UKAS is working with NHS England to establish a project to develop Accreditation for Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs).

NHSE have stipulated that CDCs are to be accredited within 2 years of being set up. Over 170 CDCs have already been approved by NHSE to operate services which may include pathology, phlebotomy, point of care testing, diagnostic imaging, and physiological science services.

As the national accreditation body, UKAS is the only organisation recognised to provide accreditation across healthcare diagnostic and scientific services. UKAS will now work with host Trusts and CDC providers to determine the most suitable approach to deliver accreditation across the relevant disciplines, and the scope and the timeframes that services are planning to work to.

In order to conduct this work UKAS needs to gather as much information as possible from CDCs on their structures, governance, activities and how they work with other services. We will then be able to use this information to formulate a plan and pilot an integrated approach for our assessments, where required.

Organisations that wish to learn more, participate in the information gathering and/or the development of accredited activities, or extend their current accredited scope for diagnostic and scientific services, are requested to contact CDCenquiries@UKAS.com by 1stOctober 2023 and provide the following information:

• Name of organisation including legal entity
• Confirm whether your interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment/or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status and configuration of the CDC service
• Classification of CDC – Standard, Large, or Hub and Spoke
• Services offered by the CDC
• Status of any current accreditation or certification

Those organisations that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend the meeting of interested parties where the project will be discussed with relation to the different stages, and the terms of the project outlined along with a proposed timeline for key stages.

Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not indicate any commitment to participate in the project on the part of the interested parties and nor does the acceptance of an expression of interest commit UKAS to accept the interested party on any future pilot project.

The use of relevant experts providing peer assessment sits at the heart of UKAS’s accreditation activities.  We are always keen to hear from experts interested in joining our large pool of competent assessors.

If you are interested and would like to learn more about assessing for UKAS, please contact Nick Gibbons on 01784 429000 or email nicholas.gibbons@ukas.com

The post Expression of interest: development project for accreditation of Community Diagnostic Centres appeared first on UKAS.

UKAS is supporting the NHS’s ‘Getting it Right First Time’ (GIRFT) initiative established to improve patient care across all areas of healthcare, from diagnostic testing to treatment advice. Specifically, UKAS has worked with the team that undertook the review of pathology and is committed to implementing the relevant recommendations from the national report last was published last year. UKAS is progressing a project with the aim to investigate how UKAS supports GIRFT principles and recommendations via the assessment of medical laboratories against the requirements of ISO 15189 and, where appropriate, ISO 22870.

The GIRFT Initiative

The initiative aims to identify variations in the quality and cost of care across the NHS and make recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness. GIRFT has now been implemented in over 40 surgical and medical specialties, including pathology.

The GIRFT initiative is based on five principles:

1. Centre our focus on the patient – right test, right time.
2. Prioritise quality from end to end, such as improving governance of delivery of services, quality assurance, and accreditation mechanisms.
3. Support best clinical working practices, making it easier for clinicians and patients to choose and use the most effective tests.
4. Build a single-service mutually supportive team.
5. Future-proof pathology with strong data and digital foundations.

The GIRFT initiative aims to ensure that every aspect of patient care is improved, assured, and understood by applying these principles.

Issues highlighted in Medical Laboratories

The “Pathology GIRFT programme National Speciality Report” (authored by Dr Tom Lewis, Dr Marion Wood and Dr Martin Myers) identified several areas for improvement for medical laboratories with regards to test request and sample management. These issues include:

• Collecting samples correctly and labelling samples appropriately.
• Stabilising samples.
• Transporting samples correctly, appropriately, and in a timely manner.
• Correct registration and storage of samples.
• Using quality assurance to minimise error.
• Minimising error in low-volume tests.
• Processing results in a clinically relevant timeframe improving lab oversight of Point of Care Testing (PoCT).
• Results – describing normality for that patient – reference intervals, help define next actions clearly and reported in a timely manner.
• Making quality at the heart of the whole process, making greater use of External Quality Assurance and Proficiency Testing.
• Improving accreditation for PoCT.
• Data and digital delivery.
• Internal lab systems.

