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 save money with a PQS accreditation

Following recent client feedback, we would like to share information on PQS accreditation costs and where it stands in the current market.

PQS accreditation is the most competitive method for achieving SSIP accreditation. PQS can be used to obtain the majority of the SSIP umbrella group partners, such as CHAS and Safe Contractor, under their deem to satisfy scheme

We will explain all of the costs of achieving PQS accreditation and compare it to CHAS, one of the more popular alternatives.

Cost Comparison

CHAS have developed a membership-type offering. The cost of each type depends on how many people you employ.

Costs per annum: You must renew the membership each year.

CHAS accreditation costs

Save with PQS accreditation costs

The costs for PQS accreditation are:

The fees above are correct as of January 2025.

Training costs

In terms of training that is required to achieve the standard needed for assessment, this can vary depending on your activities.

The assessor will be looking to ensure all members of your workforce are trained for the task they are carrying out.

This can be an industry standard that is needed such as:

• Gas safe for gas engineers
• Level 3 NVQ in Electrical Installations
• CISRS Scaffolding Part 1 & 2 – Scaffolders

They will also look to ensure that refresher training is carried out such as tool box talks and eLearning is often required.

Courses that are often asked for include:

• Working at Height
• Manual Handling
• Asbestos Awareness

Competent person costs

Ensuring you have the right level of support and advice for your Health & Safety is a bit of a minefield and can be defined simply by the number of employees you have.

Less than 5 employees = Safety Advisor

This service is where you are offered support and advice when needed, this tends to be a one of payment where you will be given a service agreement, certificate and a CV to show the qualifications of the person who is providing you with the advice. Paperwork such as off the shelf risk assessments and risk assessment and Method statements would be provided on an as and when basis should you need them.

5 or more employees = Competent Person

This service is where you pay a monthly retainer fee for continued support and advice should you need it.  In this service you will be provided with a full Safety Management System including full Health & Safety Policy and Employee Handbook. A consultant will be on hand to provide advice and guidance should this ever be necessary.

Whilst not every company is black and white like this, the rule of thumb tends to be the details above. You may be asked by a client to prove you have a dedicated support for Health & Safety resource as well as a full health & safety policy.

Additional Information

If you still have more questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch, and we will be happy to help you achieve your accreditation.

What Is Builders Profile?

Builders Profile is a UK construction compliance and pre-qualification platform used to assess and verify contractor competence. It allows contractors to upload evidence once and share it with multiple clients, reducing repeated PQQs and simplifying compliance.

It is widely used by principal contractors, house builders, and developers across the UK.

What Does Builders Profile Do?

It acts as a central compliance hub where contractors store and manage key business information, including:

• Health & safety documentation
• Insurance certificates
• Training and competence records
• Company and financial details
• Accreditation evidence

Clients can access this information directly, saving time for both parties.

Who Uses Builders Profile?

It is commonly used by:

• Construction contractors and subcontractors
• Trades working for house builders and developers
• Principal contractors managing supply chains
• Facilities management and maintenance companies

Many large contractors require suppliers to be registered on Builders Profile before onboarding.

Is Builders Profile an Accreditation?

No. It is not an accreditation like CHAS, SMAS, or Constructionline.

Instead, it is a compliance and verification platform that may host evidence of your accreditations, helping clients review your compliance in one place.

What Information Is Assessed on Your Profile?

While the Profile itself does not certify you, it typically reviews and verifies:

• Health & Safety policies and procedures
• Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
• Training records (e.g. CSCS, trade qualifications)
• Insurance and company information
• Modern slavery, equality, and environmental policies

Benefits of Using Builders Profile

Your Profile helps contractors:

• Reduce repeated PQQ submissions
• Speed up supplier onboarding
• Improve visibility with clients
• Demonstrate compliance efficiently
• Manage documents in one central system

How Long Does Builders Profile Registration Last?

Registration is usually annual, with ongoing updates required to keep documents current and visible to clients.

Summary

• Builders Profile is a UK construction compliance platform
• Used to store and share contractor information
• Not an accreditation or SSIP scheme
• Reduces repeated PQQs
• Widely used by principal contractors and house builders

Expert Insight

Your Profile works best when combined with recognised accreditations such as CHAS, SMAS, Constructionline or CQMS, ensuring your compliance evidence meets buyer expectations.