Raising standards across construction sites and training environments
Construction for Women supports the National Site Standard as part of its wider commitment to improving site culture, retention and opportunity across the built environment.
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The National Site Standard sets out clear expectations for how construction sites and training environments should operate. It focuses on the practical conditions, behaviours and systems that shape people’s experience on site, from welfare and PPE through to reporting, safeguarding, training and leadership accountability.
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The Standard is designed to help organisations move beyond good intentions by providing a clear and consistent framework for better practice across construction environments.
Why The NSS Matters
Construction cannot solve its skills and retention challenges through recruitment alone.
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People need to enter environments where they feel safe, respected, properly equipped and supported to build long-term careers. For women in site-based roles, this means that the basics must be in place consistently — suitable welfare, correctly fitting PPE, clear behavioural standards, safe reporting routes and visible accountability from site and organisational leadership.
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When these standards are inconsistent, the industry loses talent, confidence and trust.
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The National Site Standard exists to help raise expectations and create more consistent working environments across the sector.
Who It Is Relevant To
The National Site Standard is relevant to contractors, subcontractors, SMEs, training providers, site teams, clients, local authorities and framework providers who want to improve site standards and support better workforce outcomes.
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It can support organisations looking to strengthen their approach to workforce culture, social value, retention, compliance and responsible procurement.
What the National Site Standard Sets Out to Do
Eliminate unsafe, exclusionary and discriminatory practices
Guarantee equal access to welfare, PPE and safe systems of work
Set clear behavioural and professional standards on site
Support contractors and clients to meet EDI, social value and safety obligations
Align site practices with national direction on workforce reform
Mitigate legal, reputational and operational risk
Strengthen retention, culture and long-term skills pipelines
What the Standard Covers
The National Site Standard Framework establishes consistent, governance-led expectations across construction environments, addressing the conditions, behaviours and systems that directly impact safety, inclusion and retention for women on site.
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The framework covers:
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Site safety and working conditions
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Welfare facilities and site infrastructure
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Female-specific PPE and equipment provision
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Behavioural standards and site culture
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Psychological safety and reporting routes
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Safeguarding and support for young women (16–18)
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Fair access to training, progression and development pathways
National Site Standard® Accreditation Fees
A proportional, governed certification model based on organisational scale and procurement impact.
NSS accreditation is valid for 12 months and subject to annual governance review.
Sole Trader / Micro Organisations - £495 + VAT
✓ Full assessment against NSS criteria
✓ Formal governance review
✓ Annual certification (12-month validity)
✓ Licensed use of NSS Accredited mark (for organisations holding valid NSS certification)
✓ Listing on NSS Accredited Register
✓ Access to implementation guidance
✓ Ongoing scheme updates
✓ 5% reinvestment into Built Environment CIC organisations
SME Contractors (10-49 Employees) - £995 + VAT
✓ Full assessment against NSS criteria
✓ Formal governance review
✓ Annual certification (12-month validity)
✓ Licensed use of NSS Accredited mark (for organisations holding valid NSS certification)
✓ Listing on NSS Accredited Register
✓ Access to implementation guidance
✓ Ongoing scheme updates
✓ 5% reinvestment into Built Environment CIC organisations
Mid-Sized Contractors (50-249 Employees) - £1495 + VAT
✓ Full assessment against NSS criteria
✓ Formal governance review
✓ Annual certification (12-month validity)
✓ Licensed use of NSS Accredited mark (for organisations holding valid NSS certification)
✓ Listing on NSS Accredited Register
✓ Access to implementation guidance
✓ Ongoing scheme updates
✓ 5% reinvestment into Built Environment CIC organisations
Large / Tier 1 Contractors (250+ Employees) - £1995 + VAT
✓ Full assessment against NSS criteria
✓ Formal governance review
✓ Annual certification (12-month validity)
✓ Licensed use of NSS Accredited mark (for organisations holding valid NSS certification)
✓ Listing on NSS Accredited Register
✓ Access to implementation guidance
✓ Ongoing scheme updates
✓ 5% reinvestment into Built Environment CIC organisations
Education & Training Providers - £595 + VAT
✓ Full assessment against NSS criteria
✓ Formal governance review
✓ Annual certification (12-month validity)
✓ Licensed use of NSS Accredited mark (for organisations holding valid NSS certification)
✓ Listing on NSS Accredited Register
✓ Access to implementation guidance
✓ Ongoing scheme updates
✓ 5% reinvestment into Built Environment CIC organisations