UKAS’s recommendations and objectives

Recognising the important role that UKAS accreditation has in providing confidence in healthcare diagnostics, UKAS is now considering how the GIRFT recommendations  can be included/ reflected in UKAS assessments and reporting.

UKAS has identified members of its Medical Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and formed a subgroup to work with the GIRFT project team.  As per the GIRFT recommendations, UKAS will progress this work utilising oversight from the National Pathology Board (NPB).

You can find out more about the Getting It Right First Time initiative on the NHS website or by contacting our team via DevelopmentEnquiries@ukas.com

The post UKAS’s project to support the ‘Getting It Right First Time’ (GIRFT) initiative appeared first on UKAS.

UKAS has been appraised by government of its decision to update its UKCA product regulation policy by announcing indefinite recognition of CE marking in the Great Britain markets.

UKAS will continue to work with government to respond to the announcement and to see how best accreditation can continue to support policy and provide assurance.

UKAS will also work closely with our customers and stakeholders to understand and support their needs as far as possible as the position develops.

More information can be found here.

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The Chief Scientific Officer’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (CSO KTP) Programme Wrap-up event was hosted on the 19th of July at the National Physical Laboratory. 

Enhancing patient care through collaboration 

The CSO KTP is an initiative that brings together NHS scientists to accelerate the development and implementation of innovative approaches to enhance patient outcomes through collaboration with industry bodies. This NHS England initiative works with KTP partners such as the NPL, the National Measurement System (NMS), UKAS, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Measurement Laboratory at LGC (NML at LGC). 

The CSO KTP programme enables healthcare scientists to contribute to the improvement of patient care while remaining in their clinical service roles. By exchanging skills and expertise with experts, participants have the opportunity to create, expand, enhance, or implement innovative ideas that have a direct impact on the quality of care provided to patients. 

Successful partnerships and projects 

Over the past 18 months, the CSO KTP programme has seen the successful completion of several projects led by KTP associates in collaboration with scientists and experts from the NMS and UKAS. These projects have addressed challenges in various areas, including novel diagnostics, advanced therapeutics, medical devices and digital health, and measurement and standards. 

UKAS has been involved in supporting a number of these projects, and special mentions must go to Alyson Bryant – Accreditation Specialist, Martin Stearn – Senior Assessment Manager and the late, and very dearly missed David Compton – Head of Development, for the parts they have played with these projects. 

Achieving impactful outcomes 

The projects undertaken have resulted in a range of impactful outcomes that positively contribute to healthcare standards and service delivery. 

Some of these outcomes include the validation of novel technologies for routine applications, the development of frameworks to standardise testing and quality assurance schemes, the implementation of national audits, and the establishment of robust national networks. These achievements not only enhance the quality and safety of service delivery but also have a wider positive impact on patient care across the NHS. 

Reflections on progress 

The success of the CSO KTP programme can be attributed to the collaborative approach between KTP associates, the NMS, UKAS, and other programme partners.  

Lorraine Turner, Accreditation Director at UKAS, highlights the significance of this collaboration, stating, “UKAS has been pleased to support the KTP Associates in pursuing their projects during the past 18 months. It has been a great opportunity to work with the KTP Partners to provide opportunities for healthcare scientists, draw support and expertise from the national measurement system to progress initiatives, and develop novel approaches focused on demonstrably robust scientific practice. It will be exciting to see how the outcomes of these projects influence activities in UKAS accredited services.” 

A Platform for Future Collaborations 

The CSO KTP programme has paved the way for future collaborations and partnerships in healthcare science. The success of the initial projects has demonstrated the value of combining the expertise of healthcare scientists with the resources and knowledge available within the various partners. 

Looking ahead, the programme will continue to support and fund new partnerships across various themes, including antimicrobial resistance, novel diagnostics, advanced therapeutics, medical devices and digital health, clinical measurements and standards, and accreditation. These partnerships will play a crucial role in advancing healthcare science and driving continuous improvement in patient care. 

Applying to the CSO KTP Programme 

Healthcare scientists who are interested in participating in the CSO KTP programme can find more information and apply through the website.  

