Build and Protect is a trading style of MoneyMates (FCA Reg 1050238), an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd (FCA Reg 460421). Protection advice is provided through these regulated channels.
— FOR CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OWNERS

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BUSINESS WHEN YOUR MOST IMPORTANT PERSON DOESN'T TURN UP TOMORROW?

Your plant, your premises, your contracts — all insured. But the people who actually make the business work? Most construction firms have nothing in place. Let's fix that.

43%
of firms fold within 18 months of losing a key person
£120k
average cost to replace a key director
82%
of construction firms have no key person cover
Sources: Association of British Insurers (ABI) key person research; Federation of Small Business (FSB) workforce resilience reports; Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) protection gap studies. Figures are industry estimates for illustrative purposes.
— THE REALITY CHECK

YOU'D NEVER LEAVE A SITE UNINSURED.
SO WHY LEAVE YOUR PEOPLE EXPOSED?

If a digger gets stolen, your insurer replaces it. If your site burns down, you rebuild. But if your lead estimator, your main director, or your best project manager is suddenly gone — what's the plan?

Construction workers reviewing blueprints on site
6 months

The Average Gap

Time it takes to replace a key person in construction — meanwhile projects stall, clients walk, and revenue collapses.

3x

Salary to Replace

Recruitment fees, lost productivity, training time, and project delays typically cost 3x the salary of the person you're replacing.

60%

Family Forced Sale

When a shareholder dies, their family often forces a quick sale of their shares — sometimes to a competitor, often at a fraction of true value.

£1.6m

Average Claim Value

Typical key person insurance payout for a mid-sized construction firm — the difference between surviving and folding.

Figures are industry estimates drawn from ABI, CII, and FSB research. Actual costs and outcomes will vary depending on individual business circumstances.
— INTERACTIVE RISK ASSESSMENT

SEE YOUR EXPOSURE IN REAL TIME

Use the tools below to get an indicative picture of what losing a key person or shareholder could cost your business. No email required. No commitment. Just numbers.

These calculators are for illustrative purposes only. The figures produced are estimates based on industry averages and do not constitute financial advice. Actual costs, insurance premiums, and tax outcomes will depend on your individual circumstances. Please seek a personal recommendation from a qualified adviser before making any decisions.

Key Person Risk Calculator

What would it cost if your most important person couldn't work tomorrow?
Include bonuses, dividends, and benefits
Projects they lead, clients they manage, tenders they win
MODERATE
1 = Easy (generic role) · 5 = Extremely hard (specialist skills, client relationships, unique knowledge)
6 MO

YOUR KEY PERSON RISK EXPOSURE

Recruitment & Training Cost
—
Lost Revenue During Transition
—
Productivity Ramp-Up Loss
—
Client Relationship Risk
—
Total Financial Impact
—
These figures are indicative estimates only and do not constitute financial advice. Actual costs will vary based on individual circumstances. Insurance premiums are subject to underwriting and individual assessment.

Shareholder Protection Impact

What happens to your business if a shareholder dies or is forced out?
50%
50%

WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION

Deceased Shareholder's Stake Value
—
Inheritance Tax Liability (40%)
—
Family May Need to Sell — Quickly
LIKELY
⚠ WORST CASE: SHARES SOLD TO A COMPETITOR

The deceased shareholder's family inherits 50% of your business. They need cash fast to pay inheritance tax. A competitor offers to buy the shares at a discount. They now own part of your company, see your financials, and can block major decisions.

✓ WITH SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION

Insurance pays out to the surviving shareholder(s), who use the funds to buy the shares back from the family at fair value. The business stays with the people who built it. The family gets fair value, not a fire sale.

Inheritance tax figures are based on the current 40% rate. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. This tool does not constitute tax or financial advice — please seek a personal recommendation from a qualified adviser.
— WHAT WE COVER

FOUR PILLARS OF BUSINESS PROTECTION

Every construction business is different, but the core risks are the same. Here's what a proper protection plan looks like.

Construction team meeting on a UK housing development
01

Key Person Protection

If the person your business depends on — director, lead estimator, head of operations — dies or can't work, the policy pays out to the business. Use it to cover lost revenue, recruit a replacement, and keep projects moving while you stabilise.

Pays to: The Business
02

Shareholder Protection

If a shareholder dies or is critically ill, the remaining shareholders get a cash lump sum to buy their shares. Without it, shares could pass to a family member — or worse, a competitor — who now owns part of your business.

Pays to: Shareholders · Keeps control in-house
03

Relevant Life Insurance

A tax-efficient way to provide life cover for directors and key employees. Premiums are paid by the business, don't count as a P11D benefit, and the payout is typically free of inheritance tax. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.

