What is professional indemnity insurance and do you need it?

Table of contents

Professional Indemnity Insurance is for those who give professional advice to others in the course of their job. For example, personal trainers and sports coaches give advice to clients on a regular basis when training them. Therefore, it is essential to have professional indemnity insurance in place in case any of your clients make a claim against you or your business.

If one of your clients feels that advice you have given has caused them injury or harm then they may decide to take legal action against you. This may happen even if a mistake has not been made but you will need to cover the legal costs of defending yourself in court.

You may have years of experience and expertise in your career but there is always the chance of a mistake occurring and action being taken by a client to rectify any damage caused. However, as a professional giving advice, which is essential to any personal training or sports coaching business, you do not want to fear a claim every time you offer guidance. Therefore, having professional indemnity insurance gives you peace of mind that if a client does claim to be unhappy, your insurance will be there to cover any legal costs and put it right.

Make sure when taking out professional indemnity insurance you get the right amount of cover for you and your business. Do your research – get to know your industry and the types of claims and cover you may need. You do not want to pay for PI insurance and then discover when somebody makes a claim against you that it is not going to cover all the costs.

At Protectivity Insurance, professional indemnity up to £1,000,000 comes as standard on our personal trainer insurance, sports coaching insurance and martial arts instructor insurance giving or customers peace of mind when doing what they do best.

 

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

Recent Blogs

Understanding business risks before they become costly problems Image

Business

Understanding business risks before they become costly problems

Today's economic landscape presents new challenges for businesses. Rising employment costs, increasing overheads

• 10 mins read

Food safety during heatwaves: Practical tips to prevent stock loss Image

Caterer

Food safety during heatwaves: Practical tips to prevent stock loss

Food safety during heatwaves hit the headlines in June 2026, when supermarkets across the UK were forced to dispo

• 12 mins read

Can self-employed people get sick pay? Financial support, benefits and protection explained in 2026 Image

Business

Can self-employed people get sick pay? Financial support, benefits and protection explained in 2026

If you're employed and wake up too ill to work, you may still receive some income through Statutory Sick Pay or a

• 11 mins read

Tool Theft in 2026: Why every tradesperson should be recording tool serial numbers Image

Trades

Tool Theft in 2026: Why every tradesperson should be recording tool serial numbers

For self-employed tradespeople, tools are not just kit. They are what keep jobs moving, customers happy and money

• 8 mins read

How to start a mobile sandwich business in the UK Image

Business

How to start a mobile sandwich business in the UK

Based on UK small business and catering industry requirements For many aspiring business owners, it’s not ju

• 11 mins read

Rules for Apprenticeships in Small Businesses Image

Laws, rules and regulations

Rules for Apprenticeships in Small Businesses

Taking on an apprentice can be a great way for small businesses to grow their team while developing new talent.

• 5 mins read

Bona Fide Subcontractors Explained Image

Business

Bona Fide Subcontractors Explained

Subcontractors are common in self-employed circles, but if you work in construction or trades in the UK, youâ€

• 8 mins read

How much money do you need to start a business Image

Starting a business

How much money do you need to start a business

One of the first questions many people ask when considering self-employment is a simple one: how much money do yo

• 7 mins read

What records must sole traders keep for HMRC? Image

Business

What records must sole traders keep for HMRC?

One of the biggest areas that can cause stress for sole traders is record keeping. It’s easy to put it off, esp

• 8 mins read

Ways to raise money for your business Image

Business

Ways to raise money for your business

Starting a business is one thing - finding the money to actually get it off the ground is another. Whether you

• 8 mins read

Simply find the insurance you need.