Fourth Assessment Body for the Common Assessment Standard

A FOURTH ORGANISATION is now a Recognised Assessment Body to certify companies against the Common Assessment Standard.

Build UK has announced that CQMS can now assess businesses’ pre-qualification status against the new standard.

The Common Assessment Standard is being rolled out across the construction industry to simplify the pre-qualification (PQ) system. It significantly reduces the duplication of time, effort and resources that are costing up to £1 billion a year, according to Build UK. It has been endorsed by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and recommended for use within the public sector as part of the recent independent review of frameworks.

A growing list of major contractors and clients are specifying the Common Assessment Standard for their PQ requirements, meaning that members of their supply chains need to obtain just one certification in order to tender for work with them.

Three Build UK Trade Association members are also accepting the Common Assessment Standard as part of their membership audit process, further reducing duplication across the industry.

Recognised Asssessment Body

With a data sharing solution enabling contractors and clients to obtain PQ data from any Recognised Assessment Body, companies can apply for certification from Achilles, CHAS, Constructionline – and now CQMS.

Jo Fautley, Deputy Chief Executive of Build UK, said: “CQMS becoming a Recognised Assessment Body is another significant milestone in the rollout of the Common Assessment Standard. The industry-wide PQ system is going from strength to strength, with more and more of the industry now supporting this collaborative and efficient way of working.”

Kerry Howe, Director of CQMS, added: “We are delighted to become a Recognised Assessment Body able to certify companies against the Common Assessment Standard, and to recognise and support the enhanced requirements for supply chains, whilst raising the bar in a cost-effective and efficient way.”

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