For any inquiries or further information about the CSO KTP programme, interested individuals can contact the National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC via email at measurement@lgcgroup.com. 

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Following recent communications from the Royal College of Radiologists and the College of Radiographers regarding the QSI Scheme, UKAS has written to all accredited and applicant diagnostic imaging services  regarding the future of the accreditation for this scheme.  

More specifically, UKAS has confirmed with the Colleges that our agreement with them will come to an end in June 2024, in a year’s time. The Colleges have not developed their plans for the future of the QSI standard and as such UKAS has expressed its disappointment that this change has been made without prior consultation with UKAS or its Imaging Providers at this acute time for the NHS.  

UKAS has confirmed that the decision by the colleges does not affect the UKAS accreditation  for diagnostic imaging. UKAS has reassured its accredited and applicant organisations that it will continue to deliver nationally recognised accreditation for diagnostic imaging.  Furthermore services can continue to apply for and work towards obtaining UKAS accreditation. 

UKAS operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government, which confirms that UKAS is the only organisation recognised by government to provide accreditation, including that for imaging services to the QSI standard. 

NHSE continues to support the drive for improved quality and safety of diagnostic and scientific services and strongly supports the use of UKAS accreditation to provide evidence of safe and competent services. NHSE has committed to embedding UKAS accreditation in service specifications and contracting arrangements for diagnostic and scientific services, including the services offered via Community Diagnostic Centres. 

What will UKAS be doing?

 UKAS will continue to work with NHSE and the healthcare science leads in the devolved countries to harmonise the approach to accreditation. There are opportunities to better align the criteria and assessment processes across the diagnostic services to make implementation more efficient. There is potential to reduce the complexity of the applicable criteria and process that has previously been prescribed by the Colleges.   

UKAS will engage with services and stakeholders further in the coming months to consult on opportunities for improvement and will seek to continue to work with professional bodies, medical royal colleges, and other organisations to ensure their plans for their quality improvement activities support the path to UKAS accreditation. 

Access to expertise

UKAS has confirmed that its contractual arrangements with the 112 peer and lay assessors who have been trained by UKAS and are authorised to participate in UKAS assessments are not affected by the decision. UKAS will also retain our six radiographers who are permanent members of staff that lead and manage assessments. 

Further information

We appreciate that this news may have caused uncertainty and concern, however, seek to assure all customers that UKAS will continue to provide accreditation to all existing and applicant organisations. 

For any questions or concerns regarding future accreditation activities, organisations are encouraged to get in touch with their Assessment Manager or the team via askimaging@ukas.com.  

The post Important changes for the accreditation of medical imaging services ‍ appeared first on UKAS.

Caroline Hamilton, Chief Executive at the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) and Chair of our own Policy Advisory Forum and Council, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2023 for services to business and engineering.

Caroline is a mechanical engineer by discipline and spent 13 years working in the nuclear industry as a consultant, and five years in the manufacturing and green power sector. She joined SAFed, the trade association that represents the UK independent engineering testing, inspection and certification (TIC) industry, in 2020 and has played a key role steering the sector through the turbulent times of the Covid-19 pandemic and Britain’s exit from the EU.

In her role as Chair of UKAS’s Policy Advisory Forum, Caroline brings together a team of experts from a wide range of TIC stakeholders to advise on UKAS’s strategic priorities and raise any general policy issues. The Policy Advisory Council is drawn from the Forum and meets more frequently to provide advice to UKAS on more detailed policy issues. Caroline  is also involved in two international working groups reviewing ISO standards ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17024.

Caroline lives in Cumbria and is an advocate for aspiring engineers both locally and nationally, highlighting the wide range of roles available in the sector and the problem-solving, mathematical and people skills needed. She is also passionate about ensuring that young people have the equality of opportunity to pursue their interest in the engineering sector.

Caroline will be presented with her MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) medal by a senior royal at one of the royal residences.

The post Warm congratulations to Caroline Hamilton appeared first on UKAS.

