United Kingdom
UK Trades Vendor Directory
Independent reviews of 21 UK-relevant vendors and schemes across 5 categories, written for UK contractors. Each entry notes the UK points the vendor covers or leaves out: Gas Safe Register, NICEIC and OFTEC schemes, HMRC RTI, CIS, employers' liability and VAT.
Deciding between two options?
See UK vendors compared side by side: pros and cons, UK-specific notes and pricing, with a short summary of which one publishes its prices or carries a reputation warning.
⏰ Compliance guide · Live since 6 April 2026
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is live for sole traders
Mandatory now over £50k of qualifying income, then over £30k from April 2027 and £20k from April 2028, per GOV.UK. What sole traders and CIS subcontractors must change, and what the software in our UK directory says about it.
What's different about UK trades vendor selection
Three UK points shape vendor choice here. First, gas work needs registration: a business must be on the Gas Safe Register to legally do gas work within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and HSE prosecutes unregistered gas fitters. For electrical and oil heating work, competent person schemes such as NICEIC and OFTEC let members self-certify certain work instead of going through building control, and other authorised schemes cover the same work. Second, payroll sits outside the job app: Powered Now, Tradify, ServiceM8 and Joblogic list no payroll features, so employers pair them with payroll software that files RTI to HMRC, and CIS returns may need a separate product or add-on (BrightCIS, or Xero's CIS add-on). Third, lead-generation pricing models differ: Checkatrade publishes monthly plans on 12-month memberships, TrustATrader says it charges no commission or lead fees, and on Bark you spend credits to respond to a request, with up to five professionals able to contact the same customer.
Field service software
Job management software sold to UK trades: BigChange (Leeds), Joblogic (Birmingham) and Powered Now (Devon); Commusoft (London and Chicago); Tradify (founded in New Zealand, part of The Access Group since 2024) and ServiceM8 (an Australian company), both priced in sterling; and the AI quoting app Sleepless Tradesman.
Commusoft
Tier A · ListedLondon-headquartered job management software for plumbing, heating, gas and electrical businesses with 6 or more staff
Commusoft is job management software for trade and field service businesses such as plumbing and heating, gas, electrical, HVAC and renewables, covering scheduling, quotes, job costing, invoicing, service contracts and an offline-first mobile app. It has headquarters in London and Chicago, sells in the UK, US and Canada, and says it is designed for businesses with 6 or more staff. Commusoft says it is used by more than 10,000 pros and that 2.1 million jobs were completed on it in 2025.
UK-specific note
For UK gas engineers, Commusoft's digital forms include landlord and homeowner gas safety records (CP12s) completed and sent from the mobile app, and you can record each engineer's qualifications for dispatch. It integrates with Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage Accounting and FreeAgent, with merchants Wolseley and City Plumbing, and with Worcester Bosch for service jobs.
Pros
- + Digital gas safety records (CP12) and other certificates sent from the mobile app
- + Offline-first mobile app for engineers
- + Integrations with Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage and FreeAgent, plus UK merchants
- + Contracted, monthly rolling and daily licences, with onboarding included
Cons
- − No published prices; ask the sales team for a quote
- − Designed for businesses with 6 or more staff
- − Contracted licences run on a 12-month term
BigChange
Tier A · ListedLeeds-based job management and vehicle tracking software for field service businesses, part of Simpro Group
BigChange is job management software for UK trade and field service businesses, combining CRM, job scheduling, a mobile app, live vehicle tracking, quotes and invoicing, and business intelligence in one system. It is based in Leeds, says it was founded in 2013, and has been part of Simpro Group, which also owns Simpro and AroFlo, since Great Hill Partners sold it in October 2024. BigChange says more than 2,200 field service businesses use it.
UK-specific note
BigChange is built and headquartered in the UK (Leeds) and pitches at trades such as plumbing and heating, electrical, fire and security, drainage and building maintenance. It names Xero and Sage among its accounting integrations and offers UK fleet extras such as vans, fuel cards and AI dashcams.
