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In the event you have an accident that causes a long term or permanent disability or death, that prevents you continuing your business.
Protection in case of a hack, misuse or breach of data, virus transmission, IP infringement and defamation.
Ideal for mobile workers, or when you have mobile equipment in transit or temporary storage.
Usually a legal requirement if you have employees, apprentices, or work experience students.
For your salon, office or home, this covers computers, furniture, equipment, goods and more..
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Knowledge, experience and qualifications are all vital, but understand why we don't ask you to send proof when insuring you.
Working in this field can be incredibly rewarding, as you bring joy and confidence to clients. However, the expanding array of treatments and services also means that the associated risks are higher than ever.
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The animal work sector encompasses a broad spectrum of services, from veterinary care and pet grooming to animal-assisted therapy. Your dedication to the well-being of animals and their human companions is invaluable. Westminster provides comprehensive insurance solutions tailored to the unique risks of working with animals. Our policies cover veterinarians, animal therapists, and pet care professionals, offering the peace of mind you need to focus on compassionate care. Easily updated to accommodate new services and growth, our coverage ensures you remain protected in this rewarding field.
See the list of practices we feel would be of most interest to you. If you can't find what you're looking for or offer a more diverse range of services check out our full list.
IMPORTANT TIP: You may find that the business practice name differs a little from what you may call it, but provided that the description matches what you do, this will provide the cover you require.
Training and provision of animals for performance roles in various media, including but not limited to film, music videos, weddings, TV, and photoshoots. This involves specialized instruction to prepare animals for acting tasks and ensure their suitability for different on-screen and live event scenarios.
Conditions:
Animal Assisted Therapy encourages animal interaction (walking, petting etc) which evokes feelings of relaxation, happiness, laughter and stress release. It uses animals to help children and adults with mental health needs, physical or learning disabilities to achieve increased health, wellbeing and quality of life. Typically uses dogs but a wide range of small to medium sized animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds) can be used all of which are assessed by a trained professional for their suitability, behaviour and temperament. Can also facilitate listening therapy.
Offering a home boarding service where people can leave their dogs/cat as an alternative to kennels. Typically for dogs/cats but it can be extended to a wide range of small to medium sized animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds).
Animal care workers look after animals in different settings such as kennels, rescue centres, sanctuaries, catteries and other animal-related establishments. This would typically include checking animals daily and monitoring their health, cleaning out kennels, enclosures, cages or stables, preparing food and helping out at feeding times, cleaning and grooming animals, looking after sick or distressed animals, updating records and dealing with questions from colleagues or the public, and making sure animals are exercised regularly. Insured must comply with industry standards, requirements, ethics, policies and relevant statutes.
Provision of hygienic care, bathing and trimming services for animals, including but not limited to washing, clipping, drying, grooming, eye/ear cleaning, teeth brushing etc.
Hands on healing, communication with, channeling healing energies and the use of any other holistic therapies (insured by Westminster Insurance Ltd) used to help benefit the animal.
An Animal Health Testing Laboratory is a diagnostic facility that performs scientific analysis on animal-derived samples such as blood, faeces, tissue, urine, or swabs to detect parasites, bacteria, viruses, biomarkers, and other indicators of disease, infection, or physiological status. These laboratories may serve veterinary clinics, farms, researchers, or animal health agencies.
Animal laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate healing in animals. The laser light penetrates tissues and promotes cellular regeneration, reduces inflammation, increases circulation, and relieves pain. It is commonly used to treat conditions such as arthritis, wounds, post-surgical recovery, and soft tissue injuries in pets and other animals. This therapy is safe, painless, and often used alongside other veterinary treatments to enhance recovery and improve overall well-being.
Using knowledge of anatomy, physiology and massage techniques, this is the practice of applying structured or unstructured pressure, tension, motion, or vibration manually or with mechanical aids to the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, joints and lymphatic vessels, to achieve a beneficial response. Includes evaluation of needs, assessment of progress and consultation with other professionals, veterinarians and animal owners.
A Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) (known as Animal Medicine Advisor) is a legally recognised category of professionals who are permitted to prescribe and supply certain veterinary medicines, under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR).
