UKAS is a company limited by guarantee, having Members instead of shareholders. The Members represent those who have an interest in all aspects of accreditation - national and local government, business and industry, purchasers, users and quality managers.

UKAS Members

The Secretary of State for Innovation Universities and Skills

The Association of British Certification Bodies

British Measurement and Testing Association

Confederation of British Industry

Federation of Small Businesses

Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services

The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply

The Institute of Quality Assurance

The Safety Assessment Federation

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(replaces SoS for Transport, Local Government and the Regions)

Food Standards Agency

Defence Procurement Agency

Health and Safety Executive

Health Protection Agency

British Retail Consortium
 

Although the company aims to be - and is - profitmaking, all profits are ploughed back into the business. Previous profits are the main sources of funding for new areas of accreditation.

Like all companies, UKAS has a board - a mixture of executive and non-executive directors:

• J E Beaumont
• R N Crookes
• C Dennis
• Sir Paul Judge 
• Dame Suzi Leather
• Lord Lindsay (Chairman)
• M R Mainelli
• P Stennett (Chief Executive)
• G M S Talbot 

The board is supported in the day-to- day running of these activities by an Executive drawn from senior UKAS staff.

The company takes advice on policy matters from a Policy Advisory Committee and on technical matters from a series of Technical Committees. The PAC meets three times a year, and the TCs meet as and when necessary.

UKAS has signed a number of international agreements, which help to lower barriers to trade by ensuring international acceptance of certificates issued under the umbrella of UKAS accreditation. In particular, UKAS is a signatory to the EA (European co-operation for Accreditation), mutual recognition agreements. Maintenance of mutual recognition status is subject to regular peer evaluation, to accepted international standards.