What Is PQS Accreditation? (UK Contractors Explained)

PQS accreditation stands for Pre-Qualification Scheme accreditation. It is used in the UK construction and services sectors to assess whether a contractor meets recognised standards for health & safety, insurance, financial stability, and legal compliance.

Many clients and principal contractors require the accreditation before allowing businesses to tender for work.

What Does PQS Mean?

A PQS accreditation confirms that a business has been independently assessed against industry-recognised criteria. It demonstrates that a contractor:

• Manages health and safety effectively
• Has appropriate insurance in place
• Is financially viable
• Meets legal and regulatory obligations

Instead of completing multiple PQQs, accredited contractors can use PQS as proof of compliance.

Who Needs PQS Accreditation?

The accreditation is commonly required for:

• Construction contractors and subcontractors
• Electrical, mechanical, and building services companies
• Maintenance and facilities management providers
• Businesses tendering for commercial or public sector work

For many buyers, PQS accreditation is a minimum entry requirement.

What Does The Accreditation Assess?

A PQS assessment typically reviews:

Health & Safety Management

• Health & Safety Policy
• Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
• Training and competence records
• Accident reporting procedures

Company and Financial Information

• Business structure and ownership
• Public and employers’ liability insurance
• Financial declarations or accounts

Compliance and Governance

• Legal compliance
• Modern slavery and equality policies (where applicable)
• Environmental considerations

How Long Does The Accreditation Last?

PQS accreditations are valid for 12 months and require annual renewal to ensure information remains current and compliant.

Benefits of the Accreditation

PQS accreditation helps contractors:

• Win more work
• Reduce repeated PQQ paperwork
• Demonstrate competence to buyers
• Meet procurement requirements quickly

For small contractors, it saves time and improves credibility.

Common Misunderstandings

• It is not optional for many contracts
• Generic policies are not sufficient
• Accreditation must be maintained, not just achieved

Conclusion

• PQS accreditation is a UK pre-qualification assessment

• It proves contractor competence and compliance

• Often required before tendering

• Covers health & safety, insurance and financial checks

• Typically renewed annually

Expert Advice

Choosing the right PQS scheme, and getting your documentation right first time, can be the difference between winning work and being delayed or rejected at the pre-qualification stage.

The first question most contractors ask is “how much does it cost?”

In many cases, PQS accreditation is significantly more cost-effective than other SSIP schemes such as CHAS, while meeting the same SSIP-recognised standards. All SSIP accreditations follow the same core criteria, so you’re not compromising on compliance.

PQS fees can vary, so rather than guessing, complete a short form and we’ll confirm the exact current cost for your business.

Click the button below.

How to Get CHAS Accreditation: Complete Guide (2026)

What is CHAS?

CHAS (The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is a UK accreditation that proves your business meets recognised health and safety standards. It is widely used in construction, facilities management, and public-sector procurement.

CHAS accreditation helps you:

• Win more tenders
• Demonstrate compliance with health and safety law
• Reduce contractor onboarding checks
• Build credibility with clients
• Align with CDM 2015 competency requirements

Quick Answer: How to Get CHAS Accreditation

To get CHAS, you must:

1. Choose your CHAS level (CHAS Basic, CHAS Advanced, or CHAS Elite).
2. Register your business on the CHAS portal.
3. Upload evidence of your health and safety management systems.
4. Provide policies, training records, insurance, RAMS, and competence documentation.
5. Wait for CHAS assessors to review your application.
6. Respond to any improvement requests.
7. Receive your certificate and listing once approved.

How can we help?

We can complete the application, gather all required documents and answers to questions, and compile all necessary evidence, allowing you to focus on your job. We are efficient, economical and have a 100% success rate. Quote Request.

CHAS Accreditation Levels (2026)

1. CHAS Basic (Core H&S)

Covers:

• Health & safety policy
• Risk assessments & method statements
• Training & competence
• Accident reporting
• First aid
• Basic legal compliance

Suitable for small contractors or sole traders.

2. CHAS Advanced (PAS 91 Compliant)

Includes everything in Basic PLUS:

• Environmental management
• Quality management
• Equal opportunities
• Anti-bribery & corruption
• Financial standing

Often required in public-sector tenders.

