Health and Safety Consulting: Achieving Compliance And Accreditations For Business Growth

Health and safety in the workplace is more than a legal obligation  it’s a cornerstone of responsible business management and long-term success. Every year, thousands of workers suffer injuries or ill health due to workplace conditions, with significant human and financial costs. In the UK alone, an estimated 33.7 million working days were lost in 2023/24 because of work-related illness and injuries. The annual economic cost of poor workplace health and safety is staggering  around £21.6 billion for 2022/23. Beyond the numbers are real consequences: in the same period, 138 workers tragically lost their lives, and over 600,000 sustained non-fatal injuries. These statistics underscore why proactive health and safety management isn’t just about avoiding paperwork headaches  it’s about protecting people and the viability of your business.

However, managing health and safety can be complex. Regulations constantly evolve, and failing to comply can lead to severe penalties. Under the UK’s sentencing guidelines, even a small company (turnover under £2m) found highly culpable in a serious safety breach faces fines starting around £250,000, while a large company could see base fines of £4 million or more. Such consequences can be devastating. The good news is that health and safety consultants provide the expertise and support to navigate these challenges, ensuring businesses stay compliant, create safer workplaces, and even turn safety excellence into a competitive advantage.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how health and safety consulting helps organisations of all sizes  from small charities and startups to large construction firms meet legal requirements, build a strong safety culture, and achieve coveted accreditations like ISO 45001 and CHAS. These achievements not only keep people safe but also drive businesses forward by unlocking new opportunities and boosting reputation. Let’s dive into why partnering with expert consultants such as Compliant can be a game-changer for your business.

Why Businesses Need Health and Safety Consultants

Ensuring workplace health and safety is a challenging task, especially if your organization does not have dedicated in-house expertise. Many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), struggle to keep up with complex regulations, risk assessment protocols, and best practices. This is where health and safety consultants come in. They serve as your trusted guides in the journey towards compliance and safety excellence.

Legal requirement for competent advice: UK law actually mandates that every employer have access to “one or more competent persons” to assist with health and safety obligations. This requirement, under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, applies to all employers  whether you have one employee or one thousand, you must appoint a suitable individual (or individuals) to help you meet your safety duties. For many businesses without an internal H&S specialist, the simplest solution is to appoint an external consultant as this competent person. By doing so, you ensure you’re meeting the law and not leaving safety to chance.

Expert knowledge and experience: Health and safety consultants are trained experts with deep knowledge of occupational safety laws and standards. They stay up-to-date on regulatory changes and industry best practices. Because they often have experience across various sectors (construction, manufacturing, healthcare, education, etc.), consultants can anticipate industry-specific risks and requirements. This breadth of expertise allows them to tailor solutions that make sense for your particular business activities and hazards. In short, a seasoned consultant knows what pitfalls to avoid and what it takes to keep a workplace safe and compliant.

Objective perspective: Bringing in an outside consultant provides a fresh, unbiased perspective on your operations. It’s easy for internal staff to overlook issues due to familiarity or time constraints. Consultants conduct thorough audits and inspections to identify hazards you might miss. Their independent viewpoint helps ensure nothing falls through the cracks when it comes to safety risks and compliance gaps.

Cost-effectiveness: Hiring a full-time, qualified health and safety manager might be impractical for smaller companies. Consultants offer flexible arrangements  from one-time assessments to ongoing support packages  that can be far more cost-effective. You get the benefit of expert guidance as needed, without the overhead of a permanent salary. Additionally, by preventing accidents and compliance failures, consultants save you money in the long run (avoiding fines, legal costs, increased insurance premiums, and lost productivity from incidents). Many organisations find that investing in some consulting support yields a strong return by mitigating expensive problems down the line.

Focus on your core business: Managing health and safety internally can pull you away from your core business activities. By outsourcing to consultants, you free up management time. The consultants handle the heavy lifting of documentation, training, and audit preparation, so you and your team can focus on operations knowing the safety aspects are under control. You maintain oversight, of course, but with experts driving the process, it’s far more efficient and less stressful.

In summary, businesses need health and safety consultants because they provide the competence, efficiency, and assurance that might otherwise be lacking. They help fulfill legal duties, bring specialised knowledge, offer cost savings, and let you concentrate on running your business  all while elevating your workplace safety to the highest standards.

