Readiness
What a studio needs, and when.
Serious clients ask for paperwork before they ask for talent. Most of it a studio already holds. The rest we arrange together, and only when a specific project calls for it.
Nothing is bought in advance.
Tier I
To begin
Most studios already hold these.
- Company detailsRegistered number, address, directors and VAT registration.
- Recent filed accountsQuestionnaires almost always begin with financial standing.
- Employers’ Liability insuranceRequired by law for UK employers, with cover of at least £5 million.
- Professional Indemnity insuranceIn force and unbroken. Cover is usually written on a claims-made basis, so continuity matters.
Tier II
Usually asked
Common to most pre-qualification questionnaires.
- Public Liability insuranceOften requested alongside Professional Indemnity.
- Core policiesHealth and safety, equality, environmental, data protection and modern slavery. Short, current, signed.
- Anti-bribery proceduresA concise statement of the procedures the practice follows.
- Selected project case studiesBudget, area, and the studio’s own role in each.
- Key peopleConcise CVs for those who would lead the work.
Tier III
Only when a project asks
We prepare these for a specific project, never before.
- Cyber EssentialsA government-backed baseline for IT security.
- ISO 9001The quality standard developers name most often.
- SSIP accreditationA recognised health-and-safety assessment; the relevant category depends on the project.
- Higher insurance limitsEach client sets its own requirement.
- Professional membershipsPersonal memberships such as RIBA, ARB or BIID, where relevant.
- ISO 27001Only when the client names it.
Later, as the practice grows: Cyber Essentials Plus and B Corp certification. Signals of character, rarely a condition of entry.
Tiers reflect our own reading of common UK practice on major projects. This is general guidance, not legal, insurance or financial advice, and every client sets its own requirements.