In the roofing sector, there are many different accreditations that a company can hold. These usually signal to customers who they can trust. However, what do they actually mean to you, the customer? And what do they mean to the business?
What are accreditations?
Accreditations are a way businesses can give confidence to customers about what standards they meet but they don’t always cover what you might think. Businesses can earn accreditations for a variety of reasons from how they pay their employees to health & safety, training, and more. It’s really important to understand that not every accreditation has the same value and doesn’t always include the quality of work.
There are a few misconceptions about accreditations:
- “The more accreditations a company holds, the more trustworthy they are.” This isn’t necessarily true. With accreditations quality over quantity is definitely best. Some accreditations are easy to gain than others and don't provide any value to the customer.
- “Once accredited, they stay accredited forever.” Accreditations tend to perform annual checks to ensure companies still meet their standards. Members can be removed from lists and companies can choose to leave.
- “If a company isn’t accredited, they must be bad.” Some roofing companies simply choose not to join certain organisations because of cost, admin, or because they don't think its necessary.
Important things to consider:
- Accreditations can be faked. Some rogue traders add accreditations to their website, vehicles or social media posts to appear trustworthy. To be sure, you can always check on the official accreditation website to ensure the company is listed.
- Ask if the contractor has or doesn't have any accreditations. If you’re concerned about the lack of accreditations or a specific one, there could be many reasons as to why a company may not hold it, so it is best to ask.
- Many accreditations but no roofing specific ones? A company can have many accreditations but it does not say anything about the quality of their roof work.
- Are the roofers directly employed? Who holds the accreditations? There are some that are individual rather than company specific.
What are some accreditations that roofing contractors may have and what do they mean to you?
Roofing Specific
These accreditations are solely dedicated to roofing work.
NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors)
There are different standards that roofing companies work to, but the NFRC takes it to the next level. They are the UK’s largest and most influential trade association for roofing and cladding. Established in 1892, it represents roofing contractors, manufacturers, and distributors, setting rigorous standards for quality, safety, and workmanship.
This is generally regarded as the UK’s leading trade association dedicated solely to roofing.
Why it’s valuable:
- Roofing-specific organisation.
- Members are vetted before joining.
- Ongoing audits and inspections.
- Technical standards are monitored.
- Members receive continual training and updates.
- Works closely with Government, Building Control and manufacturers.
- Has a Code of Practice.
Why it’s difficult to obtain and keep:
- Evidence of competence is required.
- Businesses are continually assessed.
- Poor workmanship or complaints can jeopardise membership.
- Members must continue meeting standards rather than simply paying an annual fee.
NFRC Competent Persons Scheme (CPS)
The NFRC CPS is a scheme that allows roofers to self-certify their work. Annually audited, a registered contractor can legally sign off on their own work to prove it meets building regulations, bypassing the need for a local authority building inspector. It is a strong sign about how competent a roofer is and cuts out having to hire and pay for an inspector.
Like the NFRC, they provide site checks, looking at quality, safety, knowledge, as well as office checks covering the knowledge of building regs, history checks, background checks, training, health and safety, insurance and that everyone is qualified.
Why it’s valuable:
- Requires technical competence.
- Work is independently audited.
- Contractors are inspected.
- Demonstrates understanding of Building Regulations.
- Only available to qualifying contractors.
Why it’s difficult to keep:
- Regular technical inspections.
- Ongoing compliance.
- Failure to maintain standards can result in removal.
NFRC RoofCert
This is a certification for individuals, not the business as a whole. It is to show that a roofer has up-to-date training as well as the right qualifications for the services they provide.
Why it’s valuable:
- Individual competency assessment.
- Requires continuing professional development (CPD).
- Demonstrates current technical knowledge.
- Designed specifically to raise standards in roofing.
Master Roofers
They started as a trade chat group on Facebook and turned into an organisation with thousands of members helping roofers, from contractors to labourers.
One area where Master Roofers arguably goes further than many trade bodies is its site-based vetting. According to its published process, applicants are assessed on:
- a completed roofing project,
- a live roofing project,
- a technical interview,
- business and insurance checks,
- and annual re-assessment thereafter.
If that process is consistently applied, it’s a strong indicator of technical competence.
CORC
The CORC accreditation refers to membership in the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, one of the UK’s longest-running and most respected roofing trade associations. Established in 1985, it is designed to help consumers identify trustworthy, heavily vetted roofers and to deter rogue traders.
They are well respected within roofing but generally don’t carry the same public recognition as the NFRC.
However, the CORC accreditation only consists of office checks, rather than site ones which is where it falls short compared to the NFRC. This is why it is placed in tier 4, as it doesn’t actually determine the quality of work of a roofer.