Microchipping is the process of injecting a tiny chip between the shoulder blades.
Animal Nutrition and Health Management practitioners promote, educate and increase understanding of how an animals food intake, activity and weight management can affect the animals health, well-being, and productivity. The work revolves around coaching, consultation, advice and creating individualized, breed-specific nutritional, fitness/exercise, lifestyle, weight management/control plans and menus for animals, home-prepared cooking recipes etc. The practitioners may work with all types of animals, including domestic and zoo animals, but exluding animals which are in anyway involved in the food consumption chain.
Animal Party Practice is a therapeutic or recreational practice that involves facilitating interactive, educational, and playful experiences with a variety of small to medium-sized animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds).
Animal Physical Activity Servicesrefers to a range of activities designed to promote physical fitness, agility, and mental well-being,to improve overall health and/or assist with recovery of animals after injury or operation. These services may include various modalities, such as running, walking, or engaging in interactive games that provide both physical and mental stimulation. Additionally, some activities may incorporate specialized equipment and tools, such as, but not limited to, a Slat Mill, treadmills, or agility equipment, to enhance the intensity or focus of the exercise.
Reiki is a non-invasive complementary therapy which involves channeling Reiki energy into the animal to activate their natural healing process, restoring physical and emotional wellbeing. Reiki is delivered hands on or hands off.
Animal Yoga is the activity of incorporating animals with the regular yoga practice. It combines standard physical poses, postures, breathing exercises, and meditation with animal interaction or just animal presence to improve overall health. Popular animals included in such sessions are goats, alpacas, lamas, dogs, cats etc.
Behaviour Modification and Learning Theory - for human/animal relationship improvement & understanding reasons for problem behaviours especially those created by human error/lack of understanding. Functional analysis assessment. Learning theories applied to help humans better communicate with their animals in order to work with them more safely. Understanding how animals learn and about various reinforcers used to modify behaviour. An understanding of basic human psychology and learning is also helpful.
Training dogs for competition and/or appropriate everyday behaviour using a knowledge of animal behaviour.
Dog/Cat breeding can involve the provision of a male dog/cat or a female dog/cat. Includes selection of appropriate healthy animals, care during pregnancy, supervision and care during whelping, early training and the sale of litter.
The presence of a dog in a professional or business setting where the dog is not directly involved in the service provided. The dog accompanies its owner to work and may interact with colleagues, clients, or members of the public in a friendly or supportive manner. This does not include dogs used for professional purposes such as security, therapy, assistance, or detection work. The owner remains responsible for the dogs behaviour, welfare, and supervision at all times.
Provide an interactive, educational experience where small to medium-sized animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds) are brought into nurseries, pre-schools, schools, holiday clubs, and other educational environments. In indoor or outdoor settings , the focus is on teaching children about the unique characteristics, habitats, behaviours, and care needs of the animals, through supervised hands-on interaction, observation, and guided activities. The program encourages empathy, responsibility, and respect for animals while enhancing cognitive and social development.
Equestrian Education and Training focuses on teaching essential theoretical and practical skills for horse care and management. This may include but is not limited to equine massage therapy, K-taping and other methods used for injury prevention and rehabilitation, care of senior equines, equine first aid, as well as general care and management skills, such as feeding, grooming, and maintaining a safe environment for equine; ground handling, etc.
Equine/Alpaca Assisted Therapy uses horses, donkeys or alpacas to help children and adults who may have mental health needs, physical or learning disabilities to achieve increased health, wellbeing and quality of life. Interaction evokes feelings of relaxation, happiness, stress release and healing for the client, breaking down barriers and enabling them to release blocked emotions. Guided Development can help: increase personal confidence, courage and awareness. build effective relationships through trust and authenticity develop skills work through uncertainty and uncomfortable emotionally charged situations experience different leadership positions and the associated impact face fears and expand emotional, social and team intelligence. Animals are assessed prior to their participation in the assisted therapy to ensure their suitability, behaviour and temperament.
