UK Construction Accreditation Schemes Compared

CHAS vs SafeContractor vs Constructionline vs SMAS Worksafe: the master comparison

Before the decision tree, here's the full picture in one table — cost, SSIP status, who asks for it, how much assessment effort it takes, and how often you renew.

Which construction accreditation do you actually need?

Start with three questions, in this order, and you'll usually land on a single named scheme in under a minute.

1. Who asked you for it — did they name a scheme? Check the tender pack or ask the contact directly. If the answer is "CHAS", "SafeContractor", "Constructionline" or "any SSIP scheme", that's your answer — hold (or get) that one and stop there. If they said "an accreditation" with no name attached, move to question 2.

2. What type of work is it?

• Facilities management or reactive maintenance → SMAS Worksafe is widely accepted and often cheapest.
• General private-sector subcontracting → CHAS or SafeContractor, whichever is cheaper for your size.
• Tier-1, high-risk or high-value work → check whether they also want Constructionline Gold or the Common Assessment Standard on top of SSIP.

3. Public sector or private client?

• Public sector / local authority: usually accepts any SSIP scheme; Constructionline is common because the directory is free for buyers to search.
• Private main contractor: often names CHAS or SafeContractor by internal policy, or simply accepts any SSIP member.

The short decision flow, if you just want the rule:

• Main contractor named a scheme ("CHAS", "SafeContractor", "Constructionline", "any SSIP") → hold or get that one. Done.
• Public sector buyer → Constructionline is the safe default; its directory is what most public buyers search first.
• No one named anything → get the cheapest SSIP-approved scheme for your size and move on.

For the fuller version of this logic, including edge cases, see which accreditation do I actually need?

The single named recommendation: if nobody has named a scheme and you just need to be tender-ready, get the cheapest SSIP-approved membership for your headcount or turnover band — for most micro businesses that's Constructionline's entry tier or SMAS Worksafe. Upgrade only when a specific client demands a specific badge. That's the cheapest legitimate route through the gate, and it's covered in full below.

This page lays out what CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline and SMAS Worksafe actually cost, what they cover, and how to pick the cheapest option that gets you through the gate. We don't sell form-filling and no scheme pays to be listed here.

Last reviewed: 14/08/2026

What are construction accreditation schemes?

They are all ways of proving, on paper, that your health & safety is in order — so a main contractor can tick a box and let you on site. Most of them are SSIP-approved, which is the bit that makes them broadly interchangeable for the core health & safety assessment. Read more on how that recognition works in SSIP mutual recognition explained.

The differences between schemes are mostly about price, what else is bundled in (insurance checks, financial vetting, a public directory listing) and which clients ask for that specific badge by name.

CHAS vs SafeContractor vs Constructionline vs SMAS Worksafe: full comparison

Short answer: All four are SSIP-approved and run the same core health & safety assessment, so for satisfying an SSIP requirement they're equivalent. Pick the cheapest for your size unless a client names one specifically. Constructionline starts at £219/yr, SMAS Worksafe at around £345/yr, CHAS at £429/yr and SafeContractor at £540/yr for micro firms.

The schemes UK subcontractors get asked for most, side by side, covering cost, SSIP status, assessment type, renewal period and who typically demands it. Figures are typical entry-tier rates for a micro business; your renewal scales with headcount or turnover, and most prices are quoted ex-VAT with a one-off joining fee on top in year one.

Is SSIP enough on its own?

Short answer: For the majority of tenders, yes — one SSIP-approved scheme (CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline, SMAS Worksafe or another member) satisfies the health & safety gate. You only need more when a client demands a specific extra — the Common Assessment Standard, Constructionline Gold, or a named badge — that your current scheme doesn't cover. Read the full detail in do I need more than one accreditation?

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is not a scheme you join — it's the umbrella body that keeps the core health & safety assessment consistent across more than 50 member schemes. Because of an agreement called Deem to Satisfy, a valid SSIP certificate from one member is accepted by the others without re-assessment.

That means if a client just wants "SSIP", you can hold the cheapest approved scheme and be done. Where it gets more involved is the bits SSIP doesn't cover — financial vetting, the Common Assessment Standard, and client-specific questionnaires. That residual gap is the whole reason this site exists.

Read more: SSIP accreditation explained, the Common Assessment Standard question set, CHAS accreditation explained, and do I need more than one accreditation? for the full rule on when mutual recognition stops applying.

The cheapest legitimate route through the gate

If no client has named a specific scheme, here's the honest, no-upsell route:

1. Work out your band. CHAS and SafeContractor price by headcount; Constructionline and SMAS Worksafe by turnover or headcount band. Get an actual quote — don't rely on headline "from" prices.
2. Pick the cheapest SSIP-approved scheme for that band. For most micro and small subcontractors, that's Constructionline's entry tier (from £219/yr) or SMAS Worksafe (from around £345/yr).
3. Hold that one certificate and reuse it. Thanks to Deem to Satisfy, it covers any client who accepts "any SSIP" — which is most of them.
4. Only add a second scheme or a higher tier when a named client demands it — Constructionline Gold, the Common Assessment Standard, or a client-specific PQQ that sits outside SSIP entirely.

