Health and safety risk management specialist the National Britannia Group and insurance broker Layton Blackham are to offer small businesses reduced premiums if they can demonstrate high standard health and safety schemes.
The companies said contractors who are members of the SAFEcontractor accreditation scheme will be eligible for a discount of up to 40% on their commercial and liability insurance.
Under the SAFEcontractor system, businesses undergo a vetting process, which examines their health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice, said National Britannia. Those companies meeting the required standard are included on a database accessible through the safecontractor.com website.
National Britannia said a panel of major insurance companies was already on board with the scheme and ready to provide premium discounts for SAFEcontractor members, through Layton Blackham.
National Britannia managing director of information services James Ostler said: "This SAFEcontractor insurance scheme will ensure that those companies who are demonstrating a high level of risk management reap the benefits when it comes to paying their annual insurance bills."
