CDM & Principal Designer
Under CDM 2015 the client carries the legal duty. We help you meet it, acting as your Principal Designer or supporting your team, from the first brief to handover of the health and safety file.
- 20+ yearsHealth, safety and CDM experience
- APS AssociateAssociation for Project Safety
- GradIOSHInstitution of Occupational Safety and Health
- IRCA auditorCertified management system auditor
CDM applies to every construction project.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 apply to every construction project in Great Britain, domestic work included. Big or small, long or short, CDM applies.
Where a project involves more than one contractor, the client must appoint a Principal Designer and a Principal Contractor in writing. If the client does not, the client takes on those duties themselves. The Principal Designer leads the pre-construction phase; the Principal Contractor leads the construction phase.
- 01Client
- 02Principal designer
- 03Principal contractor
- 04Designers
- 05Contractors
How we help.
Take the full appointment, or bring us in where you need support. Either way, you deal with the same experienced consultant from start to finish.
The paperwork.
CDM requires extra documentation at different stages of a project. We help you create, implement and monitor it, so it is useful on site and not just a file on a shelf.
Pre-construction information
Information about the project, the site and its risks, gathered early to inform design and planning.
Construction phase plan
How health and safety will be managed while the work is carried out on site.
Health and safety file
A record of information for the future use, maintenance and demolition of the structure.
Four steps.
The earlier we are involved, the more risk can be dealt with on paper rather than on site.
Free CDM review
Tell us about the project. We confirm where your duties sit and what needs to happen first.
Agree the scope
A full Principal Designer appointment or targeted support, confirmed in writing and scoped to your project.
Manage the project
Pre-construction information, design coordination, F10 where needed and support through the construction phase.
Hand over
The health and safety file completed and handed to the client, with a clear record that duties were met.
Where we have worked.
A selection of the types of project we have supported. Clients and projects are not named, out of respect for confidentiality.
Food and drink facility upgrades
Refurbishment, extension and process upgrades on live production sites, where construction work has to run alongside daily operations.
Factory refurbishment and fit-out
Major refurbishment and full fit-out of industrial buildings, coordinating multiple contractors and specialist trades.
Roof removal and replacement
High-risk roof work on occupied facilities, with careful planning of access, segregation and working at height.
Storage and distribution facilities
New storage systems and distribution centre works, from early planning through to handover.
Office refurbishment and audits
Commercial refurbishment projects and independent health and safety audits of contractor performance.
Solar PV installation
Rooftop and site-based PV installation, managing the interface between specialist installers and the host site.
CDM training, written from practice.
Our own online CDM courses are written by a practising CDM consultant, built around how the regulations actually work on real projects. Clear, practical and illustrated throughout, with knowledge checks as you go.
- CDM 2015 in PracticeThe regulations, the dutyholders and managing CDM effectively.
- CDM Principal Designer in PracticeThe Principal Designer role, from appointment to handover.
- How health and safety law developed, and why CDM 2015 looks the way it does
- The duties of each dutyholder, and how they work together
- Pre-construction information, the construction phase plan and the health and safety file
- How to plan, manage and monitor a project so CDM works on site
- What the Principal Designer must do, and how to do it well
- Practical. Based on real project experience, not just the wording of the regulations.
- Flexible. Online and self-paced, so you learn around your projects.
- Progressive. Start with CDM 2015, then step up to the Principal Designer role.
Looking for an accredited qualification? We also offer CDM courses from our training partners. See all training
Common questions.
Something else on your mind? Book a free CDM review and ask us directly.
What does a Principal Designer do?
The Principal Designer plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety during the pre-construction phase. That means helping designers eliminate or reduce foreseeable risks, gathering pre-construction information and passing what is relevant to the Principal Contractor, and preparing the health and safety file.
When do I need to appoint one?
Whenever more than one contractor will work on the project. The appointment must be in writing and made as early as possible, ideally during design. If no appointment is made, the client takes on the Principal Designer duties.
Is the Principal Designer the same as the Principal Contractor?
No. The Principal Designer leads health and safety in the pre-construction phase. The Principal Contractor leads it during the construction phase, on site. Projects with more than one contractor need both.
Is the CDM Principal Designer the same as the Building Regulations Principal Designer?
No. They share a name but are separate roles under different law. The CDM Principal Designer, under CDM 2015, manages health and safety risks in the design phase. The Building Regulations Principal Designer, introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022, is responsible for planning, managing and monitoring design work so that it complies with the Building Regulations. Some projects need both, and the same organisation can hold both roles if it is competent to do so.
Does CDM apply to domestic projects?
Yes. For domestic clients, their duties normally pass to the contractor, or to the Principal Contractor where there is more than one contractor. The domestic client can instead agree in writing for the Principal Designer to take them on.
Where do you work?
We support projects across the UK and in Europe, with site visits wherever the work is.
Get CDM right from day one.
Tell us about your project and we will tell you where your duties sit and what needs to happen next. No cost and no obligation.
Book a free CDM review