This awareness-level qualification introduces learners to:

• The purpose, scope and background of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
• The definition of construction work and the notification of projects to the HSE
• The key duty holders: client, principal designer, principal contractor, designers, contractors and workers
• The specific responsibilities of each duty holder
• The general principles of prevention
• Pre-construction information and its role in effective planning
• The construction phase plan and its required content
• The health and safety file and its ongoing use throughout the life of the structure
• The importance of cooperation, coordination, communication and competence
• How CDM integrates with wider health and safety management arrangements

• CDM applies to every construction project, not just large or notifiable ones. Even small domestic works carry duties under CDM 2015, and misunderstanding this is one of the most common compliance gaps in the industry.
• Safety decisions made at design stage shape everything that follows. Risks eliminated or reduced on the drawing board never have to be managed on site which is precisely why CDM places duties on designers and clients, not just contractors.
• Poor coordination between duty holders is a recurring cause of on-site incidents. CDM exists to ensure clients, designers, principal designers and principal contractors genuinely communicate and cooperate, rather than working in silos.
• It underpins legal compliance and project defensibility. A properly maintained construction phase plan, pre-construction information and health and safety file are not paperwork for its own sake they are what demonstrates compliance if a project is ever investigated.

• Foundation-level (Level 1) qualification suitable for anyone involved in planning or managing construction projects
• Minimum of 4 hours' instructional contact time, designed for flexible short-course delivery
• Delivered entirely online through the Britsafe learning management system (LMS) no physical classroom attendance is required
• Course materials are provided digitally (soft copy) via the LMS
• Assessed via an online examination through the Britsafe Examination Management System (EMS), with a minimum pass mark of 70%
• Certification issued with an anti-counterfeit hologram security seal, available both as a physical copy and as a soft (digital) copy
• Covers CDM duty holders, risk management in design, communication and coordination, documentation, and compliance
• Available fully online to learners in the UK and internationally

Knowledge developed:

• The structure and scope of CDM 2015
• The roles and duties of each CDM duty holder
• Principles of risk management during the design phase
• The purpose and content of key CDM documentation

Skills developed:

• Recognising CDM duties relevant to a specific project role
• Supporting effective communication and coordination between duty holders
• Contributing to accurate documentation and record-keeping
• Identifying compliance gaps and continuous improvement opportunities

This Award is designed for anyone involved in planning, designing, managing or delivering construction work, including:

• Construction and project managers
• Site managers and supervisors
• Architects, designers and design coordinators
• Clients commissioning construction work
• Contractors and subcontractors
• Health and safety officers and coordinators
• Facility managers overseeing construction or refurbishment projects
• Small business owners and self-employed tradespeople commissioning or carrying out construction work

No prior qualification in CDM or construction management is required this Award is intended as an accessible entry point into the subject.

There are no formal academic prerequisites for this Level 1 Award. It is open to learners aged 16 and above with a reasonable standard of spoken and written English, sufficient to engage with course materials and complete the assessment. No prior experience of construction project management is assumed.

Course content is structured around progressive learning blocks covering an overview of CDM 2015, duty holder roles and responsibilities, risk management in the design phase, communication and coordination, documentation and record-keeping, health and safety considerations across the project lifecycle, and continuous improvement and compliance.

Assessment is conducted through an online examination via the Britsafe Examination Management System (EMS). Learners must achieve a minimum score of 70% to pass. On successful completion, learners receive a certificate, available both as a physical copy and as a soft (digital) copy. Results and certificates are typically issued promptly following successful completion.

While this Level 1 Award is a foundation qualification rather than a standalone career credential, it provides a relevant grounding for roles and responsibilities including:

• Construction Project Coordinator
• Health and Safety Officer in construction
• Site Supervisor with CDM compliance responsibilities
• Design Coordinator
• A stepping stone toward principal designer or CDM advisor roles

Learners can apply this qualification directly to:

• Identifying which CDM duties apply to their own role on a project
• Contributing to risk management discussions during the design phase
• Supporting the preparation of pre-construction information and the construction phase plan
• Maintaining accurate documentation and records throughout a project
• Improving communication and coordination between duty holders
• Recognising when a project may be notifiable to the HSE

• Supports compliance with CDM 2015 across the full project lifecycle, not just the construction phase
• Reduces the risk of poor safety outcomes caused by decisions made early in design
• Builds a shared understanding of duty holder responsibilities across a project team
• Strengthens the defensibility of project documentation during audits or HSE investigation
• Supports better coordination between clients, designers and contractors

• A recognised, portable credential relevant across construction and project management roles
• Practical, applicable knowledge rather than purely theoretical content
• A flexible short-course format (minimum 4 hours) that fits around work commitments
• Clarity on a piece of legislation that is widely referenced but often poorly understood
• A foundation for progressing into project coordination or CDM advisory roles

This Award is best positioned as an early step within a broader construction management and health and safety development pathway. Learners often pair or follow it with qualifications in:

• Construction Health and Safety Essentials
• Contractor Health and Safety Management
• Vehicle Safety in Construction Environments
• Auditing and Inspection
• Broader occupational safety and health diplomas for those seeking supervisory or specialist roles

• Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in CDM and construction project management
• Specialist principal designer or CDM advisor training
• Broader health and safety management qualifications, including diploma-level study
• Professional membership pathways with relevant construction and occupational safety bodies

Britsafe Qualifications UK Limited delivers this qualification fully online, making it accessible to learners across the UK and internationally without the need to attend a physical training centre. This gives the qualification relevance for multinational construction and property firms working to UK regulatory standards, and for learners anywhere seeking a credential with cross-border applicability.

1. What does CDM 2015 stand for and what does it cover?
CDM stands for the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. It sets out how health and safety should be managed throughout a construction project, from initial design through to completion, and applies to all construction projects in Great Britain.

2. Who does CDM 2015 apply to?
It applies to everyone involved in a construction project, including clients, designers, principal designers, principal contractors, contractors and workers, each of whom holds specific duties under the regulations.

3. Does CDM only apply to large construction projects?
No. CDM 2015 applies to all construction projects, including small domestic works, though additional duties such as notifying the HSE apply once a project meets certain size or duration thresholds.

4. Are there any entry requirements?
No formal prerequisites are required. Learners should have a reasonable standard of English and be aged 16 or above.

5. How long does the course take to complete?
The qualification has a minimum guided learning time of 4 hours, making it a compact, focused course suitable for short-course delivery.

6. How is the qualification assessed?
Through an online examination via the Britsafe Examination Management System, with a minimum pass mark of 70%.

7. Is this qualification recognised internationally?
Yes. Britsafe Qualifications UK Limited delivers this qualification fully online to learners across the UK and internationally.

8. What materials are provided with the course?
Learners receive digital (soft copy) course materials via the Britsafe learning management system. The course is delivered entirely online; there is no physical classroom attendance or physical course material.

9. What happens after I pass the exam?
Successful learners receive a certificate from Britsafe Qualifications UK Limited, featuring an anti-counterfeit hologram seal for authenticity. The certificate is available both as a physical copy and as a soft (digital) copy.

10. Can this qualification lead to further study?
Yes. It provides a foundation for progression into higher-level CDM, construction project management, or occupational health and safety qualifications.

11. Does this qualification qualify someone to act as a principal designer?
No. This Level 1 Award builds foundational understanding of CDM 2015. The principal designer role carries specific competence requirements that go beyond awareness-level training.