Help! What is Considerate Constructors Scheme and How to Excel at It

You might be carrying out your first project since joining the Considerate Constructors Scheme or might have never heard of it. Registering with the Scheme brings a variety of benefits that can help your business to succeed and improve public relations with the local community.

Building wraps on buildings under construction

What is the Considerate Constructors Scheme?

The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) is an non-profit, independent organisation that was founded in 1997. The scheme was introduced to try to improve the public image of the construction industry as a whole.

Signing up isn’t compulsory, but sites and companies do because they receive a nationally recognised membership that is sought out by major contractors and government authorities. It’s a badge of honour for your company and can help it to succeed in the long run.

If the site your working on is part of the CCS, you’re more likely to notice high standards, a comprehensive health and safety plan and a culture of respect for the local community.

If your construction business is a part of the CCS, you’ll have a distinct edge over your competitors as you’re more likely to be considered for projects as a result. So, how do you apply to be a member?

Applying to the CCS

There are three different kinds of registration to the CCS, depending on the nature of your company and the work that you’ll be carrying out. Sites, companies and suppliers can all be members of the Scheme but there are slightly different criteria that must be met.

  • Construction Sites – All construction sites are eligible for registration as long as they’ll be open for six weeks or more. If the site duration is less than six weeks, they can still be considered as long as they register for the Scheme prior to the beginning of work.
  • Companies – Construction companies of any size can register. Depending on the annual turnover, the registration can cover all sites or projects, regardless of their duration.
  • Suppliers – Any company that supplies goods and materials to construction sites can register with the Scheme. Suppliers are recognised as having a valuable input to construction sites and have the same responsibility when it comes to public perception.

The Code of Considerate Practice

You’ll be expected to adhere to the Code of Considerate Practice. The code outlines the steps that your construction site or company needs to follow. We’ve outlined the five key parts of the Code and given a few tips to make sure you excel at it.

1. The Environment

It’s your responsibility to think about the local environment and take action to ensure that your work doesn’t damage it in any way. Showing the community that you’ve taken steps to protect local wildlife and vegetation will help to improve relations. You’ll be expected to minimise waste and consider your carbon footprint.

Tip: Minimise air, light, noise and vibration pollution where possible. This will reduce your impact on the local environment and keep members of the community happy.

2. Respect the Community

At all times you should be aware of the impact that your site is having on local people. Houses nearby should be informed of work that’s being carried out and given warning of anything that might significantly affect them, including noise issues, temporary traffic lights and parking problems.

Tip: One of the biggest complaints that local people have with construction sites is with parking and highway work. Schedule major deliveries during off-peak hours and don’t take up parking space.

3. A Valued Workforce

In order to adhere to the Code of Considerate Practice, you’ll need to make sure your workers feel valued when they’re on site. All staff should be respected and treated fairly. This helps to promote a positive culture at your business which ultimately leads to a better overall service.

Tip: Offer regular training sessions so that workers can challenge themselves and learn new skills. Hold team and individual meetings to speak to your team and find out the issues they face on a day to day basis that you can rectify.

4. Safety

It’s your responsibility to ensure that workers, visitors and the general public are kept safe at all times. You should already have safety procedures in place but you need to always be updating and adapting them to deal with new issues.

Tip: Carry out risk assessments to determine the key hazards that workers and visitors face. Take steps to eliminate these problems or provide health and safety equipment to reduce accidents.

5. Your Appearance

Something as simple as keeping the site tidy can have a huge impact on the local community. A clean and organised site can reflect well on your company and the industry as a whole. Ensure your workers wear appropriate clothing as they’ll represent the site whilst travelling to and from work as well.

Tip: Keep your site tidy and organised. Ensure materials and equipment are stored when not in use. If the local community really does find your site to be an eyesore, then look into construction hoardings that can hide the site from view and be advertised on.

Improve Your Site’s Appearance with Construction Hoarding

Branding your site can help to create a professional image and help you to win future contracts. You could use full-length hoardings to show the local community what’s coming on the site. This will stop them from seeing a building site. Instead, they’ll start to see a housing development, retail store or whatever’s being built.

Find out how your construction site can use hoarding for safety and creative purposes. Hiding your site from view can deter potential thieves and prevent unwanted access to your site.  

The hoarding can also be a new source of revenue for your company as you can let brands and other businesses advertise on the space, especially if the site you’re working on is in the city centre or on a commuting route.

For more information on construction site hoarding and the best way to go about planning outdoor signage of any kind, download our free guide today. Click the button below.

{{cta(‘6d2dbeb2-24d2-4f1a-beaf-41e65a5b0b3a’)}}