CHAS vs SafeContractor vs Constructionline: Which Should You Get?

Last reviewed: 10/11/2026, by the TradeComply desk. All three schemes — CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline — meet SSIP mutual recognition for the core health & safety check, but they differ in cost, tier structure, and what they cover beyond health & safety. This is a three-way comparison of CHAS vs SafeContractor vs Constructionline — cost, assessment depth, renewal cycle, and exactly which one a 1–12 person subcontractor actually needs, by scenario.

All three are SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement)-approved, so for satisfying a basic SSIP requirement they are interchangeable. The honest difference is this: CHAS (the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) and SafeContractor (run by Alcumus) are assessment schemes; Constructionline is a procurement database with a public directory buyers search. Choose on price for your size, turnaround, and — above all — which badge your clients name. Don't pay for more than one unless a client forces you to. Your underlying health & safety policy needs to satisfy whichever scheme you pick, since the core document requirements overlap across all three.

Which is cheapest for a 5-person subcontractor?

For most micro subcontractors, Constructionline Bronze is the cheapest entry point by headline price, from £399 a year ex-VAT, against £429 for CHAS and £540 for SafeContractor — but Constructionline prices by turnover band, not headcount, so a small team with higher turnover can land in a costlier band than the "from" price suggests. Check your actual turnover and headcount against each scheme's pricing table before assuming the cheapest headline is the cheapest outcome.

How do CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline compare?

The table below lays out entry cost, pricing basis, renewal cycle, SSIP coverage, Common Assessment Standard inclusion, public directory listing and assessment depth side by side, so you can match it against your own headcount or turnover band before buying anything.

(CHAS pricing, checked 10/11/2026) · (SafeContractor pricing, checked 10/11/2026; turnaround checked 10/11/2026) · (Constructionline pricing, checked 10/11/2026) · (CHAS turnaround, checked 10/11/2026)

What's the detailed breakdown by cost page?

For the full fee schedule and what's bundled at each tier, see CHAS cost, SafeContractor cost and the Constructionline tier breakdown — each goes deeper than the summary table above on exactly what you get at your headcount or turnover band.

Which is easiest to renew?

All three run an annual renewal cycle, but CHAS publishes the fastest typical turnaround (usually within 10 working days once evidence is submitted), SafeContractor's Standard plan reviews within 20 working days, and Constructionline doesn't publish a turnaround figure. None of the three carry your renewal date forward automatically — you still need to track the date yourself and resubmit evidence each year regardless of which scheme you hold.

Which one do you actually need? Verdict for a 1–12 person subcontractor

If you're a small subcontractor with no standing client requirement yet, don't buy any of these speculatively. Wait until a client or PQQ names a specific scheme, then buy that one. If a client only says "any SSIP", buy the cheapest entry tier for your headcount — that's usually Constructionline Bronze on price, though it's priced by turnover band rather than headcount so check where you actually land. If you regularly bid on public-sector or tier-1 framework work, Constructionline's public directory earns its keep beyond just the badge. Don't hold two SSIP memberships side by side — see "Do I need more than one accreditation?" below.

Which scheme do you need when a client asks for one?

A main contractor asked for "SSIP" (not a named scheme). Any SSIP-approved certificate satisfies this under Deem to Satisfy — hold whichever of CHAS, SafeContractor or Constructionline is cheapest for your size and don't buy a second.

A public sector buyer asked for Constructionline. Public frameworks and larger tier-1 contractors often search the Constructionline directory directly, so a CHAS or SafeContractor certificate won't get you found even though the underlying H&S assessment is equivalent. You need a Constructionline listing at the tier the buyer specifies — see Constructionline Gold vs Silver vs Bronze.

A facilities management client asked for SafeContractor. FM and facilities-sector clients frequently name SafeContractor specifically, often because their own supply chain standardises on it. If that's the named requirement, buy SafeContractor rather than substituting CHAS — check with the client first, but a differently-named SSIP scheme is not always accepted without confirmation even though the schemes are mutually recognised in principle.

Do I need more than one accreditation?

Usually no. All three schemes are SSIP-approved, and under Deem to Satisfy a valid certificate from one is meant to be accepted in place of another for the core health & safety assessment. In practice you may end up holding two if: a public-sector client specifically requires the Constructionline directory listing on top of your existing CHAS or SafeContractor certificate; a client names the Common Assessment Standard, which only CHAS Elite and Constructionline Gold/Platinum include; or you're mid-renewal on one scheme when a new client's requirement lands. Outside those cases, holding two SSIP memberships is paying twice for the same core assessment — ask the client whether your existing certificate satisfies them before buying a second.