Trading Standards
These accreditations are good for customer confidence, however won’t determine how good a roofer is.
Which? Trusted Trader
Which? Trusted Traders is an endorsement scheme. They are good for customer confidence, however they focus on the business side of a company, rather than roofing. They do annual checks of the business, consisting of going through terms and conditions, checking the website, and financial checks.
Why they are a good accreditation:
- Strong customer-focused vetting.
- Financial checks.
- Business checks.
- Customer reviews.
- Complaint resolution.
However, Which? isn’t a roofing specialist.
They do not check for qualifications and don’t come onto site to look over the quality of work.
Safe Trader Scheme
The Safe Trader Scheme is a local consumer protection initiative operated by Trading Standards (typically by local councils, such as Lancashire County Council). For roofing, this accreditation means a contractor has been vetted by Trading Standards, committed to a strict code of practice, and proven their commitment to fair, honest, and legal trading.
Provides reassurance that:
- Basic checks have been completed.
- The business is legitimate.
However:
- Standards vary between schemes.
- They don’t inspect roofing workmanship.
- Local recognition is often limited.
As mentioned, the checks are rather basic and focus on the business side of a company, therefore there are no site or qualification checks involved.
Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP)
An SSIP is an umbrella organisation in the UK that helps streamline health and safety pre-qualification for contractors through standardised assessments.
SafeContractor
A SafeContractor accreditation for a roofing business verifies that the company meets rigorous UK health, safety, and legal standards. Managed by Alcumus, it proves the roofer has safe policies for high-risk tasks like working at heights, handling hazardous materials, and risk assessments.
Excellent if a contractor works:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Councils
- Commercial sites
It demonstrates:
- Good health and safety management.
- Risk assessments.
- Insurance.
- Policies.
But it doesn’t tell you whether someone installs an excellent roof.
SafeContractor PQQ
The SafeContractor PQQ (SafePQQ) for a roofing company is an advanced Alcumus accreditation that verifies a business’s financial, environmental, and ethical compliance. While standard SafeContractor proves health and safety competence (such as working at height), SafePQQ acts as an extended pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ).
It assesses:
- Business systems.
- Procurement.
- Compliance.
Very valuable for commercial contracts but not a direct indicator of roofing workmanship as it focuses on sustainability of the company.
Manufacturer
These manufacturer accreditations show that a contractor has undergone training or meets the manufacturer’s standards.
Velux Certified Installer
A VELUX Certified Installer (or recognised VELUX Partner) is a roofing contractor that has completed VELUX product training and works closely with VELUX to install their roof windows in line with the manufacturer’s best practice. Installers have access to ongoing training, technical support and product updates through the VELUX Partner Programme and Academy.
How does it benefit you?
- Greater confidence that roof windows are installed correctly.
- Installers understand the latest VELUX products and flashing kits.
- Reduced risk of leaks caused by incorrect installation.
- Access to manufacturer support where needed.
- Better advice on choosing the right roof window for the property.
Construction Specific
Trust Mark
TrustMark accreditation indicates that a roofing contractor is registered with TrustMark, the only government-endorsed quality scheme for home improvements. It ensures the roofer meets rigorous standards for technical competence, fair trading, and customer service, and provides consumers with access to insurance-backed warranties and dispute resolution.
TrustMark is not a trade association itself, but rather an umbrella quality mark. For roofing, a business must be a member of an approved Scheme Provider (such as the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, or NFRC) to be eligible to display the TrustMark logo.
Important because:
- Government-backed.
- Requires membership through an approved scheme provider (such as the NFRC).
- Consumer protection.
- Focus on quality and trading practices.
Master Builders
“Master Builders accreditation” in roofing usually refers to membership with the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). It means a roofing company has been independently inspected, vetted, and approved to meet high standards of workmanship, health and safety, and customer service
They provide site and office checks annually, but are not specific to roofing, therefore they are unable to make thorough site checks.
Strengths:
- Good for general builders.
- Business standards.
- Customer confidence.
Weakness:
- Not roofing-specific.
If comparing two roofing companies, an NFRC membership generally provides more relevant reassurance because it focuses entirely on roofing.
CSCS
A CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) Card for roofing validates your qualifications and health/safety knowledge to work on UK construction sites. To obtain one, roofers must hold a relevant NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) and pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test.
This scheme is for individuals rather than for companies, where when a roofer gains a qualification, they can do a cscs test which will be specific to the qualification.
However:
- It doesn’t measure the quality of someone’s roofing work.
- Many excellent roofers have CSCS cards, but so do many average ones.
Think of it as a baseline requirement rather than a mark of exceptional quality.
CITB
CITB is not an accreditation; it stands for the Construction Industry Training Board. It is a legal requirement for a construction business to register with them. Each year, the business must complete a form detailing how much they pay employees and subcontractors, and this information is then used to calculate how much levy is owed. In a way, it is a tax on construction businesses.
