What does ISO stand for?

Formally known as International Organisation for Standardization. ISO is derived from the Greek word “isos” meaning equal.

Where did ISO begin?

The ISO story began in London 1946 where 65 delegates from 25 countries met to discuss the future of International Standardisation. In 1947 ISO officially came into existence with 67 technical committees. (Group of experts focusing on a specific subject.)

Over the past 50 years ISO have developed into a family of standards that cover almost anything, from the plates we eat off to the Wi-Fi networks that connect us invisibly to each other.

By addressing these and more, International Standards mean consumers have the confidence that their products are safe, reliable and of excellent quality. ISO on the transport, Medical and cleaning are just a few that help make the world we live in a safer place.

The most popular ISO Standard is the ISO 9001:2015, which is based on the plan-do-check-act methodology and provides a process based approach to documenting and reviewing the structure, responsibilities and procedures required to achieve effective quality management in an organisation.

What is the difference between UKAS and ACSB?

UKAS perform accreditation with authority derived within the UK in the International
Accreditation Forum (IAF) whereas the ASCB is not a member of the IAF.

 What is the time commitment when implementing an ISO standard?

There is no standard length for a implementing an ISO standard as the answer is
dependent on the size of your business, the standard you wish to implement etc. Before
they start, our consultants will perform a gap analysis in which they will then be able to give
you a time frame.

How much commitment is required from me (client)?

This is dependent on the type of system that you want, so again there is no definitive
answer. However, through the process our consultants will give you regular updates on
what needs to be done and by when, the more involvement from you the better.

How many audits will I need to have?

This again depends on the size of the business, however before a third party organisation
comes into your business to perform the audit, it is recommended that you audit at least all
of your core process’

Why do we need Health and Safety when we are looking at Quality?

For any business with over five employees, having Health and Safety processes are a legal
requirement. Therefore, even though you are looking at Quality, the procedures are
interlinked because ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for employees can
have a direct impact on the quality of your products or services.

The benefits to any organisation of gaining accreditation in ISO standards is endless. Overall performance becomes easily measurable and areas for further improvement easily identifiable through continual review of business practice carried out through all levels or the organisation.

When you achieve an ISO certification you have the ability to show customers and stakeholders your commitment to quality products and services. It is a great opportunity to celebrate your achievement, promote your business, and show that you are a trusted supplier which could open new business opportunities moving forward.

Below are just a selection of benefits / impacts that being accredited to an ISO standard can have on your organisation:

• Meet regulation requirements.
• Increase your chance of success when tendering for new contracts.
• Gain you tremendous competitive advantage over those without ISO accreditation.
• Provide Senior management with an efficient management process.
• Gain Market access across the world.
• Build Customer confidence that your products are safe and reliable.
• Set out clear areas of roles and responsibility's across the organisation.
• Highlights any internal / external deficiencies.
• Identifies and encourages more efficient and time saving processes.
• Reduce costs.
• Provides continuous assessment and improvement.
• Marketing opportunities.
• Maintain a higher retention rate of your existing customers.

A few benefits to your customers may be:

• Improved quality and service.
• Delivery on time.
• Right first time attitude.

What standards can Clear Quality Ltd certify?

Our certification body can certify ISO900, ISO14001, ISO27001, ISO45001 and ISO21001.

Will my audit be onsite or remote? 

This is down to preference as Clear Quality Ltd’s delivery model is flexible, delivering audits
either face-to-face or online.

How long will my certificate take to arrive?

This could be between four to six weeks.

How long does accreditation last?

After you have been accredited, you will need a surveillance audit every twelve months
however the certificate does not have to be renewed until three years after the initial audit. 

How am I allowed to advertise my accreditation? 

