Suppliers
Suppliers (contractors), who provide goods or services to Clients (buyers), must demonstrate health and safety competence during the tendering process.
Once you have achieved approval through an SSIP Member Scheme, you should never have to undergo assessment with a different Member Scheme. This is important, as some buyers use a preferred Member Scheme for all of their supply chain partners. All Member Schemes adhere to the strict SSIP Core Criteria and by doing so, agree to ‘Mutually Recognise’ fellow Schemes. The process of gaining certification with a new Member Scheme is called ‘Deem to Satisfy’.
Learn about Deem to Satisfy.
All SSIP Member Schemes adhere to the strict SSIP Core Criteria, approved by the Health and Safety Executive.
Assessment schemes, initially originating in construction, are now widely used to validate health and safety and CSR capabilities within the supply chain across a spectrum of industries. For suppliers, ensuring health and safety competency is a duty. Buyers typically request a stage 1 pre-qualification health and safety assessment before engaging in a working relationship, meeting legal requirements and fostering trust. Undergoing assessment via an SSIP Member Scheme streamlines the prequalification process, emphasising the importance of proactive measures for a secure working environment.
Thanks to SSIP, £68 million saved by Suppliers and Buyers since 2016 using Mutual Recognition.
If a client is requesting you gain approval with their preferred assessment scheme, then you can take advantage of the mutual recognition.
All member schemes certified with SSIP have agreed to mutually (and non-mutually) recognise each others scheme. This means you do not have to undergo full-reassessment with a clients preferred scheme.
Where possible, we have listed details of cost savings and additional information required during the process of gaining certification with another member scheme.
Check the certification of a supplier using the SSIP Forum.
Third-party conformity assessments, such as those provided by SSIP Member Schemes, have become a standard industry practice for validating pre-qualification standards
Though not legally required, these assessments assure clients that a supplier has met the basic criteria for competence, setting the stage for further, more detailed assessments.