3. CHAS Elite (SSIP + Common Assessment Standard)

Highest level — covers:

• Health & safety
• Quality
• Environmental
• Financial
• Sustainability
• GDPR/data protection
• Modern slavery & corporate responsibility

Often required for major contractors, councils, housing associations.

Step-by-Step: How to Get CHAS Accreditation

Step 1 — Choose Your CHAS Level

The level you need depends on the clients you want to work with.

Construction companies usually require:

• Basic for subcontractors
• Advanced or Elite for principal contractors or tender-heavy work

Step 2 — Register on the CHAS Portal

Go to the CHAS portal and create an account.
You’ll enter:

• Company name
• Address
• SIC code
• Number of employees
• Sector (construction, electrical, plumbing, etc.)

Step 3 — Gather Your Evidence

This is the most important part.

Required Documents for CHAS Basic

You must upload:

• Health & Safety Policy (signed & dated)
• Risk Assessments
• Method Statements
• COSHH assessments (if relevant)
• Accident/incident reporting process
• Training certificates (CSCS, asbestos awareness, manual handling, etc.)
• Proof of competence for workers
• Subcontractor management process
• Insurance documents (EL/PL)

Additional Documents for CHAS Advanced

• Environmental Policy
• Waste management
• Equality & Diversity Policy
• Quality Policy
• Anti-bribery Policy

Additional Documents for CHAS Elite

• GDPR processes
• Modern slavery statement
• Corporate social responsibility policy
• Supply chain compliance processes

Step 4 — Upload Everything to the Portal

CHAS guides you section by section.
You will tick off each compliance requirement as you upload evidence.

Step 5 — Assessment Begins

A CHAS assessor reviews your documents for compliance with:

• HSE requirements
• CDM 2015 duties
• SSIP standards
• PAS 91 (Advanced)
• CAS standard (Elite)

Typical review time: 3–10 days

Step 6 — Respond to Any Actions

If something is missing or incorrect, CHAS will send an “Action Request.”

Most common reasons for rejection:

❌ Out-of-date H&S policy
❌ Missing risk assessments
❌ Insurance expired
❌ No evidence of training
❌ No subcontractor management system

Once you fix the issues, resubmit.

Step 7 — Receive Your CHAS Certificate

Once approved, you get:

• Certificate (PDF)
• Digital logo for your website
• Listing on the CHAS contractor search

CHAS is valid for 12 months.

FAQs

How long does CHAS accreditation take?

3–10 working days for assessment, depending on the level and completeness of documents.

How much does CHAS accreditation assessment cost?

Fees vary by company size and accreditation level, typically from £429

Do sole traders need CHAS?

Yes — many main contractors now require CHAS Basic as a minimum.

Is CHAS mandatory?

Not legally, but many clients require it as proof of health and safety competence.

Does CHAS meet SSIP requirements?

Yes — CHAS is a founding member of SSIP.

More information can be found below: 

• Health & Safety Policies
• Risk Assessment Services
• Training Courses
• SSIP Support Services

How to Get Constructionline Accreditation (Step-by-Step Guide for 2026)

What is Constructionline?

Constructionline is the UK’s largest pre-qualification platform for contractors, suppliers, and construction businesses. It provides clients with verified evidence of your:

• Health and safety compliance
• Business legitimacy
• Financial stability
• Environmental and quality management
• Social responsibility
• Supply-chain reliability

It helps contractors win more work and reduce repetitive PQQ paperwork.

Quick Answer: How to Get Constructionline Accreditation in 2026

To get Constructionline accredited, you must:

1. Choose your Constructionline level (Associate, Silver, Gold, or Platinum).
2. Register your business on the Constructionline portal.
3. Complete the PAS 91-aligned questionnaire.
4. Upload evidence of health and safety, insurance, finances, and policies.
5. Complete a third-party SSIP assessment (if applying for Gold).
6. Respond to assessor queries.
7. Receive approval and appear on the Constructionline database.

How can we help?