Pros
- + CRM, scheduling, mobile app, live tracking, invoicing and reporting in every plan
- + Vehicle tracking plus fleet extras such as dashcams, vans and fuel cards
- + Xero and Sage integrations and a REST API
- + Backed by Simpro Group since 2024
Cons
- − No published prices; request a quote
- − Hardware and fleet extras are add-ons on top of the plan
- − Plan names and contract terms are not shown on the pricing page
Joblogic
Tier S · Published pricesUK field service management software with planned maintenance, asset and gas certificate tools
Joblogic is field service management software from Tracer Management Systems Limited in Birmingham, covering jobs and scheduling, quotes, invoices, a mobile engineer app, asset maintenance, planned preventive maintenance (PPM), stock and customer portals. It began in 1998, was bought by its current leadership in 2013, and announced a growth investment from Vista Equity Partners in September 2025. Joblogic says more than 7,000 UK service contractors use it.
UK-specific note
Joblogic is UK-built and prices in sterling. It lists gas certificates and F-Gas compliance, boiler servicing and planned maintenance among its features, and links to UK accounting packages including Sage (Accounting, 50, 200 and Intacct), QuickBooks, FreeAgent and KashFlow. It is not a payroll tool.
Pros
- + Planned maintenance, asset management and contract tools
- + Gas certificate and F-Gas compliance features
- + Published starting price: Standard from £45 per user per month
- + Links to Sage, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, KashFlow and AccountsIQ
Cons
- − Joblogic says most customers commit to 24 or 36-month terms
- − Premium and Enterprise plans are quote-only
- − Priced per user, so cost grows with team size
- − No payroll: pair it with separate payroll software
Powered Now
Tier S · Published pricesUK job management app for trades, with certificates, CIS and Making Tax Digital support
Powered Now is job management software for UK trades from Powered Now Limited in Teignmouth, Devon, aimed at sole traders up to full teams. It covers quotes, invoices with payment links, scheduling, expenses, purchase orders, timesheets and trade forms and certificates, with Xero and QuickBooks integrations. Powered Now says more than 4,000 UK trade businesses use it.
UK-specific note
Built for UK trades and priced in sterling excluding VAT. Powered Now lists CIS and Domestic Reverse Charge support, says it appears on HMRC's software list for Making Tax Digital for VAT and is ready for MTD for Income Tax, and includes gas safety and electrical certificates. It has no payroll or RTI submission, so employers need separate payroll software.
Pros
- + Published prices: Business £28 per month for one user
- + Gas safety, electrical and other trade certificates in the app
- + CIS, Domestic Reverse Charge and Making Tax Digital support
- + Xero and QuickBooks integrations
Cons
- − Multi-user plans are priced per user, so cost grows with team size
- − Customer portal only on the Premium plan
- − No payroll or RTI: pair it with UK payroll software
- − No FreeAgent or Sage integration listed
Tradify (UK)
Tier S · Published pricesJob-management app for small trades businesses, priced per user in sterling; part of The Access Group
Tradify is job-management software for trades businesses, founded in New Zealand, and the UK's Access Group agreed to buy it in October 2024. Its UK site covers quoting, scheduling, timesheets, job tracking, invoicing, online payments and trade certificates, with sync to Xero, Sage and QuickBooks Online. Tradify says tens of thousands of tradespeople use it.
UK-specific note
Tradify has a UK site priced in sterling per user per month, with a London address and 0800 number. It lets engineers fill in electrical safety certificates and oil and gas safety certificates on site. It lists no CIS or payroll features, so UK employers and contractors need separate payroll software for RTI and CIS returns.
Pros
- + Published sterling prices per user, with a 14-day free trial
- + Quoting, scheduling, job tracking and invoicing in one app
- + Electrical and oil and gas safety certificates on site
- + Syncs with Xero, Sage and QuickBooks Online
Cons
- − Priced per user, so cost grows with team size
- − No CIS or payroll features listed
- − AI SmartTools only on the Plus plan
- − Text messages cost extra at £0.10 each
ServiceM8 (UK)
Tier S · Published pricesiPhone-first job management app for small service businesses, priced in sterling by jobs per month, with a free plan
ServiceM8 is job management software from ServiceM8 Pty Ltd, an Australian company, covering scheduling, quotes, invoices, job photos and forms, and card payments. Its UK site prices plans in sterling per business by jobs per month, with unlimited users on paid plans and a free plan for one user. ServiceM8 recommends iPhones or iPads; Android users get ServiceM8 Lite, which covers the basics.
