What is Assure Certification?

The Assure Competent Person Scheme is a way of self-certifying that your work as a window or installer are in line with government building regulations. Read on to see how you can apply for Assure Certification for your trade business.

Assure Certification is important for any tradesperson or business that fits windows or doors. One of many Competent Person Schemes (CPS) in the UK, Assure allows people to self-certify their work.

In addition to saving money on Building Control fees, getting your business registered with Assure will also let your customers know that you work to a high standard.

Read on to see how you could benefit from Assure Certification. We look at what the requirements are, as well as looking at the comparison with FENSA, a similar scheme.

Why do you need window installer certification?

As with any structural work carried out on a home, window and door installation needs to be in line with government building regulations.

If these regulations are not followed, your work will not be considered legal. That means that any local authority could insist it be rectified. Often at great expense to you or the customer.

When you aren’t registered with a Competent Person Scheme like Assure, there will be no records of compliance. Even if your jobs are carried out to a high standard. And that can cause big problems should the homeowner want to sell or move on.b

Unlike joining a relevant trade association, such as the Glass and Glazing Federation, an organisation like Assure is designed for compliance and certification. The different organisation structures provide different types of support for your window installation business.

How to join the Assure Certification scheme

If you want to gain extra trust with homeowners, it is worth getting your trade business registered with a CPS like Assure. If you work with replacing windows, doors, roof lights or roof windows, then Assure could be for you.

You can use the online application form to become an Assure approved installer. Whether you are currently a Checkatrade member or not.

As part of the application process to become a member of Assure it is mandatory to supply copies of:

• Your Public Liability Insurance (PLI)

• Your Employers Liability Insurance (ELI)

All installers and surveyors must be qualified to at least MTC. There are training packages available from Assure to help tradespeople meet the conditions of joining.

Once joining, all members of the Assure CPS will be audited annually to make sure that high standards are maintained.

How Assure certification can help your window fitting business

Getting an approval from Assure can help window fitting businesses and skilled tradespeople to win more work.

When looking to get work, potential customers will be considering accreditations and certifications that you may hold. Things like that help show you as a trusted tradesperson with a legitimate business.

There is no tool to check members on the Assure website. However joining the scheme does give access to Leads 2 Trade, a dedicated team dealing with sales qualified leads. That means more work being generated from homeowners looking for conservatories, door fitting and double glazing.

As a government approved Competent Person Scheme, being registered with Assure also takes time and cost out of work approvals by local authorities.

Is Assure certification the same as FENSA?

A regular conundrum faced by window and door installers is comparing Assure certification vs FENSA.

If you’re not familiar with them, we’ve put together a 101 guide on FENSA showing how that scheme could also benefit your trade business.

But putting it simply, as both are government-backed Competent Person Schemes, there is not a vast difference between the two organisations. But there are some.

Here are some things to consider when comparing the two:

• FENSA is an older organisation so may hold more weight with customers

• There is a larger membership with FENSA

• There is a dedicated FENSA installer search tool

• Assure is slightly cheaper

• Both organisations offer training packages

• Both offer consumer finance options

If your business can afford to be signed up to both, then it can only help build your reputation and show consumers that your work can be trusted. It also shows that you carry the right accreditations.

How much does it cost to get registered with Assure?

Quite simply, there is a one off annual fee for any individual or business that signs up with Assure. Currently, the cost of Assure membership is £200 + VAT that is charged on an annual basis.

As a window or door installer you can also join Checkatrade so that customers find your services easily. As a well known sign of quality, people will often check Checkatrade as well as your accreditations. It is why 1 in 4 people who visit us check a tradesperson's quality credentials before booking a job direct.*

Being a member of both Assure and Checkatrade helps grow your business, so it pays to be registered with the different organisations. Want to win more work as a trusted window installer? Why not start your application today?

Content disclaimer: This content has been created for general information purposes and should not be taken as formal advice. Read our full disclaimer here.

* Claims are sourced from a survey conducted by Deep Blue Thinking on a nationally representative UK sample in November 2021.