We can complete the application, gather all required documents and answers to questions, and compile all necessary evidence, allowing you to focus on your job. We are efficient, economical and have a 100% success rate. Get accredited and win more work.

Constructionline Accreditation Levels (Explained)

1. Constructionline Associate

Entry-level listing. Shows your company exists and provides basic company information.

Suitable for very small firms, new businesses, and subcontractors.

2. Constructionline Silver (PAS 91 Basic Compliance)

Most common level. Requires:

• Business details
• Financial information
• Insurance
• Health & safety documentation
• Environmental & quality basics

Silver is generally enough for subcontractors and suppliers.

3. Constructionline Gold (PAS 91 + Enhanced Standards)

Includes everything from Silver plus:

• Environmental management (ISO 14001 or equivalent)
• Quality management (ISO 9001 or equivalent)
• Equality & diversity
• Anti-bribery
• GDPR compliance
• Modern slavery
• Social value evidence
• Full SSIP accreditation (CHAS, SMAS, SafeContractor)

Often required for principal contractors, councils, and large tenders.

4. Constructionline Platinum (Highest Level)

Includes enhanced audits and validation of:

• Financial performance and ratios
• Supply-chain management
• CSR and sustainability
• BIM capabilities
• Risk management strategy

Required for the most complex, high-value projects.

How to Get Constructionline Accreditation (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 1 — Choose Your Constructionline Level

Your level depends on:

• Size of your business
• Type of work you do
• Tender requirements
• Client expectations

Most construction firms aim for Silver or Gold.

Step 2 — Register on the Constructionline Portal

You’ll need to enter:

• Company name and address
• Legal structure
• Registration details (Companies House, VAT, etc.)
• Sector and service type
• Number of employees

Once complete, you’ll receive login details to begin the assessment.

Step 3 — Complete the PAS 91 Questionnaire

PAS 91 is the standard UK pre-qualification questionnaire used across construction procurement.

Questions cover:

• Company identity
• Insurance
• Financial stability
• Health & safety compliance
• Environmental management
• Quality management
• Equal opportunities
• Modern slavery
• GDPR compliance

Constructionline will not proceed until all sections are complete.

Step 4 — Upload Required Documents

This is the core of your accreditation.

Key Documents for Silver Level

You MUST provide:

• Health & Safety Policy
• Risk assessments & method statements (RAMS)
• Training records & competence (CSCS, NVQs, CPCS)
• Insurance certificates (EL/PL/PI)
• Accident reporting procedures
• Environmental policy
• Quality policy
• Anti-bribery and corruption policy
• Equality & diversity policy

Additional Documents for Gold Level

Gold requires evidence, not just policies:

• ISO 9001 / quality management system
• ISO 14001 / environmental management
• GDPR processes
• Modern slavery documentation
• Carbon reduction / sustainability evidence
• Full SSIP certificate (CHAS, SMAS, SafeContractor or equivalent)

Platinum Requirements (Advanced)

For high-value contractors only:

• Audited financial accounts
• BIM Level 2 capability
• Corporate social responsibility report
• Advanced supply-chain management plans
• Risk management framework

Step 5 — Undergo SSIP Health & Safety Assessment (Gold Only)

If you don’t already have SSIP, Constructionline partners with:

• CHAS
• SMAS
• SafeContractor
• Acclaim

This verifies you meet health & safety standards aligned with CDM 2015.

Step 6 — Assessment & Clarifications

Constructionline assessors review your evidence.
They may request:

• Extra documents
• Updated policies
• Missing certificates
• Clarification on processes

Responding quickly reduces assessment time.

Step 7 — Approval & Certificate Issued

Once approved, you will receive:

• Your Constructionline certificate
• A listing on the national database
• Access to client tenders
• Your verified badge to add to your website

Accreditation lasts 12 months.

How can we help?

We can complete the application, gather all required documents and answers to questions, and compile all necessary evidence, allowing you to focus on your job. We are efficient, economical and have a 100% success rate. Quote Request.

