UK trips insurance

In the UK it is a legal requirement for employers to hold employers liability insurance, and UK employer’s liability policies classify work experience or placement students as employees. Therefore in the event of an accident at work arising from the placement provider’s negligence, the student is covered in the same way as employees. Sole traders are not legally required to have employer’s liability insurance, but as soon as they take on a placement student they effectively become an employer, so a sole trader must be advised to take out employers liability cover if they are taking a student on placement.

Although it is not a legal requirement, all reputable employers in the UK should also have a current public liability policy, which will also protect the student against claims brought against the placement provider by other third parties.

Placement companies need to have both employer’s liability and public liability policies in place to meet their legal liabilities towards our students, and thus the University should check that all potential placement companies have adequate (minimum £5m) and current policies in place. Before a placement is approved, the placement company should be asked to declare:

Employer's Liability

• Limit of indemnity
• Name of insurer
• Date of expiry.

Public Liability

•  Limit of indemnity
•  Name of insurer
•  Date of expiry.

Please note that there are circumstances where the placement provider may not be obliged to insure, e.g. the NHS (self insure) or the MoD (no insurance).

The University’s Personal Accident and Travel Insurance policy does not cover travel within the UK.

University or USSU sanctioned volunteering

The University of Surrey and the University of Surrey Student’s Union (USSU) recognises that volunteering is an enriching experience for those involved and every year many students, through the USSU, work on a huge number of different projects.

The Student Handbook tells you all about the Students' Union's health and safety requirements in relation to student activities and you should always make sure that the relevant office (Volunteering etc.) is fully informed and involved in your plans.

All volunteers on sanctioned University or USSU volunteering activities are covered by the appropriate Insurance. These policies will ensure that volunteers are protected in the event that a claim is made against them for damage to people or property that is not the fault of the Student's Union or the University.

All University sanctioned activities, including Field Trips and attendance at conferences will be covered by its Public Liability policy.