By Eleanor Eaton, Chair of SSIP
Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) is the UK framework that brings together health and safety assessment schemes under a single set of core standards. Our purpose is simple: to reduce unnecessary duplication in procurement while maintaining robust and consistent health and safety standards across the supply chain.
All SSIP Member Schemes assess suppliers against the same SSIP Core Criteria, which are aligned with guidance from the UK Health and Safety Executive. This shared foundation allows suppliers and buyers to work within a trusted framework where competence can be recognised consistently across multiple schemes.
One of the most powerful mechanisms that makes this possible is Deem to Satisfy.
Deem to Satisfy: A Practical Solution to a Common Industry Problem
Anyone involved in procurement or supply chain management will recognise a familiar frustration. A supplier may already hold a credible health and safety certification, yet a new client requires approval from a different scheme. Without coordination between schemes, the supplier is asked to complete another assessment covering largely the same ground.
This duplication costs time, money, and effort for everyone involved.
Deem to Satisfy (DtS) exists to solve that problem.
The principle is straightforward: if a supplier has already been assessed by one SSIP Member Scheme and meets the SSIP Core Criteria, another SSIP scheme can recognise that certification rather than requiring a full re-assessment.
In other words, competence demonstrated once should not need to be demonstrated repeatedly.
A Framework Built on Shared Standards
Deem to Satisfy works because all SSIP Member Schemes assess suppliers against the same core criteria.
These criteria reflect established health and safety expectations in the UK and provide a consistent benchmark for supplier competence. Because schemes operate within this common framework, they can trust the validity of each other’s assessments.
This mutual recognition is not about lowering standards or bypassing scrutiny. On the contrary, it reinforces the credibility of the entire system by ensuring that every recognised certification is based on the same robust requirements.
The result is a procurement environment where safety competence is both trusted and transferable.
How Deem to Satisfy Works in Practice
From a supplier’s perspective, the process is designed to be simple and efficient.
First, the supplier completes a health and safety assessment with an SSIP Member Scheme and receives certification.
If a client or buyer requires certification from a different SSIP scheme, the supplier can then apply for Deem to Satisfy through that scheme. The scheme reviews the existing approval, confirms that it meets the SSIP Core Criteria, and recognises the certification accordingly.
In some cases, a small amount of additional information may be requested. However, this is typically minimal compared to completing a full new assessment.
The key point is that the supplier’s existing competence is recognised, not duplicated.
Benefits Across the Supply Chain
Deem to Satisfy delivers clear advantages for both suppliers and buyers.
For suppliers, the benefits are immediate. They avoid repeating similar assessments, reduce administrative burden and save both time and cost. This allows businesses to focus their resources where they matter most – maintaining safe operations and delivering high-quality work.
For buyers, the advantages are equally important. Procurement teams can verify supplier competence more quickly and confidently, knowing that approvals are based on consistent standards. It also reduces unnecessary complexity within procurement processes.
In short, Deem to Satisfy helps the entire supply chain operate more efficiently while maintaining strong health and safety assurance.
Understanding the Types of Mutual Recognition
Within the SSIP framework, Deem to Satisfy operates across different types of member organisations.
Registered Member Schemes recognise each other’s approvals directly. This means a supplier certified by one Registered Member can apply for Deem to Satisfy with another Registered Member Scheme.
Certification Body Members operate slightly differently. These organisations provide SSIP certification alongside ISO 45001 certification. Their approvals can be used to apply for Deem to Satisfy with SSIP Registered Members. However, due to the structure of ISO 45001 certification body assessments, the process operates in one direction only.
These arrangements ensure that recognition works effectively while respecting the structure of different certification approaches.
Supporting a Smarter Procurement Landscape
At its heart, Deem to Satisfy represents what SSIP was created to achieve: collaboration rather than duplication.
The construction and services sectors already face complex regulatory and operational challenges. Procurement systems should support safety, not create unnecessary barriers.
By enabling mutual recognition between schemes, SSIP ensures that the focus remains where it should be – on real health and safety competence in the workplace.
When Support Is Needed
While the Deem to Satisfy process is designed to be straightforward, questions can occasionally arise.
Suppliers experiencing difficulties should first contact the schemes involved, as they are best placed to address scheme-specific queries. Where further clarification is required, SSIP is available to provide guidance and support.
Our goal is to ensure that the system works smoothly for everyone who relies on it.
Deem to Satisfy is more than an administrative process. It is a practical expression of the principle that strong safety standards and efficient procurement can – and should – work together.
As Chair of SSIP, I believe that continued collaboration between schemes, suppliers, and buyers will ensure that this approach continues to deliver value across the entire supply chain.