The Role of Health and Safety Consultants: What They Do

Health and safety consulting isn’t just about giving advice  it’s a hands-on, practical service that addresses every aspect of workplace safety and compliance. A good consultant will effectively become an extension of your team, taking on essential tasks to create and maintain a safe working environment. Here are some of the key roles and services that health and safety consultants typically provide:

• Risk Assessments and Site Safety Audits: Consultants will visit your workplace to conduct thorough safety inspections and audits of facilities, equipment, and work practices. They identify potential hazards, evaluate existing controls, and benchmark your current safety performance. Through comprehensive risk assessments, consultants pinpoint where accidents or health issues could arise and recommend sensible measures to prevent harm. Regular audits by an expert help ensure you’re continuously meeting safety requirements and not allowing new risks to go unnoticed.

• Health and Safety Policy Development: Every business should have a robust health and safety policy and supporting procedures. Consultants assist in drafting or updating safety policies, manuals, and procedures tailored to your operations. They make sure your documentation meets legal standards and industry best practices. This can include creating safe work method statements, emergency response plans, permit-to-work systems, and more  all the paperwork that underpins a sound safety management system. Consultants ensure these documents aren’t just generic templates, but truly relevant to your activities and understandable for your staff.

• Acting as the “Competent Person”: As mentioned, UK employers must appoint a competent person for health and safety. Many consultancies (including Compliant) offer to serve as your named competent person on record. In practice, this means they are available to provide expert advice whenever needed, help you implement required measures, and liaise with enforcement authorities or clients on safety matters. By designating an external consultant as your competent person, you instantly satisfy the legal requirement while gaining peace of mind that an expert is watching over your compliance.

• Training and Coaching: Health and safety consultants often provide or facilitate training for your employees and managers. This can range from general safety awareness courses to specific training (e.g. manual handling, fire safety, COSHH, PPE use). The goal is to educate your workforce so that safety becomes everyone’s responsibility. Consultants can conduct safety workshops, toolbox talks, or even help set up e-learning for continuous education. Well-trained employees are more likely to follow procedures and less likely to be injured  training is therefore a critical service to build a positive safety culture.

• Incident Investigation and Improvement: If an accident or near-miss does occur, consultants can step in to perform an accident investigation. They will analyse what happened, identify root causes (e.g. faulty equipment, lack of training, procedural gaps), and produce a report with recommended actions to prevent recurrence. Having an experienced investigator is vital, especially for serious incidents, to ensure lessons are learned and legal reporting obligations (such as RIDDOR in the UK) are properly met. Moreover, consultants use these insights to continually improve your safety management system.

• Ongoing Advice and Support: Health and safety isn’t a one-time project  it requires ongoing attention. Consultants typically offer ongoing support packages where you can seek advice on new scenarios, changes in regulation, or when planning new projects. For instance, if you’re expanding to a new site or introducing new machinery, your consultant can advise on the safety considerations up front. This responsive support means you’re never alone in managing safety; expert help is just a phone call or email away whenever questions arise.

• Preparing for Accreditations and Audits: A major role of consultants  and a focus for Compliant  is guiding businesses through health and safety accreditations and certifications. We’ll delve deeper into this below, but in short, consultants help companies achieve standards like ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management) and SSIP accreditations such as CHAS, Safe Contractor, Constructionline, etc.. They handle the heavy paperwork, conduct internal audits, and ensure you meet all criteria so that external auditors or assessors will pass you with flying colors. This service is invaluable for businesses aiming to gain these badges of excellence without getting lost in the bureaucratic weeds.

As you can see, health and safety consultants wear many hats  auditor, trainer, advisor, document writer, and more. Their overarching role is to translate complicated legal and technical requirements into practical actions that make your workplace safer. Compliant’s consultants, for example, pride themselves on being personable, flexible, and experienced professionals who can interpret legislation into language and steps relevant for each client’s businesscompliantltd.com. By providing such comprehensive support, a consultant doesn’t just help you avoid problems  they actively enhance your organization’s safety performance and efficiency.

Ensuring Legal Compliance and Risk Management

One of the primary reasons companies engage health and safety consultants is to ensure full compliance with laws and regulations. Occupational health and safety law can be intricate, and non-compliance is not an option  the risks include legal prosecution, heavy fines, and even imprisonment for serious negligence. In this section, we discuss how consultants help you stay on the right side of the law and proactively manage risks, keeping your employees safe and your business protected.

