Electricity connections
NERS accreditation: a practical preparation guide
Planning to deliver electricity connection work? Start by defining the work you want to undertake, the people responsible and the evidence you can demonstrate.
1. Define the work before choosing the scope
The National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) covers providers undertaking contestable electricity connection work. LRQA operates the scheme on behalf of the UK distribution network operators. The scope matters: examples include design, project management, cable laying, jointing and associated civil works. See LRQA’s NERS overview and its scope information.
Write a one-page description of your intended service. Identify the network context, activities, voltage level where relevant, geographical area and the work you would subcontract. Separate what your business can deliver today from activities you hope to add later.
For example, a civils contractor looking to support connection projects should first clarify whether it intends to deliver supporting civil work, manage a wider connection package or employ an electrical delivery team. Those are different business propositions. General construction experience alone does not establish the appropriate NERS scope.
Bring the customer’s actual tender or onboarding wording to the discussion. Resolve unclear requirements before buying equipment, committing to recruitment or promising a mobilisation date.
2. Understand partial and full accreditation
Under LRQA’s published NERS requirements, partial assessment considers the provider’s systems, procedures and documentation, including implementation where already in place. Partial accreditation can allow the provider to tender for and obtain work within its awarded scope. Full accreditation involves assessment of the relevant activities in practice.
Suitable work therefore matters to the assessment plan. Notify LRQA when relevant work is obtained and arrange assessment at the first available opportunity; full accreditation is limited to the scope demonstrated. Confirm the arrangements for your application against the NERS requirements document, Appendix 1 (PDF).
A useful planning question is: “Which forthcoming project could demonstrate each activity we are applying for?” Record who will coordinate the assessor, site access, personnel and project information. A paperwork completion date is not the same as an accreditation date.
3. Build a useful preparation file
Use this as a starting checklist for a gap review, then map the detail to your agreed scope. Give every item an owner, a file location and a next action.
- Business and work scope: a description of activities, locations, reporting lines and the division between your work and subcontracted work.
- Technical responsibility: the proposed responsible people, their relevant experience and competence evidence, and any appointments still to be resolved.
- People and supervision: a role-based training matrix, supporting records and a plan for covering absence or changes in the team.
- Operational controls: procedures and work instructions that match how the team will actually plan, deliver, inspect and hand over work.
- Resources: an equipment list, inspection or calibration information where relevant, and clear arrangements for hired plant and materials.
- Project evidence: available job packs, checks, design information where applicable, change records and completed handover information.
- Subcontractors: the activities they will perform, selection checks, relevant approvals and the person responsible for checking their work.
Start with the evidence you already use. Mark an empty form as a template and distinguish it from a completed operational record. If a process is new, record how it will be introduced and how you will check that people can use it.
4. Set a realistic budget and action plan
Divide preparation into decisions, implementation and assessment readiness. Resolve the scope and technical responsibilities first; these decisions affect the procedures, competence needs and resources that follow.
Ask for separate explanations of consultancy work and the assessment body’s charges. Also allow for staff time, training, equipment needs, project availability and any further assessment activity. A meaningful quotation depends on your starting point and intended scope.
Keep a short action register. For each gap, record the action, owner, target date and evidence needed to close it. Review the register with the people who will deliver the work, rather than leaving the application entirely with an administrator.
Our NERS accreditation support can help you organise this preparation, review documentation and coordinate the work needed before assessment.
Common NERS preparation questions
Can a business new to electricity connections start preparing?
Yes. Start with the intended scope and the competence and resources it requires. Discuss the appropriate assessment route with LRQA. Its published preparation FAQ (PDF) explains the purpose of partial accreditation for providers entering the market; use the current requirements document for your application.
What should I send Safe Policies first?
Your company name, a short description of the work, the customer requirement, the roles already covered in your team and any target project date. An existing procedure list or evidence index helps us see what can be reused.
Can you guarantee accreditation by my tender deadline?
We can agree preparation tasks and milestones. The assessment timetable, evidence of work and accreditation decision remain with the relevant assessment process, so a fixed outcome cannot be promised before those factors are understood.
This is practical preparation guidance. Official sources are linked alongside the relevant information. Confirm current requirements with the scheme or certification body for your application.