Becoming Accredited: Is The Common Assessment Standard Worth It?

Is the Common Assessment Standard worth it? Do the benefits outweigh the work required to achieve accreditation? Here’s a breakdown of what it will cost your business, what it will save your business, and whether it works out in your favour.

What Are The Advantages Of The Common Assessment Standard

The benefits of achieving compliance with the Common Assessment Standard are far reaching for both contractors and clients. Contractors working to achieve accreditation will have a number of advantages compared to those not pursuing the latest standard.

Achieve The Highest Level Of Accreditation

Because the Common Assessment Standard builds on the existing PQ questionnaires, it is a more comprehensive assessment than its predecessors. It is a thorough evaluation of the potential areas of risk assessment that are not currently covered in such detail. This means that achieving the Common Assessment Standard puts contractors at the highest level of certification. It also replaces the need for chasing multiple badges and certifications with one overarching accreditation.

The Benefits To Your Business Processes

The main effect businesses will feel is an improvement to their supply chain process. The Common Assessment Standard streamlines processes, meaning more effective working for contractors.

Prequalifying For Business Opportunities

The Common Assessment Standard is worth it for contractors getting access to business opportunities. All contractors that gain accreditation are added to a contractor pool that clients adopting the Common Assessment Standard will have access to. This allows clients to select their providers based on those that are accredited. In this way, contractors that achieve the Common Assessment Standard status will obtain increased client visibility, resulting in the potential to win more contracts.

Many of the industry’s biggest names have already specified the Common Assessment Standard as a requirement to work with them, and so to work with the likes of Balfour Beatty, HS2 and Kier contractors will need to meet this standard.

Related Reading: Powerful Benefits Of The Common Assessment Standard

Is The Common Assessment Standard Worth It Financially?

Like any business decision, one of the main considerations with the Common Assessment Standard will be its effect on a company’s bottom line. The industry bodies that developed the model made sure this was an achievable and affordable option to encourage all companies to adhere to the standard.

The major incentive in developing the Common Assessment Standard was to streamline processes across the industry. The intention is to reduce waste of expense, time and resources. The new framework will benefit companies independently but will have significant advantages for the entire construction industry. In short, experts suggest that adopting the Common Assessment Standard across the sector will save the industry up to £1 billion per year.

Related Reading: Why Is The Common Assessment Standard Important In Construction?

Achieving the Common Assessment Standard is an extension of the current PQQ process, so it is not an entirely new framework but a more comprehensive version of what came before it. Contractors who have already gained accreditation through assessment bodies, including CHAS, will be familiar with the process. For example, if you have already demonstrated compliance with SSIP (CHAS Standard) or  PAS 91 (CHAS Advanced) standards, you can upgrade your compliance levels by becoming a CHAS Elite member and completing the Common Assessment Standard.

The aim of the Common Assessment Standard is that the overall cost will be less than undergoing numerous prequalifications, saving not just money but also removing the excess labour and time wasted in the current process.

Aside From Monetary Considerations, What Will The Common Assessment Standard Cost?

Financially you may deem the Common Assessment Standard to be worth it, but what about the investment of time and resources? It’s actually not as complex as you may expect.

The framework clearly outlines the areas of risk management you need to achieve compliance in and the evidence required to demonstrate compliance. Rather than separate certifications and badges, this comprehensive list keeps everything in one place and will help to streamline your administrative tasks.

There are additional areas that the Common Assessment Standard requires compliance in, which will require an increased effort from contractors. Evidence will need to be provided in areas not necessarily required in other health and safety and risk management criteria like Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and data security. This will require some additional labour, but it ultimately helps expose any vulnerabilities in supply chains and business practices that may not have been considered previously.

While there will be additional assessment areas, overall, the aim is to reduce the bulk of paperwork. Much of the wasted costs this initiative hopes to cut down on are as a result of the paperwork contractors go through to demonstrate compliance to supply chain standards. Around 180,000 specialist contractors produce as much as two million pieces of paper every year in applications and providing evidence under existing schemes. The introduction of the Common Assessment Standard will change that by getting rid of duplicate information and processes.

When you sign up for CHAS Elite membership, you get access to the Common Assessment Standard and expert advice and support while you prepare for your assessments. This can help provide a clear pathway to gaining accreditation and alleviate some of the stress companies may experience during other accreditation processes. 

Related Reading: Does My Business Need The Common Assessment Standard?

Is The Common Assessment Worth It For Businesses?

All companies are encouraged to consider a cost-benefit analysis when introducing new business practices. From a business perspective, the Common Assessment Standard is worth it for the improvement of your business alone. Even putting aside the additional opportunities from clients mandating the accreditation, simply making your company accountable in 13 areas of risk management is a huge bonus for your business. It helps you operate to the highest standard, safe in the knowledge that you’ve considered all areas of risk to your business.