Safety Schemes in Procurement is an umbrella group of over 50 health and safety assessment schemes in the UK—like CHAS, Constructionline, Safecontractor, and more.
But what’s really striking is how widely it’s now used.
As of January 2024, there were 83,797 valid certificates on the SSIP Portal. That’s more than 83,000 suppliers proving they meet industry health and safety standards across the UK.
The portal acts as a kind of search engine for accredited suppliers—especially useful during tendering. In fact, 43,431 searches were made on the SSIP Portal in just one month. That means thousands of companies were actively being vetted for new work opportunities.
Deem to Satisfy (DtS)
One of the smartest things SSIP has done is introduce the Deem to Satisfy system.
Let me explain it simply. You get assessed by one SSIP member (like CHAS), and instead of having to do another whole assessment for SMAS or someone else, your certification is accepted across other schemes.
This stops businesses from repeating the same compliance checks over and over. It’s like being allowed through multiple doors with just one key.
In January alone, 3,815 DtS certificates were issued. If we estimate that each one saved just 2–3 hours of admin or site audit time, plus a few hundred pounds in repeat assessment fees, that’s a saving of over £950,000 in one month. Scale that up across a year, and we’re talking tens of millions saved.
What this means for your business
If you’re still going through multiple assessments for different clients or contracts, these numbers should make you sit up and take notice.
The construction industry is projected to grow by 12% in 2024 and another 3% in 2025, according to Glenigan’s forecasts. With this growth comes more tendering opportunities—and more potential assessment headaches if you’re not SSIP accredited.
The SSIP Portal has become an essential resource during the tendering process, with clients using it to verify suppliers’ certifications. Being visible on this platform puts your business in front of potential clients actively looking for competent contractors.
Clients trust accreditation and it helps you win work
SSIP accreditation is a nice label to slap on your website or marketing materials. It tells clients you’ve been checked, that your policies are up to scratch, and that you’re serious about doing things the right way.
That kind of trust translates into business. More tenders. More repeat work. More word-of-mouth recommendations.
A UKAS survey backs this up. According to their research, 93% of businesses say accreditation gives their customers more confidence and 71% agree it helps them win or keep contracts.
Additionally, 76% say it helps them stand out from the competition while 85% believe it improves the quality and credibility of their work.
I can tell you that a Constructionline Gold badge or CHAS Elite certificate on a supplier’s profile immediately boosts credibility with clients. You don’t even need to say much, it speaks for you.
Accreditation is a business asset
For small or mid-sized contractors, the word “accreditation” can feel like red tape. More forms. More emails. Another invoice.
But the flip side is that the businesses that invest in getting accredited often end up with more tenders, smoother procurement processes, and fewer costly mistakes. Some even benefit from reduced insurance premiums or legal support baked into their scheme membership.
When clients know you’ve already passed a recognised safety assessment, it saves everyone time and avoids duplication. That makes you easier to work with and harder to reject during the bidding process.
Is accreditation worth it? Absolutely.
As someone who trains people through Safecontractor, CHAS, Constructionline and more, I see this every day—the businesses that treat accreditation as a growth tool end up further ahead.
It allows you to show your clients, team, and your industry that value health and safety and that you’re ready to be trusted with bigger, more valuable work.
If you’re not accredited yet, I’d say now’s the time to consider it. Because while the upfront work might feel like effort, the long-term benefits—from time saved to money earned—are simply too good to ignore.
Would you like help getting your CHAS, Safecontractor, SSIP, or Constructionline application sorted? That’s what I do. Contact me on +44 (0)20 8059 3633 or email info@traininhealthandsafety.com. I’ll tell you which scheme suits your goals and walk you through what to do next.