ISO certification for Third Sector organisations
Third Sector organisations represent a significant part of our business and we understand the needs of charities and other similar organisations that rely on a high percentage of volunteers.
Having clear and straightforward practices and procedures can make everyone's job that be easier and helps to avoid misunderstandings and errors. Knowing what to do, when to do and how, may appear commonsense but we all know that unless some things are properly documented, things have a habit of going awry.
ISO standards can help organisations kill two birds with one stone, as not only do you end up with improved management practices but you also gain credibility and recognition; helpful for securing that vital tender submission.
The majority of our Third Sector clients tell us that the benefits of ISO certification went beyond simply qualifying for tenders and helped them save both time and cost and improved their standing.
“ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications have been very beneficial in qualifying for local government tenders. Achieving certification has also increased our standing as an organisation within the voluntary sector."
Stephen Hawkins
Age UK Hounslow
More than ever,
Third Sector organisations are having to work harder to cut
costs, become more efficient and compete harder to win new
contracts. The ISO 9001 quality management standard, for
example, can help organisations to address such issues by helping
them to
be more consistent, improve their efficiency and commit to
continuous improvement. Other benefits include:
Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty
Less costly errors and re-work
Enhanced credibility
Better communications and motivated staff
Competitive advantage
Preferential insurance premiums
Now, implementing ISO management standards has become
that bit easier, thanks to our new
preferential fee rates for registered UK charities. And you
can rest assured you'll be in safe hands. We have over 40
years experience in the assessment industry, we are UKAS
accredited and we've been a recognised Investor in People
since 1999.
Our UKAS accreditation gives you the added assurance that we
are properly vetted and regulated by a Government endorsed
body and that our people and processes are fit for purpose.
In fact, we wouldn't expect you to do anything less than we
are prepared to do ourselves.
To learn more about ISO certification for the Third Sector,
simply click on the tabs above to move onto
the next section.
Get a Quote
To receive your preferential quotation, please use the Online Quotation Form or call 0800 404 7007.
What is ISO 9001?
Introduced in 1987 and derived from British standard BS 5750, ISO 9001 is internationally recognised. Its designation as an ISO (International Standards Organisation) standard means it is truly international and is based on input from their world-wide network of over 160 national standards institutes. Today, it has been implemented by more than a million organisations across some 175 countries.
ISO 9001 is deemed a generic (i.e. process) standard, meaning it can be applied to any
organisation, across any sector, large or small and irrespective
of whether it produces products or is services related. Unlike many industry or
national standards, ISO 9001 is widely recognised (especially by
the public sector) both at home and abroad.
An effective Quality Management System certified to ISO
9001 will
provide an organisation with a framework of processes and
procedures that
can ensure a common sense approach to the management of your
organisation. Successful implementation boosts consistency
and improvement to working practices, helping to better meet
customer requirements.
What are the benefits?
Some of the benefits have already been discussed. For example, improving
internal working and achieving greater consistency will reap benefits
over the long term as well as make your customers very happy! Such all-round improvements lead to
greater surpluses through
increased efficiency and productive working.
Many of our larger clients also point to dramatic changes for
the better. In our experience, implementing standards like ISO 9001 when an organisation is
small and growing can lead to the greatest benefits, as it lays
the ideal foundations for the future.
“It seemed to me that BAB offered flexibility and value for money to enable small, voluntary organisations to develop a robust quality framework and monitoring systems within the constraints of a budget.”
Stephen Hawkins
Age UK Hounslow
We find a lot of organisations apply to us for ISO certification because it is a stipulation for public sector contracts. Indeed, it is Government policy to prefer accredited certification for central and local government tenders to gain assurance that the supplier is fit for purpose. Understandably, it is particularly important that government and local authorities are able to demonstrate they are spending taxpayer’s money wisely.
Standards like ISO 9001 are often a requirement in the private sector too, particular when applying to become part of a supply chain or where the main contractor already has ISO 9001 in place.
"Gaining ISO 9001 certification has made us more credible to funders."
