Get quotes for public liability, professional indemnity, tools and employers' liability insurance for UK bricklayers — quotes are provided directly by FCA-authorised insurers, not by us.
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Every trade faces unique risks. Here's what could go wrong and why the right cover matters.
Beyond the basics, three things tend to catch bricklayers out: working at height, taking on a job somewhere your policy doesn't cover, and finishing a job without a record that it was built right. Here's why each one matters for your cover.
Laying at height on a scaffold, tower or ladder carries a real risk of falls, and employers' liability cover responds if an employee or labour-only subcontractor you direct is injured this way. Insurers may ask about your typical working height and the access equipment you use.
Standard public liability policies routinely exclude work at airports, railways, docks, harbours, power stations and similar sites unless this is specifically agreed in advance. If a job takes you onto one of these sites, tell your insurer first — taking on the work without declaring it can leave a claim unsupported.
Brickwork that doesn't match the agreed drawings, specification or building regulations can lead to a costly dispute, remedial work, or even a structural problem further down the line. Working strictly to the design you've been given reduces the chance this becomes a claim in the first place.
Getting the site manager or client to sign off the finished work, ideally alongside dated photos, creates a record that the job was completed to specification at handover. If a defect is alleged later, this record can help establish whether it relates to your work or something that happened afterwards.
A strong policy covers the specific risks of your trade — from site accidents to equipment theft and client disputes.
Covers legal costs and compensation if a client or third party is injured or has property damaged during your work. Most builders and contractors require you to hold this before starting on site.
Covers your tools against theft from a van or site, and accidental damage. Tool theft is one of the most common claims for tradespeople — check the limit carefully.
Legally required if you employ anyone — including casual workers or labour-only subcontractors you direct on site. Minimum £5 million cover required by law.
Covers work in progress on site against damage from fire, flood, theft or accidental damage before it's handed over to the client. Essential for large or long-running jobs.
Covers owned or hired-in plant and machinery on site — diggers, cherry pickers, compressors and specialist equipment.
Covers legal costs for contract disputes, debt recovery, HMRC investigations and employment tribunal defence.
A few things worth checking before you buy, whichever UK insurer or broker you compare.
Check the limit matches what your contracts, landlord or clients require — common tiers are £1m, £2m, £5m and £10m depending on trade and risk.
Professional and liability covers are often "claims-made" — cover depends on holding a live policy when a claim is made, not just when the work happened.
Read what's excluded, not just what's covered. Sub-contractor work, specific activities, or work carried out overseas are common gaps.
Before buying, confirm any insurer or broker is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority — check the register at register.fca.org.uk.
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