SSIP Accreditations – What you need to know at the start of the process.

6 May 2026 Please note the publication date on each article, as legislation and guidance can change over time and older content may no longer reflect the latest requirements.

Achieving SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) accreditation is often a key requirement for winning work, particularly in construction and related sectors. While the process is designed to be straightforward, many businesses run into delays, added costs, or even rejected applications due to misunderstandings around pricing structures and evidence requirements.

Understanding SSIP Pricing Structures

One of the most common areas of confusion is how SSIP schemes calculate their fees. Pricing is typically based on your labour model, and getting this wrong can result in incorrect applications or unexpected costs.

1. Directly Employed (PAYE)

This refers to your in-house workforce on payroll with a tiered fee structure based on the number of direct employees.

You’ll need to demonstrate full control over:

  • Training
  • Supervision
  • Health & safety management systems

Common mistake: Underreporting employee numbers or excluding site-based staff from totals.

2. Labour Only Subcontractors (LOSCs)

These individuals work under your direction and are treated similarly to employees from a health & safety perspective. SSIP schemes often require you to include LOSCs in your employee count.

You are responsible for:

  • Their supervision
  • Risk assessments
  • Competence and training

Common mistake: Treating LOSCs as independent contractors to reduce fees, this often leads to non-compliance during assessment.

3. Bona Fide Subcontractors

These are independent businesses working under their own management systems. They are not included in your employee numbers for SSIP pricing.

However, you must demonstrate how you assess and manage them, including:

  • Prequalification checks
  • Monitoring arrangements

Common mistake: Failing to show a clear system for vetting subcontractors’ health & safety competence.

Evidence Requirements: Where Applications Fall Down

SSIP assessments are evidence-based. It’s not enough to “have” systems you must demonstrate them clearly and correctly and submit worked evidence dated within the past 12 months.

1. Policies vs Practice

Many applicants submit a health & safety policy but fail to evidence how it is implemented. Assessors are looking for:

  • Signed and dated policies
  • Evidence of review
  • Communication to staff

Pitfall: Submitting generic templates with no company-specific detail, unsigned or type faced signature blocks.

2. Risk Assessments & Method Statements (RAMS)

Must be relevant to your actual activities

Should show:

  • Identified hazards
  • Control measures
  • Evidence of review and briefing

Pitfall: Uploading overly generic RAMS that don’t reflect real work activities.

3. Training & Competence

Evidence should include:

Training records in the form of a training matrix. (Expiry dates should be displayed within the matrix detail)

Qualifications and Certification (in date)

CSCS/CPCS/NPORS/PASMA/IPAF etc competence cards.(in date)

Pitfall: Submitted training matrix does not reflect the number of employed and LOSC stated when purchasing the accreditation.  Note:  You cannot directly amend the number of employees and LOSC's once purchased.  To progress the application, when errors are indentified, requires commuincation with the Accreditor to change the numbers and may result in additional charges.

4. Monitoring & Review

SSIP schemes want to see that your system is active.

Examples include:

  • Site inspections
  • Audit records
  • Accident/incident reporting

Pitfall: No evidence of ongoing monitoring this is a frequent reason for further evidence requests

5. Subcontractor Management

You must show a clear process for:

  • Selecting competent contractors
  • Reviewing their documentation
  • Monitoring their performance

Pitfall: Providing no evidence beyond “we use competent subcontractors.”

6. Communication records

Internal Communication (Workforce). This relates to how you engage with employees and labour-only subcontractors (LOSCs).

You should be able to demonstrate:

  • Inductions
  • Toolbox Talks
  • RAMS Briefings
  • Policy Communication
  • Ongoing Engagement such as safety alerts, memos, or updates
  • Meeting minutes (e.g. safety meetings or briefings)

Pitfall: Limited evidence of ongoing engagement, unsigned and dated briefing records and or toolbox talks

External Communication (Clients, Contractors, Others)

Client Communication

  • Sharing RAMS prior to starting work
  • Pre-start meeting records
  • Correspondence confirming agreement of safe systems

Subcontractor Management

  • Issuing H&S requirements to bona fide subcontractors
  • Prequalification questionnaires (PQQs) or competency checks
  • Evidence of coordination and supervision

Public / Third Party Protection

  • Signage, barriers, and site notices
  • Communication of risks where works interface with others

Incident Reporting

  • Evidence of reporting to clients or relevant parties where required

Pitfall: Misunderstanding the evidence requirements resulting in limited or no submission evidence

Applying this guidance with the support of your Principal Advisor will help ensure a smoother and more successful SSIP accreditation process.