Understanding UKAS Certification vs. Non-UKAS: What's the Difference?
In today's global marketplace, certifications play a crucial role in establishing trust and credibility. Among the myriad of certifications available, UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) certification stands out as a mark of excellence and reliability. But what exactly sets UKAS certification apart from non-UKAS certifications? Let's get into it to understand their differences and implications.
What is UKAS Certification?
UKAS is the sole national accreditation body recognised by the UK government to assess organisations against internationally agreed standards. Being UKAS accredited means that an organisation has undergone rigorous assessment processes and has demonstrated competence, impartiality, and performance capability.
UKAS doesn't conduct the actual certification but accredits certification bodies (CBs) that carry out the certification process. In short, they audit the auditor. These CBs assess organisations against various ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) ensuring they meet specified requirements in areas like quality management, environmental management, and information security, health and safety etc.
UKAS v Non UKAS Certification
When I think of UKAS accreditation (or other global players) versus non accredited certifications, rightly or wrongly my brain immediately goes to the fake handbags you get while on holiday in Tenerife or such places. So it begs the question, when it comes to your business do you prefer Gucci or Cucci? I know where I would rather be when the sh*t hits the fan, because it will hit the fan sooner or later in the form of a prosecution, incident, accident, near miss, HR issue or any list of the myriad of things that can happen when running a business.
In reality many businesses don’t realise that their certificate is not valid until they get to Tender/due diligence stage. I.e. they don’t know what they don’t know until it’s too late.
To check if your cert is actually valid or holds weight in the global marketplace - check this link here or check out our blog on the ISO certification process.
Let's delve into the details of the differences between the two (accredited/non accredited) - here’s a list of things you need to know about UKAS/NSAI CBs (The CBs we partner with) versus ACME Certification Quality Corp.
You will never be tied into a 3 year contract that you can’t get out of.
Your third party auditor will not be a part of the company that acts as your consultant.
Your certification will actually hold some weight in the due diligence process.
Your management system will be fit for purpose, i.e. not full of generic documents.
The competence of your auditors will be tested rigorously.
The CB you choose will be sweating like you are every year because they are being audited by UKAS or another.
This one is so important - IT IS NOT CHEAPER TO GO WITH NON UKAS V UKAS. You will pay in the long run. It might quack like a duck and walk like a duck but it is definitely not a duck. I promise.
Hint: ALWAYS get three quotes - you will be in shock at the difference of pricing!
Just because you have been audited by non UKAS company before, doesn’t mean you actually meet the requirements of the standards, in my experience and the experience of my peers, the opposite is true.
So the benefits of using a UKAS accredited certification body (or equivalent) will look like this.
Global Recognition: UKAS accreditation is recognised globally, enhancing market access and competitiveness for certified organisations.
Credibility and Trust: UKAS certification instills confidence in stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and regulators, by demonstrating compliance with internationally recognised standards.
Impartiality and Integrity: UKAS-accredited CBs operate independently, ensuring impartiality, integrity, and consistency in the certification process.
Continuous Improvement: The rigorous assessment process encourages continuous improvement within certified organisations, driving efficiency, and effectiveness.
Versus
Non-UKAS Certifications:
Non-UKAS certifications refer to certifications issued by certification bodies that are not accredited by UKAS.
Key Differences:
Credibility and Recognition: UKAS certification offers higher credibility and global recognition compared to non-UKAS certifications. UKAS-accredited CBs adhere to internationally recognised accreditation standards, ensuring the validity and reliability of certifications.
Regulatory Compliance: In some industries or sectors, UKAS accreditation will be a regulatory requirement or preferred by regulators, making UKAS certification essential for market access.
Consistency and Impartiality: UKAS-accredited CBs are subject to strict assessment criteria, ensuring consistent and impartial certification processes. Non-UKAS certifications will vary in quality and reliability, depending on the accreditation status of the issuing body.
Market Access and Competitiveness: UKAS certification can enhance market access and competitiveness by signalling adherence to best practices and quality standards, giving certified organisations a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Conclusion:
In summary, UKAS accredited certification offers numerous advantages over non-UKAS certifications, including higher credibility, global recognition, and regulatory compliance. Therefore, organisations seeking to enhance credibility, trust, and competitiveness should prioritize UKAS accreditation for their certification needs.
At Armour, our team have worked for many of these CBs in the past and have partnered with them to ensure best possible customer service - including pricing, availability and quality of auditors both with a common goal of driving continual improvement in your organisation.