The short answer A scaffolding business with employees will normally need Employers' Liability insurance as a legal requirement.

A professional scaffolder would also ordinarily be expected to carry appropriate Public Liability insurance, even though Public Liability insurance is not a blanket statutory requirement for every UK business.

Depending on what the company does, additional cover can include Professional Indemnity, owned and hired-in plant, contract works, commercial motor, tools, cyber, personal accident and other specialist construction insurance.

The important question is not simply “are you insured?” but whether the policy actually covers the work being undertaken and provides an adequate indemnity limit.

A certificate saying “Public Liability — £5 million” is useful, but it is not the whole story.

Insurance is built around the activities the insurer has agreed to cover. A small contractor carrying out straightforward domestic access scaffolds presents a different insurance profile from a business designing complex temporary works at power stations, rail infrastructure or high-rise commercial developments.

The main types of insurance a scaffolding company should consider

Employers' Liability: the insurance that can be compulsory

GOV.UK states that when a business becomes an employer it must, subject to limited exemptions, obtain Employers' Liability insurance from an authorised insurer.

The policy must provide cover of at least £5 million.

Employers' Liability insurance helps meet compensation costs where employees become injured or ill because of their work.

This is particularly significant in scaffolding because operatives regularly work at height, manually handle equipment, load and unload vehicles and operate in active construction environments.

What if all the scaffolders are “self-employed”?

Businesses need to be careful here.

Describing somebody as self-employed does not automatically determine their status for Employers' Liability purposes.

HSE guidance highlights factors such as:

• who controls where and when the person works;
• who controls how the work is done;
• who provides materials and equipment;
• whether the worker can provide a substitute;
• whether tax and National Insurance are deducted; and
• whether the person is effectively working under the same conditions as employees.

A scaffold business using labour-only subcontractors should therefore discuss the actual working arrangements with its insurance broker rather than assuming the word “subcontractor” removes the need for appropriate Employers' Liability cover.

Is Public Liability Insurance legally required for scaffolders?

There is not a general law making Public Liability insurance compulsory for every UK business in the way Employers' Liability can be.

In practical scaffolding terms, however, that distinction can become almost academic.

A scaffolding business can find that Public Liability insurance is required by:

• main contractors;
• commercial clients;
• framework agreements;
• local authorities;
• highway scaffold licence conditions;
• accreditation schemes;
• trade body membership requirements; and
• individual contracts.

More importantly, scaffolding work creates obvious third-party exposures.

A scaffold is erected around homes, shops, offices, roads, pavements, vehicles and members of the public. Damage or injury claims can therefore be substantial.

Should a scaffolder have £5 million or £10 million Public Liability?

There is no single limit suitable for every scaffold contractor.

The required level can depend on the client, project and location.

That illustrates why a scaffolder with £5 million cover should not assume they automatically satisfy every client or council requirement.

A contractor regularly working for major principal contractors or on public highways may find £10 million limits commonly requested.

What insurance does NASC expect from scaffold contractors?

NASC contractor membership operates to its membership charter and audited standards.

The charter specifies:

• £10 million Employers' Liability; and
• £5 million Public Liability.

Notice the difference from the general statutory minimum for Employers' Liability.

UK law generally requires qualifying employers to carry at least £5 million Employers' Liability, whereas the NASC membership standard specifies a higher £10 million level.

Why Professional Indemnity is becoming increasingly important in scaffolding

Historically, some scaffold contractors might have viewed themselves primarily as an erection and dismantling business.

Modern scaffolding can involve considerably more technical input.

Contractors may now become involved in:

• TG20 and TG30 compliance decisions;
• scaffold design briefs;
• temporary works coordination;
• tie patterns;
• loading information;
• sequencing advice;
• scaffold alterations;
• site-specific technical advice; and
• bespoke scaffold design through internal or external designers.

NASC highlighted this issue in 2026, noting that more clients and contracts are asking scaffolding businesses for Professional Indemnity insurance.

The important distinction is that Public Liability and Professional Indemnity are designed to address different forms of risk.

What does scaffolding insurance actually protect against?

It is easier to understand when you think about real situations rather than policy names.

A

Damage to a customer's property

Third-party property exposure

During scaffold erection, equipment allegedly damages a customer's conservatory roof.

A Public Liability policy may potentially respond to an insured liability claim, subject to negligence, policy wording, excesses and exclusions.

B

An employee is injured

Employer exposure

A scaffolder suffers a serious injury while working for the company and alleges the employer was legally liable.

This is the type of exposure Employers' Liability insurance is designed to address.

C

A technical error causes financial loss

Professional exposure

A client alleges incorrect scaffold design or technical advice causes delays and substantial financial loss without necessarily causing physical injury or damage.

This demonstrates why Professional Indemnity can be important where the scaffolding business undertakes professional or design services.

D

Hired plant is damaged

Plant exposure

A hired forklift or other item of plant is damaged while the scaffolding company is responsible for it.

Hired-in plant cover may be relevant depending on the terms of the hire agreement and the insurance purchased.

What should you look for on a scaffolder's insurance documents?

Customers often ask:

“Are you fully insured?”

It is a reasonable question, but a better one is:

“Can I see your current Public Liability insurance details?”

Why an insurance certificate alone does not prove everything

Insurance policies contain conditions, exclusions, endorsements and definitions.

The cover might depend on matters such as:

• maximum working height;
• types of premises worked at;
• rail, aviation, marine or hazardous locations;
• work involving asbestos;
• temporary works design;
• subcontractor arrangements;
• annual turnover;
• employee numbers;
• types of scaffold undertaken;
• contract conditions; and
• other declared business activities.