Common Reasons Constructionline Applications Fail

❌ Insurance expired or incorrect levels
❌ No evidence of competence (CSCS, NVQs)
❌ Out-of-date policies (must be reviewed annually)
❌ No subcontractor management system
❌ RAMS missing or generic
❌ No evidence for ISO-equivalent systems
❌ Missing SSIP certificate (Gold level)

Avoid these, and your application is far more likely to pass the first time.

FAQs

How long does Constructionline accreditation take?

Most applications take 5–15 working days, depending on document readiness.

How much does Constructionline accreditation cost?

Prices vary by company size and level:

• Associate: £100–£150
• Silver: £300–£600
• Gold: £600–£1,200
• Platinum: £2,000+

Do I need Constructionline to win work?

Not legally — but many main contractors, councils, and housing associations require Silver or Gold.

Can sole traders join Constructionline?

Yes. Sole traders often start with Associate or Silver depending on client requirements.

Does Constructionline include SSIP?

SSIP is included only at Gold level via partner schemes.

More information can be found below: 

• CHAS Accreditation Support
• SSIP Accreditation Help
• Health & Safety Policy Templates
• Risk Assessments & Method Statements
• Training Services

SSIP Accreditation: What It Is & Why It Matters for Contractors Guide

What is SSIP? Everything construction businesses need to know about the pre-qualification and winning more work.

What Is SSIP?

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is the UK’s national umbrella organisation for health & safety assessment schemes.
Instead of completing multiple safety accreditations, SSIP allows businesses to gain recognition once and have it accepted by many different buyers.

SSIP includes well-known schemes such as:

• CHAS

• SafeContractor

• SMAS Worksafe

• Constructionline (Health & Safety section)

• Alcumus

• BM Trada

If a contractor holds a CHAS, Constructionline, or PQS-approved accreditation, clients can trust that their health & safety systems meet core standards.

Why The Accreditation Matters

SSIP is now one of the most important benchmarks for contractors, subcontractors, and trades in the UK. Here’s why:

1. Win More Work With Recognised Safety Standards

Major contractors, councils, FM companies, and developers increasingly require CHAS, Constructionline, and PQS as part of PQQ or onboarding.

2. Saves Time on Repetitive Safety Pre-Qualification

SSIP prevents businesses from having to complete multiple health & safety assessments for different clients—saving hours of admin every month.

3. Reduces Cost of Compliance

Instead of paying for several accreditations, one SSIP certificate is accepted by many buyers.

4. Demonstrates Legal Compliance

SSIP assessments align with UK safety laws including:

• Health and Safety at Work Act

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

• CDM Regulations

This reassures clients that your company operates safely and competently.

5. Strengthens Your Brand & Credibility

Displaying an SSIP badge shows customers, inspectors, and project managers that you take safety seriously.

Get Accredited and Win More Work!

What Do The Assessors Check?

To gain accreditation through any approved scheme, your company must provide evidence of:

Health & Safety Management

• Up-to-date H&S policy

• Competent person support

• Safety arrangements

• Toolbox talks & site inductions

Risk Management

• Recent RAMS

• COSHH assessments

• Site-specific risk controls

Training & Competence

• CSCS/CPCS evidence

• Certificates of training

• Induction process

Incident & Reporting Systems

• Accident records

• RIDDOR procedures

• Near-miss processes

Insurance

• Employer’s liability

• Public liability

• Professional indemnity (if relevant)

If applying for enhanced schemes (e.g., SafePQQ), additional checks cover environmental, quality, and social value standards.

How to Get SSIP Accreditation (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Choose a Scheme

Decide whether CHAS, SafeContractor, SMAS, or Constructionline best matches your business needs.

Step 2: Complete the Online Assessment

Provide your company details, trade activities, and scope of works.

Step 3: Upload Documentation

Submit your health & safety policy, RAMS, training records, and insurance certificates.

Step 4: Assessment Review

An SSIP auditor reviews everything and may request additional evidence.

Step 5: Receive Your Certificate

Once approved, your business is added to the national database and can display the SSIP badge.

Accreditation lasts 12 months and must be renewed annually.

