Why UK contractors struggle with Common Assessment Standard and SSIP compliance

Key takeaways

• Most compliance challenges in the UK construction industry are operational, not technical 
• Evidence and documentation are the biggest barriers to passing assessments 
• SSIP reduces duplication, but still requires structured internal processes 
• A proactive, organised approach makes compliance significantly easier 

 For many UK contractors, achieving compliance is not the biggest challenge. The real difficulty lies in understanding evolving requirements, maintaining up-to-date documentation and evidencing compliance consistently across projects. 

The Common Assessment Standard, SSIP and the legacy PAS 91 framework were designed to improve consistency and reduce duplication in UK construction procurement. However, many contractors still find compliance complex, particularly as industry expectations continue to evolve. 

For more than 30 years, CHAS has assessed contractors against recognised industry standards and has seen first-hand where businesses encounter difficulties during prequalification and compliance assessments. In many cases, the issue is not a lack of commitment to compliance, but a lack of evidence demonstrating that policies and management systems are being implemented effectively. 

Understanding the relationship between Common Assessment Standard, SSIP and PAS 91

What is the Common Assessment Standard? 

The Common Assessment Standard is a UK construction prequalification framework that standardises how contractors are assessed. It helps clients evaluate suppliers consistently, reduces duplication and has replaced PAS 91 as the primary industry benchmark. 

It provides a structured way for organisations across the UK construction supply chain to demonstrate competence, risk management and compliance. 

What is SSIP? 

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is a UK framework that standardises health and safety assessments and allows contractors to gain mutual recognition across multiple schemes. 

This means contractors can complete one SSIP assessment   and benefit from mutual recognition across participating SSIP member schemes, reducing repetitive health and safety prequalification. 

What happened to PAS 91? 

PAS 91 served the construction industry for many years as a standardised prequalification questionnaire, helping buyers assess contractor suitability using a consistent set of questions. However, construction procurement has evolved significantly, with greater scrutiny on competence, organisational governance and supply chain risk. 

The Common Assessment Standard was developed by Build UK and industry partners to create a more comprehensive approach to contractor prequalification. While it builds on the foundations of PAS 91, it goes much further by requiring organisations to demonstrate not only that policies exist, but that management systems are actively implemented, monitored and continually improved.  

For many contractors, this is where the challenge begins. Having a health and safety policy is no longer enough. Assessors increasingly expect evidence that procedures are embedded within day-to-day operations and producing measurable outcomes. 

Why contractors struggle with Common Assessment Standard compliance

1. Producing evidence that stands up to scrutiny

In CHAS’s experience, the most common challenge is not the absence of policies, but the inability to demonstrate how those policies are implemented in practice. 

Assessors regularly encounter organisations that have documented procedures but struggle to provide supporting evidence showing those procedures are being followed consistently across projects. 

Typical evidence requested during assessments may include: 

• Policies and procedures 
• Training and competency records 
• Site inspections and workplace inspections 
• Internal audit reports 
• Management review meeting records 
• Toolbox talk registers 
• Risk assessments and method statements 
• Incident investigations and corrective actions 
• Monitoring and performance reports 
• Records showing actions have been completed and reviewed 

The distinction is important. A policy describes what an organisation intends to do. Evidence demonstrates what it is actually doing. 

This evidence-based approach is one of the reasons some contractors find the transition from PAS 91 to the Common Assessment Standard more demanding than expected.  

2. Managing a broader range of compliance requirements

One of the biggest changes introduced by the Common Assessment Standard is its wider scope. While health and safety remains a core component,  the Common Assessment Standard also assesses a wider range of organisational governance and business risk areas. 

Depending on the level of assessment, contractors may need to demonstrate compliance in areas including: 

• Health and safety management 
• Environmental management 
• Quality management 
• Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) 
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR) 
• Information security 
• Modern slavery prevention 
• Anti-bribery and corruption controls 
• Financial stability and business governance 

This broader assessment approach gives clients greater assurance that contractors can manage risk effectively across their organisation, not just on site. However, it also means businesses must maintain evidence and records across multiple departments and functions, making coordination significantly more challenging.  

3. Keeping documentation current

Many contractors successfully achieve certification but then struggle to maintain compliance between renewal periods. Policies, procedures, insurance documents, training records and management system evidence must all be reviewed and updated regularly. 

Assessors frequently identify situations where documentation was compliant when originally submitted but no longer reflects current business activities, organisational structure or regulatory requirements. Maintaining compliance throughout the year is often far easier than attempting to update everything immediately before renewal.  

4. Adapting to changing UK industry expectations

The UK construction sector continues to evolve, with increased scrutiny on contractor competence and risk management. 