Logo’s can be used for the following:

 
• Business letter headed paper and compliment slips
• Business adverts
• Websites
• Formal business emails (but not on bulk emails or unsolicited emails)
• Advertising materials and promotional merchandise

However, the following restrictions apply:

• Use of any other logo in respect of ACSB, IRQAO or Clear Quality Ltd
• You must not: stretch or distort the logo, change the colour of the logo,
change the lettering or wording, make the logo bigger or more prominent
than your logo.
• You must not use the logo to suggest you, or an organisation are part of
ASCB, IRQAO or Clear Quality Ltd
• Logos may not be used on a product or packaging in a manner that
implies or could be interpretated as denoting product conformity.
• The certificated organisation shall desist from use of certificates, logos and
marks or from making reference to it’s certificated status if certificated is
suspended / withdrawn / expired.
• The certificated organisation shall emend use of certificates, logos and
marks scope of certification has been reduced or amended.
• Use and display of marks is covered by laws of copyright. It is therefore
misleading to apply a logo that is not authorised for use. As a general rule;
if the certifying body did not provide a copy of the logo, you are prohibited
from using it. Organisations shall notify Clear Quality Ltd of any difficulty
experienced regarding the interpretation placed upon their certification by
customers.

Further rules and regulations can be found in the Certification Handbook which is provided
before the audit or can be found under ‘certification body’ on the website here: Certification Body | Clear Quality

Your dedicated consultant at Clear Quality will provide you with a comprehensive list of certified bodies and their associated costs during your initial consultation. You can rest assured that we will conduct a thorough audit of all facets of your organisation to ensure that your quality management system is not only customised to suit your unique requirements but also fully aligns with the recognised industry standards. Additionally, our accreditation as an ISO 17021-1:2015-approved certification body attests to our commitment to upholding the highest quality assurance standards.

The role of your Third-Party Auditor is not one of interrogation but rather to ensure that your systems and practices are in full compliance with both your internal protocols and the ISO standard itself. We understand that this process may appear daunting, particularly for those encountering it for the first time, often characterised by a sense of 'fear of the unknown.' However, this is precisely where your Clear Quality consultant leverages their wealth of experience to alleviate any apprehensions and guide you in providing the necessary evidence, ensuring a smooth and successful audit process."

Our fully IRCA qualified lead Auditor consultants are here to support you each step of the way, through to accreditation from the third-party body. During your initial meeting your consultant will familiarise themselves with your business scope, strategy, core business processes and explain the ISO certification process you have chosen to you and your team.

Cost and time allocated will then be based on your overall requirements and the timescale in which you aim to have accreditation in place.

To be eligible for our apprenticeship, you must be in employment and residing in the UK for the past three years.

What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

The levy is a tax that employers with an annual wage bill of more than £3 million have to
pay, this money is then given back to employers to spend on Apprenticeship training. The
companies who are non-levy have access to the levy but must contribute 5% of course cost
(this is the ‘employer contribution’)

How do I know if I am a levy payer?

You will pay the levy tax if you have an annual wage bill of more than £3 million.

How much funding can I get?

• Non-Levy companies: 95%

How is my employer contribution paid?

The employer contribution can either be paid monthly, or in a lump sum two months after
the delegates start date

The DAS account is a online portal provided by the UK Government to aid employers with
managing their Apprenticeships. Through this portal, employers can view information on
their levy payments and helps them manage their apprenticeship levy funds.

 How do you set up a DAS account?

1. Login to your DAS
2. Click into “Your training providers”
3. Click “Add a training provider”
4. Then add Clear Quality’s UKPRN “10083283”
5. Then click “yes, add CLEAR QUALITY LIMITED” and continue
6. Click the green “return to your training providers”
7. Next to Clear Quality – click the set permissions tab
8. Click “allow” for both sections and continue and then confirm

What is Clear Quality Ltd’s UKPRN?

10083283

Panda.Doc is the new software Clear Quality Ltd use for signatures; therefore it is reliable
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Contact Clear Quality on 01709 918501 or Email: info@clearquality.co.uk for an informal chat to discuss your business and it’s needs to see how Clear Quality can support you moving forward.