What is each scheme really for?

• CHAS (Veriforce CHAS) — a long-established SSIP scheme. Founding SSIP member. Tiers run Standard → Advanced → Elite, with Elite adding the Common Assessment Standard. Priced by headcount. Detail in CHAS cost.
• SafeContractor (Alcumus) — another SSIP scheme, with plans that mostly differ on turnaround speed and assisted support rather than what's assessed. Lowest entry tier of the assessment schemes. Detail in SafeContractor cost.
• Constructionline — a database main contractors and public buyers search to find pre-vetted suppliers. SSIP is bundled on every tier; the higher tiers add standing checks and the Common Assessment Standard. Detail in Constructionline Gold vs Silver vs Bronze.

How do you choose without overpaying?

1. 1
   Get the requirement in writing. Ask each client which scheme(s) they accept. "Any SSIP" is the magic phrase — it means you can hold the cheapest one.
2. 2
   Price your actual size. CHAS and SafeContractor scale by headcount; Constructionline by turnover. The "from" prices rarely apply once you add staff or revenue.
3. 3
   Avoid duplicate SSIP. If you already hold one SSIP scheme, Deem to Satisfy means a new client should accept it without you buying a second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is one of the three better than the others?

Not for the core health & safety check. CHAS and SafeContractor are both SSIP member schemes running a full core assessment, so they're equivalent on that score. Decide on entry price for your size, how fast you need the certificate, what's bundled, and which one your clients name. If it's only CHAS against SafeContractor, the SafeContractor vs CHAS guide goes deeper on cost, assessment and which main contractors accept each.

Can I use Constructionline instead of CHAS?

If your client accepts "any SSIP" scheme, yes — Constructionline includes SSIP on every tier. If your client specifically names CHAS, you need CHAS. Always confirm what the client will accept before switching.

Do these schemes recognise each other?

Yes, for the core health & safety assessment. All three are SSIP members, so a valid certificate from one is accepted by the others under Deem to Satisfy. That recognition does not extend to financial vetting or the Common Assessment Standard — those are separate.

Do I need more than one accreditation?

Usually not for the core SSIP health & safety requirement — one certificate should satisfy any client asking for "SSIP". You may need a second if a client specifically requires the Constructionline directory listing, or names the Common Assessment Standard, which isn't covered by Deem to Satisfy. See "Do I need more than one accreditation?" above for the detail.

Which should a small subcontractor pick if no client has asked yet?

Don't buy speculatively. Wait for a client or PQQ to name a requirement, then buy the cheapest scheme that satisfies it for your headcount or turnover band. If you regularly bid public-sector or tier-1 work, a Constructionline listing is worth having ahead of time; otherwise it's an unnecessary annual cost.

If I have CHAS Standard, can I use it for a SafeContractor requirement?

If the client's requirement is genuinely "any SSIP scheme", yes — CHAS Standard covers the core health & safety assessment that SafeContractor also runs, and Deem to Satisfy means it should be accepted. If the client's paperwork specifically names SafeContractor rather than SSIP generally, confirm with them first; some supply chains standardise on a named scheme for reasons beyond the core assessment.

Which scheme includes the Common Assessment Standard?

Only the higher tiers: CHAS Elite and Constructionline Gold/Platinum include the Common Assessment Standard. SafeContractor does not currently include it. The standard tiers of CHAS and Constructionline, and all of SafeContractor's plans, cover the core SSIP health & safety assessment only.

What's the difference between CHAS Elite and Constructionline Gold?

Both add the Common Assessment Standard on top of core SSIP, but CHAS is priced by headcount and stays an assessment-only certificate, while Constructionline Gold also keeps your business listed and searchable in the public procurement directory. If a client needs to find you in a directory as well as see the Common Assessment Standard, Constructionline Gold does both; CHAS Elite does the assessment only.

Can I use one scheme's certificate to satisfy another scheme's requirement?

For the core SSIP health & safety element, yes — that's what Deem to Satisfy is for, and it applies across CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline and the other SSIP member schemes. It doesn't cover a public directory listing, financial vetting, or the Common Assessment Standard, so check what the client is actually asking for before assuming one certificate covers everything.

If a client asks for SSIP, which scheme should I pick?

Whichever is cheapest for your size — CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline all satisfy a plain "SSIP" requirement. Compare the entry price against your own headcount (CHAS, SafeContractor) or turnover band (Constructionline) rather than the generic "from" price, since that's what determines your actual cost.