Just 11 per cent of people are covered by some form of protection if they become too ill to work, according to the Association of British Insurers. As a nation we famously protect our pets more readily than our own and our families’ livelihoods.

But protection is also changing. Policies which provide cover in the event you are unable to perform an arcane list of tasks rather than your actual job are fast becoming a thing of the past, illness definitions are being extended, and technology is speeding up underwriting processes.

In short: policies are becoming ever more likely to pay out (as statistics frequently prove), and less arduous - and in some cases costly - to set up.

This special report will detail the changes we are seeing in key areas of the protection market, as well as asking what else needs to be done to ensure this critical product finally takes the centre stage that most suggest it should.

This report is sponsored by Bright Grey. All editorial is independent.