What’s the issue?
When businesses hire suppliers or contractors, they need to make sure those companies follow proper health and safety rules. Traditionally, checking each supplier’s safety credentials has been time-consuming and expensive – imagine having to verify the same company’s safety records over and over again for different projects.
What is SSIP?
Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) is like a nationwide “safety passport” system for suppliers. Think of it as similar to how your car has an MOT once per year.
SSIP brings together various health and safety assessment organisations under one umbrella. When a supplier gets certified by any SSIP member organisation, that certification is recognised by all the others.
Why does this matter?
For buyers (the people hiring suppliers):
· Less hassle – No need to repeatedly check the same supplier’s credentials
· Lower costs – Less paperwork and administrative work (the system saved businesses over £6,349,362 million in 2025)
· Lower risk – Confidence that suppliers meet proper safety standards
· Easy verification – A free online database lets you quickly check if a supplier is certified
For suppliers (the companies being hired):
· No repeat assessments – Get certified once, use it everywhere
· Better reputation – Shows commitment to safety
· More opportunities – Many large organisations now require SSIP certification
How it works:
Instead of conducting your own lengthy safety checks, you simply require suppliers to have SSIP certification. You can then verify their status through a free online portal containing over 90,000 certified suppliers.
Important note:
SSIP certification covers general safety competence. You’ll still need to check that a supplier has the right skills and experience for your specific project – but initial pre-qualification safety assessment is already done.
The bottom line:
Requiring SSIP certification makes hiring safer suppliers simpler, faster and cheaper for everyone involved.
Please visit ssip.co.uk for more information on how SSIP simplifies procurement and reduces occupational health and safety assessment duplication across projects.