Most Common Reasons SSIP Applications Fail

Avoid these issues to secure fast approval:

❌ Outdated or missing H&S policy
❌ No recent or adequate RAMS
❌ Missing staff training certificates
❌ Incomplete accident records
❌ Insurance out of date or incorrect
❌ Competent person details missing

Fixing these in advance boosts your first-time pass rate.

SSIP vs Non-SSIP Schemes

SSIP is designed to simplify compliance across the entire supply chain.

Get Accredited and Win More Work!

Is it Worth It for Contractors?

Absolutely. The Accreditation helps you:

✔ Win more work
✔ Reduce tendering admin
✔ Get recognised by major contractors
✔ Demonstrate health & safety competence
✔ Strengthen your professional image

If you want to grow in construction, FM, engineering, or local authority supply chains, SSIP is now an essential requirement—not just a “nice to have.”

Do I need to be a CHAS accredited contractor?

If you are self-employed or a small contractor do you need to be a CHAS accredited contractor. You may be asked to get CHAS or other SSIP certificate. Let us explain the situation to you.

Domestic Market

If you work in the domestic market and want to sail close to the wind, the answer is no, as homeowners will not insist that you work safely.

However, you have a duty of care for yourself and others under UK health and safety legislation. Even working in the domestic market, you will be in trouble if you have a terrible accident or cause harm to others.

Construction Market

The answer is yes if you work in the construction market or want to work there. You will need to have a recognised standard of health and safety.

Main contractors and clients such as local authorities insist that everyone who works for them has a standard of health and safety. They insist as it is part of their health and safety systems.

The most well-known standard is CHAS, but there are other providers of the same standard under the SSIP umbrella. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is a organisation that manages accreditation suppliers, to ensure they work to the same standards.

The size of your business matters

If you are self-employed or a small contractor with less than 5 employees, you need CHAS or similar, SSIP but you will not be required to employ a competent person safety advisor.

You must employ a competent person safety advisor if you employ 5 or more people, including sub-contractors or other self-employed people. The easiest way to do this is to use a remote competent person safety advisor. We offer this service.

What is CHAS

The Core Criteria and the threshold standard of CHAS and all the other SSIP accreditations  is as follows:

• Health & safety policy
• Competent Advice
• Training arrangements
• Monitoring, audit and review
• Workforce involvement
• Accident reporting and enforcement action
• Subcontracting/consulting
• Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work
• Cooperations with others
• Welfare provision
• Hazard elimination

The Good News

We are here to support you through the process; we can prepare all the documents, complete the registration forms, and simplify the process. CHAS is expensive, but other providers are very economical. The best thing to do is chat with us and learn more; we can tell you about the costs and the time frame. Our number is 0800 031 5404, or you can complete the form below.

Introduction

If you are a construction client looking to check whether the contractor you intend to employ is SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) registered, look no further! We will show you how to determine whether someone is SSIP-registered, giving you the peace of mind you need before starting your project.

Get Accredited and Win More Work!

Contractor

If you are a contractor looking to become SSIP registered, you will need to select an accreditation company. The accreditation companies we work with are:

CHAS
PQS
ConstructionLine
Safe contractor
SMAS
CQMA
Builders profile
Evetta
Other

The most expensive is CHAS, and the least costly is PQS. Due to the Deem to Satisfy system by SSIP, a PQS accreditation is equivalent to a CHAS accreditation, and for a small fee, you can obtain certificates for both.

The driver for selection is normally your customer; if they insist on CHAS, you can get accredited with PQS and request a certificate for CHAS within the process.

Independent Advice

Feel free to call us, and we can advise you on the best selection for your needs. We have completed thousands of applications and understand the market inside out. We don’t mind which company you select; the assessment process is the same, thanks to SSIP.

Get Accredited and Win More Work!

Checking if a contractor is SSIP registered is straightforward

Go to the SSIP website and click onto the SSIP Portal.

In the search section type in the contractor name and press enter. If they are registered, the SSIP website. portal will give you the registration and renewal date details.

In order to find out the details and check it is the correct company you will need:

• Company full registered
• Registered address

Contacting the company and requesting a copy of their SSIP certificate and any additional and relevant documentation is also advisable. They should be willing to provide you with this information if they are a reputable company.

