What a check means
What a check on The Bench covers, what it does not, and how to report a problem.
Every business in the Directory, and every business that posts a job or shares a file, has been checked by a person. The badge always shows the date of the look and what was looked at. It is not a review of their work, and there are no star ratings or reviews on The Bench.
What we check
For a company:
- The company is on the Companies House register under that name, is active, and has its accounts and confirmation statement up to date.
- The person applying is a current director or person with significant control.
- A one-time code sent to an address at the company's own website domain was typed back. Free webmail does not count.
- A person looks at the evidence before the badge is given. A company that cannot use a work email address does a video call instead.
For a sole trader:
- A ten-minute video call that shows who they are and their trading address. We do not record it.
- Two references from members of checked businesses, or a trade body membership number that we looked up.
Credentials
A business can also show the NAJ or RJC membership, a VAT number matched to its name and address, or a sponsor's mark confirmed with an assay office. Each is dated, and each says only what was looked up.
What we do not check or claim
- Quality, skill, honesty, insurance, finances, hallmarking compliance, or how a business treats its staff.
- A check does not mean Companies House, a trade body, HMRC or an assay office has taken a view on the business, or on The Bench.
- We did not use Google Business Profile, reviews, or a business's own claims as proof.
How often
At least every 12 months. Sooner if the company's status or officers change, if accounts become overdue, if the business tells us of a change to its name, number or address, or if a report about it is upheld. A badge that is not renewed lapses, and the business can then neither post nor renew a job until it is checked again.
If something is wrong
Use the report link on any page, or write to hi@hamedarab.academy. A business that fails a check is told which check, in plain words, and can try once more with fresh evidence or appeal to a person who did not do the first check.