Farm-Based Therapy (also known as care farming or therapeutic farming) is a form of nature-based therapy that uses agricultural environments and farm-related activities to promote physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. It typically involves programs conducted on working farms and gardens adapted for therapeutic use where participants engage in tasks like planting, animal care, animal husbandry, crop cultivation, harvesting, and maintaining the farm, and working in natural, outdoor settings often under the supervision of trained professionals. It is mostly used for children/adults with mental health challenges, developmental disorders, PTSD, SEND, at-risk youth, or those recovering from trauma, addiction, or mental illness.
Fertility Testing services include sperm collection from the donor animal, semen analysis and chilling if required; Vaginal swab collection and analysis; blood analysis; blood collection; progesterone testing etc. The act of artificial insemination involves installation of semen into the cranial vagina or uterus of the recipient animal.
Physiotherapy treatment using a horse to facilitate movement in the client. Client can be placed in different positions on a horse supported by a physiotherapist plus 2 assistants and encouraged to perform exercises. The sensory motor feedback from the horse promotes normal movement patterns in the client. Balance reactions are stimulated which helps strengthen the core muscles, improve balance and help restore function.
To feed, give water and clean waste for pets which may include dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles and fish in the owners houses only. To walk their dogs on a lead locally for exercise.
Ultrasound scanning of pets to confirm pregnancy or not. There is no medical diagnosis or anything prescribed, it is just to confirm pregnancy.
It is a service that includes activities such as grooming, pampering and decorating the ponies with bows, coloured hair clips, bands for the mane and tail, glittering hooves. The parties may include arts and crafts sessions such as but not limited to creating decorations for the ponies, horseshoe crafts etc. Animals are assessed prior to their participation in the assisted therapy to ensure their suitability, behaviour and temperament. The ponies are to be supervised at all times by a qualified and experienced staff member.
There is very little personal help and support for pet owners when it comes to facing the potential loss of their beloved pet. Not knowing what options there are with regard to what happens when their pet passes. This course provides the practitioner with the skills to enable and empower them to help and guide clients through this highly emotional and distressing time. This course covers numerous areas that a person/family facing the loss of their pet will face, giving them comfort and knowledge that they do not have to go through this process on their own. As long as the practitioner is qualified to provide therapies (if not they can signpost others), the pet, with the owners consent, will receive healing. Being able to provide various types of healing (e.g. Reiki, spiritual healing), massage, animal communication, animal healing energy, chakra healing is something that the practitioner would, again if qualified, be able to provide. Being able to liaise in a professional manner with any professional body (e.g. vet) family, and friends that may also be affected during this emotional period is also something the practitioner will be skilled to provide. Grief is very personal and the practitioner will be trained in recognising the various stages of grief and will be able to provide the client with emotional support. This course will enable the practitioner to aid the client through the grief process, manage their pain through healing and help them to accept the loss of their pet in a way that will help them through this stressful and emotional period.
This service involves diagnosing and treating sick or injured animals. In general veterinary practice you could: diagnose and treat sick and injured animals, carry out blood analyses, X-rays and scans, provide care for animals in veterinary hospitals, carry out regular health checks and give vaccinations, supervise veterinary nurses and support staff, keep records of treatments, communicate with pet owners and insurers, put severely injured or terminally ill animals to sleep, follow public health and hygiene laws.
Approved Practitioners:
This service involves diagnosing and treating sick or injured animals. In general veterinary practice you could: diagnose and treat sick and injured animals, perform operations, carry out blood analyses, X-rays and scans, provide care for animals in veterinary hospitals, carry out regular health checks and give vaccinations, supervise veterinary nurses and support staff, keep records of treatments, communicate with pet owners and insurers, neuter animals to stop them breeding, put severely injured or terminally ill animals to sleep, follow public health and hygiene laws.
Veterinary Nurses support vets by caring for sick and injured animals. Typical tasks include but are not limited to keeping the practice and equipment clean and hygienic, preparing animals for treatment and assisting vets during procedures, giving injections, medication and removing stitches, taking x-rays, taking care of in-patient animals, supporting and talking to pet owners about treatment and care of their animals, and performing reception and administrative duties.
