' Liability £5m minimum is legally required under the EL (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 if you employ any staff — including casual workers, apprentices, and many labour-only subcontractors. Fines for non-compliance are £2,500 per day. Other Combined sections (PL, CAR, plant) are not legally required but are contractually required by virtually all UK construction contracts, principal contractors, and local authorities. Public Liability minimums of £5m–£10m are standard contract requirements.

Yes, but the treatment depends on whether subcontractors are "labour-only" or "bona fide" subcontractors. Labour-only subcontractors work under your direction and are typically covered under your Employers' Liability the same as employees. Bona fide subcontractors run their own businesses and are typically required to hold their own liability insurance, which you should obtain copies of and verify. Insurers want this distinction declared accurately at proposal — declaring labour-only subs as bona fide (or vice versa) can void cover at claim stage.

Tradesman insurance is a simpler package typically aimed at sole traders and small operations — usually PL, tools, and limited contract works cover. Contractors Combined is a more comprehensive package built for larger operations with employees, significant plant inventory, contract works exceeding tradesman limits, or principal contractor responsibilities. The transition from tradesman to Combined usually happens at the point where: you hire staff (EL required), your CAR needs exceed tradesman limits, you're working under JCT contracts, or you're acting as principal contractor.

UK Contractors Combined costs vary significantly by trade, turnover, and plant inventory. Indicative 2026 ranges for small contractors (under £250k turnover): general builders £650–£1,800; groundworks £1,100–£2,800; roofing £1,400–£3,500; demolition £2,200–£5,500; multi-trade £800–£2,200; principal contractors £2,400–£6,500. Pricing scales steeply with turnover, working at height premium for roofers/scaffolders, and plant inventory. CHAS / Constructionline / SafeContractor accreditation typically reduces premium 5–15%.

Yes — both tools (small portable equipment) and plant (excavators, dumpers, generators, scaffolding, telehandlers) can be included. Cover applies at site, in vehicles, or at premises against theft, accidental damage, fire, and vandalism. Two important distinctions: (1) owned plant vs hired-in plant — both should be covered but on different terms; hired-in plant typically includes "continuing hire charges" cover for the period of damage; (2) tools cover usually has individual item limits and overall total limits — declare both your most expensive items and total inventory value accurately.

Contractors All Risks (CAR) covers work in progress, site materials, and partially completed projects against insured events including fire, theft, flooding, vandalism, storm, escape of water, and accidental damage. It's distinct from PL (which covers third-party damage) and Property cover (which covers your own premises). CAR is the cover that protects the actual construction work itself while it's underway. Limit should match the maximum contract value you could have on site at one time, not your annual turnover.

PI isn't standard in Contractors Combined but can be added as a section. It's typically needed where you: provide design work or design-and-build contracts; act as CDM Principal Designer; provide project management or technical advice; sign off site investigations or surveys. Most general builders and traditional contractors don't need PI; design-and-build firms and principal contractors with design coordination roles usually do. See our Professional Indemnity page for detailed PI scope.

The Building Safety Act 2022 created new duties for high-rise residential building works including a 15-year retrospective liability period (extended Limitation Act period) and new Principal Contractor / Principal Designer duties under the Building Safety Regulator. For contractors working on Higher-Risk Buildings (18m+ or 7+ storeys with residential use), insurers are increasingly requiring evidence of: documented competence; compliance with Construction Products Regulations; clear contractual responsibility allocation. PI run-off requirements have effectively extended to match the 15-year liability window for some sectors.

Notify your insurer or broker immediately — most policies require notification "as soon as reasonably practicable" with the threshold being "may give rise to a claim" rather than "formal claim received." Preserve all evidence rigorously: site photographs, witness contact details, incident reports, daily site logs, plant inspection records. Do not admit liability or commit to remedial work that could be interpreted as admission. If HSE is involved, engage your Legal Expenses cover immediately. The insurer typically appoints a loss adjuster to investigate larger claims.