Skip to content
TenderReady

Cheapest SSIP Accreditation: PQS, CQMS and the Budget Routes Compared

By Brian Crocker· Last reviewed: 12 October 2026

Quick answer: If you only need to satisfy a health and safety prequalification requirement and the client accepts any SSIP member scheme, the cheapest routes are PQS (from £99+VAT for a sole trader) and CQMS (SSIP full assessment from £175+VAT). Both are UKAS-accredited SSIP registered members, so a pass is recognised by other SSIP schemes through mutual recognition. The catch: a budget SSIP scheme only covers core health and safety — if your client specifically demands CHAS, Constructionline Gold, or full Common Assessment Standard certification, the cheaper scheme will not always be accepted.

If a client asks for SSIP rather than naming a scheme, CHAS accreditation is not always the cheapest way to meet the requirement, and for a small contractor watching every pound, the difference between schemes can be several hundred pounds a year. This guide compares the budget SSIP options against the better-known schemes so you can decide whether the cheaper route actually works for your situation.

Disclaimer: Pricing below is taken from each scheme's publicly listed figures and verified on 2 September 2026 against each scheme's own published fee page. Fees change and are often quoted per number of employees or per site — always confirm the current price directly with the scheme before applying. TenderReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or formally connected to SSIP or any of its member schemes.

First, Check What Your Client Actually Requires

Before comparing prices, answer one question: what does the contract or PQQ actually ask for? This single check decides whether a budget scheme is an option at all.

  • "SSIP accreditation" or "an SSIP member scheme" — Any SSIP registered member satisfies this. The cheapest compliant scheme wins. This is where PQS and CQMS shine.
  • "CHAS" (named specifically) — Some buyers name CHAS by habit. It is worth asking whether they will accept any SSIP scheme via mutual recognition — many will. If they genuinely require CHAS, you need CHAS.
  • "Common Assessment Standard" or "CAS certification" — This is broader than core health and safety. Budget SSIP-only schemes do not cover the full Common Assessment Standard; you need a scheme that offers CAS (CHAS Elite, Constructionline Gold, or another CAS-recognised body).
  • "Constructionline Gold" — A specific tier of a specific scheme. No substitute. See our Constructionline Gold guide.

If the requirement is simply "SSIP", read on — you may be overpaying.

The Budget SSIP Schemes

PQS (Pre-Qualification Scheme)

PQS is one of the cheapest SSIP routes on the market. It is a UKAS-accredited inspection body and a registered SSIP member, which means its certificate carries the same mutual-recognition status as larger schemes.

Publicly listed pricing (verified 2 September 2026):

  • £99 + VAT — sole trader (1 person)
  • £119 + VAT — 2–4 personnel
  • £149 + VAT — 5–99 personnel
  • £199 + VAT — 100+ personnel
  • £49 + VAT — "deem to satisfy" (if you already hold a valid SSIP certificate from another scheme and want a PQS certificate via mutual recognition)

PQS also offers 24- and 48-hour fast-track assessment for an additional fee, which is useful if you have a tender deadline.

CQMS

CQMS is another SSIP registered member offering a lower-cost route, and unlike PQS it also offers Common Assessment Standard certification — making it a possible budget route to CAS if your client requires more than core health and safety.

CQMS publishes its Safety-Scheme fees in full on its own fees page. For the H&S module (the SSIP assessment):

  • £175 + VAT — full assessment, 0–4 persons employed
  • £225 + VAT — full assessment, 5 or more persons employed
  • £75 + VAT — "deemed to satisfy" using an existing SSIP member certificate (this is a mutual-recognition transfer, not an entry price — you must already hold an SSIP certificate)
  • £125 + VAT — optional fast-track service, assessment reviewed within one working day

Its CAS packages are separate and considerably dearer: CQMS Safety-Scheme Premium at £695 + VAT (Common Assessment Standard, no site visit) and CQMS Safety-Scheme Elite at £1,445 + VAT (in CQMS's words, Common Assessment Standard "including site-based audit", plus travel expenses at the HMRC prevailing rate and overnight accommodation if required). Both carry a "£150.00 reduction if applying with an SSIP exemption via the DTS route".