A regulated, non-invasive therapeutic discipline adapted from human physiotherapy, Veterinary Physiotherapy supports animals in recovery from musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory, and orthopedic conditions, as well as post-operative rehabilitation, athletic performance enhancement, and senior or developmental care. Treatments are based on a thorough clinical assessment and may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, massage, and modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation.
Working Dog Services cover the training, handling, deployment, supervision, and operation of dogs in professional roles beyond companionship. These services include roles such as retrieval dogs (e.g. for hunting or bird retrieval), security or protection dogs, detection dogs (e.g. drugs, explosives, search & rescue), therapy or assistance dogs, guard dogs, and other specialized canine functions. The service includes canine training, monitoring, handler-dog coordination, and operational activities (e.g. field work).
Zoopharmacognosy facilitates self-medication of domesticated and captive animals by offering them plant extracts that would contain the same, or similar constituents to those found in an animals evolutionary history which are then inhaled, ingested or topically applied. The extracts offered include a variety of essential oils, absolutes, infused oils, tubers, clays, algae, seaweeds and minerals.
Combined Business Insurance provides crucial protection. This core bundle is at the centre of every policy, offering comprehensive protection by combining Professional Indemnity, Medical Malpractice, and Public Liability insurance in one policy. So you can grow your business with confidence, while you are protected for the following:
The beauty of our insurance is that you can choose exactly what you need and have as little or as much cover as your individual requirements dictate.
Designed to tackle the problems associated with your computer systems, websites and emails.
Protection for your office essentials, from computers and furniture to documents and signage.
Employee Liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have employees.
Cover should you suffer a serious accident which leaves you unable to work or leads to your death.
Includes mobiles, laptops, cameras and video equipment, tablets, exhibition equipment, tools and more.
The animal work industry is filled with unique challenges and responsibilities. Working with animals inherently comes with risks, including potential injuries to the animals in your care and the possibility of accidents involving clients or staff. Unforeseen incidents such as animal bites, misdiagnoses, or even property damage caused by animals can lead to significant financial and legal repercussions. Additionally, the theft or loss of essential equipment can disrupt your operations. Having comprehensive insurance is crucial to safeguard your business against these unpredictable events, allowing you to focus on providing quality care without constant worry about potential liabilities.
Having the correct level of experience or qualifications necessary to offer a service is...
A pet sustains an injury while receiving veterinary care or during a grooming session. The owner demands compensation for the animal's suffering and additional veterinary costs.
A disease is transmitted from an animal to a human during therapeutic activities like goat yoga, leading to illness. The affected individual sues for medical expenses and suffering.
An animal damages property during a care session, such as a dog chewing furniture at a daycare. The property owner seeks compensation for repairs.
An animal under care bites or attacks a person, causing injury. The injured person files a claim for medical expenses and emotional distress.
A veterinary professional misdiagnoses an animal's condition, resulting in incorrect treatment and further harm. The pet owner demands compensation for the additional veterinary care needed.
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No salesmen, no gimmicks! We just make insurance easy.
Get your quote and insurance document - within minutes.
Safeguard against claims for accidental injuries, illnesses, or property damage, keeping your business secure.
Tailor your insurance to fit your unique needs, whether you're flying solo or part of a larger team.
Offer peace of mind to yourself, your team, and your clients, knowing that you're prepared for whatever comes your way.
Animal Groomer and Therapist
An Insurance that personalises your needs Cover for Microchipping, Nail clipping, Animal Therapy, Animal Reiki.
Animal Healer
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Yes, but it depends on what you're purchasing:
New Policy: When buying a new policy, you can choose monthly payments to spread out the cost. Keep in mind that it's still an annual policy, so you need to keep up with the monthly payments.
Renewing a Policy: If your current policy is due for renewal soon and you're currently paying yearly but would like to pay monthly, or vice versa, that can easily be changed online by following the link in your renewal email.
Adding Extra Cover: If you add extra cover (like portable equipment) to an existing policy mid-term, the full amount for the add-on is due at the time of purchase.
The cost of business insurance varies based on several factors, including your annual income, the level of cover you choose, the number of people included in the policy, the services you provide, and whether you need overseas coverage or any of the add-on products.
