How a live record of checks helps win more work

Imagine two quotes from different trade businesses land in a customer's inbox on the same afternoon. They are within eighty pounds of each other, and both seem professional. However, nothing in either quote tells the customer which business has current insurance, which one is who it says it is, or which one has had its credentials looked at by an independent body.

Faced with this uncertainty, the customer does what most people do. They go online and search for each business name, looking for something that reassures them. They will likely give the job to whichever business feels the safest, a decision based almost entirely on trust and transparency, not on the small difference in price. This is the trust gap where many perfectly good jobs are lost.

What does a live record show a potential customer?

An Approved Tradesman record is a public page that you, the business, do not control. It transparently shows which checks have been completed, when each one was last reviewed, and just as importantly, what has not been checked. This honesty is what makes people believe the rest of it. It is not a static badge; it is a dynamic, dated summary of your professional standing. The independence of the record means the customer is not just taking your word for it; they are seeing the results of our impartial process.

• The customer can review your credentials in seconds, avoiding any awkward questions about your insurance or director identity. It makes due diligence easy for them.
• Your insurance policies and trade registrations are shown as current, with a specific date beside each one. This confirms your paperwork was valid on that date, which is more reassuring than a logo on a van.
• Any checks that have not been completed are clearly listed. This transparency shows that nothing is being hidden or spun, which builds significant trust.
• If a key credential like public liability insurance lapses, the record is updated to reflect that. This commitment to accuracy is precisely why the green ticks for completed checks carry so much weight. It's all part of our ongoing monitoring promise.

How can you make sure customers see your record?

Your record only helps you win work when customers see it at the exact moment they are making a decision. Integrating it into your customer communications is simple but effective. Add a link to your record directly on your quotes and estimates, next to the total price. This pre-empts the customer's own research and answers their questions before they even have to ask them.

Include your record link in your email signature, so every message you send reinforces your professionalism. Place it on your website, especially near your contact form, to increase the confidence of potential clients looking to get quotes. You can even use the supplied QR code artwork on your van, allowing people to check your status instantly while you are parked outside a job. You are not asking anyone to take your word for it; you are handing them a way to check.

You are not asking anyone to take your word for it. You are handing them a way to check, and then getting on with the job.

What is the difference between a listing and being approved?

You do not need to have any paperwork checked to join Approved Tradesman. Being listed is free. After you claim your business profile, you get a public page and access to free artwork. This gives you a presence on the directory that customers can find. The next level is becoming an Approved Tradesman, which is an optional, paid membership.

The membership fee pays for the checking, publishing and monitoring of your business paperwork. It never buys the facts themselves: your record only ever shows the checks completed against your paperwork, and more checks make a stronger record. To learn more, you can read about the difference between a listing and an Approved Tradesman or see our full verification standard.