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Certification & Accreditation Explained

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Certification & Accreditation Explained

What is a Standard and how can a certified UKAS accredited body aid my business?

Put simply, a company’s management system is certified to the relevant Standard by an accredited assessment body. In our opinion, this should always be a UKAS accredited body.

UKAS is the only accreditation body recognised by the UK Government to certify these standards. This is because it operates within strict rules agreed by the Department of Trade and Industry and is regularly peer assessed by other recognised international accreditation bodies.

Some organisation’s claim to offer a one-stop-shop for consultancy and certification, which on the surface may seem like the quickest, cheapest, and easiest option. However, this practice completely goes against the rules by which UKAS accredited certification bodies are required to comply.

These organisations may even state that they are accredited but, if they do, their accreditation is not through UKAS.

Non-UKAS accreditation is not subject to agreed regulatory constraints and therefore provides little assurance of integrity, impartiality, or accountability. Certificates issued by these organisations are often not recognised by customers and clients and may even be detrimental for business development and tender applications.

The UK Government advises that The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy ((BEIS) who is responsible for conformity assessment and accreditation policy)). The BEIS is aware of the increase in the number of organisation’s offering certification when they are not accredited to do so. The BEIS has also advised that any organisation that suggests it is accredited in the sense of the Regulation on accreditation and market surveillance when they are not, maybe guilty of an offence under the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008. If identified these cases should be highlighted to trading standards or UKAS in the first instance.

Only companies certified by a UKAS accredited certification body may display the 'Tick & Crown' logo.

To find out more on the Government’s stance on this subject please click here

If you would like some help in choosing a UKAS Accredited Certification Body, please click here for some further guidance and information of some of the UKAS Accredited Certification Bodies that AvISO are associated with.

AvISO The ISO Consultants Our Philosophy

At AvISO we work with only UKAS accredited certification bodies to ensure you get the absolute best from your investment.

The ethos is always to develop a system that meets your needs first, whilst still complying with the standard. We have shown that a management system tailored to your individual goals and objectives can be more than just a certificate and will bring about truly positive improvements for your company.

Our experience and approach uniquely position us to offer and deliver the most meaningful advice in a way that best suits you.

choose a standard

What Standard are you looking to obtain:

ISO 9001 – Quality Management System Standard
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System Standard
ISO 27001 – Information Security Management System Standard
ISO 20001 - Information Technology Service Management Part 1
ISO27701:2019 – Privacy Management System Standard
ISO 30071-1 - Digital Accessibility Standard
ISO 37001 – Anti-Bribery Management System Standard
ISO 45001 – Health and Safety Management Standard
ISO 50001 – Energy Management System Standard
ISO 14064:1 - Quantification And Reporting Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Removals
ISO 14067 - Carbon Calculator
PAS 2060 - Carbon Neutrality
ISO 17024 - Conformity Assessment of the Certification of Persons
ISO 17025 – The competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO 20121 – Event Sustainability Management System Standard
ISO 37301:2021 – Legal Compliance Management System 
ISO 31000 - Risk Management
ISO 37002 - Whistleblowing
ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management System Standard
BES 6001 - Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products
ISO 22301 – Business Continuity Management System Standard
IATF 16949 – Automotive Quality Management System Standard
ISO 44001- Collaborative business relationships
BS 8900 - Guidance for managing sustainable development
CYBER ESSENTIALS – Cyber Security
SOC2 Compliance
ESOS – Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme
FIAS – Fertiliser, Security & Traceability
Lexcel – Legal Management System
MOD Standards
SECR - Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting
TISAX® – Information Security for the Automotive Industry
AS 9100 - Aerospace Quality Management System | Aqms
esos Energy Audits
B CORP CERTIFICATION
ISO 45003 - Occupational Health and Safety Management
ISO 42001:2023 - Artificial Intelligence 
Need more info? Let us know how we can help
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If you would like to know more about ISO Standards, Certification and the value of a good management system you can add to your business we would love to hear from you: Kent: 01892 800476 | London: 02037 458 476 | info@avisoconsultancy.co.uk

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