CHAS | Common Assessment Standard

Meet the Elite level of Risk Management Assessment

The Common Assessment Standard enables you to demonstrate compliance in 13 areas of risk management and is backed by many large organisations, including Balfour Beatty, Canary Wharf Contractors, HS2, Kier, Mace and Skanska.

Join thousands of contractors across the UK discovering the benefits of The Common Assessment Standard.
Achieve compliance across 13 areas of risk management.
Prequalify for more work and business opportunities.
Achieve the UK’s highest assessment level with CHAS Elite, which has been developed and is fully backed by Build UK and CECA.

Pre-qualify for projects with big brands across the UK with CHAS

What Is The Common Assessment Standard?

Also known as CHAS Elite, The Common Assessment Standard is a leading assessment programme that’s recognised industry-wide.

Developed by Build UK, Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) and other assessment bodies and industry experts, The Common Assessment Standard is designed to standardise the prequalification process, helping both clients and contractors improve supply chain efficiency, reduce supply chain risks, and find reliable business opportunities.

The Common Assessment Standard builds on the PAS 91 prequalification questionnaire, helping contractors achieve compliance and mitigate risks across 13 key areas of risk management. And to achieve certification, you just need to evidence your compliance in these areas once a year. This can all be achieved via our intuitive, easy-to-use, online contractor portal.

With the Common Assessment Standard, you can achieve compliance and certification without the need for time-consuming processes, multiple assessment bodies, and confusing requirements.

Request a callback

Achieve compliance and meet the requirements of the Common Assessment Standard

CHAS provides support and guidance to help you achieve compliance and meet the requirements of the Common Assessment Standard without having to deal with multiple assessment bodies. When you join CHAS to gain access to the Common Assessment Standard, our risk management experts can guide you through the process from start to finish. You’ll also have access to training and support to ensure you’re fully prepared for the assessment.

Demonstrate your company’s compliance

By completing the Common Assessment Standard, you can demonstrate your compliance and commitment to risk management to customers, clients and employees.

There are over 2,500 CHAS clients using the client portal to source new contractors based on trade and locations of work. Maximise your visibility by achieving the new industry gold standard — the Common Assessment Standard.

Prequalify for business opportunities

Contractors who complete the Common Assessment and meet the requirements through CHAS will prequalify for a wide range of business opportunities. Your business profile will be listed on our client portal and meeting the requirements of the Common Assessment Standard will help you maximise your visibility to these 2,500+ clients. By unlocking work opportunities, the Common Assessment Standard can help you grow your business.

New procurement policy note (PPN 03/24)

Contracting authorities in the public sector should now assess their supply chains using the Common Assessment Standard (CHAS Elite), following the release of PPN 03/24, which updates the existing statutory guidance.

Veriforce CHAS members wishing to work for public sector bodies or bid for new public sector contracts should meet theCommon Assessment Standard, which is achieved by completing the CHAS Elite assessment, to save time and money.

Request a callback

Identity

General information about your company is used to verify that you’re legally able to operate within the UK. This information includes your company’s name, contact details, registration, company size and address.

Financial

The Assessment will check that you’ve taken the necessary steps to reduce financial risks, so you will need to answer a few questions about your company’s financial information and provide any required supporting documentation.

Insurance

Business insurances are not only a legal requirement, but they also cover your business against mistakes, accidents, theft, damage and legal fees. Having the right level of insurance enables your business to keep running — even when things go wrong.

Corporate professional standing

The Common Assessment Standard will look into your corporate and professional standing with questions relating to criminal activity, corruption, terrorism and human trafficking.

Health and safety

A huge amount of importance rests on health and safety during the Common Assessment Standard. You will need to demonstrate that your company has taken steps to protect workers, site visitors and the public from harm.

Environmental

The Common Assessment Standard will include a set of environmental questions that will ask about whether your company has taken the necessary steps to reduce the environmental impact of projects and meet environmental management standards.

Quality

Quality assurance can prevent problems from arising and reduce the risks involved in projects, so the Common Assessment Standard will require confirmation that your company meets quality management standards.

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

The Assessment will ask you to confirm that your company promotes equality and diversity in the workplace and that all people are treated fairly.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

The Common Assessment Standard considers how your company impacts society, so you will need to answer a few questions about your CSR policy.

Information security

You will need to demonstrate that your company is protecting personal data in line with the GDPR.

Information management

Questions about Information Management explore how your company develops, manages and controls design information, if applicable. Anti-Bribery and Corruption — The Common Assessment Standard will check that you have implemented procedures to prevent persons within or associated with your organisation from receiving bribes or bribing others. Modern Slavery— You will need to confirm that your organisation has taken steps to assess and manage modern slavery and human trafficking risks.