Tax-efficient · Subject to individual circumstances
04

Income Protection

If a business owner or key employee can't work due to illness or injury — common in construction — income protection replaces a portion of their income. Keeps the business running and the mortgage paid while they recover.

Pays: 50-70% of income · Until return or retirement
— WHY CONSTRUCTION IS DIFFERENT

CONSTRUCTION HAS RISKS NO OTHER INDUSTRY FACES.

  • 01

    Project-Dependent Revenue

    If your key estimator or bid manager is out for 6 months, you can't tender for new work. Existing projects may stall. Revenue doesn't just dip — it stops.

  • 02

    Physical Risk

    Construction has the highest workplace injury rate of any UK sector. A serious injury to a business owner isn't just personal tragedy — it's business critical.

  • 03

    Contractor Dependencies

    Many construction firms are built around 1-2 key contractor relationships. If that person goes, entire project pipelines can collapse with them.

  • 04

    SME Vulnerability

    Most construction firms are small businesses with 2-5 directors. The loss of one director isn't a 20% hit — it's often a 50% hit to decision-making and capability.

THE TIMELINE OF A KEY PERSON LOSS

Day 1
Shock. Projects pause. No one knows who's picking up the slack.
Week 2
Clients start asking questions. Tenders stall. Cash flow tightens.
Month 1
Recruitment begins. 3-month minimum to find the right person.
Month 3
New starter joins. 3 more months to reach full productivity.
Month 6
If you're still trading. 43% of firms aren't.
— THE PROCESS

THREE STEPS. NO JARGON.

We've made this as simple as it should be. No 60-page fact finds. No jargon. Just straight answers.

01

Assess

Use our risk tools above, then book a 15-minute call. We identify your key people, quantify your exposure, and map out exactly what you need.

15 minutes
02

Protect

MoneyMates (FCA Reg 1050238), an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd, will provide the protection advice and arrange the right policies. Tax-efficient, properly structured, and built around your business.

2-3 weeks
03

Review

Annual review as your business grows, takes on new directors, or wins bigger contracts. Your protection should scale with your ambition.

Once a year
— QUESTIONS

THE STUFF PEOPLE ACTUALLY ASK

Is this the same as life insurance? +
No. Personal life insurance pays your family. Business protection pays the business so it can survive losing you. Key person cover pays the company directly. Shareholder protection funds the buyout of shares. Relevant life is a tax-efficient hybrid. They're all structured differently and serve different purposes.
How much does it actually cost? +
For a typical construction firm with 2-3 directors, key person and shareholder protection can start from around £40-80 per month per person. Relevant life insurance can be cost-effective compared to personal life cover due to the tax efficiencies. These figures are indicative only — actual premiums are subject to individual underwriting, age, health, and circumstances. Use the calculators above to see what's at stake, then we'll arrange accurate quotes through our regulated advisers.
Are you regulated to give this advice? +
Yes. Build and Protect is a trading style of MoneyMates, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Reg 1050238). MoneyMates is an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd (FCA Reg 460421). All protection advice is provided through these regulated channels, with full documentation and audit trails. Every policy is placed through properly regulated insurers and is subject to underwriting.
We're a small firm — is this really for us? +
Small firms are actually the most exposed. If you've got 2 directors and one of them can't work, that's 50% of your leadership gone overnight. Large firms have depth on the bench — you don't. Business protection is arguably more important for SMEs than for anyone else.
What if we already have some cover in place? +
Great — let's review it. A lot of policies we see were set up years ago and are out of date. Business value has grown, roles have changed, new directors have joined. We'll audit what you have, identify gaps, and make sure your cover matches where your business is today — not where it was five years ago.
Is the information I put in the calculators private? +
Yes. The risk calculators run entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a server or stored anywhere. Your numbers stay on your screen. When you're ready to talk, you can choose what to share with us.
Are the calculator results accurate? +
The calculators use industry-average formulas to give you an indicative picture of potential exposure. They are not personal recommendations or financial advice — actual costs will depend on your specific circumstances, the role in question, your sector, and market conditions. For a proper assessment tailored to your business, book a free call and our regulated advisers will give you accurate figures.
— GET STARTED

FIND OUT WHAT'S AT RISK.
THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Book a free, no-obligation 15-minute call. We'll review your business structure, identify your key person risks, and give you an honest assessment of whether you need cover — or whether you're already sorted.

15-minute call · No obligation · No jargon · We'll tell you if you don't need anything
BUILD & PROTECT · Free risk review · 15 minutes · No obligation