Contractors  adapting to the Common Assessment Standard often encounter: 

• Broader assessment criteria 
• Greater emphasis on implementation 
• More robust evidence requirements 

This shift can create gaps if businesses rely on outdated processes.

Why contractors struggle with SSIP compliance

Limited internal health and safety resources 

Small and medium-sized contractors across the UK often operate with lean teams. 

Health and safety responsibilities are typically shared, making it difficult to maintain: 

• Policies 
• Audit trails 
• Compliance records 

consistently. 

Inconsistent processes across projects 

Policies may exist centrally but are not always applied consistently across sites. 

This creates a disconnect between: 

• Documented processes 
• On-site practices 

which can impact compliance outcomes. 

Lack of visibility over compliance records 

Compliance documentation is often stored across: 

• Multiple systems 
• Different departments 
• Individual project teams 

This lack of visibility leads to: 

• Last-minute document gathering 
• Missing evidence 
• Delays during assessments 

The compliance gap: having systems versus proving they work 

One of the most common misconceptions among contractors is that compliance can be achieved through documentation alone. 

In reality, assessments increasingly focus on whether management systems are operating effectively and driving continual improvement. Assessors look for evidence that organisations identify issues, take corrective action, review performance and learn from experience. 

For example, if a contractor states that regular inspections are undertaken, assessors may expect to see inspection records, identified actions, evidence that those actions were closed out and confirmation that lessons learned were communicated to the workforce. 

This focus on implementation reflects a wider shift across construction procurement towards competence, accountability and demonstrable assurance. Contractors that maintain robust evidence throughout the year generally find assessments far easier than those attempting to gather documentation shortly before renewal. 

Common mistakes UK contractors make

• Leaving renewals until the last minute 
• Failing to review policies regularly 
• Using outdated templates 
• Not tracking training and certification expiry dates 
• Poor ownership of compliance responsibilities 
• Assuming previous evidence is still valid 

How contractors can make compliance easier

A structured, proactive approach simplifies compliance. 

Focus on: 

• Centralising compliance documentation 
• Reviewing policies in line with UK regulations 
• Tracking expiry dates for insurance and certifications 
• Keeping training records up to date 
• Assigning clear ownership of compliance 
• Conducting internal audits before assessments 

Consistency across projects is key to reducing duplication and improving outcomes. 

The business benefits of compliance

When managed effectively, compliance becomes a competitive advantage. 

It helps contractors to: 

• Demonstrate competence across the UK construction industry 
• Demonstrate to clients and principal contractors that robust systems are in place to manage risk, maintain standards and meet procurement requirements. 
• Reduce the time and administrative burden associated with completing multiple prequalification questionnaires. 
• Reduce duplication in procurement processes 
• Strengthen risk management practices 
• Access more tender and prequalification opportunities 

People also ask

Is SSIP certification mandatory in the UK? 

SSIP certification is not legally required, but it is widely expected in UK construction procurement and helps demonstrate compliance with health and safety standards. 

What evidence is needed for the Common Assessment Standard? 

 Evidence requirements vary depending on the scope of the assessment and the questions being reviewed. Contractors may be asked to provide policies and procedures, training records, audits, inspections, management reviews, toolbox talks, corrective action records and other documentation that demonstrates their management systems are implemented, monitored and regularly reviewed. 

How long does contractor compliance last? 

Contractor compliance is an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-off achievement. Many certifications and assessments, including CHAS certification, require annual renewal, while supporting documents such as insurance policies and training records should be kept up to date throughout the year to maintain compliance.

Conclusion

For many UK contractors, the challenge is no longer understanding what compliance requires. The challenge is evidencing it. 

As the industry has moved from PAS 91 to the Common Assessment Standard, expectations have expanded beyond health and safety documentation to include competence, governance, environmental management, information security, modern slavery, EDI and wider organisational risk management. 

Contractors that treat compliance as an ongoing management process rather than an annual assessment exercise are far more likely to succeed. By maintaining accurate records, reviewing performance regularly and retaining evidence of implementation, organisations can simplify assessments, strengthen client confidence and improve access to new opportunities. 

This is where experienced assessment bodies play an important role. With decades of experience assessing contractors against recognised industry standards, CHAS understands the common gaps that prevent successful certification and the practical steps businesses can take to address them. 

Strengthen your compliance position with CHAS

Whether you are working towards SSIP or the Common Assessment Standard, CHAS provides expert-led, trusted assessments to help contractors prequalify, demonstrate compliance and win work with confidence. 

Explore contractor membership and discover how CHAS can simplify your compliance journey.