PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026 16 Business Matters


Guide to getting insurance right


Charlie Knott off ers a clear guide to the insurance cover that plumbing and heating fi rms should consider to protect their business.


R


unning a plumbing or heating business comes with plenty of responsibilities. Whether you’re


repairing a leaking pipe, installing a new boiler or fi tting a renewable heating system, every job comes with risk. Unexpected accidents, damaged property, stolen tools or legal claims can quickly become expensive without the right protection in place. Business insurance helps protect


your livelihood by reducing the fi nancial impact of unforeseen events. While some types of cover are a legal requirement, others are optional but can provide valuable peace of mind as your business grows. This guide explains the key types


of insurance you should consider and why each could be important for your business.


Public liability This is one of the most common types of business insurance for plumbers and heating engineers. If your work accidentally causes


injury to a member of the public or damages someone else’s property, this cover can help pay legal costs and compensation. For example, a poorly fi tted pipe could leak and damage fl ooring, ceilings or electrical systems, or a customer could trip over your tools.


Charlie Knott Sales director at Insurance Revolution


Although public liability insurance is not a legal requirement, many commercial clients and contractors require it before work begins. It can also reassure customers that your business takes risk management seriously.


Employers’ liability If you employ staff , including apprentices, temporary workers or some labour-only subcontractors, employers’ liability insurance is usually a legal requirement. This policy helps protect your business if an employee becomes


injured or develops an illness because of the work they carry out. It can cover compensation claims as well as legal defence costs. Most businesses must have at


least £5 million of employers’ liability insurance from an authorised insurer. Failing to arrange the required cover could lead to signifi cant fi nancial penalties, so it’s important to understand your legal responsibilities as your business expands.


Van insurance The work van is more than just transport. It carries essential tools, replacement parts and equipment needed to complete jobs throughout the day. Business van insurance helps protect your vehicle while it is being used for work. Depending on the policy, it can cover accidents, theft, fi re, vandalism and damage caused to other road users. If more than one person drives


your work vehicle, make sure everyone who needs to use the van is correctly insured. It’s also worth reviewing your cover if you replace your vehicle or increase its value.


Tools insurance Professional tools are often one of the biggest investments a tradesperson makes. Replacing specialist plumbing equipment, testing devices or power tools can cost thousands of pounds. Tool theft remains a signifi cant


issue for tradespeople, with a theft reported every 12 minutes across the UK and average losses exceeding £3,000 per incident. Stolen equipment can delay jobs and result in lost income while replacements are sourced. Tools insurance can help cover


the cost of repairing or replacing insured equipment following theft or accidental damage, depending


on your policy. Keep an up-to- date inventory with photographs, serial numbers and receipts where possible.


Removing tools from your van overnight and fi tting additional security can also help reduce the risk of theft.


Professional indemnity Not every plumbing or heating business needs professional indemnity insurance, but it can be valuable if you provide technical advice, specifi cations or system designs. If a client claims your recommendations resulted in fi nancial loss or that an error in your design caused additional costs, this cover may help pay legal expenses and compensation. It is particularly relevant


for businesses working on commercial installations or specialist heating systems where advice forms part of the service.


Personal accident For self-employed plumbers and heating engineers, an injury can have an immediate impact on income.


Personal accident insurance can provide fi nancial support if


you’re unable to work following a covered accident. Depending on the policy, it may provide a lump sum or regular payments while you recover.


Although not compulsory, it can provide valuable fi nancial security if your income depends on carrying out physical work.


Choosing cover No two businesses are the same, so your insurance should refl ect the work you carry out. When reviewing your cover, consider:


• Whether you employ staff or subcontractors


• The size of your business


• The value of your tools and equipment


• The value of the materials you transport • Whether you work in domestic


or commercial properties • Whether you provide advice


or system design as part of your service If you’re unsure which policies


are right for your business, Insurance Revolution is an independent insurance broker that can help arrange cover suited to the way you work, including public liability and employers’ liability. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/30


What makes Google ads eff ective?


Andrew Heppinstall, founder of Leeds-based Unavoidable Marketing, sheds light on what an agency is doing on your behalf when you buy Google ad space.


G


oogle advertising works, but it is also a fast way to waste fi ve-fi gure sums. With 12 years’ experience


running paid campaigns for UK trade businesses, I can tell you the diff erence almost always comes down to seven key decisions:


1. Know which Google product you are buying Google runs two diff erent advertising products for trades: Google Local Services Ads (LSA)


sit at the top of the results page with the green tick and star rating. You pay per verifi ed lead, not per click. Google vets you through Companies House, insurance and, in some categories, DBS checks. Cost per booked job typically lands between £65 and £280.


Andrew Heppinstall Founder of Unavoidable Marketing


Google Search Adsare the text


ads underneath. You pay per click, with cost per booked job typically between £140 and £320. Most fi rms should run LSA


fi rst, then add Search Ads to cover keywords LSA doesn’t reach.


2. Fix your landing page before you spend The most common reason a Google Ads campaign fails is the landing page. If your website is more than four years old, takes over three seconds to load on a phone, or lacks a phone number and form on the fi rst screen, do not spend on ads yet. A dedicated landing page with


one clear off er, one phone number, one form and social proof from real customers can improve conversion rates.


3. Measure cost per booked job The only metric that matters is cost per booked job. You need call tracking, form attribution and someone tagging jobs in your CRM as they close. If your provider cannot show you this in the monthly report, ask why.


4. Set the kill switch before you go live


Before any campaign goes live, agree an ‘if this happens, we stop’ trigger in writing. For example, if the cost per booked job goes above £220 for two weeks, pause and rebuild.


5. Do not underspend For most plumbing and heating businesses, £1,500 to £3,000 per month in Google Search ad spend is the sensible fl oor for meaningful data within thirty days. Below £1,000, you will not get enough clicks to make optimisation decisions. If your budget is tighter, start


with LSA and build the case for Search Ads later.


6. Beware the percentage-of-ad- spend model Most UK agencies quote 10 to 20% of monthly ad spend. That model rewards an agency for spending more of your money regardless of return. A fl at monthly management fee, agreed up front and independent of spend, aligns the agency with your booked jobs, not your credit card statement.


7. Plan for verifi cation lead time LSA verifi cation takes two to four weeks. Companies House, insurance and background checks all need to clear before ads go live. Start the paperwork the day you decide, not after the site visit is booked.


The honest verdict Google advertising is one of the best channels available for plumbing and heating businesses, but only when the fundamentals are right. Get those right before you go live and then the numbers usually take care of themselves. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/31


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