January 2024

Industry News
CHAS PROTECT
INSURANCE LAUNCHED
CHAS has joined forces with Towergate to
introduce CHAS Protect, an innovative
insurance service designed specifically for
contractors and tradespeople, that
rewards careful contractors.
Applying CHAS's experience in supply chain
risk management and Towergate's proficiency
as a specialist business insurance broker, this
collaboration aims to provide CHAS members
with a bespoke insurance offering that
recognises their commitment to operating
responsibly. The lower risk profile associated
with holding CHAS accreditation grants CHAS
members access to contractor-friendly
insurance premiums and customised policy
enhancements under the CHAS Protect policy.
This comprehensive coverage spans business,
tools, equipment, and vehicles and features
exclusive additional perks for CHAS members.
These include extended ‘new for old’
replacement for stolen or damaged
equipment, complimentary tax advice, and
24-hour legal support as well as mental
health support for both business owners and
their employees. At a time when the
economic climate is extremely challenging and
the cost of claims is soaring due to rising
labour and material costs, CHAS Protect is
designed to help CHAS contractors to
safeguard their business, tools, vehicles and
livelihood.
Commenting on the launch of CHAS Protect,
Alex Minett, Head of New Global Markets at
CHAS, says: “This partnership between CHAS
and Towergate marks true innovation in the
industry, offering insurance products tailored
to reward our CHAS members' lower risk
profiles. The contractor-friendly premiums and
personalised policy enhancements showcase
one of the many ways CHAS adds value to its
members as part of their accreditation.”
www.chas.co.uk
More news, updates and interviews at www.total-contractor.co.uk
NEXT STEP FOR CCPI: DISTRIBUTORS &
MERCHANTS SIGN UP TO PLAY THEIR PART
Leading merchants and distributors
have stepped up to support the
Code for Construction Product
Information (CCPI) and committed
to raise standards in the industry.
Belgrade Insulations Ltd, CCF Ltd
Amanda Long
commit to the CCPI. In adopting the
principles of the Code, merchants
and distributors are supporting the
construction industry’s need for
greater accuracy and clarity in terms
of the product information being
(part of the Travis Perkins Group), Quantum
Insulation Ltd, SIG Trading Ltd and VJ
Technology Ltd are the first merchants and
distributors to commit to assessment against
the CCPI and are therefore playing an
essential role in driving much needed change
across the sector.
A 4-clause version of the CCPI has been
specifically designed and targeted for merchants,
distributors and wholesalers. This has been
achieved with the support of the Builders
Merchants Federation (BMF) and its members
through their regional groups, the Construction
supplied upon which installation decisions are
based. This is critical as so often they are
reproducing and managing construction product
information. Watch this space for further CCPI
merchants and distributors announcements to
come!”
The CCPI Merchants and Distributors assessment
means that the organisation will be assessed to
have the necessary product information
processes and systems in place to uphold the
Code, and will adhere to the clauses diligently
whilst proactively promoting and supporting the
adoption of the Code with their suppliers.
Products Association (CPA – which is also the
CCPI, having announced its first product set
organisation credited as the founder of the CCPI),
verifications at the beginning of September
the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA) and
[2023], is gaining momentum. The Scheme now
the NMBS.
has approximately 50 companies either already
Dame Judith Hackitt, author of the Building a
Safer Future Review and Chair of the Industry
Safety Steering Group, said: “I am delighted to
see Merchants and Distributors signing up to this.
This will have a significant impact on the
behaviour of the whole supply chain. Well done to
through or in process for the CCPI Organisational
Assessment, (which is the gateway element of the
CCPI assessment process), and more than 50
product sets (relating to in excess of 700
products) with product information either verified
or in process of verification.
these early adopters.”
The launch of the CCPI Merchants and
From the National Construction Products
Distributors version now provides the opportunity
Regulator, Duncan Johnson, Deputy Director
for this critical element of the supply chain
Construction Products, said: “Effective
ecosystem to play its part in delivering positive
management of product information is an
tangible change in the sector, helping to deliver
essential element of ensuring better, safer
greater confidence to customers and benefiting
buildings. OPSS warmly welcomes this latest CCPI
building safety. Merchants and distributors are
initiative.”
central to the supply ecosystem of construction
Amanda Long (above), Chief Executive of CPI Ltd,
the not-for-profit independently-run organisation
set-up to manage the CCPI, said: “It is great to
see the first merchants and distributors adopt and
products and managing product information. It is
estimated that somewhere between 50-60% of
products go out through merchants and
distributors. www.cpicode.org.uk
8 TC JANUARY 2024