Navigating complex regulations: Depending on your industry, you may need to comply with a web of regulations  from the broad requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, to specific regulations on fire safety, hazardous substances (COSHH), construction design and management (CDM), machinery safety, and more. Health and safety consultants keep track of these laws and any changes. They can interpret what specific regulations mean for your operations and ensure you implement all the required measures. For example, if new rules are introduced (such as updates to personal protective equipment standards or new guidance on managing COVID-19 risks), your consultant will alert you and help integrate them into your procedures. This expertise spares you the headache of parsing legalese and gives you confidence that nothing is being overlooked.

Compliance audits and action plans: Consultants often begin with a compliance audit or gap analysis  reviewing your current setup against legal requirements and safety standards. The audit might examine whether you have the necessary risk assessments, training records, inspection logs, fire precautions, first aid provision, and so on. Any shortcomings are documented, and the consultant will provide you with a clear action plan to remedy them. By systematically closing these gaps, you greatly reduce the chance of an accident or an enforcement visit finding you unprepared. In fact, consultants make it their mission to protect clients from litigation and costly incidents by ensuring the correct health and safety procedures are in place, thereby fostering a positive safety culture.

Avoiding fines and enforcement actions: As noted earlier, the penalties for getting health and safety wrong can be severe. Courts determine fines based on the severity of risk and a company’s size  even small firms can face six-figure fines for serious breaches. Consultants help you avoid these nightmare scenarios by making sure you comply with the law’s letter and spirit. They advise on what is “reasonably practicable”  a key legal concept  to keep people safe. With their guidance, you can fix problems before an HSE inspector or fire officer ever knocks on your door. And if they do come, you can be confident in showing robust safety arrangements. In essence, a consultant’s support is like insurance: it significantly lowers the likelihood of enforcement notices, fines, or reputational damage due to non-compliance.

Keeping up with standards and best practices: Beyond just legal minimums, health and safety consultants encourage companies to adopt best practices and recognised standards. This might include following guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or industry bodies, even when not strictly required by law. For instance, HSE might issue best practice guides on managing stress or ergonomics; a consultant can help implement these to further reduce ill-health absence. By staying ahead of the curve, your organization doesn’t just avoid penalties – it reaps the benefits of a healthier, safer workforce. A proactive approach to risk management often leads to fewer accidents and interruptions. Remember, preventing accidents is always better (and far cheaper) than dealing with them after the fact. Consultants excel in this preventive approach: identifying potential hazards and controlling them before anyone gets hurt.

Emergency preparedness: Even with the best precautions, emergencies can happen  whether it’s a fire, chemical spill, or other crisis. Health and safety consultants assist in developing and testing emergency response plans. They ensure you have evacuation procedures, alarm systems, trained fire marshals, first responders, and communication plans in place. Some consultants will run drills or tabletop exercises with your team to ensure readiness. In the event something does go wrong, this preparation can save lives and minimize harm. Moreover, being able to handle emergencies effectively is another aspect of legal compliance (for example, the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order requires suitable fire risk assessments and plans. Consultants make sure you’re not only compliant on paper, but that your people know what to do when it counts.

In summary, ensuring legal compliance is a foundational benefit of health and safety consulting. By partnering with experts, you are effectively hiring a guardian for your business  someone whose job is to keep your operations within the law and shield you from risk. This diligence brings peace of mind. You can sleep at night knowing that your legal duties are covered and that you’re doing right by your employees and stakeholders. In the next sections, we’ll see how compliance and good risk management also set the stage for achieving esteemed health and safety accreditations which can further elevate your business.

Building a Safer Workplace and Positive Safety Culture

Compliance is essential, but the ultimate goal of health and safety efforts is to create a safer, healthier workplace day in and day out. Beyond avoiding fines or injuries, companies that embrace a strong safety culture often see benefits like higher productivity, better morale, and a stronger brand reputation. Health and safety consultants play a key role in fostering this positive safety culture and helping your team take ownership of safety.

Figure: A dropped hard hat on a worksite floor  a stark reminder of the consequences of unsafe conditions. Proactively managing risks with the help of health and safety consultants can prevent accidents before they happen, keeping your workforce safe and productive.

