If you are applying for CHAS accreditation in the UK, understanding the assessment standards is the most important step you can take.
Many businesses apply without fully understanding what CHAS assessors actually look for. They submit incomplete documents, generic policies, or outdated records and end up with delays, queries, and failed applications that could easily have been avoided.
This guide explains the CHAS assessment standards clearly, what they cover, what each level requires, and exactly how to meet them.
At BizGrow Holdings, we help UK contractors prepare for and pass their CHAS assessment every day. Let us walk you through it.
What Are CHAS Assessment Standards?
CHAS assessment standards provide clients with the reassurance they need that their supply chain operates ethically and within legal guidelines and will support the delivery of results, on time and within the parameters of the contract.
In practical terms, CHAS assessment standards are the specific criteria your business must meet to achieve CHAS accreditation. They are based on the SSIP Core Criteria endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and aligned with recognised UK health and safety legislation.
CHAS assessments are based on recognised UK legislation and industry best practice. Your documentation must clearly reflect legal compliance, not assumptions.
The CHAS assessment criteria align directly with the SSIP Core Criteria, which are endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive. Every CHAS assessor checks your business against the same set of standards.
This consistency matters. Whether you apply today or in six months, the same standards apply. And knowing exactly what those standards are gives you a clear target to aim for.
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CHAS Assessment Criteria | What Gets Checked?
Below are the most common standards assessed during CHAS approval.
Health and Safety Policy
Assessors expect a clear, up-to-date Health and Safety Policy that reflects your actual operations. A generic or outdated policy is one of the main reasons companies fail CHAS.
Your policy must be signed by a director, reviewed within the last 12 months, and relevant to your actual work activities. It needs to cover your commitment to health and safety, your management arrangements, and your staff’s responsibilities.
The H&S policy must be current, signed within the last 12 months and proportionate to the size of your business. A one-page policy works for a sole trader. Larger businesses typically need five to fifteen pages.
Risk Assessments and Method Statements
Risk Assessments and Method Statements, known as RAMS, are a core part of the CHAS assessment criteria. Assessors want to see that you have identified hazards specific to your work and put control measures in place. Copied templates will not pass. Your RAMS must be practical and tailored to your actual activities.
Generic, downloaded RAMS are the most common reason for first-time rejection. Your assessor will know immediately if you have not tailored them to your specific work.
Insurance Requirements
Public liability insurance with a minimum of £5 million is the standard for most CHAS submissions. Some main contractors require £10 million. Check your policy schedule and upgrade if needed before submitting.
You also need valid Employer’s Liability Insurance. Both certificates must be current and in your company name. Expired insurance is an automatic fail on that criterion.
Training and Competence
CHAS assessors verify that workers are competent for their roles. Missing or expired training documentation often leads to assessment delays or rejection.
CHAS assessors look for completeness more than depth. You need training records for all staff CSCS cards, trade qualifications, first aid certificates, asbestos awareness, and any other role-specific training. A simple spreadsheet showing each worker’s name, role, and certificates with expiry dates is perfectly acceptable.
Accident and Incident Records
Your business must show how it manages incidents professionally. Assessors look for evidence that lessons are learned, not just recorded.
CHAS assessors want to see three years of accident and incident history. If you have had no accidents, that is positive, but you still need to show that the recording system exists and is actively used.
CHAS Assessment Standards by Level
CHAS operates three levels of accreditation. Each level applies different assessment standards. Choosing the right level matters too low, and your clients will not accept it; too high before you are ready, and gaps will be exposed.
CHAS Standard Criteria
CHAS Standard is the entry-level membership option. It includes a health and safety assessment and meets SSIP standards.
This level covers the SSIP Core Criteria health and safety policy, RAMS, insurance, training records, and accident history. It is the right starting point for smaller contractors, sole traders, and businesses targeting private sector work.
CHAS Advanced Criteria
CHAS Advanced helps you meet SSIP and the former PAS 91 Standards.
Beyond the core health and safety criteria, CHAS Advanced adds checks on environmental management, equality and diversity, quality management, and financial information. CHAS Advanced includes broader checks, including environmental, quality, and financial information.
This level is appropriate for businesses tendering for mid-to-large contracts where clients require a broader pre-qualification questionnaire.
CHAS Elite Criteria
The Common Assessment Standard is a more thorough framework that includes assessment in 13 aspects of risk management.
