What SSIP & CQMS Mean and Why They Matter for Facilities Teams

When evaluating cleaning contractors, you'll often see references to accreditations like SSIP and CQMS. But what do these actually mean? And why should facilities managers care about them when selecting a supplier?

Understanding SSIP

SSIP stands for Safety Schemes in Procurement. It's a forum of health and safety assessment schemes that have been assessed against a common core of standards. When a contractor holds SSIP accreditation, it means their health and safety management systems have been independently verified.

What SSIP Verification Covers

• Health and safety policy – Does the company have appropriate policies in place?
• Organisation and arrangements – How is health and safety managed day-to-day?
• Risk assessments – Are risks properly identified and controlled?
• Training records – Are staff appropriately trained?
• Accident reporting – Are incidents recorded and investigated?
• Insurance – Does the company hold adequate cover?

Why SSIP Matters

For facilities managers, SSIP accreditation provides assurance that a contractor takes health and safety seriously. This matters because:

• Legal compliance – Under CDM regulations and general health and safety law, you have duties when engaging contractors. Working with SSIP-accredited suppliers helps demonstrate due diligence.
• Reduced risk – Properly managed contractors are less likely to cause accidents on your premises.
• Procurement efficiency – Many organisations now require SSIP accreditation as a baseline for contractor approval. It's become an industry standard.

Understanding CQMS

CQMS stands for Contractor Quality Management System. While SSIP focuses on health and safety, CQMS looks more broadly at business quality and capability.

What CQMS Assessment Covers

• Business management systems – How is the company run?
• Quality processes – What systems ensure consistent service delivery?
• Environmental management – How does the company manage its environmental impact?
• Financial stability – Is the business financially sound?
• References and track record – Can they demonstrate successful delivery?

Why CQMS Matters

CQMS provides broader assurance about contractor capability:

• Quality confidence – Verified quality systems mean more consistent service
• Business stability – Financial checks provide confidence the contractor won't disappear mid-contract
• Professional operation – Demonstrates the contractor operates as a serious, professional business

The Practical Implications

For Procurement

Many large organisations and public sector bodies now require contractors to hold SSIP and/or CQMS accreditation as a condition of tendering. If you're issuing tenders, specifying these accreditations:

• Filters out less professional operators
• Reduces your pre-qualification workload
• Demonstrates due diligence in your procurement process

For Ongoing Management

Accreditations aren't just about winning contracts—they indicate ongoing commitment to standards. Accredited contractors must maintain their systems and undergo regular reassessment. This provides ongoing assurance throughout your contract.

For Risk Management

If something goes wrong—an accident, a quality failure, a complaint—having engaged an accredited contractor demonstrates you took reasonable steps in your selection process. It's part of your defence of due diligence.

Beyond the Badges

While accreditations provide valuable baseline assurance, they're not the whole picture. A contractor might be accredited but still not right for your specific needs. Consider accreditations alongside:

• Relevant experience – Have they worked in your sector before?
• References – What do their current clients say?
• Cultural fit – Will they work well with your team?
• Responsiveness – How do they handle queries and problems?
• Innovation – Do they bring ideas for improvement?

Accreditations open the door; everything else determines whether the relationship will succeed.

Questions to Ask

When evaluating contractors, don't just check whether they're accredited—ask them about it:

• How long have you held these accreditations?
• When is your next reassessment?
• Have you ever had accreditation issues or failures?
• How do you implement these standards in daily operations?
• Can you provide your latest assessment reports?

The answers will tell you whether accreditation is embedded in how they operate, or just a badge they've collected for procurement purposes.