diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index fac1458cb..bf6bf2394 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -1,11 +1,18 @@
 import uuid
 import datetime
+
 from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import (
     UUID,
     JSON
 )
-from sqlalchemy import UniqueConstraint, text, ForeignKeyConstraint, and_
+from sqlalchemy import UniqueConstraint, and_
 from sqlalchemy.orm import foreign, remote
+from notifications_utils.recipients import (
+    validate_email_address,
+    validate_phone_number,
+    InvalidPhoneError,
+    InvalidEmailError
+)
 
 from app.encryption import (
     hashpw,
@@ -142,6 +149,20 @@ class ServiceWhitelist(db.Model):
     mobile_number = db.Column(db.String, nullable=True)
     created_at = db.Column(db.DateTime, default=datetime.datetime.utcnow)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_string(cls, service_id, contact):
+        instance = cls(service_id=service_id)
+        try:
+            validate_email_address(contact)
+            instance.email_address = contact
+        except InvalidEmailError:
+            try:
+                validate_phone_number(contact)
+                instance.mobile_number = contact
+            except InvalidPhoneError:
+                raise ValueError("Invalid contact: {}".format(contact))
+
+        return instance
 
 class ApiKey(db.Model, Versioned):
     __tablename__ = 'api_keys'
@@ -307,6 +328,7 @@ class ProviderDetails(db.Model):
     priority = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
     notification_type = db.Column(notification_types, nullable=False)
     active = db.Column(db.Boolean, default=False)
+    blah = db.Column
 
 
 JOB_STATUS_PENDING = 'pending'
diff --git a/tests/app/test_model.py b/tests/app/test_model.py
index 04385a6b6..278d619bc 100644
--- a/tests/app/test_model.py
+++ b/tests/app/test_model.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 
+import pytest
+
 from app import DATETIME_FORMAT
-from app.models import Notification
+from app.models import Notification, ServiceWhitelist
 
 
 def test_should_build_notification_from_minimal_set_of_api_derived_params(notify_api):
@@ -70,3 +72,33 @@ def test_should_build_notification_from_full_set_of_api_derived_params(notify_ap
     assert notification.notification_type == 'SMS'
     assert notification.api_key_id == 'api_key_id'
     assert notification.key_type == 'key_type'
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('mobile_number', [
+    '07700 900678',
+    '+44 7700 900678'
+])
+def test_should_build_service_whitelist_from_mobile_number(mobile_number):
+    service_whitelist = ServiceWhitelist.from_string('service_id', mobile_number)
+
+    assert service_whitelist.mobile_number == mobile_number
+    assert service_whitelist.email_address is None
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('email_address', [
+    'test@example.com'
+])
+def test_should_build_service_whitelist_from_email_address(email_address):
+    service_whitelist = ServiceWhitelist.from_string('service_id', email_address)
+
+    assert service_whitelist.email_address == email_address
+    assert service_whitelist.mobile_number is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('contact', [
+    '',
+    '07700dsadsad',
+    'gmail.com'
+])
+def test_should_not_build_service_whitelist_from_invalid_contact(contact):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        ServiceWhitelist.from_string('service_id', contact)