Safety as a core value: Consultants work with management and employees alike to elevate the importance of safety in everyday operations. Through training sessions, workshops, and ongoing communication, they help instil the mindset that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Rather than seeing health and safety as a box-ticking exercise or a burden, employees begin to understand its value and actively participate. Good consultants often introduce initiatives like safety committees, hazard reporting systems, and incentive programs to encourage involvement. Over time, this transforms the culture  workers feel empowered to speak up about hazards or suggest improvements, and managers demonstrate visible commitment to safety. The result is a workplace where safe behavior is the norm, not the exception.

Reduced accidents and absenteeism: A strong safety culture driven by expert guidance directly leads to fewer accidents and near-misses. As we saw with accreditation benefits, organizations that implement structured safety systems (like ISO 45001) have achieved an average 25% reduction in workplace accidents, with some seeing up to 40% fewer incidents. Fewer accidents mean fewer people hurt, but it also means less disruption  projects stay on schedule and resources aren’t diverted to handle emergencies. Moreover, when employees avoid injuries and work-related illness, they take fewer sick days. A major portion of work absences is due to work-related ill health (including stress) and injuries; by cutting these down, you improve attendance. For example, consider how stress management and ergonomic improvements can reduce musculoskeletal disorders or burnout-related leave. Consultants can advise on these health-focused measures (like proper break schedules, mental health support, or ergonomic assessments) as part of a holistic safety program. Ultimately, a safer workplace is a more efficient and productive workplace, with employees spending their time on the job healthy and engaged.

Improved employee morale and retention: When a company visibly prioritizes its employees’ well-being, it breeds trust and loyalty. Workers who see that their employer cares enough to invest in expert safety support and robust measures are likely to have higher morale. They feel valued because their safety is valued. This can lead to better job satisfaction and lower turnover rates. In contrast, a workplace with frequent accidents or ignored hazards quickly demoralizes staff, hurting productivity and increasing the chances of workers leaving. By using consultants to proactively improve safety, you send a powerful message: people come first. This not only keeps your current team happy but can also be a selling point in recruitment  many candidates today seek employers with a strong safety and wellness ethos.

Efficiency and quality benefits: Interestingly, many businesses find that when they tighten up health and safety practices, it has spill-over benefits for operational efficiency and quality control. For instance, organizing the workplace to eliminate tripping hazards or improve airflow can also optimize workflow and reduce damage to products or equipment. The discipline of conducting regular inspections and maintenance (a habit encouraged by safety management) means machinery is better looked after, which reduces breakdowns that could halt production. There is evidence that companies certified to standards like ISO 45001 often perform better in other areas too, sometimes integrating safety with quality (ISO 9001) and environmental (ISO 14001) management for overall excellence. Thus, a robust safety culture can be a foundation for continuous improvement across the board.

Brand reputation and client confidence: In today’s age of transparency, a company’s safety record and culture can significantly impact its reputation. Companies with a good safety track record and recognized accreditations tend to be viewed as trustworthy and well-managed. Clients and the public are reassured knowing you operate safely no one wants to be associated with a contractor or supplier that might be tomorrow’s headline for a horrific accident. By contrast, a serious safety incident can cause reputational damage that scares away customers and partners, beyond the immediate legal troubles. Health and safety consultants help you maintain that clean record and even promote your commitment to safety. For example, achieving certifications or awards (with a consultant’s help) is something you can proudly communicate in marketing materials or tenders, strengthening your brand. In sectors like construction or manufacturing, being known for an excellent safety culture can differentiate you from competitors and signal overall reliability.

In essence, building a safer workplace through a positive safety culture is both the right thing to do and a smart business strategy. It protects your most important asset your people  and it enhances your operational performance and reputation. Consultants act as catalysts in this process: they provide the know-how and frameworks to embed safety deeply into your company’s DNA. As safety improves, the benefits ripple outward, creating a virtuous cycle of improvement and success.

Next, we will focus on one of the most tangible ways a consultant helps drive business forward: attaining health and safety accreditations and certifications that not only validate your safety efforts but also open doors to new opportunities.

