Andrew Mansbridge, Strategic Account Manager at Achilles, works closely with construction and infrastructure companies to help them mitigate risk in their supply chains through the BuildingConfidence supplier network. In this article, he explores what CAS Version 6 means for buyers seeking greater confidence in supplier competence, building safety and governance, and for suppliers looking for simpler ways to demonstrate capability and win work.
The release of Common Assessment Standard (CAS) Version 6 represents another step forward in strengthening assurance across the construction supply chain. For the 57 major construction buyers and more than 2,600 suppliers within the Achilles BuildingConfidence network, the changes introduce clearer expectations around competence, quality management, and organisational governance.
Why CAS Version 6 Matters
CAS has become the established framework for standardising supply chain prequalification across the UK construction sector. By reducing the need for multiple questionnaires and creating a consistent assessment process, it enables both buyers and suppliers to operate more efficiently.
Version 6 strengthens this approach by placing greater emphasis on workforce competence, quality management, and organisational accountability. The result is a more consistent and robust assessment framework designed to help organisations demonstrate capability while supporting safer and more resilient projects.
For buyers, this means greater confidence when evaluating suppliers. For suppliers, it provides a clearer route to demonstrating competence and meeting the expectations of major contractors and clients.
The Key Changes in CAS Version 6: Competence Moves into Quality
One of the most significant changes is the movement of competence related questions into Section 6: Quality. Previously located within Building Safety, these questions now assess how organisations:
- Manage workforce and subcontractor competence
- Record qualifications and competencies
- Provide appropriate supervision, instruction, and information
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant industry requirements
By embedding competence within Quality, CAS recognises that workforce capability is a fundamental requirement across all sectors of construction, not just projects subject to specific building safety regulations.
The relocation of competence questions means these requirements now apply to a much wider range of suppliers. This creates a more consistent baseline across the supply chain, ensuring buyers can assess suppliers using a common standard while encouraging organisations to strengthen their quality and competence management processes.
A More Focused Building Safety Section
CAS Version 6 also refines the scope of the Building Safety section. Specialist trades, such as scaffolding and temporary works, are no longer automatically directed into more extensive building safety requirements unless they are undertaking activities that fall within that scope. This removes unnecessary assessment burden while maintaining appropriate scrutiny where risks are highest.
Increased Focus on Governance
Version 6 introduces greater emphasis on organisational governance, including:
- Fraud prevention procedures
- Assignment of quality management responsibilities
- Substance misuse policies
- Demonstrable management accountability
These additions reflect growing expectations from clients and regulators around ethical business practices and organisational resilience.
How Achilles BuildingConfidence Supports CAS Version 6
As a recognised assessment body for the Common Assessment Standard, Achilles integrates CAS directly into its BuildingConfidence Gold CAS Desktop and Gold CAS Site Audit programmes and builds on it further with enhanced supplier assurance across critical areas, including:
- Building safety
- Product compliance
- Workforce competence
- Ethical employment
- Organisational governance
- Cyber security
This enables buyers to gain deeper visibility into supply chain capability while allowing suppliers to demonstrate a broader range of credentials through a single trusted assessment.
When updates such as CAS Version 6 are introduced, Achilles translates industry requirements into practical verification processes, helping both buyers and suppliers adapt efficiently and maintain alignment with evolving expectations.
What CAS Version 6 Means for Buyers
1. Greater Confidence in Supplier Competence
With competence requirements embedded across the assessment framework, buyers gain more consistent and reliable supplier information. This creates greater assurance that suppliers have the processes, supervision, and skills necessary to deliver work safely and effectively.
2. Improved Supply Chain Visibility
Independent verification through Achilles BuildingConfidence provides procurement, compliance, and project teams with clearer insight into supplier capabilities, enabling more informed sourcing decisions.
3. Stronger Risk Management
The enhanced focus on governance, quality, and competence helps buyers identify potential risks earlier and strengthen supply chain resilience across projects.
4. Support for Regulatory Compliance
The updated framework helps organisations demonstrate alignment with increasing regulatory expectations surrounding building safety, governance, and responsible procurement.
What CAS Version 6 Means for Suppliers
- Demonstrate Capability More Effectively
Suppliers that can clearly evidence workforce competence, quality management, and governance controls are increasingly well positioned to secure work with major contractors and public sector organisations.
2. Reduce Prequalification Burden
By maintaining a verified Achilles BuildingConfidence profile, suppliers can demonstrate their credentials through a single assessment process rather than responding to multiple customer questionnaires.
3. Increase Visibility to Major Buyers
BuildingConfidence provides suppliers with access to a network of leading construction organisations actively seeking trusted, pre-qualified supply chain partners.
4. Prepare for Future Requirements
Organisations that strengthen competence management, quality systems, and governance processes today will be better placed to meet future industry and regulatory expectations.
Looking Ahead
CAS Version 6 is more than a technical update. It reflects the construction industry’s continued focus on competence, accountability, and supply chain assurance.
For buyers, the changes provide greater confidence in supplier capability and compliance. For suppliers, they offer an opportunity to demonstrate quality, differentiate from competitors, and simplify prequalification.
Achilles BuildingConfidence helps organisations turn these requirements into practical assurance, providing a trusted route to stronger compliance, reduced risk, and more resilient supply chains. Whether you’re a supplier preparing for your next assessment or a buyer seeking greater visibility across your supply chain, Achilles BuildingConfidence can help you align with CAS Version 6 while building confidence for the future.