UK-specific note
UK prices are in GBP and exclude VAT; ServiceM8 issues reverse charge invoices, so VAT-registered businesses account for the VAT to HMRC themselves. It connects to Xero and QuickBooks Online (no Sage or FreeAgent listed). Its UK pages list no CIS, gas safety certificate or payroll features, so those need separate tools.
Pros
- + Published sterling prices with a free plan (1 user, 30 jobs a month)
- + Unlimited users on paid plans; price is set by monthly job count
- + 14-day free trial with no card
- + Connects to Xero and QuickBooks Online
Cons
- − Built for Apple devices; Android users get ServiceM8 Lite with the basics
- − Price rises with monthly job volume
- − No CIS, gas safety certificate or payroll features listed
- − Supplied by an Australian company under Australian law
Sleepless Tradesman
Tier S · Published pricesAI quoting and invoicing app for UK trades that says it checks Part P, gas and building regulations
Sleepless Tradesman is an AI assistant that produces price estimates from a job description or photos, asks follow-up questions, and on paid plans writes quotes and invoices as PDFs. Sleepless Tradesman says it checks building regulations, Part P, gas certificates and planning permission as part of quoting, and its Premium plan adds web search for material prices. It also runs a free tradesman directory and free calculators, and the site and its terms name no company behind it.
UK-specific note
The app page is written for UK sole traders, subcontractors and small firms, prices are in GBP, and the terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. Free tools include a CIS refund estimator and tax calculators. The site also claims coverage of 35+ countries, which this review did not check. The app is on the UK App Store for iPhone, and the site also offers an Android app as a direct APK download.
Pros
- + Published prices with a free tier of 10 AI messages and no card needed
- + Says it checks Part P, gas certificate, building regulation and planning points when quoting
- + Free directory listing and free calculators, including a CIS refund estimator
- + Premium plan searches the web for current material prices
Cons
- − Paid plans cap AI messages: 100 a month on Starter, 500 on Premium
- − Android app offered as a direct APK download from the site; the page does not mention Google Play
- − The site, terms and privacy policy name no company, number or address
- − VAT treatment and cancellation terms are not stated on the pricing page
Lead-generation platforms
UK directories and marketplaces that connect customers with tradespeople: Checkatrade, MyBuilder, TrustATrader and Bark. Pricing models differ: Checkatrade publishes monthly plans, TrustATrader says it charges no commission or lead fees, on Bark you spend credits to respond to requests, and no MyBuilder prices could be read for this check.
Checkatrade
Tier S · Published pricesUK trades directory with a free profile, a £30/month Approved plan and lead plans from £59/month
Checkatrade is a UK trades directory and lead service run by Vetted Limited in London. Tradespeople can list free, pay £30 a month for the Approved plan with the Checkatrade tick after ID, address and documentation checks, or take a Growth plan from £59 a month that adds a chosen volume of customer enquiries, direct booking and search credit. Checkatrade says memberships are for 12 months and it covers 72 trade industries. In September 2026 Checkatrade Group bought the Rated People brand and website, and jobs posted on Rated People are now matched with Checkatrade members.
UK-specific note
You pick the UK postcode areas you work in and, on lead plans, how many leads you want a year. The Checkatrade tick needs ID, address and documentation checks. Since September 2026 Checkatrade members also receive jobs posted on Rated People, whose brand and website Checkatrade Group bought after Rated People Limited went into liquidation.
Pros
- + Free profile to collect and show reviews
- + Published prices: Approved £30/month, Growth from £59/month
- + You choose your postcode areas and yearly lead volume
- + Members also get jobs posted on Rated People since September 2026
Cons
- − Memberships are for 12 months
- − Only a 'from' price is published for Growth lead plans
- − The pricing page does not say whether VAT is included
- − Checkatrade Pay card payments carry fees of 1.29%-1.79%
MyBuilder
Tier A · ListedUK marketplace connecting homeowners with tradespeople, owned by Angi Inc. and run within its Instapro Group
MyBuilder is a UK online marketplace connecting homeowners with tradespeople, run by MyBuilder Limited in London. Home Advisor Limited has controlled MyBuilder Limited since March 2017, and Angi Inc. lists MyBuilder as its UK marketplace, run within its Instapro Group alongside Travaux.com, My-Hammer, Werkspot and HomeStars. Angi says its international revenue comes mainly from lead fees for consumer matches and membership subscriptions paid by pros.
