Guest post by Steve Browne, chair of the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office
Browne: Sustainable foundation
The Employers’ Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) is continuing work towards the launch of ELD NextGen, the next generation of the employers’ liability database (ELD), which is scheduled to go live in early 2027.
As development progresses, legal professionals will be interested to understand what the new platform will mean for employers’ liability tracing and how feedback from the legal sector has helped shape its design.
The ELD plays a vital role within the claims process. It provides access to employers’ liability insurance policy information, helping individuals who have suffered injury or illness through their employment, as well as their representatives, identify the appropriate insurer so that a claim can be pursued.
Through the ELD NextGen programme, ELTO is replacing the existing system with a modern, cloud-based platform designed to provide a more secure, resilient and sustainable service for the future.
While ELTO’s purpose and role within the industry will remain unchanged, the technology underpinning the service is being modernised to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of users and stakeholders.
For legal professionals, the new platform is expected to deliver a more connected and intuitive user experience. One of the key improvements will be a more joined-up search journey across simple search, extended search and tracing services.
The aim is to create a more consistent experience for users and provide a clearer route when a search does not immediately deliver the required result. Registered users will be able to move more seamlessly between search and tracing services, improving navigation and helping them reach the most appropriate next step more efficiently.
Alongside user experience enhancements, ELD NextGen is also expected to improve the quality of policy data available through the database. Enhanced data submission and maintenance processes for insurers and delegated authorities will help strengthen the quality and accuracy of information held on the ELD, supporting more effective policy tracing outcomes.
Importantly, legal professionals have helped influence the development of the new platform.
Towards the end of 2025, ELTO engaged with a broad range of legal users to better understand their experiences of the current ELD and gather views on how the service could be improved. The feedback provided valuable insight into user needs and has informed several aspects of the ELD NextGen programme.
Although much of the recent programme communications have focused on the significant technical work involved in replatforming the ELD, ELTO recognises that legal professionals remain a key audience. Further updates will be shared as the programme progresses, including information ahead of major milestones and guidance to help users understand what to expect from the new platform and future onboarding arrangements.
In March 2026, ELTO also contacted legal professionals on its database to request key contact information to support future programme communications. These details will help ensure important updates reach the right individuals and organisations as the programme moves towards implementation.
Legal professionals who may have missed this communication are encouraged to provide their details through ELTO’s engagement contact process. The initiative also allows interested organisations to register their interest in testing opportunities and early adopter activities as development continues.
With launch preparations continuing, legal professionals do not need to take any action at this stage. However, they are encouraged to remain engaged with programme communications and developments over the coming months.
ELD NextGen is about much more than replacing technology. It gives us a sustainable foundation from which the ELD can continue to meet the changing needs and expectations of its users.
For the latest updates, guidance and resources, visit the ELD NextGen Knowledge Hub.
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