Exact restrictions differ between insurers.

Why scaffolding businesses often use a specialist insurance broker

Scaffolding is not a generic low-risk trade.

NASC's own insurance guidance recommends approaching insurance as seriously as a major contract and working with brokers who understand the scaffolding sector.

Different insurers can have different appetites for:

• domestic scaffolding;
• high-rise work;
• industrial scaffolding;
• rail infrastructure;
• energy sites;
• temporary roofs;
• design exposure;
• large principal-contractor work; and
• other specialist access projects.

Presenting good evidence of the company's health and safety management, workforce competence, site processes and risk controls can also be important when insurers assess the business.

What information might an insurer want from a scaffolding business?

The precise questions differ between providers, but a scaffolding contractor should expect underwriting to look beyond annual turnover.

Information can include:

What insurance should a homeowner check before hiring a scaffolder?

For a normal domestic scaffolding job, the most useful starting point is to ask for evidence of the scaffolder's Public Liability insurance.

If the scaffolding business has employees, Employers' Liability insurance would normally also be expected.

For complex work involving bespoke design, you can additionally ask who holds design responsibility and whether appropriate Professional Indemnity insurance is in place.

Check:

• the business name;
• insurance expiry date;
• Public Liability limit;
• that the business is actually insured for scaffolding work;
• whether the limit meets any council or client requirement;
• Employers' Liability where appropriate; and
• Professional Indemnity where significant professional/design responsibility exists.

Insurance should form part of the overall contractor check alongside competence, experience, scaffold specification, reviews, quotation scope and applicable industry accreditations.

Why council scaffold licences make insurance particularly important

When scaffolding occupies or projects over the public highway, the local highway authority normally requires a scaffold licence or permit.

Many authorities require evidence of Public Liability insurance during that application.

The required amount is not uniform across the UK.

As current examples:

• Bristol requires £5 million Public Liability cover for its scaffolding and hoarding licence process.
• Manchester currently requires at least £10 million Public Liability cover for a scaffolding permit.

This is another reason scaffolding businesses covering several local authorities should track licence requirements job by job rather than assuming one insurance limit automatically satisfies every council.

Should insurance be mentioned in a scaffolding quote?

It does not need to dominate the quotation, but providing clear contractor information creates confidence.

A commercial quotation or prequalification submission may include:

Public Liability: £10,000,000
Employers' Liability: £10,000,000
Professional Indemnity: £2,000,000 where applicable
Certificates available on request.

Never publish or state insurance levels that cannot be evidenced by the current policy.

Insurance should form part of choosing a local scaffolder

Price matters, but a scaffolding quotation is not simply a comparison of who can put tubes around the building for the least money.

Customers should also consider:

• insurance;
• competence;
• relevant experience;
• the actual scaffold specification;
• hire duration;
• inspection arrangements;
• licences;
• design requirements; and
• exactly what is included in the price.

Browse scaffolders covering your area through Scaffolder Near Me and review business information before requesting a quotation.

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Scaffolding insurance FAQs

What insurance should a scaffolding company have?

A scaffolding company with employees will normally need Employers' Liability insurance. Appropriate Public Liability insurance is also widely expected, while Professional Indemnity, plant, contract works, vehicle and other covers may be required depending on the business and work undertaken.

Is Public Liability insurance compulsory for scaffolders?

Public Liability insurance is not a blanket statutory requirement for every UK business. However, scaffold clients, main contractors, local authorities, trade bodies and contracts frequently require it, making suitable Public Liability cover an important part of operating a professional scaffolding business.

Is Employers' Liability insurance compulsory for scaffolders?

Most businesses employing people are legally required to hold Employers' Liability insurance from an authorised insurer with cover of at least £5 million, subject to limited exemptions.

How much Public Liability insurance should a scaffolder have?

The appropriate limit depends on the work and contractual requirements. £5 million and £10 million limits are common in the scaffolding sector. NASC's Contractor membership standard specifies £5 million Public Liability, while some highway authorities and major clients require £10 million.

Do scaffolders need Professional Indemnity insurance?

Professional Indemnity becomes particularly relevant where a scaffolding business undertakes design, provides technical advice, carries professional responsibility or becomes involved in temporary works decisions. Client contracts may also specifically require PI cover.

What does Public Liability insurance cover for a scaffolder?

Public Liability generally addresses an insured business's legal liability for specified third-party injury or property damage. The exact protection depends on the particular policy wording, conditions, limits, excesses and exclusions.

Should I ask a scaffolder for proof of insurance?

Yes. It is reasonable to ask for current evidence of Public Liability insurance before appointing a scaffolding contractor. Check the insured business name, policy period and indemnity limit rather than relying solely on a statement that the contractor is “fully insured”.

Does a scaffolder need £10 million Public Liability?

Not every scaffolder requires the same limit, but £10 million may be required by particular clients, principal contractors, frameworks or local authority permit conditions. Contractors should check the requirements of each job.

Does insurance mean a scaffold is safe?

No. Insurance protects against specified financial risks and liabilities; it does not replace competent scaffold design, erection, handover, inspection, maintenance or compliance with health and safety requirements.

Does a scaffold licence require insurance?

Highway authorities commonly require evidence of Public Liability insurance when issuing scaffolding licences. The required indemnity limit varies between authorities, so the relevant council's current conditions should be checked before submitting an application.