UK-specific note
MyBuilder Limited is registered in England and Wales, with offices in London. MyBuilder's trade pages could not be read for this check, so confirm the current fees and any subscription with MyBuilder before signing up.
Pros
- + Owned by Angi Inc., a US-listed home services company
- + Separate apps for tradespeople and homeowners
- + Part of a group running similar marketplaces in six other countries
Cons
- − No prices for tradespeople could be read on MyBuilder's site
- − Angi says pros on its international marketplaces pay lead fees and membership subscriptions
- − Confirm vetting and fee terms directly with MyBuilder
TrustATrader
Tier A · ListedUK trade directory that limits members per trade in each area and charges no commission or lead fees
TrustATrader is a UK online trade directory run by Trustatrader.com Ltd of Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Customers search by trade and postcode and contact traders directly by phone, text or email, then leave reviews. TrustATrader says it limits the number of members for each trade in each region, charges no commission or lead fees, and in September 2026 it reported about 494,000 searches in the previous 30 days.
UK-specific note
TrustATrader says every member has public liability insurance and provides proof of qualifications and membership of the relevant trade association, and its about page asks for at least two years' experience in the trade. Places are limited per trade in each region, so there may be no opening for your trade in your area.
Pros
- + Limited number of members per trade in each area
- + No commission and no charge per lead, according to TrustATrader
- + Customers contact you directly by phone, text or email
- + Branding materials and TV and radio advertising included, TrustATrader says
Cons
- − No membership prices published
- − A place may not be open for your trade in your area
- − Requires trade association membership and at least two years' experience
- − Contract length and trader terms are not shown on the join page
Bark (UK)
Tier F · Reputation warningLondon-based services marketplace where pros spend credits to respond to customer requests, with up to five pros per request
⚠ Reputation warning
Bark's BBB profile shows no BBB accreditation for the company that runs Bark's UK site. The profile, for Bark.com Global Limited under an Austin, Texas address, showed 85 complaints closed in the last three years when checked on 30 September 2026. Under Bark's UK terms you spend credits to respond before you can reach the customer, up to five professionals can contact the same customer, and credits are returned only if you report invalid contact details within 7 days.
Bark is an online services marketplace founded in the UK by Kai Feller and Andrew Michael, launched in January 2015 and headquartered in London; private equity firm EMK Capital acquired a majority stake in April 2022. The UK site covers business, events, health, home and lessons categories, including plumbing, electrical, roofing and landscaping. Customers post a request and professionals spend credits to respond, and Bark's terms say a maximum of five professionals will contact the customer on a general request.
UK-specific note
The UK is Bark's home market: the operator, Bark.com Global Limited, is registered in England and Wales. The UK pricing page explains the credit system but lists no pound prices, and Bark's terms say VAT is payable on top of its fees.
Pros
- + No commission on jobs you win, and follow-up messages are free
- + UK site covering trades and many other service categories
- + If your first credit pack wins no business, Bark returns the credits once
Cons
- − You spend credits to respond before you know whether the customer will answer
- − Up to five professionals can contact the same customer
- − No pound prices on the UK pricing page; VAT is added on top and credits expire after 3 months
- − Credits returned only for invalid contact details reported within 7 days
Business insurance
Business insurance for UK tradespeople from three insurers selling direct (Hiscox UK, AXA Business UK, Direct Line for Business) and one online broker (Simply Business UK). Hiscox and AXA note that employers' liability is a legal requirement once you employ staff, and Simply Business says it usually is. How it is sold differs: Hiscox sells it only together with public liability, AXA lists it as one of the covers you select, Direct Line for Business includes it among the covers you build a policy from (up to £10 million as standard), and Simply Business offers it as an add-on.
Hiscox UK
Tier A · ListedUK specialist insurer selling public liability, professional indemnity, employers' liability and tools cover to tradespeople online and by phone
Hiscox sells business insurance direct to UK tradespeople online and by phone, and says it has over 100 years of industry experience. Its UK companies, Hiscox Underwriting Ltd and the insurer Hiscox Insurance Company Limited, are based at 22 Bishopsgate, London and authorised by the FCA, the insurer also by the PRA. For trades it offers public liability, professional indemnity, employers' liability and tool insurance, plus cyber, legal protection, property and equipment breakdown cover, though Hiscox says not every cover is available for every trade.
