Bespoke Assessment
Summary
This section provides information about our Bespoke Assessment services, where we work as advisors and external verifiers for schemes which can be developed to be recognised company-wide, industry-wide, nationally or internationally.
Increasingly, industry bodies and larger organisations have a public duty of care to discharge in regard to issues like quality assurance, customer service and consumers' rights. In order to satisfy these requirements, more and more organisations are looking for guidance and external verification.
Assessment schemes begin with the establishment of standards, which individuals and/or organisations can be assessed to. Some standards, like ISO 9001, already exist but often, an industry, an association or larger organisations can have a more specific requirement that requires a bespoke approach.
Many of our commissions include the development of a Quality Management Programme or Sector Scheme, which are then tailored to the specific requirements of the client.
Previous Work
UK Trade & Investment
The 'Passport' system was designed for UK Trade & Investment as their flagship interface for new and inexperienced exporters to boost exports through local market assessments, assistance with training, planning and ongoing support in overseas markets.
Following competitive tender, we were selected to design and manage the Passport Accreditation System (PAS), with the remit of measuring and evaluating the performance of export services from the Government’s business support agencies. Since its launch in 2002, the PAS assessment scheme has evolved into a sophisticated web based monitoring system for ensuring the effective delivery and management of the Passport programme.
Today the PAS assessment scheme has developed into a comprehensive web-enabled monitoring tool that is used by all nine UK Regions and Overseas Trade Posts creating a worldwide online community. The comprehensive live statistics module is utilised at Ministerial level and provides the source data for official reports regarding the growth of UK exports.
The Quality standard for Mail Production
Launched in March 2001, the Quality Standard for Mail Production (QMP) was created as an accreditation scheme for driving up standards in the direct mail industry.
Commissioned by Royal Mail, we were selected to design and manage the QMP assessment scheme on behalf of the industry. We also created a web interface to help buyers of direct mail services to source proven suppliers. The sophisticated web based short listing program was designed to allow end users to find accredited mailing houses using keyword, geographical or specialist criterion. Thus providing end users with a unique facility for sourcing providers of all forms of direct mail services.
Overseen by an independent Advisory Council with representation from the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) and the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), the QMP assessment scheme was a first for the Direct Mail industry.
As the scheme evolved, a community secure area was made
available for assessed mailing houses; providing access to
up-to-date information regarding changes in legislation for the
direct mail industry and guidance on issues of best practice. To
support this, we also implemented a management system for ‘Ad
Alerts’ on behalf of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), to
ensure compliance with ASA adjudications relating to direct mail
advertising and content.
The British Institute of Agricultural Consultants
The British Institute of Agricultural Consultants (BIAC) is a professional body representing industry specialists who provide advice to Farmers, Rural Businesses and those who care for our Environment and Countryside. Established in 1957, BIAC ensures that its members' skills are assessed and verified.
BIAC first engaged us in 1999 to help them demonstrate to the outside world that their processes and procedures for member assessments were being conducted impartially and were aligned to recognised best practice. Working with the Membership Assessment Panel, we advised on the development of structured and impartial assessment processes and went on train their panel in their use.
Independent observations of the Assessment Panel were then carried out to verify that they were following the best practice model during a series of 'live' interviews and having met the published standards, BIAC were duly awarded ' Accredited Institute' status.
We continue to work with BIAC to this day and conduct an annual review in the form of External Verification of their member assessment panel's procedures and practices.
More Information
To talk more about your Bespoke Assessment requirements, please call 0800 404 7007.