Lorraine Prentice
Blackburn YMCA
Improving your processes and the way your organisation works boosts not only productivity but employee motivation too. Replacing bad or even non-existent methods with functional, documented processes invariably leads to a more confident and harmonious workforce. ISO 9001 also instils a model for continuous improvement, which can only help further.
Outside of bidding for public sector work, the credibility associated with gaining accredited certification gives organisations a clear competitive advantage. It’s not just about winning new business either, as it provides added value to your clients too, and in the current climate, keeping hold of existing clients is more important than ever.
It’s also useful to know that ISO management standards are complementary. For example, the standards for Quality Management (ISO 9001), Environmental Management (ISO 14001), Information Security Management (ISO 27001) and Health and Safety Management (OHSAS 18001), all share many principles. This means that you can integrate your management system by combining a number of these common standards, leading to all-round savings with across-the-board benefits.
Get a Quote
To receive your preferential quotation, please use the
Online Quotation Form or call
0800 404 7007.
What is ISO 14001?
Introduced in 1996, ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised Environmental Management Standard that defines the requirements for establishing, implementing and operating an Environmental Management System (EMS). It helps organisations to establish a framework for minimising their impact on the environment and invariably leads to cost savings in terms of an organisation's consumption and waste management.
Like the foundation management standard ISO 9001, ISO 14001 is a process standard and therefore it can be applied to any organisation, across any sector, large or small and irrespective of whether it produces products or is services related.
An effective EMS certified to ISO 14001 will ensure that an organisation can demonstrate it is in control of its environmental impact, that it is compliant with all relevant legislation and that it has a commitment to continuous improvement.
What are the benefits?
If you provide services to the public sector, or large supply chains, you may find that ISO 14001 is stipulated in order to qualify for contracts. ISO 14001 is therefore a potential business winner.
ISO 14001 can also provide cost savings through reductions in consumption, more effective waste management and recycling. This will include reductions in energy use (e.g. electricity, water and gas) and improving internal processes.
An effective EMS assists organisations in identifying the environmental interests of its stakeholders too (e.g. customers, shareholders, employees, regulators, etc.). In particular, employees benefit from the improved structure and processes associated with implementing ISO 14001. With their responsibilities more clearly defined, there is often improved morale thanks to improved internal communications.
Finally, becoming certified to ISO 14001 sends a clear message to your clients and potential customers. Increasingly, customers want to work and be associated with suppliers and partners that have demonstrable eco-credentials.
Get a Quote
To receive your preferential quotation, please use the Online Quotation Form or call 0800 404 7007.
FAQs
Below are some typical questions asked about ISO certification. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact our award winning Customer Support Team for free on 0800 404 7007.
How much will it cost?
The cost of certification depends on a few factors such as the number of employees you have, your turnover and the amount of sites you operate from. This gives us an impression of your size and the amount of time needed to assess your organisation. We have agreed preferential rates for Third Sector clients and certification starts from £1,545 (plus VAT) for organisations with 5 or less employees.
All of our quotes are Fixed Fee, with no hidden extras. The fee we quote will be what it costs to become certified no matter how many audits are required.
What will I have to do and what is involved?
The process starts with what's known as a 'Stage 1 Audit' This is where your Lead Assessor will review your existing systems and provide you with a gap analysis report which will identify the actions required to meet the standard. This can usually be used as a helpful action plan, so don’t worry if you think you're under prepared. Many organisations find they already have a number of required processes in place. They just need better documentation and communication of what processes are mandatory and who has responsibility for what.
Once the organisation is ready and has filled the gaps highlighted in the
Stage 1 report, an Auditor will visit your premises to carry out
a second visit; known as the 'Stage 2 Audit'. This will reveal
the effectiveness of your management system and whether
it meets all the requirements of the particular ISO management standard. If you are fully
compliant, you will be recommended for
certification by the Auditor. The Auditors’ report will then be checked
via an approvals process and if no anomalies are identified, certification is officially awarded.
What will you look at when you visit us?
