How To Join An Approved Contractors' Scheme

The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) is the trade body for plumbing and heating businesses in England and Wales. We represent sole traders working in domestic properties to large companies working on commercial projects, helping installers run professional and profitable businesses.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering is the UK’s professional body for plumbers and others in the plumbing industry. The Institute is a registered educational charity with the prime objective of improving the science, practice and principles of Plumbing and Heating Engineering in the public interest.

The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) is the trade association for plumbing and heating businesses in Scotland and Northern Ireland.  SNIPEF has around 750 member firms employing over 4000 operatives and nearly 500 apprentices

TAPS was set up by Thames Water following the introduction of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. The scheme is free to join providing the applicant meetings the criteria for the type of membership they are applying to join with three different types of membership available.

The Water Industry Approved Plumbers' Scheme (WIAPS) is managed by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) Ltd on behalf of the majority (20 of 23) of the Water Undertakers in England & Wales; it does not apply to areas that are geographically covered by Severn Trent Water, Anglian Water or Thames Water.

WaterMark is administrated by Severn Trent and in order to become a WaterMark member, a plumber has to show he has been suitably trained as a plumber, that he has adequate knowledge of the Regulations by passing an assessment and that he has sufficient public liability insurance cover.