Accreditations and Certifications: Why They Matter for Your Business

Investing in health and safety can yield an important payoff beyond day-to-day risk reduction: formal accreditations and certifications that demonstrate your company’s commitment to high safety standards. Achieving these credentials  such as ISO 45001 certification or SSIP accreditations like CHAS and Safe Contractor  often requires effort and expertise. Yet, they bring substantial benefits by building trust with clients, qualifying you for contracts, and streamlining compliance. Health and safety consultants specialise in guiding businesses through these certification processes, making them far more attainable and effective. Let’s explore why these accreditations matter and how consulting support can help you secure them.

The value of accreditation: At a high level, earning a recognised health & safety accreditation signals to the world that your organisation doesn’t just talk the talk on safety  you have been independently verified as walking the walk. It’s an impartial stamp of approval. This can translate into very practical business advantages. For one, many larger companies and public sector organizations require their partners or suppliers to hold certain safety accreditations. If you want to bid for a project with a major construction firm, for example, you might need to be CHAS or Safe Contractor approved (common prerequisites in UK procurement). Likewise, international supply chains increasingly expect ISO 45001 certification as a baseline “license to operate” for contractors in high-risk sectors. Having these credentials thus opens doors to new opportunities you won’t be locked out of lucrative contracts due to lacking a piece of paper.

Accreditations also enhance your credibility and reputation. They tell potential clients, employees, and regulators that you take safety seriously and have systems in place to prove it. This can give you a competitive edge. All else being equal, a client will likely choose the vendor with a certified safety management system over one without, because it reduces their risk. Moreover, achieving accreditations often correlates with better safety performance internally, as we’ve discussed. Fewer accidents and better compliance can lead to concrete financial benefits like lower insurance premiums (insurers may offer better rates to certified firms) and cost savings from avoiding incidents. In short, safety accreditations add value both externally and internally.

Let’s look at two major categories of accreditation relevant to health and safety consulting: ISO 45001 and SSIP schemes.

ISO 45001 – The International Gold Standard for Occupational Health & Safety

ISO 45001 is the world’s first international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. Published in 2018, it provides a framework for organisations to manage risks and improve safety performance proactively. Unlike a simple one-time assessment, ISO 45001 requires a holistic management system approach (plan-do-check-act) and ongoing continual improvement. Achieving ISO 45001 certification means your H&S management system has been audited by an independent accredited body and found to meet this high standard.

Why pursue ISO 45001? For many companies, it’s the ultimate marker of excellence in health and safety. Here are some key reasons and benefits:

• Legal and regulatory compliance: While ISO 45001 itself is voluntary, implementing it positions you to be fully compliant with applicable laws and regulations as a matter of course. The standard is designed to ensure you systematically identify and follow legal requirements. So by getting certified, you drastically reduce the likelihood of legal breaches. It’s like having a built-in compliance program.

• Risk reduction and performance improvement: Companies that achieve ISO 45001 report significant drops in incidents. As noted earlier, there’s an average 25% reduction in workplace accidents among certified organizations (with some achieving up to 40% fewer accidents). There are also related benefits like lower operational downtime due to fewer disruptions and fewer workers’ compensation claims. Over time, these improvements can save money and lives, and boost productivity.

• International recognition and market access: ISO 45001 is globally recognized. In many industries, especially construction, engineering, oil & gas, and manufacturing, having ISO 45001 is becoming a de facto requirement to do business. It’s approaching what some call “ticket to trade” status meaning without it, you might not even be considered for certain projects. For companies working across borders or with multinational corporations, ISO 45001 demonstrates a consistent standard of safety. It can thus be a passport to international contracts and is often aligned with broader ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and corporate social responsibility goals.

• Employee confidence and stakeholder trust: Being ISO 45001 certified sends a powerful message internally and externally. Employees feel their well-being is prioritized by leadership, which can improve morale and retention. Clients, investors, and the public see certification as evidence of professionalism and care, enhancing your company’s trustworthiness. It’s not just a certificate on the wall; it’s a comprehensive demonstration of how you run your business safely.

• Integration with other systems: ISO 45001 shares the common High-Level Structure of other ISO standards like ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental). This makes it easier to integrate into a unified Integrated Management System (IMS). Many businesses pursue multiple certifications to bolster their management frameworks. If you already have ISO 9001 or 14001, adding ISO 45001 can be seamless  and vice versa. An integrated system improves efficiency and consistency across safety, quality, and environmental management.