That's the whole game: don't pay for a badge nobody's asked for, and don't let the one you do hold lapse. Renewal tracking across multiple schemes and evidence portals is the bit that catches people out — it's what TradeComply is built to solve.

How much does each one cost?

• CHAS — Standard from £429/yr +VAT, Advanced from £659, Elite from £909. Priced by headcount. Full breakdown in CHAS cost. See also CHAS accreditation explained.
• SafeContractor — Standard from £540/yr, with faster-turnaround and assisted plans from £650–£690 (all up around 29% in 2026). Priced by headcount, plus a one-off joining fee. Full breakdown in SafeContractor cost. See also SafeContractor explained.
• Constructionline — from £219/yr, priced by turnover band, across Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers. SSIP is now bundled on every tier — which changes the old advice. See Constructionline Gold vs Silver vs Bronze and Constructionline explained.
• SMAS Worksafe — an SSIP scheme that often comes in cheapest for small firms, from around £345. See what SMAS Worksafe is.

New to these names? Start with the plain-English explainers: what is SafeContractor?, what is SMAS Worksafe?, and CHAS accreditation explained.

For a deeper side-by-side specifically on CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline pricing and coverage, see the master comparison table near the top of this page — this page now covers that ground in one place, and the separate CHAS vs SafeContractor vs Constructionline page has been merged in here.

How to pick one

1. 1
   Ask the client what they accept. Most main contractors and public buyers will name the scheme(s) they recognise, or simply say "any SSIP". This single answer usually decides it.
2. 2
   Match the cheapest qualifying scheme. If they accept any SSIP member, hold the cheapest one for your size. If they name Constructionline or the Common Assessment Standard specifically, you need that one.
3. 3
   Check what's bundled. A directory listing (Constructionline) or insurance verification can be worth the difference if it saves you a separate step elsewhere.
4. 4
   Diary the renewal. Every scheme is annual. A lapsed certificate can cost you a tender overnight — the single most common avoidable mistake.

Before you pay: watch-outs

Frequently asked questions

Do I need more than one accreditation scheme?

Usually no. If your clients accept "any SSIP" scheme, one SSIP-approved membership covers the core health & safety requirement everywhere, thanks to Deem to Satisfy. You only need a second scheme when a specific client demands a specific badge — for example the Common Assessment Standard — that your current scheme doesn't carry.

Which accreditation is cheapest?

For the smallest businesses, Constructionline's entry tier starts lowest at around £219/year, CHAS's entry tier is £429/year +VAT and SafeContractor's is £540/year. Because all three price by your size, the cheapest for you depends on your headcount or turnover — get a quote for your actual band.

Is CHAS better than SafeContractor?

Neither is "better" — both are SSIP-approved and both run a full core health & safety assessment, so for satisfying an SSIP requirement they're equivalent. Choose on price for your size, turnaround speed, and which one your clients name.

What is the cheapest construction accreditation?

For the smallest businesses, Constructionline's entry tier starts lowest at around £219/year +VAT, and SMAS Worksafe often comes in around £345/year for firms with 1–5 employees. CHAS starts at £429/year +VAT and SafeContractor at £540/year. Because every scheme prices by your size (headcount or turnover), the cheapest for you depends on your actual band — always get a quote before comparing.

How long does SSIP accreditation last?

All SSIP-approved schemes renew annually. Your certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, and it's your responsibility to renew before it lapses — a lapsed certificate can lock you out of site overnight. Most schemes send renewal reminders 60–90 days before expiry, but diary the date yourself as a backup.

Can I use one accreditation for multiple clients?

Yes — that's the whole point of SSIP Deem to Satisfy. One valid SSIP certificate is recognised across all member schemes, so you can tender to multiple clients with the same accreditation. The exception is when a specific client demands a specific badge by name (e.g. Constructionline Gold) or an extra tier of vetting that your current scheme doesn't carry. See do I need more than one accreditation? for when you genuinely need a second scheme.

Is CHAS, SafeContractor or Constructionline better for a small subcontractor?

For a small subcontractor, none is inherently "better" — all three run the same core SSIP health & safety assessment. Constructionline is usually cheapest at entry level (from £219/yr) and adds a searchable directory; CHAS (£429/yr +VAT) and SafeContractor (£540/yr) cost more but are the most commonly named by private main contractors. Check what your client accepts before paying for any of them.

Which accreditation do I actually need?

Start by asking whoever requested it whether they named a specific scheme — if they did, get that one. If they just said "an accreditation" or "SSIP", the cheapest SSIP-approved scheme for your size will usually clear the bar. Walk through the full three-question decision tree in which accreditation do I actually need?