The best way to find out how much it will cost for your business is to get an instant quote—it only takes a few minutes.
Get a Quote Now
If you need to file a claim, simply log into your account and go to the Claims page to submit the details.
If you're not sure if you need to make a claim or want to talk about a situation that might lead to one, give us a call at 01305 839939 (Monday to Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM excluding bank holidays) or send an email to claims@westminster.global with a brief description of what happened. We're here to help you through the process!
Business insurance (Professional Indemnity, Public Liability and Medical Malpractice) provides your business (and you personally if you are a sole trader) with an essential safety net, offering vital protection against the stress and financial impact of respondin to a Claim. Without insurance, if you are faced with a Claim, you will need to fight this battle on your own or appoint solicitors to help you. The first option is unadvisable, time consuming and stressful. The second option is costly.
Remember, that should the very worst happen and there is a large compensation payment to make, the business has to find the funds to pay it - do you think it likely that it will have large amounts of spare funds?. If the business isn't incorporated, then it is your personal assets that will be used to make the payment.
Insurance provides a very cost effective option, peace of mind and security for your business.
Choosing the right insurance for your business depends on what kind of work you do, the risks involved, and any legal or contractual requirements.
To make it easier, try our Insurance Checker under Resources---just answer a few quick questions, we'll guide you through the right coverage.
Absolutely!
We have coverage tailored to fit you, so you only pay for exactly what you need. You can customise your policy based on the size of your business, what services you provide and what cover level you want. With hundreds of business practices to choose from, you can add as many as you like to one policy (provided you meet the requirements).
The best part is - if things change, your policy can change with you. All of our policies are adjustable so if you need to add cover for a new service you are offering, or you get a new employee, or simply want a higher cover level you can simply login to your Account and adjust your policy.
We understand that businesses change and grow, so that's why your protection can grow with you.
If you are offering any service, whether you are receiving payment or, and whether it is to the public or friends and family, it is advisable to have business insurance. Whether you are a Limited Company, a freelancer/sole trader, partnership or group, the same risks apply. By offering a service you are exposed to the risk of having a Claim made against you.
The cover is in place immeditaly and creating a quote only takes a couple of minutes
Absolutely! You can include as many practices as you need on a single policy, and you will only pay for the highest cost one. Here's how it works:
All in One Policy: List any number of practices without worrying about extra charges. Regardless if they are practices from different sectors.
Risk Levels Matter: Instead of charging for each practice, we charge based on the highest risk level of the practices you've chosen. Our tiers range from 1 (lowest risk) to 5 (highest risk).
One Cost, One Tier: So, if you include practices with different risk tiers, you'll only be charged according to the highest-risk practice on your policy. For example, if you have five Tier 1 practices and two Tier 5 practices, your rate is based on one Tier 5 practice.
Yes we do. We offer cover for Sole Traders, Self-Employed, Freelancers & Students.
Yes, absolutely! You can easily add additional business practices to your policy at any time through your online account—no need to call or email.
If the new practice falls within the same or a lower tier, there’s no extra charge. However, if it falls into a higher tier, there may be an additional cost, which will be clearly shown before you confirm the update.
Simply log in to your account, go to the Policy section, choose Edit business practices and choose what you want to add.
Important Note: If your update requires an additional payment, it must be paid in full at the time of the change—it cannot be spread across monthly instalments. Your updated coverage will still follow the original policy expiry date.
Our policy is 'Claims made' and covers Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, and Medical Malpractice Insurance under one simple policy. But what does that mean when it comes to claims?
Here’s an example:
You run a sports and health coaching business and have £1,000,000 in cover.
That’s £150,000 in claims—plus legal fees and reputation management costs
Since your policy covers all three types of insurance, and you report the claims promptly, we cover the costs up to your chosen limit.
In short: If a claim arises during your policy term and meets the policy criteria, we’ve got you covered—legal costs included.
There are 631 definitions here. Please use the search functions below to find what you are looking for. If you require help please call.
Welcome to a different kind of insurance experience for small to medium-sized businesses - from salon owners and business consultants to tattoo artists and yoga instructors.
