Online purchase discount
Source: AXA
there's a 10%* discount if you purchase online
Plasterers
Claims AXA makes that competitors do not (3)
Discount lasts for lifetime of policy
Source: AXA
This discount is applied automatically and lasts for the lifetime of your policy
Monthly payment option available
Source: AXA
Choose a one-off annual payment or spread the cost over monthly instalments (subject to certain acceptance criteria)
Claims competitors make that AXA does not (4)
Specific pricing transparency
Source: Hiscox
costs start at £7.85 per month*
Professional indemnity insurance option
Source: Hiscox
If you're a plasterer who provides design and consultancy services you may also consider professional indemnity insurance
Legal protection insurance option
Source: Hiscox
Another cover plasterers may opt for is legal protection insurance
Specific scenario-based coverage examples
Source: Hiscox
If a ladder falls over or they drop a heavy tool, for example
Areas where AXA's language is weaker (5)
Equipment cover naming and scope
AXA says:
Own plant, tools and equipment cover
Hiscox says:
Portable equipment insurance can cover a plasterer's kit against loss, theft or damage – including electrical equipment such as laptops and phones
Occupational health risks
AXA says:
— nothing on this topic —Hiscox says:
Your employees can also be injured on site or develop an occupational illness
Real-world claim scenarios
AXA says:
you're still at risk of an expensive accident
Hiscox says:
When a third party is injured after stepping on your sharp trowel, they may decide to bring a claim against you, costing time, money and possibly your reputation
Business continuity impact
AXA says:
— nothing on this topic —Hiscox says:
If you don't have access to the tools you need, work stops – and that means deadlines are pushed back
Self-employed specific guidance
AXA says:
— nothing on this topic —Hiscox says:
Public liability insurance could be important for self-employed plasterers, due to the hazards that can come with using tools near clients and passers-by
Differentiation suggestions (6)
Lead with concrete pricing anchors (e.g., 'from £X per month') rather than directing users to quote pages, matching Hiscox's transparency approach
Hiscox provides specific entry-level pricing (£7.85/month) which reduces friction and builds confidence; AXA's 'get a quick quote' approach may deter price-sensitive plasterers
Expand equipment cover description to explicitly mention theft, loss, and electrical devices (laptops, phones), not just 'damage'
Hiscox's 'Portable equipment insurance' language and specificity (electrical equipment examples) is more compelling and addresses real pain points AXA's generic 'Own plant, tools and equipment cover' misses
Add occupational illness scenarios to Employers' Liability section (e.g., dust-related respiratory conditions)
Hiscox explicitly addresses occupational illness risk; AXA only mentions injury, missing a material concern for plasterers exposed to dust and compounds
Include 2–3 specific claim scenarios (ladder falls, dropped tools, dust sheet failures) in the 'What insurance do plasterers need?' section
Hiscox's scenario-based narrative ('stepping on your sharp trowel', 'chronic asthma due to dust exposure') is more persuasive and memorable than AXA's abstract 'expensive accident' language
Highlight professional indemnity and legal protection insurance as optional add-ons for design/consultancy work
Hiscox offers these as upsell options; AXA omits them entirely, missing revenue opportunity and appearing less comprehensive
Emphasize the lifetime 10% discount more prominently in headline or hero section, as it is a genuine competitive advantage
AXA's lifetime discount is stronger than Hiscox's offer but is buried in body copy; repositioning it as a headline benefit could drive conversion