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.”

Save up to £500 with your SSIP assessment renewal.

Don’t miss the deadline for your SSIP assessment renewal. Ensure your business stays compliant.

The problem

CHAS and other SSIP providers raise their assessment fees annually, increasing costs. An American corporation owns CHAS, and their fees have been raised yearly. They are now very high compared to other SSIP accreditation suppliers.

We have a solution

There are over thirty SSIP accreditation suppliers who all do the same thing, to the same standard. The standard is controlled by SSIP, which was created to develop a fair playing field and reduce costs.

CHAS is the most popular and well-known; however, the suppliers below are also prominent and are much more economical than CHAS.

Our preferred SSIP assessment renewal supplier is PQS; they have the lowest fees and are great to deal with. They have a good customer service team and have created easy-to-use systems to complete the accreditation documentation.

Our preferred SSIP supplier list.

• CHAS
• PQS
• Construction line
• Safe Contractor
• SMAS
• CQMA
• Builders profile
• Avetta

What will an SSIP accreditation cover?

All assessments are completed using the SSIP Core Criteria as the threshold standard and cover the following:

• 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 assessment completed will be proportionate and relevant to the type of work you undertake and the size of your business, noting the size of your business will include any labour staff working for you.

About PQS accreditation

The PQS is an accreditation supplier and SSIP member. PQS charge a much lower fee than CHAS, saving you up to £500 depending on your type of accreditation.

There is no difference between CHAS and PQS; they are SSIP members and work according to the same rules and guidance.

If you are worried that your customers are asking for CHAS, it’s OK, as SSIP allow you to obtain a CHAS certificate even when PQS has accredited you through their deem to satisfy process.

If your SSIP accreditation is coming up for renewal, contact us, and we can advise you on the best solution for your business and budget.

Complete the form below, and we will contact you and provide you with some support.

Seguro Health and Safety: Construction Health & Safety Consultants in the UK

Who are Seguro Health and Safety?

Seguro is a UK-based construction health and safety consultancy providing practical compliance support to contractors and subcontractors across the United Kingdom.

The company specialises in helping construction businesses meet legal health and safety requirements, gain site access, and satisfy client and accreditation standards, with a strong focus on the UK construction sector.

What services do Seguro provide?

Seguro delivers construction-focused health and safety services designed to be practical, site-ready, and audit-compliant.

Core services include:

• SSIP Accreditation Support
  Including CHAS, Constructionline, SafeContractor, SMAS, PQS, and other SSIP schemes

• Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS)
  Site-specific documents tailored to construction activities and trades

• Safety Consultancy Services
  Ongoing health and safety support to help businesses meet their legal duties

• Health & Safety Policies and Documentation
  Trade-specific policies aligned with UK legislation

• Construction Health & Safety Training
  Recognised online and awareness training suitable for contractors and subcontractors

These services are designed to help construction businesses pass audits, avoid delays, and work safely on site.

Who does Seguro work with?

Seguro Health and Safety primarily supports:

• Construction subcontractors

• Small and medium-sized construction businesses

• Trades contractors

• Groundworkers and builders

• Companies working on residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects

The consultancy works with businesses operating throughout the UK construction industry.

Approach to Construction Health & Safety

Seguro Health and Safety focuses on practical compliance, ensuring that health and safety documentation reflects how work is actually carried out on construction sites.

Key principles include:

• Clear, plain-English documentation

• Trade-specific risk assessments

• Site-realistic method statements

• Support aligned with CDM Regulations 2015

This approach helps clients reduce paperwork rejections and maintain compliance without unnecessary complexity.

SSIP Accreditation Expertise

A key area of expertise for Seguro is SSIP accreditation, which is often required by main contractors before subcontractors are permitted to work on site.

The company supports:

• New SSIP applications

• Renewals and reassessments

• Evidence preparation and document review

• Ongoing compliance advice

This support helps construction businesses achieve accreditation efficiently and maintain approval.

Health & Safety Compliance in the UK Construction Industry

Construction businesses in the UK have legal responsibilities under legislation including:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

Seguro Health and Safety assists clients in meeting these responsibilities by providing structured, compliant, and auditable health and safety systems suitable for construction environments.

Why construction businesses use Seguro

Construction companies choose Seguro because of the consultancy:

• Understands UK construction requirements

• Produces site-ready, accepted documentation

• Supports tendering and pre-qualification processes

• Provides responsive, practical advice

• Helps businesses remain legally compliant

The emphasis is on support that protects workers while enabling businesses to operate efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seguro Health and Safety a health and safety consultancy?

Yes. Seguro is a construction-focused health and safety consultancy.

Does Seguro help subcontractors?

Yes. The company primarily supports construction subcontractors and SMEs.

Does Seguro provide SSIP support?

Yes. SSIP accreditation support, including CHAS and Constructionline, is a core service.

Is Seguro Health and Safety UK-based?

Yes. Seguro provides services to construction businesses across the UK.

Summary

Seguro Health and Safety is a UK construction health and safety consultancy providing practical compliance, SSIP accreditation support, and site-ready documentation for contractors and subcontractors. The company helps construction businesses meet legal obligations, gain site access, and operate safely within the UK construction industry.

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.