UKAS have been working with the FSSC (Food Safety Systems Certification) with respect to the review of the newly published BSI/PAS 24000:2022 Social management system – Specification. The intent of the standard is to provide requirements for the design, implementation, and maintenance of a management system for an organisation looking to improve its overall social performance and support social development initiatives. UKAS are considering the establishment of a project to develop ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 accreditation for organisations wishing to deliver accredited certification of social management systems.

UKAS is currently gauging the potential level of interest in this area so would like to hear from organisations and technical experts that may wish to either become an accredited certification body or support UKAS as a stakeholder to provide expertise and support to the development of this accreditation.

Organisations that wish to learn more or participate in the development of accredited testing against ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 are requested to contact Emily Robinson by 1st September 2023 and provide the following information:

• Name of organisation
• Confirm whether your interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment/or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status of any current accreditation or certification

Those organisations that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend the meeting of interested parties where the terms of the project will be discussed along with a proposed timeline for key stages and any phased approach process that is deemed necessary.

Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not indicate any commitment to participate in the project on the part of the interested parties and nor does the acceptance of an expression of interest commit UKAS to accept the interested party on any future pilot project.

The post Call for expression of interest for FSSC 24000 Scheme – Social Management System Certification appeared first on UKAS.

eLearning has revolutionised the way individuals and organisations acquire knowledge and skills. In the realm of accreditation, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) embraced this trend by launching its eLearning portfolio in July 2022. This comprehensive suite of courses aims to support customers, stakeholders, and interested parties in navigating the complexities of accreditation.  

UKAS’s Instructional Design Specialist, Rachel Boyer-Blanchard has carefully designed the eLearning portfolio to address the areas where customers often struggle in accreditation, and is suitable for customers working in laboratories, certification, standards, and management systems. Upon the launch, UKAS introduced eight courses that covered a wide range of topics. These courses include: 

• Conformity Assessment Schemes (CAS) Setting the Scene 
• Ensuring the Validity of Results 
• Identification, Documentation, and Management of Risk 
• Introduction to Measurement Uncertainty 
• Introduction to Metrological Traceability 
• Key Components of a Quality Management System 
• Measurement Uncertainty Insights and Pitfalls in ISO 15189 
• Medical Laboratories Quality Assurance and Control 

Each course is meticulously designed to provide learners with valuable insights and practical knowledge in these crucial areas. The eLearning format offers the flexibility for learners to enhance their expertise at their own pace and convenience, bridging the gap between busy schedules and the need for continuous learning. 

Positive feedback from early adopters 

The initial response to UKAS’s eLearning courses has been overwhelmingly positive. Early customers have praised the courses for their accessibility and effectiveness. One learner who completed the “Measurement Uncertainty” course described it as “easy to follow and very helpful.” Another learner found the “Ensuring the Validity of Results” course to be “very helpful and eye-opening,” recognising its potential to enhance their career and role. These testimonials highlight the value that UKAS’s eLearning courses bring to learners in terms of practical knowledge and professional development. 

Expertise on-demand 

UKAS Training Academy’s eLearning suite is a testament to our commitment to sharing the expertise of UKAS’s subject matter experts. By making their knowledge available online and on-demand, UKAS ensures that learners can access the highest quality accreditation education 24/7. The convenience and flexibility of this approach empowers learners to deepen their understanding of accreditation principles and practices whenever they need it. 

Expanding the eLearning portfolio 

The launch of the initial eight courses was only the beginning of UKAS’s eLearning journey. We have continued to expand the offering with the following courses: 

• Decision Rules and Statements of Conformity 
• CAS Module 2 – Conformity assessment schemes/programmes (CAS) – The development and maintenance of a CAS 
• The Accreditation Journey  
• Nonconforming work, cause and extent 
• Micro-module – Training and Competency  
• Micro module – Auditor/Assessor Skills  
• Micro module – Validation and verification in Medical Laboratories/POCT v2 ISO 15189:2022 
• CAS Module 3a – ISO/IEC 17065 Certification of Product/Process/Service Schemes 
• CAS Module 3b – ISO/IEC 17020 Inspection schemes 
• CAS Module 3c – ISO/IEC 17024 Certification of persons schemes 

UKAS aims to ensure that learners have access to comprehensive resources that address their specific needs and challenges.  As well as having a pipeline for developing new modules, we are continually reviewing and revising existing modules in line with Standard updates. 

