Making Sense of Insurance

There are 2 types of insurance which are relevant to personal trainers. The first is required of all personal trainers and the second is required if you employ any other trainers (or any self-employed trainers who are working on your behalf):

1. Civil Liability Insurance covers (your) legal liability for death, injury or illness to others and loss of, or damage to, third party property.
2. Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance covers you against claims from employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work.

If you are in full-time employment your employer must confirm that you are fully insured under their policy. No further individual public liability insurance cover is required.

If you are self-employed or undertake any work where you are not under direct contract with an employer you must take out you own insurance.

Insurance must be maintained constantly while you are practicing. If you subsequently leave the industry and allow your qualifications to lapse, you must check with your insurer that you are still covered if any claim is made against you at the time that your qualifications lapsed.

The main point to remember with insurance is that even if you buy it and you are issued with it, you MUST work only within the scope of the qualifications you that you have. Usually the policy will cover a registered fitness professional to instruct in any area (in the context of exercise and fitness) in which they hold an approved qualification. The policy will not cover the following:

• Sports Coaching

• Dance

• Physiotherapy

• Tai Chi

• Martial Arts

• Boxing

Call HFI now for more information and advice about making sure you are adequately insured.

Information about fitness instructors and personal trainers’ insurance

Fitness instructors and personal trainers must hold their own ‘Public Liability’ and ‘Standard Professional (teacher) Indemnity’ insurance. These are included in the 2 main providers of this type of insurance.

Where can I get an insurance policy?

There are 2 main sellers of this kind of insurance (Fit Pro and REPs). They are the biggest so are therefore the cheapest. This does not mean that they are the best policies but bespoke insurance will cost about 4 times the price. All you are required to do is to become a member of the organisation you want to take out the insurance with.

 

Fit Pro Public Liability and Professional (Teacher) Indemnity Insurance

- exclusively available to FitPro members.

Standard policy - £2m cover costs £94.00 (includes Fit Pro mandatory membership)

Optional higher indemnity policy - £5m cover or £10 million are also available

Additional insurance for personal accident, property and crèche is also available for additional premiums

Fit Pro insurance features:

• World-wide cover, no limitations

• You continue to be insured for claims arising at a time when you were qualified if claims come in after your qualification has expired (i.e. you are not required to maintain your qualification to maintain the cover you had when you were qualified)

• No excess

• You are covered to work within the qualifications you have

REPs Public Liability and Professional (Teacher) Indemnity Insurance

 

Standard policy - £5m cover costs £80.00 (includes REPs mandatory membership)

Optional higher indemnity policy - £10m cover is £90.00 (includes REPs mandatory membership)

Sports conditioning liability insurance insurance (for level 3 and 4 instructors only)

Standard policy - £5m cover costs £120.00 (includes REPs mandatory membership)

Optional higher indemnity policy - £10m £135.00 (includes REPs mandatory membership)

 

REPs insurance features:

• REPs membership requires a minimum of £5m of public liability limit so their insurance covers £5m as a minimum

• cover includes liability arising from advice provided and products liability

• includes cover for Personal Accidents

 

Remember you must hold a valid HSE first aid qualification as a personal trainer.