What Is SSIP and Which Scheme Should You Choose?

Quick answer: SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is the umbrella body that connects UK construction health and safety assessment schemes — CHAS, Constructionline, SafeContractor, and others — under a common standard. Holding accreditation from any SSIP member scheme means your core H&S assessment can be recognised by the others through mutual recognition. For the full list of current member schemes, see the SSIP website.

If you run a construction SME in the UK, you will have encountered requests for health and safety accreditation — often as a non-negotiable requirement on tender prequalification questionnaires. The acronym SSIP appears frequently, but many contractors are unclear on what it actually means, how it differs from the individual schemes, and which scheme represents the best fit for their business.

This guide breaks down SSIP, explains how mutual recognition works in practice, and helps you decide which member scheme to pursue. For a broader overview of how prequalification works in UK construction, see our Complete Guide to Construction Supplier Prequalification.

Disclaimer: The guidance in this article is based on publicly available information and widely recognised industry norms. TenderReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or formally connected to SSIP or any of its member schemes. Always verify specific requirements directly with the relevant accreditation body.

What Does SSIP Stand For?

SSIP stands for Safety Schemes in Procurement. It is not itself an accreditation scheme — rather, it is a forum and umbrella body that brings together multiple health and safety assessment schemes under a common framework. SSIP was established to reduce duplication and cost for contractors who previously had to achieve separate accreditations for every client or sector they worked in.

The core idea is simple: if a contractor achieves accreditation through one SSIP member scheme, that achievement should be recognised by other member schemes through a process called mutual recognition. This avoids the need for businesses to undergo multiple full assessments covering substantially the same ground.

SSIP's role is to set a core criteria standard that all member schemes must assess against. This core criteria is aligned to relevant UK health and safety legislation and is reviewed periodically. Each member scheme may add its own supplementary requirements on top of the SSIP core criteria, but the baseline is consistent.

How Does SSIP Mutual Recognition Work?

Mutual recognition is the mechanism by which SSIP member schemes accept assessments carried out by other member schemes. In practical terms:

You achieve accreditation through one SSIP member scheme (for example, CHAS).
A client or principal contractor requires evidence of accreditation through a different SSIP member scheme (for example, SafeContractor).
Rather than completing a full new assessment, your existing accreditation is recognised — subject to any additional requirements specific to the second scheme.

There are important caveats. Mutual recognition covers the SSIP core criteria only. If the second scheme has supplementary modules or sector-specific requirements, you may still need to complete additional assessments. In practice, the process is not always seamless, and some schemes handle transfers more smoothly than others.

For SMEs, mutual recognition significantly reduces the administrative burden and cost of maintaining multiple accreditations. However, it is worth understanding that some clients specify a particular named scheme in their prequalification requirements, in which case mutual recognition may not fully satisfy their procurement criteria.

SSIP Member Schemes: Who Are They?

SSIP has a number of member schemes. The most commonly encountered in UK construction include:

CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) — One of the longest-established schemes, widely recognised across public and private sector procurement. Offers tiered levels including CHAS Standard, Advanced, and Elite.
SafeContractor — Popular across facilities management, construction, and maintenance sectors. Known for a relatively streamlined assessment process.
Constructionline — Operated by Capita and closely integrated with public sector procurement. Offers Gold and Silver tiers that bundle financial, health and safety, and capability assessments.
SMAS (Safety Management Advisory Services) — Particularly strong in Scotland and the north of England. Offers Worksafe and additional modules.
Acclaim Accreditation — Operated by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). Well-regarded in construction and property sectors.
Avetta — A global supply chain risk management platform with SSIP membership for its UK assessments.
NESMA (North East Safety Management Association) — Regional scheme with a strong presence in the north-east of England.

This is not an exhaustive list. SSIP publishes a current list of member schemes on its website, which is worth checking as membership does change over time.

For a detailed comparison of the three schemes most commonly required in construction tenders, see our guide: CHAS vs Constructionline vs SafeContractor.

