Contract works insurance

Q: Is contract works insurance the same as contractors all-risk cover?

Contract works insurance only covers things related to a specific contract, such as the materials needed to complete a job. Contracts all-risk cover is designed to cover multiple elements of your business.

Q: What does contract works mean in insurance?

Contract works usually refers to work done by builders and other tradespeople and businesses. It’s common terminology for construction sites too, where projects tend to be long-running works in progress. Your contract works are the work and tasks you’ve agreed to complete for your client, as part of your contract with them.

Q: Do you require cover for contract works?

This will depend on the contracts and agreements you have in place, both with your client and any third parties involved in the project you’re working on. Some contracts will require a minimum level of insurance to be in place before work commences, and contract(s) works insurance will often be factored into this, or highlighted as a requirement.

Q: Can I buy business insurance if I’ve had any CCJs or IVAs?

Each insurer looks at CCJs and IVAs differently – some apply stricter rules than others, but having a CCJ or IVA doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to buy insurance.

Join over nearly a million customers (including over 220,000 trade professionals) – we offer public liability cover from £4.95*

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10% of customers pay the equivalent of £4.95 a month*

What is contract works insurance?

From building sites to ongoing client renovations, works under construction are vulnerable to accidents and damage. Contract works insurance is designed to cover the project you’re on, so if the work gets destroyed or you lose your materials, you and the client are financially protected. You can restore the work in progress to its pre-damage status, and safeguard against additional losses.

build a tailored construction insurance policy, with options for PL, kit, and staff
24/7 UK-based claims support from an expert team
cover for break-ins, flood, fire and storm, for peace of mind while you work

What does contract works insurance cover?

Alongside well-known covers like public liability insurance, plant, and employee protection, many construction insurance policies feature contract works cover as a popular option for trades companies and professionals. It’s designed to cover your regular building and construction site work, if disasters like storm, flood, or fire cause damage, or someone breaks in and steals or vandalises your materials and project.

Vandalism
Flood
Fire
Theft
Storm

Vandalism

What does this cover?
- damage and destruction caused by vandalism
- the cost of reinstating the work you’ve done, up until the point of your claim
When would I need to make a claim?
- for example, you’re building an extension for a client and someone breaks into your works site, vandalising the premises and causing substantial damage
What isn’t covered?
- acts of terrorism
Flood

What does this cover?
- damage and destruction caused by flooding
- the cost of reinstating the work you’ve done, up until the point of your claim
When would I need to make a claim?
- for example, the site you’re working on has been damaged by a flood overnight, destroying the kitchen you were installing
Fire

What does this cover?
- damage and destruction caused by fire
- the cost of reinstating the work you’ve done, up until the point of your claim
When would I need to make a claim?
- for example, a fire in the neighbouring property to the one you’re renovating causes smoke damage, and you need to start the work from scratch
What isn’t covered?
- acts of terrorism
Theft

What does this cover?
- loss of materials as a result of them being stolen from the site
- the cost of reinstating the work you’ve done, up until the point of your claim
When would I need to make a claim?
- for example, someone breaks into your site and steals your trade tools, delaying the project completion date
What isn’t covered?
- acts of terrorism
Storm

What does this cover?
- damage and destruction caused by storm
- the cost of reinstating the work you’ve done, up until the point of your claim
When would I need to make a claim?
- for example, a storm destroys the loft conversion you’re working on, and you need to start the project from scratch

This content has been created for general information purposes. Make sure you have the right level of business insurance by checking your policy documentation for details. Read our full Terms and Conditions

How much does contract works insurance cost?

Find out how much you’ll pay by comparing prices from a range of trusted insurers. You choose what goes into your policy, so you only pay for what you need.

Prices start from £4.95 per month

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The price is for up to £2 million of public liability insurance – 10% of customers paid £59.34 or less annually between 1st Feb – 30th April 2025. Equivalent to £4.95 a month (and excludes the extra costs for paying monthly). 82% of customers have a £1 million limit and 18% £2 million. If you complete a quote, more types of cover will be available. These all have additional costs.

