UKAS
In these economic conditions, certification is recognised as being a differentiator as well as demonstrating regulatory compliance. An increasing number of both public and private sector organisations are specifying certification by a UKAS accredited body in many of their contracts. In addition, a growing number of regulators are rewarding businesses with accredited certification through regulatory relief.
Whilst accredited certification isn’t a legal requirement, it delivers many benefits. Many businesses are finding that more and more of their customers want to see evidence that their suppliers are compliant. This trend was confirmed by independent research carried out by Databuild in April 2009. Of the organisations surveyed, 58 per cent of small businesses stated that their suppliers stipulated accredited certification in pre-qualification questionnaires. This trend was mirrored in the public sector who stated that they are seeking greater confidence from their suppliers by specifying UKAS-accredited certification.
One of the reasons for this increased use can be traced to the Regulators’ Compliance Code, a central part of the Government’s better regulation Agenda, which was published in December 2007. It aims to embed a risk-based, proportionate and targeted approach to regulatory enforcement. A core element of the guidance requires Regulators to use recognised accreditation systems in their enforcement and monitoring activities.
There are clear signs of this happening with UKAS accreditation being a central pillar of demonstrating quality assurance in sectors such as forensic science and healthcare. UKAS accreditation and certification are also being used to underpin market confidence in new sectors such as microgeneration, energy efficiency certificate, financial advisors, business continuity and carbon measurement and labeling. In addition, from 1 January 2010, EU Regulation 765/08 establishes a legal framework for the provision of accreditation services across Europe.
For businesses who seek certification, whether to demonstrate compliance to potential customers or to realise greater benefit from the certification process, business intermediaries such as the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses, Business Link and the Institute of Directors recommend that certification should be obtained from a Certification Body accredited by UKAS.
UKAS is the sole national accreditation body recognised by government to assess organisations that provide evaluation services. It is a non profit-distributing organisation and operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government through the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the technical competence, impartiality and performance capability of these businesses, which provides purchaser confidence in their choice of supplier.
There are many organisations in the UK offering certification, however they do not all have the same level of recognition. Some organisations offer a service that may appear to be cheap and usually offer a package that combines consultancy with certification. Some offer to provide their services on a “no certificate – no fee” basis, but businesses may find that their certification is not accepted by potential customers.