How we vet builders
Every builder in the network is verified, reference-checked, and visited on a recent project. Vetting is the same bar for everyone — what sets builders apart is what they do once they're in.
Every builder in the network is vetted before they're allowed to quote on a project. Vetting is the same bar for everyone — what sets builders apart is what they do once they're in.
What we check
Joining the network involves four steps:
- A document review. We check public liability insurance (£5m minimum), employer's liability insurance (£5m minimum), business registration, and Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) / Value Added Tax (VAT) credentials where applicable.
- A build team conversation with someone from our construction team about technical approach, scope of past work, and the builder's reading of how Beams projects run.
- An in-person project review. We visit a recently completed project — finished within the last 12 months — and assess craftsmanship in person. This is the part that tells us whether the work matches the standards a Beams customer expects.
- References. We talk to past customers.
If the builder clears all four, they sign the Beams Builder Agreement and Code of Conduct, and they join the network.
Probation period for new builders
New builders join the network on a probation period. During probation they're limited in the number of projects they can take on at once. They graduate off probation by successfully delivering projects and seeing those customers happy at sign-off. This protects you: a builder hasn't earned wider lead allocation until they've proven themselves on Beams projects, not just on their pre-Beams record.
The Verified by Beams mark
Once a builder is in the network, their public profile shows the Verified by Beams mark. This means we've completed all four checks and the builder is current on insurance and credentials. Insurance is checked at renewal — if a policy lapses, the builder isn't able to take on new projects until it's reinstated.
Builder Levels and what differentiates builders
Vetting gets a builder onto the network. What sets builders apart from each other is their Builder Level — Verified, Established, Advanced, or Elite. Levels are recalculated each quarter based on a points balance and a set of quality gates: Time-to-Quote, customer ratings, project completion, and dispute rate, among others. A higher level means the builder can take on bigger and more concurrent projects.
The article Builder Levels — the four tiers on the For-builders side describes the system in full. From your perspective as a customer, the level is one signal among several when comparing builders. The star rating, project history, customer reviews, and your own conversation with the builder are the others.
What this means for you
Every builder you meet through Beams has cleared the four-step vetting process. The level, the rating, and the reviews tell you how the builder has performed since they joined. You're not picking between vetted and unvetted candidates — you're picking between builders who all met the bar and have built different track records on top of it.
Related articles
- What Beams is and how it works
- How to get builder quotes
- What Beams does and what it doesn't do