North West Roof Training Group
The North West Roof Training Group is a not-for-profit training organisation that helps roofing contractors access apprenticeships, qualifications, CSCS cards, NVQs and industry training. It works closely with colleges, training providers and the wider roofing industry to improve skills across the North West.
How does it benefit you?
Companies that actively engage with the NWRTG are investing in:
- Apprenticeships.
- Ongoing staff training.
- Health & safety.
- New qualifications.
- Keeping up with changing roofing standards.
QANW
QANW is not an accreditation, it’s a provider of insurance-backed guarantees (IBGs). If a contractor offers a QANW-backed guarantee, the policy is designed to provide protection if the contractor ceases trading during the guarantee period, subject to the policy terms and conditions.
How does it benefit customers?
- Greater peace of mind for long-term projects.
- Protection beyond the contractor’s own guarantee.
- Independent insurance backing.
- Particularly valuable for major works such as re-roofs.
Lancashire Skills Pledge
The Lancashire Skills Pledge is a county-wide initiative that encourages businesses to invest in skills, apprenticeships, staff development and opportunities for local people. Businesses can sign up to a range of pledges covering recruitment, training, education partnerships and workforce development.
How does it benefit you?
Although it doesn’t assess roofing work, it demonstrates that a company is committed to:
- Developing its workforce.
- Supporting apprentices.
- Investing in future skills.
- Improving long-term business capability.
- Supporting the local community.
Living wage Employer
A Living Wage Employer is a business that has been independently accredited for committing to pay all directly employed staff, and, where applicable, regularly contracted workers, the real Living Wage. This rate is calculated independently each year based on the actual cost of living, rather than the government’s statutory minimum wage.
Unlike the National Living Wage, which is set by the Government, the real Living Wage is calculated by the Living Wage Foundation to reflect what people need to earn to meet everyday living costs.
How does it benefit you?
At first glance, this may not seem relevant to roofing, but it can tell you a lot about a company’s values.
A Living Wage Employer is more likely to:
- Invest in its employees.
- Retain skilled and experienced staff.
- Have lower staff turnover.
- Create a positive working environment.
- Attract people who want to build a long-term career rather than just find temporary work.
Lead Generation Sites
These logos can often be found on contractor vans or websites. Contractors must pay for leads through a monthly membership or per lead depending on the website.
Checkatrade
Checkatrade is a well-publicised lead generation website. To gain membership, a company must pass background checks which vary from trade to trade. As the roofing industry does not have any mandatory licensing or qualifications, no evidence of qualifications are required to become a member. Businesses that join Checkatrade pay a fee to be listed on their vetted directory.
MyBuilder
MyBuilder is an online marketplace where homeowners post jobs and tradespeople pay or subscribe to quotes for the work. This isn’t an accreditation and roofers are not checked based on their quality of work or qualifications, instead this is heavily based on reviews. My Builder is seen as more of a directory for leads that businesses pay for, but businesses pay per lead instead of a subscription.
What you don’t know from using MyBuilder
- Whether the company is technically excellent at roofing.
- If installers complete ongoing roofing training.
- If their work complies with British Standards.
TrustaTrader
Trust a Trader is another form of a directory website and lead generation. Similarly to the ones in this tier, there are very minimal checks, with only verifying the business identity, insurance, and trading history. It also heavily leans on customer reviews to determine the quality of work, rather than checking on site.
Trustatrader does not:
- independently assess any roofing work.
- Check that roofers meet advanced technical standards.
Remember
Accreditations are just one part of choosing the right roofing contractor. They can provide reassurance, but they shouldn’t be your only deciding factor. Take the time to look at recent customer reviews, examples of completed work, appropriate insurance, and the quality of the contractor’s communication. A reputable roofer should be happy to explain their recommendations, answer your questions, and give you the time you need to make an informed decision, never pressure you into signing a contract.
Our Accreditations
At JR Roofing Lancs, we believe our accreditations should represent our values, not just add more logos to our website.
That’s why we’ve chosen to align ourselves with organisations that reflect our commitment to quality workmanship and raising standards within the roofing industry. The NFRC is at the heart of this, with our Managing Director, Josh Morrison, serving as the North West Regional Director, helping to improve standards and support the future of roofing.
Our other accreditations demonstrate more than just roofing expertise. They reflect our commitment to staff training, health and safety, customer service, professional business practices and investing in our team.
As our business has grown, we’ve also reviewed our memberships and chosen not to renew those that no longer align with our values or the standards we want to represent, such as CORC and the Federation of Master Builders. For us, accreditations aren’t about collecting badges, they’re about showing our customers what we stand for.