How to Decide Which SSIP Scheme to Choose

Choosing the right scheme is not simply about finding the cheapest option. Several factors should inform your decision:

1. What Do Your Clients Require?

Start with your current and target clients. Review the prequalification questionnaires and tender documentation for your most important contracts. If a specific scheme is repeatedly named, that scheme should be your priority. Some principal contractors and public sector bodies have preferred suppliers lists tied to particular schemes.

2. Sector Alignment

While all SSIP schemes cover the same core criteria, some have stronger recognition in particular sectors:

Public sector and local authority work — Constructionline and CHAS are very widely recognised.
Facilities management and maintenance — SafeContractor has a strong presence.
Housebuilding and residential — CHAS and Acclaim are commonly specified.
Scotland and regional work — SMAS has particularly strong recognition.

3. What Else Do You Get?

Some schemes offer more than a health and safety assessment:

Constructionline bundles financial standing checks, anti-bribery, modern slavery, equality, and environmental assessments into its Gold tier.
CHAS offers a supply chain verification service and common assessment standard across its tiers.
SafeContractor provides a contractor management portal and buyer network.

If you need to demonstrate competence across multiple areas — not just health and safety — a scheme with broader scope may offer better value.

4. Cost Considerations

Pricing varies between schemes and typically depends on your company's turnover and employee count. As a general guide for small to medium contractors:

Annual fees typically range from a few hundred to over a thousand pounds depending on the scheme, tier, and company size.
Some schemes charge additional fees for supplementary modules (environmental management, quality management, modern slavery).
Multi-year subscriptions sometimes attract a discount.

Always obtain a direct quote from the scheme before committing. Prices are reviewed regularly and may differ from figures published online.

5. Assessment Process

The assessment process varies in format and rigour:

Some schemes are fully desktop-based, relying on uploaded documentation.
Others include telephone or video interviews with a qualified assessor.
Turnaround times can range from a few days to several weeks depending on the scheme and time of year (there is typically a rush before financial year-end in March).

If speed matters — for example, you need accreditation to meet a tender deadline — ask each scheme about current processing times before applying.

Benefits of SSIP Recognition for Construction SMEs

Achieving accreditation through an SSIP member scheme delivers several practical benefits:

Tender access. Many public and private sector contracts require SSIP-recognised accreditation as a minimum threshold. Without it, you will not pass prequalification.

Reduced duplication. Mutual recognition means one assessment can satisfy multiple client requirements, saving time and money.

Improved health and safety management. The assessment process itself is valuable. It forces you to review your policies, risk assessments, training records, and method statements — and to address gaps that may have developed over time.

Client confidence. Holding current SSIP accreditation signals to clients and principal contractors that your health and safety management has been independently assessed against a recognised standard.

Competitive advantage. For SMEs competing against larger firms, accreditation helps level the playing field. It provides third-party evidence of competence that does not rely solely on your track record or turnover.

Preparing for Your SSIP Assessment

Regardless of which scheme you choose, the core documentation requirements are broadly similar. You will typically need:

A written health and safety policy (with statement of intent, organisation, and arrangements sections)
Risk assessments relevant to your activities
Method statements or safe systems of work
Evidence of competent health and safety advice (whether in-house or external)
Training records and qualification certificates
Employers' liability insurance certificate
Accident and incident reporting procedures
Evidence of monitoring and review processes

The quality and specificity of this documentation is what separates a clean pass from a request for further information. Generic, off-the-shelf templates that do not reflect your actual activities are the most common cause of delays and resubmissions.

To get a quick indication of where you stand, try our free Construction Accreditation Readiness Scorer. For a detailed breakdown of what each scheme requires, use our Health & Safety Documentation Checklist.

Summary

SSIP is not a scheme — it is the framework that connects multiple health and safety assessment schemes under a common standard. Mutual recognition reduces duplication, but choosing the right scheme still matters. Start with what your clients require, consider the scope and cost of each option, and invest time in getting your documentation right before you apply.

The accreditation itself is not the end goal. It is a structured way to ensure your health and safety management is robust, current, and fit for the work you are doing. For construction SMEs, that is both a commercial necessity and a genuine safeguard for your workforce.

Sources and References

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) — ssip.org.uk
Common Assessment Standard (CAS) — maintained by the SSIP Forum
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — legislation.gov.uk
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 — legislation.gov.uk