“Our clients see many benefits from their accredited-certification status. A number of clients have secured business overseas as their accredited certificates are recognised within EU states and beyond. This has given them a real competitive advantage. Many tenders for supplying into Government departments or blue-chip companies require that a business has had its management system certified by an organisation accredited by UKAS. There are alternatives to accredited certification, however there are dangers associated with choosing these routes that businesses need to consider. The integrity of a business’ management system, and ultimately the products and services that it provides, can be seen through its certificate. An accredited certificate provides that confidence of integrity. A non-accredited certificate cannot give that confidence as it does not have the advantage of being underpinned by a third party accreditation body such as UKAS. Consequently it does not have the credibility or acceptability within the marketplace."
Lee Poulton, Group Acreditation Manager