UK-specific note
Hiscox notes that employers' liability is required by law when you employ staff, and it sells employers' liability only together with public liability, not on its own. It does not insure builders directly; its tradesmen page refers builders to a builders' insurance partner.
Pros
- + Public liability from £5.20 a month, by Hiscox's own figure
- + Professional indemnity available alongside public liability
- + Quote online or by phone, with proof of insurance in minutes, Hiscox says
- + UK insurer authorised by the FCA and PRA
Cons
- − Employers' liability is sold only with public liability
- − Builders are referred to a partner insurer
- − Not every cover is available for every trade
- − Only a 'from' price is published; your premium comes from a quote
Simply Business UK
Tier A · ListedOnline insurance broker owned by Travelers: compare tradesman cover from several insurers in one form
Simply Business is an online business insurance broker founded in 2005 and owned by Travelers since 2017; its UK business is run by Xbridge Limited in London. You answer one set of questions and compare quotes from insurers such as Allianz, AIG, AXA, Churchill, Covea, Hiscox and Zurich. Simply Business says it covers 1,500 trades and more than 250,000 tradespeople, and has over one million small business customers.
UK-specific note
UK tradesman cover includes public liability with limits from £1 million to £10 million, optional employers' liability (which Simply Business notes is usually required by law if you employ anyone), and tools, contract works, plant, stock, legal expenses and personal accident cover. The policy is issued by the insurer whose quote you choose.
Pros
- + Compare quotes from several named insurers in one online form
- + Tradesman cover from £5.40 a month, Simply Business says
- + Add-ons include tools, contract works, plant, stock and legal expenses
- + Owned by Travelers since 2017
Cons
- − Policy wording differs by insurer, so compare cover as well as price
- − Employers' liability is an add-on; include it if you employ anyone
- − The £5.40 starting price has no stated basis; your premium comes from a quote
AXA Business UK
Tier A · ListedAXA's UK business insurance for tradespeople, bought online: pick the covers you need, from £7 a month
AXA Insurance UK plc, part of the AXA group, sells business insurance to UK tradespeople through an online quote. You choose from public liability (£1 million to £10 million depending on occupation), employers' liability, professional indemnity and business contents, with add-ons such as tools, hired-in plant, contract works, business interruption, legal expenses and cyber. AXA says it protects over 867,000 businesses.
UK-specific note
AXA notes that employers' liability is a legal requirement if you have any staff; it is one of the covers you select, with a £10 million limit. AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (firm reference 202312).
Pros
- + Choose only the covers you need
- + Business insurance from £7 a month, by AXA's own figure
- + Trade add-ons including tools, hired-in plant, contract works and legal expenses
- + AXA says it protects over 867,000 businesses
Cons
- − AXA's £7 figure is what 10% of its customers paid or less in April-June 2026
- − Public liability limits depend on your occupation
- − No per-trade prices published; your premium comes from a quote
Direct Line for Business
Tier A · ListedAviva-owned direct insurer selling tradesperson cover online and by phone, with covers you choose
Direct Line for Business is the business insurance brand of Direct Line, whose group has been owned by Aviva since July 2025. It sells tradesperson insurance direct, online and by phone, and says it has over 500,000 business policies. You build a policy from public liability (£1 million to £10 million), employers' liability (up to £10 million as standard), tools, stock, plant and contract works, with add-ons such as overnight tools, personal accident, professional indemnity and legal expenses.
UK-specific note
Policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited of Leeds, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (registration 202810). Direct Line says it is proposing to transfer insurance business from U K Insurance Limited to Aviva Insurance Limited, which may affect its customers, so check which company is your insurer at renewal.
