The Right Person for the Job…
You wouldn’t rush the hiring process, would you? Selecting the right candidate for the job isn’t easy, and there are probably multiple factors that you will want to consider before even thinking about making a formal job offer.
The same goes for finding the right certification body to work with. Not all are identical and selecting the right fit is an important step towards success.
There are likely certain requirements you have as a customer, for example, you are looking to have your third-party assessment to be awarded the certification itself, or you are looking for a re-certification to maintain your standard. But, how do you know what to look out for when choosing a certification body? In this blog, we share some tips to help you find the right one for you.
1. Evaluate Their Reputation
Time is of the essence for most businesses, and if you’ve been informed you need ISO certification to qualify for a particular tender or contract, you may be inclined to jump at the first certification body promising a quick turnaround. However, it’s necessary to do your research and take quality into account.
You’ll also probably want to ensure that other customers have had a good experience with the certification body. Check their rating on review websites such as Trustpilot to get a holistic view and determine if they are suitable to work with based on your needs.
Social media can be very telling these days when it comes to a good reputation. What’s their social following like? Are they active? Do they engage with their industry insight online? If they have a newsletter, you might want to sign up to do some extra research.
2. Check for Accreditations
So, you’re going for an ISO accreditation or already have one and you’re looking to maintain it. But, how sure are you that the certification bodies you’re looking at have had the same thorough checks by a third-party body? Have you checked whether the certification body is UKAS accredited?
UKAS is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and is the only Government recognised accreditation for organisations that provide certification, testing, and inspection of services. You can use the UKAS search function to find out if the organisation you’re retrieving quotes from is UKAS accredited.
It’s worth noting that when tendering for new contracts, UKAS accreditation is sometimes a requirement.
3. Consider Cost and Extra Benefits
It’s a good idea to retrieve multiple quotes. We recommend getting at least two from different certification bodies. The lowest price doesn’t necessarily equate to high-quality service, but nor does a higher price mean you will get a better service. Although price plays an integral role for many companies deciding on a certification body, make sure you take all different factors into account before committing to work together. Some certification bodies may include expenses in their day rate, whereas others may not – these are questions worth asking.
Look out for added value (because who doesn’t love a freebie, right?!). Access to additional resources, a dedicated client portal, referral or loyalty schemes, and other benefits are all great incentives.
At Swift Certification, our cost structure is simple – we have a day rate and determine the number of days needed to audit your organisation. The number of days needed is calculated based on the size, scale, and sector of your organisation, and the scope for certification. We then multiply the day rate by the number of days. We never ask you to cover any additional costs, hidden charges, or expenses.
We’re Here to Help
Audits should not be stressful, and we strive to ensure they run as smoothly as possible. Our expert team is specially trained to ensure that you understand what is happening throughout the process, answer any questions and ensure the highest standard of ongoing support and aftercare.
Our specialists use 21st-century methods to help you achieve and maintain your certification, whilst providing excellent customer service.
We know that expertise is crucial to delivering a world-class service, and all our auditors have 15+ years of experience in a broad range of industries, giving you peace of mind that you are in safe hands. We recognise that time is valuable and always conduct our audits within the specified timeframe.
Read what our clients say here.
