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Employers' liability insurance

The one you have to have if you employ anyone.

Cover for compensation and legal costs if an employee is injured or made ill by the work they do for you.

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Provided byMarkel

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Online quote and buy, provided by Markel. No obligation.

What you get

  • A few questionsYour trade, your turnover, how many people work there
  • Your price on screenIncluding Insurance Premium Tax at 12%
  • Documents by emailYour certificate, which you have to display for staff
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IGotCover introduces you to Markel. Markel runs the quote, sells the policy and underwrites it.

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Required by law for most UK businesses with staff. The statutory minimum is £5m, Markel provide £10m as standard, and cover follows your people wherever they work, including at home.

Subject to the policy terms, exclusions, your excess and the insurer's underwriting.

  1. Someone works for youEmployed, temporary, part-time or volunteering
  2. They are hurt or made illA slip, a fall, a manual handling injury, a repetitive strain, an occupational illness
  3. They claimAgainst your business, for compensation and costs
  4. The policy respondsLegal defence costs and any compensation, up to your limit
A joiner in workwear holding a tape measure

Who is it for?

Required by law for most UK businesses that employ staff, which makes it a legal obligation rather than a commercial choice. The penalties for not holding it sit with you personally as the employer.

Usually a fit

  • Any business with one or more employees
  • Businesses using temporary, seasonal or casual staff
  • Anyone using volunteers, including charities and community groups
  • Businesses whose staff work from home or on client sites
  • Contractors whose client makes it a condition of the contract

What it doesn't do

  • Injury to members of the public. That's public liability
  • A director or officer's own injury. That's occupational personal accident cover
  • A mistake in your work that costs a client money. That's professional indemnity

Cover, limits and exclusions are set by the policy wording. Read the documents before you buy.

Why it matters

  • It is the law, not a judgement call

    Most UK businesses employing anyone must hold it. The Health and Safety Executive can fine a business up to £2,500 a day for not having cover in place.

  • The certificate has to be available to staff

    You must make it accessible to your employees and to the HSE. Failing to display it carries a separate fine of up to £1,000.

  • Claims are usually the ordinary things

    Slips, trips and falls are the most common. Defective equipment, manual handling, repetitive strain and occupational illness follow behind them.

What to be aware of

  • A small number of businesses are exempt, including some single-director companies and some family businesses.
  • The statutory minimum is £5m. Markel provide £10m as standard.
  • You need an ERN, your employer PAYE reference, unless you are not registered as an employer with HMRC.
  • Fines and penalties are not covered by any policy.
  • Cover levels and exclusions vary by policy. Read the policy documents before you buy.

What the law asks for

Employers' liability is the one business cover that's compulsory rather than commercial. General information, not legal advice.

  • £5m is the statutory minimum

    Set by the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. Markel's policy provides £10m as standard, so it sits above the minimum.

  • Up to £2,500 a day for no cover

    The Health and Safety Executive can fine a business for every day it trades without the cover in place.

  • Up to £1,000 for not displaying the certificate

    A separate penalty. The certificate must be accessible to your employees and to the HSE.

  • Volunteers and temporary staff count

    You have a duty of care to anyone working for you, whether they are permanent, temporary, part-time or unpaid.

Who may be exempt

  • Companies employing only their owner, where that person also owns half or more of the share capital.
  • Family businesses where every employee is a close family member, unless the business is a limited company.
  • Businesses whose only employees are based abroad.
  • Certain public bodies.
  • If you are not sure, the HSE publishes a guide. Clients often ask for the cover anyway, exempt or not.

What it costs

Starting price

from£5a month

Available only for certain trades and business profiles. Individual premiums may be higher.

£10m of employers' liability cover as standard

Markel's indicative quotes, cover bundled
  • IT contractor, 1 employee: £22.40 a month
  • Building contractor, 1 employee: £33.49 a month

Markel's published price. The monthly figure is an average equivalent monthly of the annual premium. A higher first payment applies and individual premiums vary. Source: Markel Direct, September 2026. Markel's basis for the £5 figure is a business with fewer than five employees at a £10m limit. Only available for certain trades and risk profiles.

Every price in the quote includes Insurance Premium Tax at 12%.

A site supervisor holding a clipboard

How it works in practice

An illustrative example, not a real claim. Names and figures are invented to show the mechanics.

Dan, 38Runs a three-person joinery firm. One employee, one apprentice, plus himself.
The situation

An apprentice trips on a trailing extension lead in the workshop and breaks a wrist. He is off for seven weeks and brings a claim for his injury and lost earnings.

What it meant

Assuming the claim falls within the scope of cover, the insurer may handle the claim and the legal costs. Dan keeps trading and keeps the apprentice, rather than funding a compensation award out of the business.

  • Limit£10m
  • Claim typeWorkplace injury

Whether and how much a policy pays depends on the policy terms, the excess and the circumstances of the claim.

Who you're dealing with

Two parties, and it's worth knowing which is which.

  • Introduces you to MarkelIGotCover

    A trading name of Caspian Assured Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA. We explain the cover and point you to Markel's quote.

  • MarkelSells and underwrites the policyMarkel Direct

    The quote journey you're taken to, the policy you buy and the insurer named on your certificate. Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited. Claims are handled by Markel.

Protecting the people the business relies on

Employers' liability covers your staff at work. Business protection covers what happens if you or a key person can't work at all.

  • Directors

    Relevant life insurance

    Life cover for a director, paid for by the business.

    Explore
  • Key people

    Key person insurance

    A lump sum to the business if someone it depends on dies or is seriously ill.

    Explore
  • Ownership

    Shareholder protection

    Funds for the other owners to buy a shareholder's stake.

    Explore
  • Staff

    Employee benefits

    Cover arranged across your staff rather than one at a time.

    Explore

These are separate products, not part of the quote above. Advice is provided by IGotCover advisers. Cover is subject to eligibility, underwriting and the policy terms.

Common questions

Something not covered here? Email us at [email protected].

Does it cover staff working from home?

Your cover has to follow your employees wherever they are working, and that includes their homes. Most policies include it automatically. Check the wording.

I'm the only director and I have no employees. Do I need it?

Usually not, if you are the sole director of a limited company with no staff. Clients sometimes require it contractually even so, so it is worth asking before you assume you are exempt.

What is an ERN and where do I find it?

Your employer PAYE reference. If you are registered as an employer with HMRC it will be in your welcome pack, on your P60 and on most HMRC correspondence. Insurers have to collect it. If you are not registered as an employer, you will not have one and do not need to provide it.

Get your certificate sorted today.

A few questions, your price, then documents by email. No obligation to buy.

Questions for us? Email [email protected]. Help with the quote itself is Markel's team on 0800 640 6600.

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Quote journey provided by Markel.

This page is information only and not personal advice. IGotCover is a trading name of Caspian Assured Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA reference [FRN]). Registered in England and Wales, company number 07011592. Registered office: Tower 12, Level 2, Bridge Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3BZ. IGotCover introduces customers to Markel for this product. It does not provide advice or a personal recommendation, and does not recommend a level of cover. You choose the cover and limits that suit your business.

The online quote-and-buy journey is provided by Markel. Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Policies are underwritten by Markel International Insurance Company Limited. Prices include Insurance Premium Tax at 12%. Cover levels, limits and exclusions vary by policy and are subject to eligibility and underwriting. Read the policy documents before you buy. Last reviewed 14 September 2026.

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