CQMS is worth a look specifically when you need CAS but want a cheaper assessment body than CHAS Elite. Note that its published website is cqms-ltd.co.uk — the shorter cqms.co.uk is not the scheme.

SMAS Worksafe

SMAS sits between the budget schemes and CHAS on price, with Worksafe published from £345 (Worksafe Plus from £565 and Worksafe Pro, the Common Assessment Standard tier, from £725). SMAS does not publish a pass rate; it says it aims to certify applicants "in as little as 1-10 days". It is covered in more detail, alongside Once For All Health & Safety and Achilles, in our guide to the other SSIP schemes.

How the Schemes Compare

Scheme Published entry price (verified 2 Sep 2026) UKAS / SSIP Offers full CAS? Best for
PQS From £99+VAT (sole trader) UKAS-accredited, SSIP member No (SSIP H&S only) Cheapest core SSIP; deem-to-satisfy at £49
CQMS SSIP from £175+VAT (published); CAS from £695+VAT SSIP member, offers CAS Yes Budget route when CAS is needed
SMAS Worksafe From £345 (published) SSIP member Via Worksafe Pro, from £725 Widely accepted mid-price scheme
CHAS Standard from £429/yr (published); Elite from £949 SSIP member, CAS via Elite Yes (Elite) Name recognition; public sector via Elite

Prices are indicative entry points and frequently depend on headcount, number of sites, and the specific product tier. CHAS pricing is covered in depth in our accreditation costs guide.

If you decide CHAS or Constructionline is the better fit for your business, our free accreditation cost calculator shows CHAS's fee for your headcount against consultant vs DIY preparation time, and links to Constructionline's own calculator, which prices by turnover band.

When the Budget Route Is the Right Call

A cheaper SSIP scheme makes sense when:

  • The contract asks only for "SSIP" with no named scheme.
  • You are a sole trader or micro-business where the per-employee pricing of larger schemes pushes the cost up unnecessarily.
  • You already hold one SSIP certificate and a second client wants a different scheme — use deem to satisfy (£49 + VAT with PQS) rather than paying for a full second assessment. This is mutual recognition working in your favour.
  • You need core health and safety approval quickly and on a budget, and can upgrade later if a bigger contract demands CHAS or CAS.

When to Pay More

Spend the extra on CHAS, Constructionline Gold, or full CAS certification when:

  • A client names the scheme explicitly and will not accept alternatives.
  • You are bidding for public sector work where the Common Assessment Standard is expected — Build UK's position is that central government departments and wider public sector bodies should use CAS to pre-qualify suppliers in accordance with PPN 03/24.
  • You want the broadest recognition across Tier 1 supply chains, where CHAS and Constructionline are most familiar to procurement teams.

The mistake to avoid is buying the most expensive scheme by default. The mistake in the other direction is buying the cheapest scheme and then discovering it does not satisfy the one client you wanted to win. Match the scheme to the requirement, not to the brand.

Not sure which scheme any of your clients will accept? Our decision guide walks through the questions to ask before you apply.

Sources and References

  • SSIP member schemes (registered members list) — ssip.org.uk
  • PQS Pre-Qualification Scheme pricing and UKAS status — pqscheme.com
  • CQMS Safety-Scheme SSIP health and safety assessment fees (£175 / £225 / £75 DTS / £125 fast-track) and CAS package fees (£695 Premium, £1,445 Elite) — cqms-ltd.co.uk
  • SMAS products and services — published starting prices for Worksafe, Worksafe Plus and Worksafe Pro — smasltd.com
  • SMAS SSIP accreditation ("We aim to get all applicants certified in as little as 1-10 days") — smasltd.com
  • CHAS contractor products and packages — published membership prices (Standard from £429, Advanced from £659, Elite from £949 per year) — chas.co.uk
  • Common Assessment Standard — Build UK

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available scheme information verified on 2 September 2026 and common industry practice. Pricing changes frequently and depends on your business size and the scheme tier — always confirm current fees with the scheme directly. TenderReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of PQS, CQMS, SMAS, CHAS, SSIP, or any other named scheme.