Crafters Insurance

Markel Direct provide and administer this cover. Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited who is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register no. 202570).

There are a number of craft trades covered  including…

• Art metal worker
• Artist
• Basket making
• Candle making
• Cosmetics manufacture
• Custom item engraving (where the item being engraved is not being manufactured by the insured)
• Florists
• Flower crafts
• Food creation
• Glass engraving
• Glass goods manufacture
• Glass or glass goods decorators/engravers
• Jeweller
• Jewellery
• Leatherwork
• Lighting
• Metalwork & silversmiths
• Painting
• Paper crafts
• Perfume manufacture
• Photographers
• Photographic prints
• Plastics and resins
• Pottery
• Printing and digital art
• Silversmith
• Soft furnishings
• Stonemason
• Stonework
• Toy manufacture
• Wax melt making
• Wood carver
• Woodwork
• Woodworker
• Wool and needlework

The cost of your crafters insurance will depend on the cover you take out, the business activities and your individual circumstances. This will be determined by our insurer partner Markel Direct.

Your public liability insurance cost will depend on a number of factors, including:

• Your trade or profession and the hazards associated with your activities – e.g. work at height, depth, use of heat (blow lamps, welding equipment), types of materials used
• Where in the world you work and the activities carried out - e.g UK-only and/or Europe, or worldwide – including or excluding USA/Canada
• Number of employees, clerical or manual, and if you have any sub-contractors
• The limit of indemnity you require - £1 million, £2 million or £5 million
• What is included in your public liability insurance quote (standard level or extra covers)
• Your past claims history
• For larger businesses, estimated annual payments to direct employees - clerical/manual, labour-only and/or bona-fide sub-contractors
• The size of your business e.g. turnover (the more work you do, the greater the risk exposure and the higher the premium)
• Your risk management and health and safety record

Public liability insurance is not usually a legal requirement like employer’s liability insurance, but there aren’t many businesses that can safely operate without this protection.

Despite all the precautions under the sun, accidents can and will happen, and being vulnerable to a lawsuit can spell disaster for a growing business. As our public liability insurance can cover up to £5 million, the importance of having this protection is clear. 

While public liability insurance is therefore not required by law, it is likely to be necessary for your business to operate successfully.

No, public liability cover is not a legal requirement, but as you will have employees under you supervision and control you will have a legal duty to arrange employers liability insurance. This cover will normally be bought alongside public liability cover.

Yes, public liability insurance is tax deductible when calculating taxable profit, as an 'allowable expense' (an expense you can deduct when calculating taxable profit for your tax return). It is included in HMRC’s definition of allowable expenses.

When you buy your public liability insurance, be sure to keep your receipt and your policy documents safe so that you can show your tax calculations if your business is checked by HMRC. Also, if you have an accountant that does your tax return, you will need these documents to show them the cost of your cover so they can calculate it correctly and ensure your public liability insurance is tax deductible.

While public liability insurance provides cover against claims from members of the public for damage to their property or bodily injury caused to them due to your negligence. Employers' liability insurance protects the business from allegations of accidental bodily injury or illness to employers sustained whilst engaged in business activities for you. If you are at fault the policy will initially cover your legal defence costs and then will pay any court awards for injury.

We recommend that you:

• Meet your legal obligation to record accidents in your accident book.
• Follow RIDDOR procedures
• Report all accidents to your insurers.
• Do not accept responsibility or agree to pay compensation even if you think it is obvious that it is your fault.
• Allow your insurers to investigate and advise you of the best course of action to be taken.

If you accept liability before referral to your insurer’s then you could prejudice you and your insurers' ability to defend any claim made against you.

You can choose public liability cover limits from £1 million, £2million and £5 million. The amount you need will depend on several aspects:

• Your business activities
• The type of locations and environments you are working in
• The processes involved, particularly if these are of a high-risk nature involving any application of heat-work i.e. blow lamps/torches or welding.

When you are contracting with companies, please check with them to find out if there is a minimum amount of public liability insurance required.

Yes, if you are also involved in other trades, we can look to expand your policy to cover them. Please talk to Markel Direct for more information.

For details of the terms, exclusions and conditions applicable, please refer to the full policy documentation provided by Markel Direct which will be available during the quotation process.

To help you spread the cost of your premiums, you can choose to spread payment over ten months with the Markel quick and easy Direct Debit scheme.

If you bought your policy before 7^th June 2024, you can view all your documentation in your online portal here. If you purchased your policy on or after the 7^th June 2024, you can access your documents here.