Whatever ISO management standard you choose, they are all designed to act as best practice guides.
As an example, the Quality Management standard (ISO 9001) looks at the five main areas that are vital to any business, namely:
Management
Resources
Operational Processes
Evaluation of business performance
Managing problems/complaints
Therefore, ISO 9001 acts as an effective business improvement
tool, providing a framework for designing a management system to
ensure that each of these five areas are being effective.
To achieve certification, organisations must demonstrate that
they have effective procedures which are consistently applied
for activities such as:
Management planning and review
Internal communication
Control of documents
Managing human resources and the work environment
Determining product/service requirements
Product/service design
Monitoring customer satisfaction
Measurement, analysis and improvement
How long will it take to become certified?
As you might expect, implementation of standards like ISO 9001 can take longer depending on the size of the organisation. In order to be successful, a designated representative should take responsibility within your organisation. However, this doesn't mean you have to appoint a designated 'Quality Manager' just someone who is seen as the main coordinator. In most cases the principals of ISO 9001 will soon become integrated within the organisation and before you know where you are, it'll just be the way you do things. For most organisations, the process will take 3-6 months from first visit to the award of certification.
Are you UKAS accredited?
Yes, we are a UKAS accredited body. This is your assurance that we are competent, objective and impartial, so you'll get the most out of your certification. You can be certain that your industry scope is covered by our UKAS accreditation by getting in touch with our award winning Customer Support Team.
To read more about UKAS accreditation, visit the What is UKAS? page.
What standard(s) do I need?
The most popular standard is ISO 9001, which concerns Quality Management. It is popular because it helps an organisation to improve its business as a whole. ISO 14001, another popular standard, concerns your Environmental Management. This is often not an immediate priority for businesses but it may be necessary to qualify for a public sector tender, as the Government is promoting sustainable procurement.
Choosing a standard therefore, may depend at what stage your business is currently at or it could be influence by a client requirement. We are happy to talk through the benefits of any standard with you.
Do you do the final audit or do you get a third party to do
it?
We are a third party Certification Body, so we would carry out the final audit in order to award certification. You will therefore receive your certificate from us. Our UKAS accreditation is your assurance that our certifications are carried out with the required levels of objectivity and impartiality and these are regulated by UKAS to ensure standards are maintained.
Will you complete our paperwork for us?
The short answer is no. We cannot provide any form of consultancy for you. This is a strict rule enforced by our regulator, UKAS. However, we can signpost you to recognised best practice and the Stage 1 Audit process is designed to provide you with an effective gap-analysis and action plan report. This will provide you with everything you need in order to achieve certification. If required separate training can also be provided.
Do all my staff have to be involved in the process?
Clearly, it is essential that your management is behind the implementation of the project. It will also require key staff to be committed and active in communicating the plans; which will usually include changes for improvement. However, organisations usually find that the requirements of the standard are largely common-sense, with implementation and integration soon taking place. Organisations also get far more benefit from being directly involved in the implementation, after all, who knows your organisation better than you?
Do we have to be audited every year?
Yes, to maintain your certification, it is mandatory to have at least one surveillance audit visit per year to ensure you are still meeting requirements. Such surveillance audits sample the ongoing effectiveness of your management system and you will received a written report outlining the results. These can include major or minor non-compliances and observations. Should a major non-compliance be identified, you would be given a set period of time to rectify the situation.
Very large organisations will often be required to have more than one surveillance visit per year. In some cases, if a large number of non-compliances are identified at each surveillance audit, your certification body may require you to undertake 6-monthly surveillance audits for an agreed period.
Every third-year a full re-audit is undertaken and this is aimed
at identifying key trends of strength and weakness and your
certification body would work with you to identify opportunities
for improvement. Such third year audits are more extensive that
annual surveillance audits and some certification bodies may
charge extra to undertake them.
It is our philosophy to work with our clients 'without fear or favour'. To maintain our impartiality we cannot undertake improvements for you but we can and will point you to recognised best practice and answer questions with sensitivity and understanding. Ultimately, we want to help you gain the most from certification and reap the benefits that a commitment to continuous improvement can offer.