Achieving ISO 45001 does require effort  documentation, employee training, internal audits, and finally the external audit by a certification body. This is exactly where health and safety consultants shine. Consultants (like those at Compliant) who specialise in ISO standards will:

• Conduct an initial gap analysis to see what your business already has in place and what needs improvement to meet ISO 45001 requirements.

• Develop or update the required documentation and procedures (e.g., H&S manual, risk registers, objectives and programs, audit checklists). They know precisely what auditors look for, so they can tailor your management system to tick all the boxes.

• Implement training and awareness so that all levels of the organization understand the new or updated processes and their roles within the safety management system.

• Perform internal audits and a “sanity check” prior to the certification audit. This catches any lingering issues so that you can address them in advance. Essentially, consultants do a dress rehearsal of the audit, giving you confidence for the real thing.

• Support you during the certification audit. On audit day, having an experienced consultant by your side can be invaluable. They can interface with the auditors, quickly provide documents or answers, and generally help showcase your system in the best light. If the auditor needs an extra piece of evidence, the consultant helps you sort it out on the spot, smoothing the process.

• Follow through to certification and beyond. After a successful audit, consultants help tie up any final paperwork to get your certificates issued, and they often assist with surveillance audits in subsequent years to maintain the certification. Many will also celebrate your achievement – for example, Compliant often promotes clients’ success with case studies once they are certified, highlighting them among industry peers.

With this support, even organisations new to formal safety management can attain ISO 45001 smoothly and efficiently  often on the first attempt at audit, since the consultants ensure you are well prepared. The result is a prestigious certification that can propel your business forward, demonstrating your safety excellence to the world.

SSIP Accreditations (CHAS, Safe Contractor, etc.)  Streamlining Safety Credentials

Not every company is ready to dive into an ISO management system. For many, especially smaller contractors or those early in their safety journey, obtaining an SSIP accreditation is a perfect stepping stone. SSIP stands for Safety Schemes in Procurement, a UK umbrella organisation that encompasses various health and safety accreditation schemes (like CHAS, Safe Contractor, Constructionline (Gold), SMAS, Avetta, and others). These schemes are essentially prequalification programs  if you are accredited by one of them, it signals to clients that you meet basic health and safety standards required for supply chain approval.

SSIP was founded with HSE’s support to streamline the prequalification process in construction and related industries. The idea is that a company should undergo one credible health & safety assessment and then that should be mutually recognised across multiple clients and schemes. For example, if you are CHAS accredited (CHAS is a founding member of SSIP), another client that requires Safe Contractor might accept your CHAS as equivalent, or you can more easily obtain Safe Contractor through a “deem to satisfy” process. This mutual recognition saves time, money, and reduces duplication for businesses. In practice, there are still multiple schemes and sometimes clients have preferences, but SSIP ensures they all assess against core criteria that align with legal requirements (like those set out by the CDM regulations.

Popular SSIP accreditations: The most common schemes you’ll encounter include:

• CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme)  A widely recognised accreditation, especially in construction and public sector contracting. Being “CHAS Approved” shows you have sound risk management and legal compliance in place. This gives clients assurance and often is needed to even bid on certain jobs. CHAS accreditation brings benefits such as legal compliance verification, enhanced reputation, improved risk management, and access to new opportunities by meeting buyer requirements. It can also yield cost savings via fewer accidents (hence lower insurance and downtime) and even boost employee morale since it indicates a safe workplace.

• SafeContractor (by Alcumus)  Another prominent scheme, similar in purpose to CHAS, used by many private sector clients. Safe Contractor accreditation demonstrates you have been vetted for key safety practices and is often required in property management, facilities management, retail, and manufacturing sectors for contractor approval. It likewise offers credibility and a competitive edge, marking you as a contractor who takes safety seriously.

• Constructionline Gold (Level 3) with Acclaim  Constructionline is a broader procurement certification for contractors (covering financials, references, etc.), and their Gold level includes an SSIP health & safety assessment through their “Acclaim” program. Achieving this means you satisfy both general prequal criteria and H&S specific ones, which many construction clients find attractive.

• SMAS Worksafe  A member of SSIP, often seen in construction and housing sectors. SMAS (Safety Management Advisory Services) accreditation indicates you meet the core safety requirements and is cross-recognised with other SSIP schemes.

