Knowledge Centre

Professional Indemnity Insurance at a glance Professional Indemnity Insurance protects your business from financially crippling and reputation damaging claims from dissatisfied clients. When the pressure is on, even the most professional businesses can make mistakes or fall victim to unscrupulous employees. Professional Indemnity Insurance ensures a mistake doesn’t cost you your business. Who needs Professional Indemnity Insurance? Any business providing advice, consultancy or specialist services over and above the standard achievable by an ordinary person could be classed as a ‘professional’ in their field and should consider the benefits of Professional Indemnity Insurance.

What does Professional Indemnity Insurance protect against?

Professional Indemnity Insurance could protect your business from legal and other costs resulting from a variety of potential problems including:

• Lost or stolen documents, whether hard copies or information held on PCs or laptops. The cost of retrieving data is also included.
• Dishonesty, in the event that one of your employees steals from your client.
• Infringement of copyright, trademarks and broadcasting rights, which can result in a substantial claim against your business.
• Negligence or a failure of your employees to exercise a duty of care during the course of their work.

Is Professional Indemnity Insurance compulsory?

It is for some professions (including solicitors, accountants, architects, insurance brokers and financial advisers). But for some businesses, operating without Professional Indemnity Insurance is simply not an option because of their level of potential risk. Some client organisations may also demand a minimum level of Professional Indemnity Insurance cover before they can consider working with a particular business.

It makes sense to seek advice from an insurance professional on the level of Professional Indemnity Insurance appropriate for your business. The right amount of cover will depend on the risks facing your particular business as well as the value and impact of the services provided.

What’s covered?

• Lost or stolen documents
• Theft or dishonest employees
• Breach of intellectual property
• Negligence