What is the CCS?
The Considerate Constructors Scheme is the national initiative set up by the construction industry to improve its image.
Construction sites, companies and suppliers that register with the Scheme are monitored against a Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements.
The Scheme is concerned about any area of construction activity that may have a direct or indirect impact on the image of the industry as a whole. The main areas of concern fall into three categories: the general public, the workforce and the environment.
Started in 1997, this important initiative operates a voluntary Code of Considerate Practice, to which participating construction sites, companies and suppliers register.
The Scheme is a non-profit-making, independent organisation founded by the industry to improve its image. The Scheme is neither grant maintained, nor funded by the government, and is solely financed by its registrations.
There are three ways in which companies can register with the Scheme: Site Registration, Company Registration and Supplier Registration.
Our aim: To improve the image of construction
Why?
The construction industry has a huge impact on all our lives, with most construction work taking place in sensitive locations. If all construction sites, companies and suppliers presented an image of competent management, efficiency, awareness of environmental issues and above all neighbourliness, then they would become a positive advertisement, not just for themselves but for the industry as a whole.
What?
The Code of Considerate Practice commits those sites, companies and suppliers registered with the Scheme to care about appearance, respect the community, protect the environment, secure everyone’s safety and value their workforce.
Where?
Construction sites, companies and suppliers operating within the UK can register with the Scheme.
Who?
The Scheme is open to construction sites, companies and suppliers of all types and size and for every type of construction activity, with many construction companies and clients automatically registering all their work as company policy.
How
?Through the monitoring of registered sites, companies and suppliers, and the displaying of posters around the construction site, promoting registration with the Scheme. If passers-by wish to comment, the name and telephone number of the site manager or company contact is clearly displayed, alongside the freephone telephone number of the Scheme’s administration office. Registered companies also display a vehicle sticker or magnet, showing their unique registration number, on every company and supplier vehicle used on the public highway.
When?
- Sites should be registered before any construction activity commences, including initial demolition work.
- Construction companies, including main and trade contractors, can register at any time.
- Construction suppliers can register at any time.
Code of Considerate Practice
Considerate Constructors seek to improve the image of the construction industry by striving to promote and achieve best practice under the Code of Considerate Practice.
This Code outlines the Scheme’s expectations and describes those areas that are considered fundamental for registration with the Scheme.
The Code is broken down into five main sections, and each section contains an aspirational supporting statement and four bullet points which represent the basic expectations of registration with the Scheme.
This applies to all registered sites, companies and suppliers, regardless of size, type or location.
Constructors should ensure sites appear professional and well managed
- Ensuring that the external appearance of sites enhances the image of the industry – (External image).
- Being organised, clean and tidy – (Organisation & maintenance).
- Enhancing the appearance of facilities, stored materials, vehicles and plant – (Facilities, materials & plant).
- Raising the image of the workforce by their appearance – (Workforce/Operative).
Constructors should give utmost consideration to their impact on neighbours and the public
- Informing, respecting and showing courtesy to those affected by the work – (Courtesy & respect).
- Minimising the impact of deliveries, parking and work on the public highway – (Traffic management).
- Contributing to and supporting the local community and economy – (Supporting local communities).
- Working to create a positive and enduring impression, and promoting the Code – (Promoting the Scheme Code).
Constructors should protect and enhance the environment
- Identifying, managing and promoting environmental issues – (Management & communication).
- Seeking sustainable solutions, and minimising waste, the carbon footprint and resources – (Waste & resources).
- Minimising the impact of vibration, and air, light and noise pollution – (Impact of pollution & vibration).
- Protecting the ecology, the landscape, wildlife, vegetation and watercourses – (Ecology & landscape).
Constructors should attain the highest levels of safety performance
- Having systems that care for the safety of the public, visitors and the workforce – (Safety systems).
- Minimising security risks to neighbours – (Minimise security risks).
- Having initiatives for continuous safety improvement – (Safety initiatives).
- Embedding attitudes and behaviours that enhance safety performance – (Attitudes & behaviours).
Constructors should provide a supportive and caring working environment
- Providing a workplace where everyone is respected, treated fairly, encouraged and supported – (Equality, diversity & respect).
- Identifying personal development needs and promoting training – (Training & development).
- Caring for the health and wellbeing of the workforce – (Health & wellbeing).
- Providing and maintaining high standards of welfare – (Welfare).
When Monitors visit a site, company or supplier, they base their report findings upon this Code of Considerate Practice.
For more information regarding the Considerate Constructors Scheme, please visit our CCS website
