If your business offers advice, consultancy, design, or any kind of professional service, you could be held liable if a client claims your work caused them a financial loss. That’s where Professional Indemnity Insurance comes in, and Chris Knott is here to help you arrange the right cover.
We work with a panel of trusted insurers to find policies that fit the real risks of your profession. Whether you’re self-employed or run a growing team, we’ll guide you through the options so you can work with confidence.
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Mistakes can happen, and even when they don’t, misunderstandings or disputes can lead to expensive claims. If a client alleges that your service, advice, or design caused them a financial or reputational loss, you could be taken to court.
Professional indemnity (PI) insurance helps cover:
Legal defence costs
Compensation claims
Professional negligence (errors or omissions)
Breach of contract or duty of care
Defamation or libel
Loss of documents or data
At Chris Knott, we work with businesses of all sizes, from freelancers and sole traders to agencies, consultancies, and professional firms, to make sure your policy reflects what you actually do.
Professional Indemnity Insurance is suitable (and often essential) for professionals such as:
Consultants and advisors
Architects and engineers
IT professionals and developers
Marketing and creative agencies
Accountants and finance professionals
Surveyors and estate agents
Education or training providers
Any service business that gives advice, creates plans, or manages projects
Some industries and contracts may require PI cover as part of regulation or tendering, and we’ll help ensure you meet those requirements smoothly.
Chris Knott can arrange professional indemnity insurance that covers:
Claims for professional negligence or errors
Breach of confidentiality or data protection
Intellectual property infringement
Defamation, libel, or slander
Loss or damage to documents (physical or digital)
Unintentional breach of contract
Defence costs - even if the claim is unsuccessful
We also offer access to policies that include retroactive cover, run-off cover (if you’re closing down), and additional options such as cyber liability or public liability where needed.
At Chris Knott, we don’t just compare quotes, we understand your profession and your risk. Our experienced commercial team will work with you directly to get a clear picture of your business, then source policies that give you both protection and peace of mind.
Whether you need cover for a single client contract or long-term protection as you grow, we’ll guide you through the process, without the jargon and without the hard sell.
The most common questions we're asked about professional indemnity insurance. Can't find what you're looking for? Speak to our UK-based team on 0800 917 2274.
Professional Indemnity Insurance, sometimes also known as Professional Liability Insurance, can protect your business if you make a mistake or give bad advice that harms your clients. Claims could involve:
If a claim is made, Professional Indemnity Insurance can step in to help pay your defence costs and compensation.
It isn’t needed by law in the UK, but several regulatory organisations and trade bodies require it as part of their membership criteria. Failing to have it in place could lead to fines or the cancellation of your membership.
Even the most diligent businesses can make mistakes, which exposes you to risk. These risks can have expensive consequences, with claims leading to pricy legal fees and potential compensation.
Professional Indemnity Insurance can protect any business that provides professional services, advice or recommendations to clients, helping to pay these fees and damages.
For some businesses, PI Insurance is a must if you want to remain a member of a particular regulatory or trade body. For instance, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires financial advisors, mortgage intermediaries and insurance brokers to have it in place. Solicitors, architects and accountants are also likely to need it for their membership of professional bodies.
Other businesses may not need it by law or for membership, but have it in place because of the kind of work they do. For instance, IT companies, private tutors, interior designers and recruitment consultants can benefit from cover because their work could lead to claims of poor advice, negligence or mistakes.
Professional Indemnity Insurance provides financial protection in claims of professional negligence, errors or omissions, and breaches of professional duty or civil liabilities.
Financial protection usually includes paid defence costs, including counsel and associated fees, and compensation. It can also be extended to cover other legal expenses and business equipment. This can all be tailored to fit your particular profession, so make sure you discuss this with your Professional Indemnity Insurance broker.
The amount of Professional Indemnity Insurance you need depends on the work you do because some sectors are riskier than others. The scale of your contracts and the size of your business will also determine the amount of cover needed.
Some trade bodies and regulatory organisations may specify a certain indemnity limit too, so check this if applicable.
You may also want to think about whether you would like your cover backdated. Some insurers will allow you to set the start date in the past, which will provide you with additional cover should a claim be made about work you carried out before you had insurance in place.
The cost of Professional Indemnity Insurance is dependent on your business and the work you do. As such, each Professional Indemnity Insurance quote is different.
The type of business you carry out will have an influence as some sectors carry more risk. The amount of cover you choose and the excess will also have an influence, as will your business’ turnover.
To get a better idea of the cover you need and what this will cost, you can speak to Professional Indemnity Insurance brokers here at Chris Knott Insurance.
Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance are two distinct policies. They may both be included in a package of commercial insurance policies.
You can define Professional Indemnity Insurance as a policy that helps to financially protect businesses that provide professional services from claims of mistakes or bad advice. For instance, an architect may submit a plan with the wrong specifications or a marketer could publish an incorrect statement about a company, damaging their client’s reputation, which leads to a claim. The PI Insurance means that the business can access legal support and compensation.
Public Liability Insurance, on the other hand, protects your business if a customer or member of the public is injured or their property damaged as a result of the work you do.
If you provide professional services, advice or recommendations to clients as a sole trader, freelancer or self-employed individual, then having Professional Indemnity Insurance in place can give you valuable peace of mind.
During the course of your work it is possible that you could offer the wrong advice, accidentally reveal personally identifiable information, make a mistake in the plans you submit or publish a misleading statement. If this leads to financial, reputational or other losses for your client, they could make a claim against you. This can lead to costly legal fees and compensation payments.
Having Professional Indemnity Insurance can provide you with vital financial protection if this happens.
Whatever your trade or business, we arrange tailored commercial insurance from a panel of leading UK insurers. Browse our full range below.
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ExploreEvery page is written and fact-checked by our UK-based insurance specialists. Chris Knott Insurance has been arranging cover since 1983.
Every professional indemnity insurance policy is different. Speak to our specialist UK-based team and we'll arrange a quote that properly reflects your property and circumstances.
