How to Ensure your Craft Workshop is Legally Compliant

Do you need to register a craft workshop with HMRC?

Yes, if you run craft workshops as your business and it is your primary source of income, you will need to register with HMRC as self-employed.

HMRC are becoming increasingly strict on ensuring all businesses are fully declared, and this includes ‘hobby businesses’. To save yourself hassle further down the line and avoid a hefty fine, we always advise registering with HMRC even if your business hasn’t reached the annual income threshold.

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Online craft workshops: Legal requirements

There are a number of different legal requirements that you will need to consider when you’re running an online craft workshop.

Some legal requirements include:

• Consumer Rights – You must provide clear cancellation and refund policies, accurate delivery details if you are sending out home craft packages, and proof of purchase for your attendees.
• Terms and Conditions – If you are selling your course with downloadable content, then you need to comply with all the rules about selling goods and services online from a distance. These rules should always be made clear in the T&Cs, as well as how complaints can be made.
• Platform Rules – You must abide by the rules of the platform you are hosting your online craft workshop on. These rules may be different for each platform, so it’s always worth checking.
• Data Protection and Privacy Laws – When your craft workshop attendees sign up for your workshop, it is likely that they will pay online via their card, Paypal, or Apple Pay and provide their personal information. You must abide by data protection and privacy laws to ensure that your attendees’ information stays confidential and secure.
• Copyright – If you are sharing work of others online through a digital workshop, you should be aware of copyright rules and regulations. It’s always best to acknowledge another person as the owner of any work you use in your materials. If you are going to share the work of others in your workshop, make sure to ask for their permission first.
• The Right Insurance – Product Liability Insurance covers the cost of claims made by a member of the public for incidents that arise from your business practices and products. For example, if you are sending products out for attendees to use at home for an online craft workshop, you must make sure you have the correct level of protection in place in case someone is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your products.

In-person craft workshops: Legal requirements

As with online craft workshops, in-person workshops also come with their own legal requirements.

DBS Checks

If you are working with children or vulnerable adults, you must ensure you have an up-to-date DBS check. This applies regardless of whether you are working in your home or have hired out a venue.

Hygiene and Health Facility Standards

You will need to make sure your venue is clean and tidy for your attendees, with access to handwashing facilities. You should also ensure that there are toilets accessible for everyone. If you are aware of any disabilities that an attendee has, you should ensure your venue is suitable and, if it is not, state this on your workshop advertisement.

Risk Assessment

You are legally required to assess the risks in your home or chosen venue. Your workshop attendees may come into contact with potentially harmful substances, so you must have health and safety measures in place to protect others. You must also store materials appropriately and make sure the space is well ventilated.

First Aid

First aid kits are recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) should an accident occur. You may also want to consider learning first aid or having someone with you who knows it.

Copyright

The same applies to in-person workshops as it does to online workshops. Remember to always get permission where appropriate and credit those being used as examples. If you are going to be taking photographs, you should inform students about this at the beginning of the workshop so they have the opportunity to decline if they wish.

Terms and Conditions

The T&Cs of your workshop should be drawn-up and sent to the students via email before the date of the workshop. This can help to protect yourself and the students in the event of a misunderstanding or a complaint.

Your terms should include the date of the workshop, pricing and payment details, materials or supplies that you require your students to bring, and cancellation and refund policies.

Insurance

For in-person craft workshops, you will also need the right level of insurance. If you were to host an online workshop, you will need Product Liability Insurance to protect yourself if one of your products causes injury or harm to a student or their property.

You will also need Public Liability Insurance, which will protect your business if you are found to be legally liable for any costs of compensation for damage or injury caused. Claims against a business can be financially detrimental, which is why it is so important you have the right level of cover in place.

Data protection and GDPR for craft workshops

As a craft workshop business, you will handle customer data on a regular basis. If you work in the UK, it is essential that you have a good understanding about data protection and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Listed below are a few general dos and don’ts about handling sensitive data:

• DO be transparent about how the data is processed and used.
• DO implement safeguards for automated procedures.
• DO make it easy for users to withdraw their consent.
• DO erase data immediately when requested.
• DO create comprehensive and transparent policies when collecting personal information.
• DON’T mislead individuals on the use of their data.
• DON’T collect sensitive data that is unnecessary.
• DON’T store data beyond the necessary timeframe.
• DON’T disclose personal data without explicit consent from the individual.

Insurance for craft workshops

At CraftCover, we provide specialist craft workshop insurance which can be included to sit alongside your annual policy, meaning you will be fully covered when sharing your craft with others.

It is crucial that you have the right level of protection in place when hosting craft classes. If you don’t, you could be held liable if your students were to injure themselves or damage their personal belongings.

For more information about craft workshop insurance, get in touch with our team today, and one of our friendly advisors will help find the best insurance products for you.