If you are not happy with the work someone has done for you this would not fall under SSIP. You would need to go to trading standards if you cannot resolve the issue with the company. Trading standards website

CHAS deem to satisfy process

The CHAS Deem to Satisfy process (DtS) scheme allows contractors to apply for CHAS Standard membership without undergoing another health and safety assessment.

All member schemes listed on the SSIP forum adhere to the SSIP Core Criteria, backed by the Health and Safety Executive.

By mutually recognising each other’s schemes, suppliers benefit from only needing to complete one assessment, while buyers enjoy more efficient procurement processes. This approach reduces costs and has saved over £68 million since 2016.

Eligibility

Contractors must have already met the requirements of an assessment through another SSIP member scheme. 

Benefits

Contractors can save time and resources by avoiding a full assessment. They can also avoid paying full price for multiple accreditations. 

Process

Contractors can: 

1. Check if they have a qualification that CHAS recognises by contacting CHAS or using the e-form. 
2. Submit their assessment, which will be reviewed within 10 working days. 
3. Respond to any requests for additional information within the 2-week deadline. 

CHAS deem to satisfy registered members

Two-Way Deem to Satisfy between SSIP Registered Members.

Approval with a Registered Member can only be used to Deem to Satisfy with another Registered Member; it cannot be used to gain a Deem to Satisfy with a Certification Body Member.

Below is the list of registered members you can use for deem to satisfy:

3Core2 Certification Limited Trading As SafeArb SafeArb

Achilles Information Ltd Building Confidence

Alcumus SafeContractor Ltd Alcumus Safecontractor

Altius VA Limited CDMComply

Arboricultural Association ARB Approved Contractor

Association for Project Safety APS Corporate Practice Membership

Avetta Avetta Assessed

CHAS 2013 Ltd Contractors Health & Safety Scheme

Construction Safety Solutions PASS

CQMS Ltd CQMS Safety-Scheme

D W Health & Safety DW Health & Safety Contractor Competency Scheme

Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training Ltd FASET Membership Audit

Fortius Ltd Acclaim Accreditation

Greenlight Safety Assessment Scheme Ltd Greenlight Safety Assessment Scheme

Hire Association Europe Ltd SafeHire Certification Scheme

International Powered Access Federation [IPAF] IPAF SSIP

MSL Property Care Services Ltd MSL Safepartner

National Access & Scaffolding Confederation Ltd NASC SSIP Audit

National Federation of Demolition Contractors NFDC Membership

PQS Pre-Qualification Scheme PQS Health & Safety Approved

Salus Certification Salus Certification

Safe-T-Cert [NI] {Construction Employers Federation} Safe-T-Cert

Safe-T-Cert [ROI] {Construction Industry Federation} Safe-T-Cert

Safety Management Advisory Services Ltd SMAS Worksafe

SSG Training and Consultancy Ltd SSG Assessed

William Martin Compliance Limited Prosure 360

Learn more about CHAS

We have a series of articles where you can learn more about CHAS. The list of articles is below:

• What is CHAS
• CHAS accreditations
• CHAS registration
• Guide to CHAS
• CHAS renewal
• CHAS accreditation cost
• SIPP accreditation and CHAS
• CHAS assessment criteria
• CHAS Training Guidance
• Competent person and CHAS
• CHAS support

If you have any questions on what is CHAS accreditation please get in touch.

SMAS Accreditation Explained

What is SMAS accreditation? it is a UK health and safety pre-qualification scheme used to assess whether contractors meet recognised standards for managing health and safety. It is widely accepted across construction and related industries and is often required before contractors can tender for work.

What Is SMAS Accreditation?

SMAS stands for Safety Management Advisory Services. SMAS accreditation is SSIP-recognised, meaning it follows the SSIP Core Criteria for assessing health and safety competence.

Achieving SMAS accreditation shows clients and principal contractors that your business manages risk effectively and complies with UK health and safety legislation.

What Does SMAS Accreditation Assess?

