Business insurance · United Kingdom
Hiscox UK
UK specialist insurer selling public liability, professional indemnity, employers' liability and tools cover to tradespeople online and by phone
Market position
Hiscox sells business insurance direct to UK tradespeople online and by phone, and says it has over 100 years of industry experience. Its UK companies, Hiscox Underwriting Ltd and the insurer Hiscox Insurance Company Limited, are based at 22 Bishopsgate, London and authorised by the FCA, the insurer also by the PRA. For trades it offers public liability, professional indemnity, employers' liability and tool insurance, plus cyber, legal protection, property and equipment breakdown cover, though Hiscox says not every cover is available for every trade.
United Kingdom-specific note
Hiscox notes that employers' liability is required by law when you employ staff, and it sells employers' liability only together with public liability, not on its own. It does not insure builders directly; its tradesmen page refers builders to a builders' insurance partner.
Pros
- + Public liability from £5.20 a month, by Hiscox's own figure
- + Professional indemnity available alongside public liability
- + Quote online or by phone, with proof of insurance in minutes, Hiscox says
- + UK insurer authorised by the FCA and PRA
Cons
- − Employers' liability is sold only with public liability
- − Builders are referred to a partner insurer
- − Not every cover is available for every trade
- − Only a 'from' price is published; your premium comes from a quote
Typical United Kingdom pricing
Public liability from £5.20 a month, a figure Hiscox bases on policies sold between August 2025 and August 2026; other covers and trades by quote. The page does not say whether Insurance Premium Tax is included
Why this matters for United Kingdom trades
Gas Safe Register is the register approved by HSE: a business must be on it to legally do gas work within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and HSE prosecutes unregistered gas fitters. For electrical work in dwellings, NICEIC (Certsure) is one of several authorised competent person schemes, alongside BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, NAPIT and OFTEC, that let installers self-certify instead of getting building regulations approval, and OFTEC is one of six schemes authorised for oil appliances. The payroll tools listed here are on HMRC’s list of recognised payroll software, while CIS returns may need an add-on or a separate product; insurers such as Hiscox and AXA note that employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ staff.
UK trades vendor selection is shaped by the Gas Safe Register for gas work, competent person schemes such as NICEIC and OFTEC that let installers self-certify building work, payroll duties (HMRC RTI reporting, workplace pension auto enrolment and, in construction, CIS returns), VAT, and lead services such as Checkatrade, MyBuilder and TrustATrader.
Frequently asked
Is Hiscox UK a good fit for United Kingdom trades?
Hiscox sells business insurance direct to UK tradespeople online and by phone, and says it has over 100 years of industry experience. Its UK companies, Hiscox Underwriting Ltd and the insurer Hiscox Insurance Company Limited, are based at 22 Bishopsgate, London and authorised by the FCA, the insurer also by the PRA. For trades it offers public liability, professional indemnity, employers' liability and tool insurance, plus cyber, legal protection, property and equipment breakdown cover, though Hiscox says not every cover is available for every trade. Hiscox notes that employers' liability is required by law when you employ staff, and it sells employers' liability only together with public liability, not on its own. It does not insure builders directly; its tradesmen page refers builders to a builders' insurance partner.
What does Hiscox UK cost in United Kingdom?
Public liability from £5.20 a month, a figure Hiscox bases on policies sold between August 2025 and August 2026; other covers and trades by quote. The page does not say whether Insurance Premium Tax is included. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current United Kingdom pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Does WrenchStack have a related page outside United Kingdom?
Yes: our US review of Hiscox, linked at the top of this page. Weigh it against the United Kingdom details on this one.