Example contract works insurance quotes, real prices

£34.39 /month

£343.90 /year

A self-employed builder working on residential properties in the local area

1-2 years’ experience
Sole trader
No employees
Based in Sheffield

Public liability

£1,000,000

Employers’ liability

Not included

Contract works

£50,000

£169.33 /month

£1,693.26 /year

A small building firm that works on medium sized contracts, both residentially and commercially, with 1 office only worker

5+ years’ experience
Limited company
3 employees
Based in Nottingham

Public liability

£5,000,000

Employers’ liability

£10,000,000

Contract works

£250,000

How we work out example quotes. These examples are real quotes from our online system (created 17/03/2025). They’re based on a range of factors, like employees and location. Your own quote will be based on what you tell us about your property. Prices may go up or down from day to day, so the prices you’re quoted may differ to the ones you see here.

How it works

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Only pay for what you need

Get prices from a range of insurers

Choose the best fit for you

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Get your documents the same day

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Our team of UK-based insurance experts are here to help, Mon 09.00am – 05.30pm, Tues 09.00am – 05.30pm, Weds 09.00am – 05.30pm, Thurs 09.30am – 05.30pm, Fri 09.00am – 05.30pm, Sat 09.00am – 02.00pm

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How do claims work?

Unlike price comparison websites, we take the hassle out of claims for you. We know how important it is to get your business back on track quickly – and with a minimum of fuss. That’s why you get access to your dedicated claims any time, day or night. Call them on 0333 207 0560 or claim online. They’ll do their best to be fair and supportive.

£68 million in claims paid out in 2024

76% of claims were settled in 2024.

The figure above is rounded across our range of products. “Settled” covers paid, declined or withdrawn. Our claims process may vary for different products and operates on a ‘claim by claim’ basis. Our specialist partner Sedgwick will pay the claims on behalf of the insurer. Reviewed on 26/02/2025.

Example claim

Having contracts works insurance through Simply Business has saved construction and trade professionals thousands of pounds when the unexpected happened.

Annie saved more than £11,200

While working on a client’s loft conversion, Annie’s (not her real name) works site was broken into, with evidence of forced entry and theft of multiple tools and appliances. The optional contract works insurance added to Annie’s business policy helped provide cover for the delay to the project, while she replaced her tools and organised repair works.

Insurance payout

£11,299.51

Covering the cost of theft

Annies costs

£100

The excess amount stated in Annie’s policy terms

Chosen by nearly one million small business and landlord customers

We started out as a team of five back in 2005. We’ve grown since then, with nearly a million customers across 1,500 trades now trusting us to provide their business insurance.

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Contract works insurance FAQ

Whether you’re new to buying business insurance or you’ve been trading for a while, here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about contract works insurance.

You can also check out our business insurance FAQs.

Is contract works insurance the same as contractors all-risk cover?

What does contract works mean in insurance?

Do you require cover for contract works?

Can I buy business insurance if I’ve had any CCJs or IVAs?

Does public liability insurance cover my business for the actions of my employees?

This will depend on whether you have employers’ liability insurance in place. Public liability insurance is designed to protect your business against the consequences of legal action brought by members of the public for injuries or damage to their belongings. But when it comes to your employees causing injury or damage, this protection only activates if you also have employers’ liability insurance.

**If you employ people, you’re required by law to have employers’ liability insurance.**

There’s one exception here. Family businesses that aren’t incorporated as a limited company are not legally required to have employers’ liability insurance. The government defines a “family business” as one where all your employees are closely related to you (as a spouse, civil partner, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, step-parent, stepchild, or half-sibling). So if you run an unincorporated family business and you choose not to get employers’ liability insurance, it’s important to know that your public liability insurance wouldn’t cover you against damage or injury caused by your team.

Looking for other types of insurance?

Depending on your set-up, clients and business type, these expert covers might be helpful too:

When you run a quote you can select from a range of covers.

We create this content for general information purposes and it should not be taken as advice. Always check policy documentation for details and seek professional advice. Read our full Terms and Conditions

Contract works insurance

What is contract works insurance?

What does contract works insurance cover?

Vandalism

Flood

Fire

Theft

Storm

How much does contract works insurance cost?

Prices start from £4.95 per month

Example contract works insurance quotes, real prices

How it works

Pick what goes into your policy

Get prices from a range of insurers

Buy online in minutes

Talk to an expert

Online

Phone

FAQs

How do claims work?

£68 million in claims paid out in 2024

Example claim

Annie saved more than £11,200

Compare and buy in minutes

Rated 4.6/5

Here to help

24/7 claims

Contract works insurance FAQ

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