• Achilles, Avetta, and others  These are often industry-specific or client-specific accreditation services (Achilles, for instance, runs schemes for utilities and transport sectors; Avetta is common in supply chain compliance globally). They all revolve around demonstrating a good safety management system and compliance.

For small and medium businesses, obtaining one or more of these accreditations can significantly boost your business prospects. You become much more attractive to clients who need assurance that their contractors won’t pose safety risks. In fact, some companies report that simply adding an SSIP logo to their profile results in more invitations to tender and a higher success rate in winning contracts, since it shortcuts the due diligence process for the client.

How consultants facilitate SSIP accreditations: Getting accredited typically involves completing an extensive questionnaire and evidence submission about your health and safety policies, procedures, training, and past performance. For those not familiar, this can be daunting. A health and safety consultant can guide you through it painlessly. Here’s how:

• Initial evaluation: Consultants will identify which accreditation(s) make the most sense for your business and industry. They’ll look at what you already have in place. For example, if you’ve been operating safely but informally, they will gather your existing documents (risk assessments, any training records, etc.) and see what’s missing for the accreditation criteria.

• Filling the gaps: Similar to ISO prep, they will help develop any needed policies or procedures to meet the standards of the scheme. This could include creating a proper H&S policy document, setting up a training log, doing a few risk assessments if you haven’t documented them, and so on. If, say, the CHAS assessment asks for evidence of regular fire drills or equipment inspections, the consultant ensures those are done and recorded. Essentially, they help you meet all the required “ticks in the box”, but also in a meaningful way that genuinely improves your safety management.

• Application assistance: The process usually involves an online application or portal where you answer questions and upload evidence (e.g., proof of employer’s liability insurance, sample risk assessment, training certificates, etc.). A consultant can either fill this in on your behalf or sit with you and provide the correct answers. Because they’ve done these many times, they know exactly what the assessors are looking for. This saves a huge amount of time and frustration, as you won’t be scrambling to figure out how to phrase an answer or which document to provide.

• Liaison with the accreditation body: If the scheme’s assessors have any queries or require corrections, your consultant will handle those communications. They’ll quickly address any action points or advice notes the assessor gives, so that your application gets approved. For instance, if the assessor says your method statement needs a bit more detail, the consultant can fix that promptly. This buffer role means the process is smooth from your perspective.

• Beyond the first accreditation: Consultants can also help you leverage one accreditation to get others if needed. Because of SSIP mutual recognition, obtaining one often means you don’t have to duplicate effort for another; but there might be some additional module for, say, Constructionline that your consultant can handle. They keep track of renewal dates too  most accreditations must be renewed annually. With a consultant’s continued support, you can maintain these accreditations year after year without hassle, ensuring your business never falls out of compliance or loses its prequalification status.

Notably, Compliant offers specialised services to help attain accreditations like CHAS, Safe Contractor, Achilles, and more  whether as a stepping stone to ISO certification or as a valuable end in itself. Working closely with you, the consultants find out your business goals and align the accreditation strategy accordingly. The result is that you can quickly earn those trusted badges and use them to drive your business forward. It’s not uncommon for companies, after becoming accredited, to report increased contract opportunities and an easier time in procurement processes.

How Compliant Supports Your Health & Safety Accreditation Journey

As we’ve highlighted throughout, achieving and maintaining high standards of health and safety can be a complex journey  but you don’t have to travel it alone. Compliant is a team of expert health and safety consultants dedicated to helping businesses like yours not only comply with regulations but also gain prestigious accreditations that propel your business growth. With a client-focused and results-driven approach, Compliant has successfully guided organizations across various industries to safety excellence. Here’s what you can expect when partnering with us:

• Tailored consulting services: Compliant prides itself on providing tailored health and safety services that fit the unique needs of each client. We understand that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work  a charity, a school, and a construction firm each face different challenges. Our consultants take the time to learn about your operations, hazards, and goals. Whether you need a basic compliance check-up, a full safety management system overhaul, or support for specific accreditation, we adjust our services to your context. This personalised approach ensures that solutions are relevant and effective, not generic. It also means we’re flexible  we can offer support on a project basis or through cost-effective packages (some clients opt for a monthly retainer that covers all their H&S needs, for instance).

