Understanding CDM Roles and SSIP Categories: What Suppliers Need to Know

If you’re applying for an SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) assessment, it’s essential to know which CDM (Construction Design and Management) role applies to your organisation – and which SSIP category you should apply under. While SSIP does provide clarification, it’s easy to miss the nuances – especially if you’re a smaller contractor or a business with various functions.

In this article, we’ll break down what each CDM role actually means in practice and how that maps to the SSIP categories. Whether you’re a contractor, designer, or principal duty-holder, this guide will help you choose the right path – and avoid delays in your certification.

First: What is SSIP and Why Does Your Role Matter?

SSIP is a mutual recognition scheme for health and safety assessments. It verifies that your business meets core health and safety standards required by clients and principal contractors – helping reduce duplication across pre-qualification processes

But SSIP isn’t one-size-fits-all. When applying, you must choose the correct CDM role, based on how your organisation contributes to construction projects under CDM 2015 regulations. Picking the wrong category could result in a failed application or the need to reapply.

UK SSIP Categories Explained

Here’s the breakdown of the five core SSIP roles recognised under UK legislation, and how to know which one applies to your business.

1. SSIP Approved (General)

This applies to any organisation that needs to demonstrate general organisational capability to undertake work. Most suppliers will fall under this category unless they’re specifically acting as a designer or principal contractor. This includes both contractors and subcontractors.

You’re likely an SSIP Approved organisation if you’re carrying out construction or maintenance work, but you’re not responsible for coordinating other contractors or handling project design.

This category also includes non-construction trades such as cleaning, landscaping, security and other service-based roles – SSIP approval isn’t limited to traditional construction activities.

2. SSIP Approved: Contractor

Contractors carry out construction work – such as building, altering, maintaining, or demolishing – and are responsible for managing health and safety for that work.

If you employ or manage construction workers directly, or subcontract work to others, this is likely your category. On larger projects, contractors usually work under the control of a Principal Contractor.

3. SSIP Approved: Principal Contractor

Principal Contractors are appointed by the client to manage the entire construction phase of a project involving multiple contractors. They’re responsible for planning, managing, monitoring, and coordinating health and safety once work on-site begins.

You’re a Principal Contractor if you’re leading the delivery of a project with more than one contractor on site and are managing the entire construction phase.

4. SSIP Approved: Designer

A Designer is anyone who prepares or modifies designs, drawings, specifications, or design-related documents for construction projects. This could be architects, engineers, surveyors – or even tradespeople who carry out design work as part of their job.

If your work affects how a project is constructed, maintained, or used, even if you’re not a traditional ‘designer’, this may be the right category for you.

5. SSIP Approved: Principal Designer

The Principal Designer is responsible for planning, managing, and coordinating health and safety during the pre-construction phase – when most of the design work happens. They are appointed by the client and take the lead in ensuring risks are eliminated or reduced in the design.

You’re a Principal Designer if you oversee or coordinate the design phase on projects with multiple contractors, including managing other designers.

(At Compliance Chain, we currently offer SSIP assessments for Approved, Contractor and Principal Contractor roles only. Designer and Principal Designer roles are recognised by SSIP but are not available through our current assessment pathways.)

Final Tips: Choosing the Right SSIP Role

If you’re not sure what your role is, ask yourself:

• Are you physically delivering construction work on-site? You’re likely a Contractor
• Are you leading a project with more than one contractor? You may be a Principal Contractor
• Do you create or modify designs for construction projects? You might be a Designer – even if you’e not a design firm.
• Are you responsible for coordinating multiple designers in the pre-construction phase? That’s a Principal Designer role.

If none of these apply, or your work is more general, SSIP Approved (General) is often the correct route.

Still not sure? We’re here to help.

The Compliance Chain team understands that this process can be confusing – especially for suppliers and subcontractors working across different project types. If you’re unsure which SSIP category applies to you, get in touch. We’ll help guide you to the right assessment and make sure your compliance is aligned with the roles you actually perform.

Stay compliant. Stay competitive.

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