A SMAS assessment typically reviews:

• Health & Safety Policy
• Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
• Training and competence records
• Accident and incident reporting procedures
• Arrangements for managing subcontractors

The assessment is proportionate to your business size and risk profile.

Who Needs SMAS Accreditation?

SMAS accreditation is commonly required for:

• Construction contractors and subcontractors
• Electrical and mechanical contractors
• Facilities management and maintenance companies
• Businesses working for principal contractors or local authorities

For many buyers, SMAS is a minimum entry requirement.

Is SMAS the Same as SSIP?

No.
SSIP is the umbrella body, while SMAS is one of the accreditation schemes recognised under it. Holding SMAS demonstrates SSIP-aligned health and safety competence.

How Long Does SMAS Accreditation Last?

SMAS accreditation is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually to keep your compliance status current.

Benefits of SMAS Accreditation

SMAS accreditation helps contractors to:

• Win more work
• Reduce repeated PQQ paperwork
• Demonstrate health and safety competence
• Meet client and procurement requirements
• Build credibility with buyers

How much does SMAS cost?

• Fixed Fee for helping with your accreditation, which will depend on the number of your employees.
• eLearning may be required
• Additional RAMS may be required

• Worksafe
• Worksafe PQQ

Why apply for your SMAS accreditation?

When you undertake your SMAS registration, you will be demonstrating that you meet the recognised standards required by any organisation looking to employ you as a contractor. Having your SMAS accreditation is almost certain to open more doors and lead to more opportunities – in turn generating more business and profit for you, ensuring your own workforce is protected by robust health and safety practices.

Submit your SMAS Accreditation with confidence

Getting SMAS approved depends on you satisfying the SMAS assessors on a wide range of compliance issues.

Which ones apply to you will depend on various factors relating to your business, so step one is to ensure you have the right support from the beginning.

• We support you every step of the way
• Competitive pricing with no hidden costs
• A quick, easy and hassle-free process

SMAS Approval Guide: How to Get SMAS Accredited

SMAS accreditation is an SSIP-recognised health and safety assessment used by clients and principal contractors to verify contractor competence. Following the correct steps helps avoid delays, failed assessments, and unnecessary costs.

Step 1: Check Whether SMAS Is Required

Before applying, confirm that SMAS is the scheme requested by your client or tender documents. Many buyers accept any SSIP scheme, while others specifically ask for SMAS.

Step 2: Appoint a Competent Person

Under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, you must have access to competent health and safety advice. This can be:

• An in-house competent person, or
• An external health & safety consultant

SMAS will expect clear evidence of this.

Step 3: Prepare Your Core Health & Safety Documents

SMAS approval is evidence-based. You will typically need:

• A current Health & Safety Policy
• Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS)
• Training and competence records
• Accident and incident reporting procedures
• Evidence of toolbox talks and inductions

Documents must be relevant to your actual work activities.

Step 4: Gather Company and Insurance Information

You will be asked to provide:

• Company details and structure
• Public and Employers’ Liability insurance certificates
• Business activities and workforce size

Ensure insurance limits meet typical client requirements.

Step 5: Complete the SMAS Application

Submit your application online via the SMAS portal, uploading all required documentation. Accuracy and consistency are critical at this stage.

Incomplete or generic submissions are the most common cause of delays.

Step 6: Respond to Assessor Queries

An assessor will review your submission and may raise clarification queries. Responding promptly and accurately helps keep the process moving and avoids rejection.

Step 7: Achieve SMAS Approval

Once approved, you will receive:

• SMAS certification
• Permission to use the SMAS logo
• Inclusion on the SMAS contractor database
• You can now reference SMAS in tenders and pre-qualification submissions.

Step 8: Maintain and Renew Annually

SMAS accreditation is valid for 12 months. Keep documents up to date and review your systems regularly to ensure a smooth renewal.

Common Reasons SMAS Applications Fail

• Out-of-date or generic policies
• Missing training records
• Poorly written RAMS
• No evidence of a competent person

Most failures are avoidable with proper preparation.

Summary

• SMAS is an SSIP-recognised accreditation
• Evidence-based health & safety assessment
• Requires competent person support
• Valid for 12 months
• Preparation is key to approval