Switching broker · Contracts · 2026

You've won a contract that needs more insurance — now what?

A new client or tender often comes with an insurance clause. Meeting it is usually quick — if you read it properly before you sign.

Part of: When to switch business insurance broker

In short

You can usually close the gap: ask your broker to raise your limit from £1m to £5m mid-term, or to place a £4m excess layer above your existing policy, then send the client a certificate. Both need an insurer to agree and are subject to the policy terms. Before you sign, check whether £5m means each and every claim or aggregate, whether defence costs sit inside it, and how long cover must run after the work ends. Under the Procurement Act 2023, a public buyer cannot require the cover to be in place before award (s.22(3)(b)), but it can ask for evidence, such as an insurer’s letter confirming it would offer the cover.

What contracts typically ask for

A minimum professional indemnity limit — often £1m, £2m or £5m.
Public liability, commonly £5m or £10m for site or public-facing work.
Employers' Liability — legally required at £5m if you have staff anyway.
Cyber cover and/or Cyber Essentials, increasingly standard for data and IT work.
Being named as an interested party, and a certificate of insurance by a set date.

How to meet it without over-paying

Send the insurance clause to a broker before you sign — not after.
Get the exact limits and wordings matched to what the contract requires.
Don't over-insure "to be safe" — a broker sizes it precisely.
Have the certificate issued and sent to the client to unlock the contract.

Limits shown are commonly-required figures, not price quotes — your contract sets the number.

Sources checked 28 September 2026

Frequently asked

My contract needs 5m PI and I only have 1m - can I increase it quickly?

Usually yes. A broker can arrange a higher limit, often within a day or two, and issue the certificate the client needs.

What is Cyber Essentials and do I need it to win the contract?

It's a UK government-backed security certification that many public-sector and larger private contracts now require. A broker can point you to certification and arrange the cyber cover that sits alongside it.

Can I get a certificate of insurance the same day?

Often, once cover is arranged. Tell the broker the deadline up front so it's prioritised.

Do I have to keep the higher limit after the contract ends?

Not necessarily, but claims can arise after a job finishes, especially on professional work, so a broker will advise whether to keep the limit or adjust it.

Contract with an insurance clause? Send it over.

Forward the insurance wording and your deadline — a named Apex broker will arrange exactly what's needed and get the certificate issued.

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Apex Insurance Brokers is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 724952). This page is general information, not advice.