Insurers are getting a "double bite of the cherry" with demands on construction companies and skyrocketing premiums for liability cover.

Cullens Engineering partner Jan Swain said that her company provided safety railings and had difficulty getting liability cover.

"Insurers insist that companies must have things like safety railings and then do not offer insurance for the companies which provide them," she said.

"The insurer is getting a double bite of the cherry," she said.

Swain added that in eight weeks, Cullens was offered only four quotes and had now secured a £21,900 premium. The premium last year was £3,500. She said one quote had to be immediately eliminated because it included a height restriction.

"Capacity books are filled everywhere and insurers can literally call the price," she said.

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