FAQs

ISO Certification is a seal of approval from a 3rd party body that a company runs to one of the internationally recognised ISO management systems. The certification can be used to tender for business as a proof of a company’s credibility but also to install confidence in the potential client that you will keep your promises.

Each standard supports its own benefits within every industry, however the common benefits across the certifications include: widened market potential, compliance to procurement tenders, improved efficiency and cost savings, higher level of customer service, and therefore satisfaction, and heightened staff moral and motivation. By having a recognised management standard it tells your customers that you are serious about their needs.

ISO Certification costs vary dependent on the size of an organisation and the level to which the company is already run with regards to processes and procedures. If you decide to implement more than one standard at the same time, there are some preferential fees available. We are a fixed fee organisation, therefor our pricing transparency ensures that there are no hidden extra costs. Our quotes give perspective clients a clear breakdown of what they paying for.

We aim for a 6-8 week delivery period, but again this can vary from organisation to organisation. We will accommodate this where possible; however for those who are looking to achieve the certifications as soon as possible, we will endeavour to ensure you obtain your certification within our standard timescales. After the quotation has been accepted one of our auditors will contact you to arrange a suitable date.

An audit is the process by which a company shows evidence of working to the required system and this is a compulsory element of the ISO systems. A qualified auditor will attend your premises in order to assess your management system against the ISO Standard that you are certified to, and will request to see evidence resulting from the companies processes and procedures to ensure the system is being used and maintained on a regular basis. The auditor will typically compose a report, analysing your Management System. We will also provide you with recommendations for improvement that will have been agreed with you to assist you to drive the system forward to enable continuous improvement, thus getting the most out of the standard.

Auditing is a required element of the ISO Standards. It is the evidence that the system you have implemented is fit for purpose and continually improving. It is the regular check that you are managing the system/s consistently. The guidance that you will receive at the internal review stage will help you to effectively manage your management systems and remain compliant to the relevant standard/s. The auditor will help you to identify which aspects of the management system require improvement; this will provide you with the ability to develop and enhance the management system through a set of focused action points in a step by step approach.

The best place to start is ISO 9001 Quality Management, as this is the fundamental standard that most of the other standards are based on. It’s focused on customer service and ensuring your customer receives the service they want, at a time that’s relevant for a cost that’s fair. Based on your company’s activities there may be additional standards that might complement the business i.e. as waste and recycling company may benefit from the ISO 14001 Environmental Management as this is a core element for their industry, or a manufacturing business might benefit from the ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management as they use lots of heavy machinery which could have risks associated. If you are unsure please contact us at our Head Office on 01933 381859 where one of staff will be able to assist you.