and awarding accredited status. In Britain this is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). UKAS was appointed the UK NAB in January 2010 but in fact it has been the sole body recognised by government to accredit organisations since its inception in 1995 and has links going back to the 1960s.
UKAS accredits against any kind of conformity assessment, encompassing testing, calibration, inspection and certification. A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, it operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills but is a private entity, guaranteeing impartiality and removing the need for government inspectors.
Becoming UKAS accredited is a rigorous process in order to deliver public confidence in quality assurance. The assessment cycle lasts four years, with two assessment visits and two surveillance visits to ensure that standards are maintained. UKAS draws on a pool of expert assessors in each field to ensure that the highest standards are met. Moreover, UKAS has ‘teeth’; organisations that fail to live up to the robust standards can have their accredited status suspended or even withdrawn. Being UKAS accredited is a serious and internationally respected statement of confidence in an organisation’s abilities. So what benefits can it bring?
Benefits of accreditation As a mechanism for delivering confidence, accreditation has benefits for both providers and procurers of products and services as well as end-users. The first benefit to providers is that demonstrating competence is a proven way to offer differentiation in existing marketplaces and open new ones. This is especially true overseas – under Multilateral Recognition Agreements, UKAS accreditation is recognised in over 80 countries worldwide. Clearly, in a fast-moving marketplace such as environmental testing, being able to demonstrate competence will help in pitching for business.
There are also internal benefits. As the assessment is undertaken by experts, there is a capacity for knowledge sharing. Robust assessments of management and quality processes make it much easier to identify duplication and increase efficiency, meaning that companies can save time and money. Finally, as accreditation is recognised as an indicator of best practice, insurance firms are starting to offer increased cover or reduced
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premiums to UKAS-accredited bodies, also having a beneficial impact on the bottom line.
For companies sourcing testing or verification, there are also benefits. Using accredited organisations allows them to make an informed choice and removes some of the ‘unknowns’ from the procurement process. An organisation that holds UKAS accreditation has been assessed against rigorous internationally-recognised standards and pronounced fit for purpose. This means there is a robust trail of accountability demonstrating both best practice and due diligence. Knowing that the organisation you are considering is competent takes some of the risk out of the supply chain. For organisations that are having products certified, it is crucial to choose an accredited certification body. As with testing, this ensures that the certification process is impartial and accountable all the way through. Holding UKAS-accredited certification for products, or services such as installation, is a clear demonstration of quality and best practice.
Delivering Confidence When someone purchases from an accredited source, be it an end-user or a purchaser for a business or organisation, they can have confidence that they are getting something best suited to their needs and that this has been assessed, and proven, to an internationally- accepted level. Where environmental services and technologies are concerned, this not only means that procurers can be assured that they are getting ‘best fit’ but also that results will be reliable and processes will comply with best practice – essential where testing or sampling is concerned. For providers, gaining accredited status or accredited certification means being able to demonstrate competence. Ultimately accreditation is about delivering confidence, helping businesses to show that they are what they say they are.
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