CHAS Elite covers health and safety, financial standing, insurance, corporate and professional standing, anti-bribery and corruption, modern slavery, quality management, environmental management, equality and diversity, and more.
Since June 2024, CHAS Elite, the Common Assessment Standard, is now required by UK public sector bodies when pre-qualifying contractors for works contracts, in line with government Procurement Policy Note PPN 03/24.
If you are targeting public sector contracts, NHS trusts, or large main contractors in 2026, CHAS Elite is what you need.
How to Meet CHAS Assessment Standards
Meeting the CHAS assessment standards is straightforward when you know what you need. Here is the approach that works:
- Review all your documents before you apply, check your H&S policy date, insurance expiry, training records, and RAMS relevance
- Tailor your RAMS; never use generic templates; every risk assessment must reflect your actual work activities
- Keep your H&S policy current, signed within the last 12 months, reviewed and relevant
- Organising your training records clearly, with one document showing all staff qualifications, makes it easier for assessors to review
- Prepare your accident records for three years of history, even if nil returns, with your system clearly documented.
- Choose the right level; applying for the wrong level wastes time and money
- Respond quickly to assessor queries. Delays in responding are one of the most common reasons applications take longer than necessary
To improve your chances of passing CHAS the first time, make sure all documents are complete, current, consistent, and relevant to your work.
CHAS assessment guidance notes assist when completing your accreditation application. The guidance notes contain essential advice on how to submit supporting evidence correctly the first time.
How BizGrow Holdings Helps You Pass the CHAS Assessment
At BizGrow Holdings (bizgrow-holdings.com), we support UK contractors through the full CHAS assessment process from document preparation to approval.
BizGrow Holdings supports UK businesses through the entire CHAS process, including gap analysis, document preparation, and audit readiness. Our approach focuses on accuracy, clarity, and audit readiness, not shortcuts.
Here is what we do:
- In a gap analysis, we review your current documents against CHAS assessment standards and identify every gap
- H&S policy development, we write or update your policy so it is current, signed, and compliant
- RAMS development, we create specific, assessor-ready risk assessments for your work activities
- Application support, we guide you through the CHAS portal and help you answer every question accurately
- Evidence organisation, we present your documents clearly so that assessors can review them quickly
- Renewal support, we keep your documents current, so renewal is always straightforward
We have helped contractors across construction, facilities management, security, cleaning, and specialist trades pass their CHAS assessment, many of them in days, for the first time.
Visit bizgrow-holdings.com today to get started.
Conclusion | Meet the CHAS Standard With Confidence
CHAS accreditation is a powerful credibility tool in the UK market. Understanding the CHAS assessment standards enables businesses to prepare effectively, avoid delays, and secure more favourable contract opportunities.
The CHAS assessment standards are clear and achievable. Health and safety policy. RAMS. Insurance. Training. Accident records. Meet each one properly with current, tailored, well-organised documentation, and you will pass.
Do not leave it to chance. Prepare properly. And if you want expert support, BizGrow Holdings is ready to help.
Visit bizgrow-holdings.com today.
FAQs About CHAS Assessment Standards in the UK
1. What are the CHAS assessment criteria?
CHAS assessment criteria are based on the SSIP Core Criteria endorsed by the HSE. They cover your H&S policy, risk assessments, insurance, training records, and accident history with additional criteria for Advanced and Elite levels.
2. How hard is the CHAS assessment?
For well-prepared businesses, CHAS is very achievable. The most common reason for failure is incomplete or outdated documentation, not the complexity of the standards themselves. Good preparation makes it straightforward.
3. What documents do I need for the CHAS assessment?
You need a signed H&S policy, trade-specific RAMS, valid Employer’s Liability and Public Liability insurance, staff training records, and three years of accident and incident history. Additional documents are required for CHAS Advanced and Elite.
4. How long does the CHAS assessment take?
Getting CHAS accreditation typically takes most UK contractors 3 to 6 weeks from application to certificate. Well-prepared businesses with complete documentation can receive their certificate much faster.
5. What happens if I fail the CHAS assessment?
You will receive feedback identifying the gaps. Address the issues and resubmit. There is no additional assessment charge in most cases. BizGrow Holdings helps you fix every gap before you resubmit so you pass on the next attempt.