Professional indemnity insurance is compulsory for some professional trades and services. These tend to be the more traditional professions such as independent financial advisers, solicitors, insurance brokers, accountant and architects.
However, the increased use of external consultants and outsourcing other services means that more businesses should consider their risks.
Professional indemnity insurance is compulsory for some professional trades and services. These tend to be the more traditional professions such as independent financial advisers, solicitors, insurance brokers, accountant and architects.
However, the increased use of external consultants and outsourcing other services means that more businesses should consider their risks.
A ‘Professional’ is now regarded as any person who offers specialist advice or services. As a professional, you owe a legal ‘duty of care’ to your clients. If you breach that duty of care by making a mistake in the services you provide, your client can claim compensation from you for losses and expenses caused by your negligence.
Today’s commercial environment is becoming increasingly litigious with clients seeking compensation far more frequently than in the past. Even if the allegation made against you is false, the legal costs involved in defending the claim can be very high.
Without a valid Professional Indemnity insurance policy, you will be left to defend the allegations and will have to instruct a lawyer and pay for the subsequent legal costs involved. In the majority of cases the claim will settle before going to court, but even in very minor disputes the legal costs can build up very rapidly.
Full Civil Liability cover or just Errors and Omissions Cover?
A ‘civil liability‘ wording is the widest available form of cover and wider than the usual ‘negligence’ or ‘errors and omissions‘ wordings. This wording will cover situations where you may be held liable for a loss, without having being found to be negligent.
Some basic PI policies are what we call “Negligence Only”, in other words, the insurance company will indemnify you against claims for Professional Negligence Only.
A Negligence only policy is what is known legally as a strict liability policy and will indemnify you against losses laid out in the policy wording, but in the main, the claimant will need to prove the following three points:
In contrast a full civil liability provides cover for all claims made against you which are not explicitly excluded.
Also, a full civil liability policy will often extend the cover to include:
Limit of Indemnity Chosen.
This will depend on your profession, your contractual position and your own assessment of the risk that you perceive to your business. Limits available tend to range from £ 100,000 up to £ 50,000,000 or even greater. It’s important to think about potential claims and to take in to account how quickly solicitor’s fees can mount up when a solicitor is appointed to protect your position and defend you.
Retroactive Cover
It is important to understand that professional indemnity policies are written on what is called a ‘claims made’ basis. This means that they provide cover for claims made against you during the policy period (i.e. after the inception or renewal date) that relate to work that you have done at any time after the retroactive date. You must therefore ensure that the retroactive date mirrors the date from your current policy or else you will not have cover for your past work.
Any one Claim or Aggregate Cover?
In real terms if you look at your indemnity limit as a Pot of Money for any particular period of insurance then the following illustrates the difference between the cover offered:
Any One Claim- Limit of Indemnity £ 5,000,000
If you had a claim during the policy period of say £ 2,000,000 and then had another claim of
£ 3,500,000 then both claims one be dealt with in full as the cover is £ 5,000,000 Indemnity for each claim.
Any One Claim and In total basis (Aggregate) Limit of Indemnity £ 5,000,000
If you had a claim during the policy period of say £ 2,000,000 and then had another claim £ 3,500,000 then the first claim would be paid in full but the second claim would only be partially dealt with as there is not enough money left in the pot following the first claim ( There is only £ 3,000,000 left as the cover is in the aggregate during the policy period).
To discuss any aspect of your insurance requirements with us, please contact us and one of our dedicated Account Executives will be in touch to assist you further.
R.K. Henshall © 2026
R K Henshall is a trading name of Advisory Insurance Brokers Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our Firm Reference number (FRN) is 313250. Registered office: 2 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London, EC3R 7PD. Registered in England & Wales No.4043759.
R K Henshall are very proud to support Lupus UK. Lupus UK is a charity very close to our hearts. Unfortunately, Nita Davies who had been a stalwart of our company from it’s very beginning lost her battle against this terrible illness in 2013. Lupus UK is the only National Charity which supports people with the immune system illness. (Registered charity nos. 1051610, SC039682) Click here to read more about Lupus UK.
Tel: 01270 758070
Email: john@rkhenshall.com
John has 20 years of insurance broking experience. John has been awarded the Advanced Diploma in Insurance by the Chartered Institute and has achieved his Certificate in Financial Services.
John is particularly experienced in the arrangement of covers for construction customers and advises across all classes including speciality lines for clients.
John is a keen sportsman having played rugby at local level for both Penrith and Sandbach. He was captain of Sandbach squash club for many years and continues to play in the North West league.
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Tel: 01270 758097
Email: Allen@rkhenshall.com
Allen has over 15 years experience in commercial insurance having worked for a mixture of large and smaller insurers before moving in to an Insurance broking role. He is responsible for the RK Henshall online trading through the Hensure Brand and also has overall responsibility for a number of delegated Authority binders that operate within the Underwriting Agency. In his spare time he likes to play golf and is also the drummer in a covers band.