Lastly, we give all of our clients ample notice to arrange their annual audits before the end of their certification period. We also offer ISO Health Checks for those clients that value a refresher (to iron out any 'wrinkles') prior to the formal audit.
Get a Quote
To receive your preferential quotation, please use the Online Quotation Form or call 0800 404 7007.
Process
STEP 1: Preparation
Realistically, if you are new to ISO management standards you are probably going to need some guidance and where appropriate, we can provide access to good-practice examples and guides. When you're ready, we’ll discuss your requirements with you and provide you with a Fixed Fee quotation so you can budget accurately. Your quotation will be based on factors like what you do, how many locations you operate from and how many people you employ. We also operate concessionary rates for Third Sector clients. To get the ball rolling, simply call us on 0800 404 7007 or email us an enquiry.
STEP 2: Application
Once you decide to proceed, we'll assign a Lead Assessor to you. He or she will be your principal contact throughout the registration process and beyond. They will build up detailed knowledge of your organisation and will be able to answer any questions you may have.
“Our Auditor was very supportive and offered constructive comments - some of which we have since successfully implemented, which is all very positive and useful for us as an organisation.”
Hugh Tomlinson
Age UK South Lakeland
STEP 3: Pre-Audit Assessment (known as Stage 1)
Your Lead Assessor will visit you to explain the respective standard and undertake a conformity assessment of your current management system arrangements. You will then receive a detailed report including all required actions. Together, you will then determine the appropriate timetable for your Audit Assessment.
STEP 4: Audit Assessment (known as Stage 2)
Once you are ready for your formal Audit Assessment, your Lead Assessor will make the required arrangements for you. On completion, you will be informed of the Auditor's recommendation before he or she leaves your premises.
STEP 5: Registration & Certificate
Following the Auditor's recommendation, your registration will be reviewed and if approved your certification will be confirmed. Soon after, your certificate of conformity will be issued and sent to you.
STEP 6: Continual Assessment
Having achieved certification, you will want to maintain your registration and your Lead Assessor will remain on hand to undertake the required annual reviews to ensure you continue to meet the requirements of the respective ISO standard.
Get a Quote
To receive your preferential quotation, please use the Online Quotation Form or call 0800 404 7007.
Costs
We work with clients of all sizes, and even if your
organisation is very small, we can help you. With certification from
just £1,545 (plus VAT) and no long term
contract to tie you in, we provide an affordable route to
UKAS accredited certification.
Ultimately, your quotation will be based on factors like
what you do, how many locations you operate from and how
many people you employ. We provide all of our clients with a Fixed Fee quotation because we know
that day rates have a habit of going over budget and we believe in being
transparent.
All of our quotes are inclusive. We won’t charge you extra for travel, registration fees or for your certificate (unlike many others). The only thing to add is VAT.
In addition, we'll make you a Price Match Plus guarantee; if you can find a cheaper like-for-like quote within 14-days, we’ll match it and give you a 10% discount from your next surveillance.
Comparing Quotes
When comparing certification quotations, ensure they are like-for-like. We are accredited by UKAS, the sole national accreditation body recognised by Government to assess ISO certification bodies like ourselves. It’s therefore important to only compare UKAS accredited certification bodies, as only their certificates will be universally accepted. Its also your assurance of our competence, so you’ll get the most out of implementing the standard.
Choosing a UKAS accredited certification body means:
Your certification is recognised for public sector contracts
Your certification is recognised by local authorities
Will help gain future business
You organisation will realise the full benefit from certification
Maximum credibility
Read more about the importance of UKAS accreditation in the 'Ensuring Recognised Accreditation' article.
Get a Quote
To receive your preferential quotation, please use the Online Quotation Form or call 0800 404 7007.
Dealing with us means you're assured:
For peace of mind, we are a UKAS accredited Certification Body.
See how Age UK London have found the ISO certification process in their case study.