Pros
- + Employers' liability up to £10 million as standard, Direct Line says
- + Choose the covers you need, including tools, stock, plant and contract works
- + No admin fees for policy changes and 0% APR on monthly payments, Direct Line says
- + Offers to beat another insurer's quote on equivalent cover for new policies, with conditions
Cons
- − No published prices; premiums by quote
- − Tools cover has a £1,500 single-item limit and overnight tools cover costs extra
- − Direct Line is proposing to move insurance business from U K Insurance Limited to Aviva Insurance Limited
- − The price-beat offer needs proof of the other quote and excludes some policy types
Payroll software
Payroll software on HMRC's list of recognised payroll software: BrightPay, Sage Payroll UK and Xero Payroll (UK). Xero says it files RTI after each pay run, and BrightPay and Xero automate auto enrolment. For CIS returns, BrightPay needs the separate BrightCIS product and Xero has a £5 a month add-on.
BrightPay
Tier A · ListedUK payroll software from Bright, on HMRC's recognised list; cloud-only from the 2026/27 tax year
BrightPay is payroll software from Bright Software Group (Thesaurus Software Ltd), with a UK office in Leamington Spa. Bright says BrightPay is used to pay 3.5 million employees every month. From the 2026/27 tax year only the cloud version is sold: BrightPay for Windows was discontinued after 5 April 2026.
UK-specific note
BrightPay is on HMRC's list of recognised payroll software and Bright describes it as RTI and HMRC recognised. It automates auto enrolment tasks and links to NEST, The People's Pension and Smart Pension for contribution submissions. CIS returns need BrightCIS, a separate Bright product.
Pros
- + On HMRC's recognised payroll software list
- + Auto enrolment alerts and links to NEST, The People's Pension and Smart Pension
- + Annual or monthly billing on the cloud version, with a free trial
- + Companion BrightCIS product for CIS returns
Cons
- − Desktop version discontinued after 5 April 2026; desktop users must move to the cloud version
- − No published price list: cloud prices come from Bright's online calculator
- − CIS needs a separate product (BrightCIS)
- − Payroll only: pair it with separate job-management and accounting tools
Sage Payroll UK
Tier S · Published pricesCloud payroll from Sage for UK small businesses, on HMRC's recognised list, up to 150 employees
Sage Payroll (listed by HMRC as Sage Business Cloud Payroll) is cloud payroll software from The Sage Group plc, a UK company based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Sage says it supports up to 150 employees, and it bills new UK customers per employee per month, with the first five employees included. Sage also sells the desktop Sage 50 Payroll, which is on HMRC's list as well.
UK-specific note
Sage Business Cloud Payroll is on HMRC's list of recognised payroll software. Sage's knowledge base says it receives HMRC notices (P6, P9 and RTI) for UK customers.
Pros
- + On HMRC's recognised payroll software list
- + First five employees included; extra employees billed per month
- + Receives HMRC P6, P9 and RTI notices in the product
- + Desktop alternative from the same vendor (Sage 50 Payroll), also HMRC-recognised
Cons
- − Capped at 150 employees
- − Extra employees cost more on the higher plans (from £2.40, £4.40 or £6.40 a month each)
- − Payroll only: pair it with separate job-management software
Xero Payroll (UK)
Tier S · Published pricesPayroll built into Xero's UK accounting plans, with RTI, auto enrolment and a CIS add-on
Xero Payroll is part of Xero's UK accounting subscriptions, supplied by Xero (UK) Limited in Milton Keynes. It files RTI reports to HMRC after each pay run, handles auto enrolment, and sends payslips through the Xero Me app or by email, and tracks leave balances. Payroll is included for 1, 5 or 10 people on the Grow, Comprehensive and Ultimate plans, and charged per person on Ignite.
UK-specific note
Xero Payroll is on HMRC's list of recognised payroll software. Xero says it files RTI with HMRC after every pay run and automates auto enrolment. For construction, an optional £5 per month add-on calculates CIS on invoices and files monthly CIS returns to HMRC.
Pros
- + Payroll, accounting and invoicing in one Xero subscription
- + On HMRC's recognised payroll software list, with RTI filing after each pay run
- + Auto enrolment and employee payslips through the Xero Me app
- + Optional CIS add-on files monthly returns to HMRC
Cons
- − Only sold inside a Xero accounting plan, not as standalone payroll
- − Payroll cost rises per person above the plan's included headcount
- − CIS returns cost an extra £5 per month
Registration and certification schemes
Gas Safe Register is the HSE-approved register a business must be on to legally do gas work within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. NICEIC (electrical) and OFTEC (oil, solid fuel and renewable heating) run competent person schemes that let members self-certify certain work instead of going through building control; other authorised schemes cover the same work.