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Tel: 01270 758088
Email: angela@rkhenshall.com
Angela started her career in banking and investments. She transferred to the construction industry in 1994 where she qualified as an accountant and took on the role of Financial Controller. Angela joined RK Henshall in 2013 and is responsible for the financial management, HR and compliance functions of the business.
She is also an RAF Reservist and devotes much of her spare time to keeping fit.
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Direct Dial: 01270 296375
Email: joanne@rkhenshall.com
Jo has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, covering all aspects of commercial and property insurance, with a particular interest in the motor trade sector. She works closely with businesses to identify potential coverage gaps and ensure they have the right protection in place.
Jo is committed to building long-term relationships with her clients by focusing on tailored insurance solutions, keeping premiums competitive, and providing peace of mind – rather than taking an overly sales-focused approach.
Outside of R K Henshall, Jo enjoys spending time with her horse, and regularly competes in equestrian events. She is also a keen gym-goer and loves spending time with her family and walking her dog.
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Tel: 01270 758099
Email: phil@rkhenshall.com
Phil has nearly 30 years of broking experience, specialising in the Construction and Motor Trade Industry.
As Client Director, Phil works within the corporate business department managing a book of existing customers, introducing new clients and working with the relevant Account Executives, Senior Leadership teams and the Claims department to develop and retain existing high profile clients.
Outside of RK Henshall, Phil enjoys spending time with his son and is a keen cricketer. His true passion is Motorsport and Track days and follows the British Touring Cars all over the country.
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Tel: 01270 236160
Email: marky@rkhenshall.com
Mark has over 10 years’ experience in the insurance industry, working as both a Commercial Insurance Broker and Insurer Business Development Manager across several industry sectors, including Motor Fleet, Property, Liability and Claims Management.
Mark is passionate about building a strong working relationship with his clients, as he feels this is key to building trust on which he can give appropriate advice to his customers’ needs.
In his spare time, Mark is a keen golfer (typically during the warmer months of the year!) and likes to go to music gigs when he can.
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Tel: 01270 758061
Email: Lea@rkhenshall.com
Lea has over 25 years experience of placing and underwriting both commercial & personal lines insurance business, across a broad range of products. Areas of expertise include Manufacturing, Construction, Retail, Distribution and Warehousing, Liability and Professional Indemnity, Motor Trade and Motor Fleet Insurance. Having worked for both brokers and an Insurer, Lea has excellent industry & product knowledge.
Outside of R.K Henshall, Lea is a keen cricketer, loves spending time with his family and also holds a private pilot’s licence.
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Tel: 01270 296463
Email: melb@rkhenshall.com
Mel is our Broking Services Manager, joining the team in 2025. She is originally from Yorkshire and has 35 years of experience as an insurance broker.
For more than 10 years, Mel serviced over 150 fleet clients, before making the move into Commercial Insurance.
Outside of the office, Mel is a keen runner and likes spending time with her family.
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Tel: 01270 758062
Email: colin@rkhenshall.com
Colin has over 18 years insurance experience in both Commercial Broking and claims over a wide range of niches.
Colin is Cert CII and Cert CILA qualified which are industry recognised qualifications within the insurance claims and loss adjusting sectors enabling RK Henshall to competently manage and advise on all claims including property damage, liability and motor.
Outside of his working life, Colin enjoys playing Sunday League Football, Coaching for Hanley Town FC, playing golf and going to music gigs.
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Tel: 01270 758070 (Option 1)
Email: melanie@rkhenshall.com
Melanie started work at RK Henshall in 1992 as a trainee straight from school and has progressed to Personal lines team manager. She is responsible for the growth and development of all our “Insurance for You” products and her team of experienced advisors.
Outside of RK Henshall Melanie loves spending quality time with her children and keeping fit.
Melanie has recently completed her second London Marathon raising money for our company charity Lupus UK, a charity dear to our hearts here at RK Henshall.
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R K Henshall are delighted to once again support Kidsgrove Cricket club in their forthcoming season www.kidgsgrove.play-cricket.com
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R K Henshall are proud to once again support Milton United Football Club in their forthcoming season.
www.miltonunitedfc.co.uk
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Supporting Community Business do great work in the community, and have done since they were established in 1998. In 2019, RK Henshall nominated SCB for the Aviva Community Fund and we managed to obtain funding from Aviva to the value of £5,000, allowing SCB to replace their heating system. We have continued to build a great relationship with the charity in recent years.
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Community clubs like Elworth Cricket Club offer a safe, friendly environment to get involved in recreational sport at any age and socialise with friends. We are delighted to once again support Elworth CC in their forthcoming season.
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RK Henshall have been sponsors of Sandbach United since 2015, watching them develop into the fantastic family orientated club it is today. They were named FA National Grassroots Club of the Year winners in 2020.
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Several of the RK Henshall team have played for Sandbach Rugby Club over the years, including our Managing Director, John Henshall and current first team player Josh. We have been proud sponsors of the club for a number of years, building a fantastic relationship with the club, their members and the players, and we continue to sponsor and attend an annual match.
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