Monthly spot checks
Every month, 30% of our members are selected for ID and insurance checks. A member who fails is removed from the platform.
The TradeWatch Standard
Every tradesperson checked before they can quote
Inviting someone to work on your home is a decision that matters. That is why no tradesperson receives an enquiry through TradeWatch until they have passed our vetting process, the TradeWatch Standard.
Our compliance team checks every application by hand, and the checks carry on after a business joins. Here is exactly what we look at.
24–48 hoursTypical vetting timeFrom application to approval
30%Of members spot-checked monthlyID and insurance checks
Every bundleAccreditation re-checkedEach time a member buys new enquiries
Before they join
Five steps to approval
Each business goes through every step before it can receive enquiries from homeowners.
- 1
Application review
Every applicant provides their business details and relevant trade qualifications, which are reviewed by our compliance team.
- 2
Qualifications and accreditations
We check that the business holds the accreditation needed for the work it does, such as Gas Safe registration for gas work or HETAS for stove installation. For trades that don’t need an accreditation, we review the business’s online and social media reviews.
- 3
References and trading history
We check references and review the business’s trading history before a decision is made.
- 4
Approved badge
Once approved, the business receives the TradeWatch Approved badge and its profile goes live in our Safe Trades Directory. Vetting usually takes 24 to 48 hours.
- 5
Ongoing monitoring
Approval is not a one-off. Members are spot-checked every month, accreditations are re-checked regularly, and we ask for feedback after every enquiry.
Accreditations
What we check, by trade
Members must hold the accreditation needed for the work they carry out. These are the schemes and registers we check against.
| Type of work | What we check |
|---|---|
| Electrical work | NICEIC or NAPIT |
| Gas and boilers | Gas Safe Register |
| Windows and doors | FENSA or Certass |
| EV charger installation | OZEV-approved installer and NICEIC |
| Log burners and stoves | HETAS |
| CCTV and alarms | NSI or SSAIB |
| All trades | TrustMark, where the business is registered |
| Trades with no required accreditation | Online and social media reviews |
After they join
Approval is not a one-off
Accreditation re-checked
Members buy enquiries in bundles, and we check their accreditation again every time they buy a new bundle.
Feedback after every enquiry
Homeowners and tradespeople are both emailed a feedback form after every enquiry, so problems are spotted early.
Raising a concern
Tell us if something isn’t right
After every enquiry we email you a short feedback form. If you have a concern about a member, simply reply to that email, or write to us at info@tradewatchuk.org.
Our team reviews every concern raised, and members who fail our checks are removed from the platform.
Get started
Hire with confidence, or join the network
Homeowners can request free quotes from approved local tradespeople in a couple of minutes. Reputable trade businesses can apply to join, and most are vetted within 24 to 48 hours.