Gas Safe Register
Tier A · ListedThe legally required register for businesses doing gas work in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Guernsey
Gas Safe Register is the register of gas businesses approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and it replaced CORGI on 1 April 2009. HSE says a gas engineering business must be on the register to legally undertake gas work within the scope of the Regulations. HSE names Capita Gas Registration and Ancillary Services Ltd, part of Capita plc, as the operator.
UK-specific note
Regulation 3(3) says no employer may let employees do gas work in scope, and no self-employed person may do it, unless they belong to a class approved by HSE, which is Gas Safe Register. Regulation 3(1) also requires everyone doing gas work to be competent. HSE says the register covers Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Guernsey. Registration is renewed each year online or by phone and mail, and HSE prosecutes unregistered gas fitters.
Pros
- + Registration is the legal route to doing gas work in scope as a business
- + Published fees, renewable online
- + One register across Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Guernsey
- + Registered engineers get an ID card, and the public can check the register online
Cons
- − Registration is renewed each year, with a business renewal fee and an engineer fee
- − Late renewal adds a charge of £137.78 ex VAT
- − Everyone doing gas work must be competent, which takes training
NICEIC
Tier A · ListedElectrical contractor certification from Certsure LLP, including a Part P competent person scheme for domestic work
NICEIC is a trading name of Certsure LLP and runs certification schemes for electrical contractors, including the Approved Contractor and Domestic Installer schemes, plus fire alarm, MCS renewables, hazardous areas and rented sector schemes. Certsure is on the government's list of authorised competent person schemes for electrical work in dwellings, alongside BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, NAPIT and OFTEC. NICEIC says over 40,000 businesses are certified with it.
UK-specific note
Competent person schemes let installers self-certify certain building work instead of getting building regulations approval, and NICEIC says its Domestic Installer scheme helps contractors comply with Part P. To join, NICEIC asks for a Level 3 electrical installation qualification or equivalent, at least two years' experience responsible for electrical work, and public liability insurance of at least £2 million.
Pros
- + Authorised competent person scheme for electrical work in dwellings
- + Published fees for its main schemes, with interest-free monthly payments
- + Schemes for domestic, commercial, fire alarm, MCS and hazardous-area work
- + Direct debit renewals cost less
Cons
- − Fees recur every year, plus £430 for each extra assessment
- − Approved Contractor costs £1,285 ex VAT in the first year
- − Needs a Level 3 qualification, two years' experience and £2 million public liability cover
- − Fees for the MCS, fire and combined schemes sit in separate scheme documents
OFTEC
Tier A · ListedCompetent person scheme and trade association for oil, solid fuel and renewable heating technicians
OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association, based in Woodbridge, Suffolk) is a trade association for liquid fuel heating equipment makers and training providers that also runs a competent person scheme for businesses and technicians installing and maintaining oil, solid fuel, electrical and renewable heating equipment. It is one of six schemes the government lists as authorised for oil appliances, alongside APHC, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure and NAPIT. OFTEC says almost 10,000 technicians are registered with its schemes.
UK-specific note
OFTEC says installation work in England, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands must be notified to building control, and competent person scheme members can self-certify their own work instead. Registration needs qualifications showing competence, public liability insurance of at least £2 million and an inspection; OFTEC also offers MCS, TrustMark and PAS 2030 registration and operates in the Republic of Ireland.
Pros
- + Lets registered businesses self-certify oil, solid fuel and renewable heating work
- + Also covers MCS, TrustMark and PAS 2030 registration
- + Direct debit over 12 months available in the UK
- + Joining fee is one-off if registration is renewed without a break
Cons
- − No published fee list; prices come from an online calculator or a quote
- − Businesses with more than one technician must ask for a quote
- − Needs £2 million public liability cover and an inspection
- − Other authorised schemes cover the same oil work (APHC, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT)
About UK coverage
21 UK entries across 5 categories. UK profiles are shorter than our US software reviews and focus on what UK contractors need to know. Want a UK vendor reviewed? Submit them via our vendor program.