The normal business of any union is, of course, to represent its members to their employers and to deal with members' problems arising in the course of their employment. The National Union of Teachers, however, does more than that. As a union of qualified teachers working across the spectrum of education services, it has some members who are self employed. The NUT provides additional benefits to this group of members.

When self-employed members face problems of the kind they would face as employed teachers, for example, false accusations made against them by their students or accidents in the course of their work for which someone else is liable, the NUT provides the same assistance.

However, self employed members have additional and different issues with which they have to deal. Some things we cannot deal with in exchange for a membership subscription. We cannot, for example, extend our support and assistance to a self employed member's business or company legal affairs.

We can, however, assist in relieving self employed members of some of the costs associated with their businesses. One of these costs is insurance.

Union membership alone does not provide insurance cover for professional indemnity (cover for financial loss resulting from advice or services given by a professional for a fee) and public liability (the legal liability owed to any third party as a result of negligence relating to the business and its activities e.g. a client being injured on the member's premises). We can, however, offer preferential premiums for this type of insurance through an arrangement with an insurance specialist, the Alan Boswell Group.

The NUT has asked the Alan Boswell Group to develop a policy to protect self employed members by offering a combined public liability and professional indemnity policy at significantly reduced premiums, starting at £50 a year. This policy will provide cover for legal defence costs and awards of compensation in respect of legal liability.

To keep premium costs down the scheme is transacted fully online. For full details and to take out a policy simply click on to the Alan Boswell Group website at www.alanboswell.com/nut.

Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority