10 Things to Consider when Presenting Your Business for the Best PII Terms

When it comes to securing the best possible terms for your Professional Indemnity (PI), the way you present your business to insurers can significantly impact the outcome.

At a recent CABE webinar, Tim Grant, Director of UKGlobal (now part of Howden) shared his knowledge on the key things underwriters look for and how you can position your business to get the terms that individually meet the needs of your business.

Here are the top ten things to consider when preparing your insurance presentation:

1. Provide a clear company overview

Start with the basics, who you are, what you do, and how long you’ve been in operation. Include information on your company’s structure, its locations and key markets. A well-articulated summary helps insurers immediately grasp your business’ profile.

2. Showcase experience of directors and key staff

Insurers want to know who’s steering the ship so detail the backgrounds of directors and senior managers, highlighting their industry experience, qualifications and areas of expertise. Don’t shy away from selling your leadership team.

3. Specify the nature of your work

Clarify the types of services you offer and the sectors you operate in. Mention whether you use subcontractors or third parties, and how you manage those relationships. Risk exposure varies by activity so make sure you are specific.

4. Define project scope and responsibility

For each project type, explain your business’ level of involvement and its responsibilities. Are you leading design, managing project builds or providing oversight matters?

Be clear and transparent about what you are, and aren’t, accountable for.

5. Highlight your risk management approach

Demonstrate your stance on risk. What systems, accreditations or internal protocols do you follow? For instance, if you hold ISO certifications, undertake quality audits, or follow incident review processes mention them in the presentation. The more you explain what your business does to mitigate risks, the better.

6. Explain any claims history

If you have had past claims, be honest – insurers value transparency. Detail what happened, how it was resolved, and most importantly, what steps were taken to prevent recurrence. This shows maturity and responsibility.

7. Clarify your insurance objectives

Clearly state what coverage you're looking for. Do you need retroactive cover for past projects? Or a higher limit due to size of the project or contract?

Show you understand your own risk profile and coverage needs at the outset.

8. Assess the quotations carefully

Not all insurance quotes are equal, check:

• who the insurer and broker are, do they specialise in PI?
• basis of cover – civil liability v’s errors and omissions
• claims basis – one claim v’s aggregate claims
• whether defence costs are included
• policy exclusions and excess terms; and
• retroactive coverage and sufficiency of limit

Don’t assume a cheaper quote offers the same protection.

9. Avoid common pitfalls

Rushing submissions, omitting key details, or approaching too many brokers can raise red flags. Always complete proposal forms meticulously and align your insurance with contractual commitments – especially with any older agreements.

10. Consider Directors & Officers Insurance

Don’t overlook the importance of D&O cover. With increasing regulatory pressure, directors can face personal liability for compliance failures and legal defence costs can be steep.

Final thoughts

In today’s regulatory and contractual environment, insurers are looking for businesses that understand and actively manage risk. A strong, transparent, and well-documented presentation not only improves your chances of better terms, but it can be the difference between adequate protection and costly exposure.

Take the time to prepare your presentation and this investment will pay off.

Contact Howden's expert team for a quotation or more information on how their can help with your insurance needs: www.howdengroup.com/uk-en/insurance/professional-indemnity/construction-and-property

View the full webinar:

About UKGlobal (now part of Howden)

UKGlobal Bristol is a division of UKGlobal Broking Group Limited. UKGlobal, UKGlobal Group and UKGlobal Insurance Brokers are trading names of UKGlobal Broking Group Limited. UKGlobal Broking Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 840855.

UKGlobal Broking Group Limited (‘UKGlobal’) is part of global insurance broker Howden. UKGlobal looks after a broad spectrum of commercial clients in the UK from traditional industries to the modern technology sector.

UKGlobal is a national business, supporting clients from 10 regional offices. In addition, its Healthcare and Group Risk Divisions offer private medical and group risk insurance solutions respectively to businesses to protect their employees.

The UKGlobal Bristol office specialises in the Professional sector offering Professional Indemnity, Directors and Officers and Cyber Insurance. In addition, it can also help with the associated commercial insurances. The Bristol office is headed up by Tim Grant and Thomas Vigliucci, who lead the broking process. These individuals have years of extensive experience in this field. Claims are handled in-house and are not subcontracted to third parties. In addition, UKGlobal practices an open market approach and is not tied to a single insurer. UKGlobal prides itself on offering clear and transparent advice to enable clients to make informed decisions.