• Experienced and personable consultants: All of Compliant’s health and safety consultants are highly qualified and experienced, with real industry background across sectors. Importantly, they are personable and approachable  we believe in building a friendly rapport with your team. Safety can be a sensitive area (nobody likes being told they’re doing something unsafe), so our consultants use a collaborative, coaching style rather than a finger-wagging one. We focus on explaining the “why” behind recommendations, so your employees and managers understand the benefits and buy into changes. Our aim is to become a trusted partner you feel comfortable calling with any safety question or challenge, no matter how small.

• End-to-end accreditation support: If your goal is gaining an accreditation like ISO 45001, Compliant can manage the process end-to-end. From initial gap analysis to writing the manuals, training staff, conducting internal audits, and liaising with certification bodies  we handle it. We have a proven track record of getting clients UKAS-accredited ISO certificates on the first attempt, often faster and with less cost than going it alone. Similarly, for CHAS, Safe Contractor, or other SSIP schemes, we will take charge of the application and evidence submission, making the experience hassle-free for you. Essentially, we worry about the paperwork and procedures, while you can focus on your business. And we don’t stop at getting the certificate  we offer ongoing support and maintenance, reminding you of renewals, conducting annual internal audits, and updating documents as needed, so you continue to meet standards year after year.

• Comprehensive packages and value: We know that especially for small businesses, controlling costs is important. Compliant offers competitive packages that bundle everything you need for a flat fee, avoiding surprise costs. For example, our fixed-price packages can include acting as your competent person, providing all required documentation, training your staff, and preparing you for one chosen accreditation. This holistic approach ensures you are fully compliant and accreditation-ready without piecemeal charges. We even offer a free initial consultation and site survey, after which we provide a written report and a proposed action plan. This gives you clarity on what’s needed, with no obligation. Our goal is to deliver maximum value  clients get expert advice, improved safety, and new credentials that help win business, all at an affordable investment.

• Success across industries: Compliant has assisted clients in diverse sectors including charities, education, healthcare, retail, construction, manufacturing, engineering, and more. This breadth means we likely have insight into whatever industry-specific requirements you face, be it care home safety rules or construction site regulations. We can share best practices from across industries, giving you an edge. Many of our clients have not only achieved compliance but gone on to distinguish themselves  for instance, construction firms we guided through CHAS or ISO 45001 have improved their safety records and leveraged that to secure bigger contracts. While respecting confidentiality, we often compile case studies of clients (with their permission) to celebrate their achievements and promote their businesses. When you succeed, we succeed – that’s the philosophy.

In summary, Compliant is here to simplify the complexities of health and safety for you, and turn them into opportunities. By engaging our consulting services, you can quickly elevate your safety standards, earn credible accreditations, and use those as a springboard for growth. We take pride in setting the standard and helping your business not only meet standards but thrive because of them.

Health and safety consulting is an investment in the resilience, reputation, and growth of your business. In an environment where regulations are strict and the cost of failure is high both in human and financial terms  having expert consultants by your side is a smart strategy. They ensure you comply with the law, create safer workplaces, and foster a culture where everyone goes home safe at the end of the day. Moreover, through guidance on achieving accreditations like ISO 45001 and CHAS, consultants help translate your safety improvements into tangible business advantages: eligibility for more contracts, enhanced credibility, cost savings, and a competitive edge in your industry.

Companies that have walked this path often find that what begins as a compliance exercise evolves into a source of pride and strength for the organization. Employees feel safer and more valued, processes become more efficient, and clients take notice of your commitment to excellence. Far from being a burden, health and safety management  with the right support  becomes a catalyst for business excellence.

If you want to drive your business forward through better health and safety, consider tapping into the expertise of Compliant’s health and safety consultants. Whether you’re looking to get your first accreditation, need help overhauling your policies, or simply want assurance that you’re on the right track, we’re here to help. With professional, fully tailored support, Compliant can help you navigate every step, from legal compliance to that proud moment when you receive your certification. The journey to health and safety excellence is one we believe every organisation can achieve with the right guidance  and the rewards, in terms of people’s well-being and business success, are well worth the effort.

Take the next step: If you have questions or would like to discuss your health and safety needs, reach out to Compliant for a free consultation. Let’s work together to make your workplace safer, gain those accreditations that will open new doors, and secure a bright, compliant future for your business. Your employees, partners, and clients will thank you  and you’ll be able to move forward with confidence, knowing that health and safety is a solid foundation of your company’s growth.