Risk management should be a top priority for your business. Not only can effective risk management strategies keep workers, site visitors and members of the public safe from harm during your business operations, they’re also important for ensuring the success of your organisation.
Customers, investors and workers alike want to see that you take risk management seriously — it’s vital for your business’s reputation, profitability and sustainability. There’s also a lot of risk management legislation that your business needs to comply with. That’s where risk management certification courses come in.
One of the best ways to achieve compliance, meet rising supply chain standards and demonstrate your competence to clients and investors is to gain risk management certification or accreditation.
What Are Risk Management Certification Courses and Accreditation Schemes?
Risk management certification courses and accreditation schemes make it as simple as possible for you to demonstrate your compliance with risk management standards and legislation.
They provide a number of modules containing question sets relating to different areas of risk management — such as health and safety, finance, anti-corruption and bribery and corporate social responsibility. You’ll usually need to answer and provide evidence for questions using your business’s written policies.
Some risk management certification bodies give you the option to complete modules online so there’s no need for an in-person, on-site assessment. You’ll just need to attach your policies to your online application.
Once you’ve completed modules and submitted your answers, your responses and policies will be assessed by a qualified Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) auditor. If your answers are approved, you’ll gain certification or accreditation.
In the construction industry, there are several different levels of accreditation you can achieve. You may want to demonstrate compliance in just one or two areas of risk management, or you might prefer to complete additional modules to gain a higher level of accreditation.
The higher your level of accreditation, the more projects you’ll automatically prequalify for, and the more clients you’ll appeal to.
The Benefits of Risk Management Certification and Accreditation
There are many benefits that come with gaining risk management certification or accreditation. You can increase your business’ reputability, appeal to more clients, and safeguard your business by ensuring compliance with important legislation.
- Set Yourself Apart from Competitors
Clients — especially larger clients — will almost always choose accredited contractors over those without any formal recognition from risk management professional bodies. By gaining certification or accreditation, you can set yourself apart from competitors. - Prequalify for Work Opportunities
In the construction industry, clients can require contractors to prequalify for projects by completing a prequalification questionnaire and demonstrating compliance and competence in certain areas of risk management. Certification and accreditation can often be used to evidence prequalification questionnaires, streamlining the prequalification process. - Land High-Ticket Contracts
High-ticket contracts will usually require a contractor with a certain level of experience. For these larger projects, clients will often prioritise contractors that have achieved a high level of accreditation. For example, clients may look for contractors with the CHAS Common Assessment Standard — the industry gold standard in construction.
Deciding between Risk Management Professional Bodies
There are several different risk management professional bodies offering certification courses and accreditation schemes. When choosing a scheme that’s right for your business, opt for a professional body that specialises in your industry. This way you’ll be able to make the most of any benefits that come with accreditation and certification — such as free resources.
For example, at CHAS we specialise in providing risk management services to businesses in construction and other related sectors. Accredited CHAS members gain access to industry-specific risk management resources such as RAMS documents.
You should also consider how widely recognised accreditation or certification is from different risk management professional bodies. Ideally, you want to gain accreditation that will be recognised by clients in all corners of the country. This can help you prequalify for more projects, land more work opportunities and potentially grow your business as a result.
Free Risk Assessment Template
Take the stress and confusion out of creating a risk assessment with our free template.
Enter your details, and we’ll email you a risk assessment template that’s both compliant and comprehensive to use.
By submitting this form you confirm you are happy to be contacted by CHAS in accordance with our Privacy Policy
