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Business Business Insurance Commercial Insurance Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional indemnity insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance or PI insurance, covers damages and costs in relation to claims for professional negligence or incorrect advice – even if this is provided for free. It is vital protection for any business that provides advice or services in a professional capacity.

  • Comprehensive cover
  • Cover limits from £50,000 to £25million
  • Available from £100 per year
  • An array of policy add-ons available
  • In-house claims team

The Alan Boswell Group Difference

PI Insurance specialist

We’ve worked with businesses of all shapes and sizes across the UK for more than 30 years, so we understand the challenges you face and the importance of providing independent, impartial and practical insurance advice. Our professional indemnity insurance specialists work with a select panel of insurers to ensure you have the right level of cover for your business – and provide expert advice – at a competitive price.

As an business insurance broker we have access to a wide range of products, so we can provide you with the best solution for your business. Add to this service our outstanding in-house claims team and risk management solutions and you have your ideal insurance partner.

How our customers rate us

All very helpful and efficient. I think they made a real effort to understand how my organisation works and what I need.

Mr Vincent - Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity Insurance in detail

Professional indemnity insurance provides cover for legal costs and compensation claims from third parties. These may arise if you provide negligent advice or services that results in financial loss.

  • Civil liability If a client or end user suffers financial losses because of any advice, information, or designs you provided, PI will cover legal costs, awards, and settlements for your business and your employees.
  • Breach of confidentiality If your client has entrusted your business with personal information or confidential details and these are unintentionally shared without their permission.
  • Defamation You may accidentally damage someone’s reputation in the process of conducting your business, resulting in legal action and compensation being awarded. PI will cover these costs up to the value of your cover limit.
  • Copyright/trademark infringement If your advice unintentionally suggests your client should copy or produce a derivative of another work, you may be pursued by the copyright holder or your client for loss of income.
  • Loss of documents Covers the cost of the replacement or restoration of documents that were left in the care of your company.
  • Formal investigation If you are investigated by your professional or regulatory body, PI will help defend any legal action brought against you.
  • Employee dishonesty Provides cover if your customers suffer a loss caused by a dishonest or fraudulent act by a member of your team.
  • Disputed fees Legal cover if you seek unpaid fees and your client threatens to counter-sue if you pursue them.
  • Pollution This can be added to your policy to provide cover if advice or designs result in environmental damage.

Compensation claims can still be brought against you even if you provided a service or your advice for free.

Some professional bodies will require their members to hold professional indemnity insurance. These bodies cover solicitors, accountants, architects, chartered surveyors, financial advisers, and also insurance brokers like us.

What is professional indemnity insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance (also known as errors and omissions insurance) is a product that provides protection in the event that you or your business give mistaken professional advice, designs, or services.

If your business has unlimited liability (i.e. you are a sole trader, partnership, or contractor ), PI insurance also protects your personal assets. For instance, if your business didn’t have cover and it couldn’t meet the costs of a claim, you may personally have to make up the difference. Professional indemnity will cover all of these costs.

You may wish to understand professional indemnity insurance excesses, or find out more detail on what professional indemnity insurance is and how much it costs.

FAQs

  • The recommended amount of cover (often referred to as a “limit of indemnity”) varies according to the business involved. It depends upon the type of work undertaken, typical contract values, and a host of other factors. If you want guidance on a suitable professional indemnity limit, either contact us or speak to your professional or industry body.

  • Generally, any business involved in providing advice, designs, specifications, or knowledge, should consider taking out a policy. We arrange professional indemnity insurance for a whole range of businesses and professions, from engineers to teachers.

  • This may be possible and advisable but depends on your business activities. There is cross-over between professional indemnity and public/products liability, but they are two different policies providing different cover.

  • This depends on the type of service you provide because in some instances you may require both. A care home, for example, may need both if it is providing advice and practising medicine. For peace of mind, get in touch with us. We will understand your requirements and offer a package that suits.

  • You need to think about the implications of any service or advice you provide failing. You should also consider the value of your contracts and any specific obligations you have. Professional indemnity insurance can help you protect these contracts.

  • Professional indemnity insurance and errors and omissions insurance are different names for the same type of insurance product. It is an insurance that provides protection for your business from the cost of a compensation claim when a client believes you’ve been negligent or made a mistake in your work.

Get in touch

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01603 216387
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Ian Bowes
Ian Bowes

Account Executive

Ian left Downham Market sixth form and joined Aviva in Cambridge in 1987 working in their Personal Department. In 1993 he left to join insurance…

Richard Sayer
Richard Sayer

Account Executive

Richard has more than 25 years industry experience after working for a variety of insurance brokers and insurers in the region. He gained valuable insight…

Steve Eastwood
Steve Eastwood

Branch Manager

Steve has more than 35 years of industry experience, starting his career in 1981 with Norwich Union in Hull as an underwriter in the Fire…