Collaborating to shape the future of eLearning. 

UKAS values the input and suggestions of its customers and stakeholders. We actively encourage collaboration and welcome ideas for future course development. If there are areas that learners would like UKAS to consider, they are encouraged to get in touch with the team by sending an email to share their thoughts and suggestions. 

Accessing UKAS eLearning courses 

To find out more about the available eLearning courses and to book your place, visit the UKAS eLearning page. The page provides comprehensive information on each course, allowing learners to make informed decisions about their accreditation education journey. 

Discounts for multiple users 

UKAS recognises the importance of training teams and organisations in accreditation. To encourage group learning, UKAS offers discounts for multiple users. For more information on group discounts and to discuss specific requirements, learners can contact the UKAS team or call +44 (0) 1784 429018. 

The future of accreditation education: embracing eLearning 

The success of UKAS’s eLearning portfolio is a testament to the growing demand for flexible, convenient, and accessible education in the field of accreditation. With its comprehensive range of courses, UKAS is empowering learners to enhance their knowledge and skills, ultimately ensuring consistently high standards in the quality of products and services across various industries. By embracing eLearning, UKAS is shaping the future of accreditation education, making it more accessible and effective than ever before. 

As learners continue to engage with UKAS’s eLearning courses, we remain committed to refining and expanding these offerings. By listening to the needs of its customers and stakeholders, UKAS will continue to provide valuable resources that support the growth and development of accreditation professionals worldwide. 

The post UKAS eLearning: one year on appeared first on UKAS.

NHS England has created CDC Community – a forum to connect those involved in the development of Community Diagnostic Centres in England, enabling them to collaborate, share learning and tacit knowledge, and to develop expertise.

CDC Community will run a programme of online themed events featuring relevant presentations to provide information as well as providing opportunities for participants to share learning and discuss innovative ideas to improve the delivery of diagnostics to patients via CDCs. This work will be supported by a discussion and sharing space on NHS Futures. Sessions are open to all those involved in planning, developing and delivering CDCs at regional, system and provider level.

UKAS will be joining the first of these sessions at 12 pm on Wednesday 12th July to discuss the accreditation journey for CDCs.

Accreditation drives confidence by ensuring systems are in place for competent, safe, effective, and continually improving services.  This is vital for CDCs as they become established as part of the NHS diagnostic landscape, and CDCs are asked to ensure accreditation is met for their modalities within two years of operational go live.

UKAS will provide a brief overview of the accreditation journey and will be available to answer questions.  

You can register for the event with the following form link.  A MS Teams link will be sent closer to the event date.

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UKAS is collaborating with the British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) in order to provide support and external assurance on the quality, reliability and safety of Nuclear Medicine Services.

The two organisations will work together with audits from BNMS complimenting UKAS accreditation processes.

A full outline of the processes involved can be viewed here, clarifying how suitable processes will be utilised depending on the type of third party assurance required.

If you have any questions, please contact the UKAS Development team at DevelopmentEnquiries@ukas.com.

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As the National Accreditation Body for the United Kingdom, UKAS is an important component of the UK’s national infrastructure for “quality”, which is comprised of regulation, standards, measurement, accredited conformity assessment and enforcement. Trading standards services across the UK are therefore an important part of this national system.

Accreditation brings trust and confidence to markets through quality improvement and having an additional “safety net” of enforcement enhances consumer protection and discourages market players that may seek to avoid regulatory requirements or to make false claims about their products, services or business processes. Consumer confidence has a vital role in reinforcing a precarious economy and, if damaged, can take a long time to repair. Trading standards professionals perform an important role in ensuring regulatory compliance.

UKAS therefore sees the trading standards profession, and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute as its representative body, as a valuable strategic partner within the national quality infrastructure.

It is because of this that CTSI is one of UKAS’s members, as well as a member of the UKAS Policy Advisory Forum. Considering this history of collaboration, the theme of this year’s conference – ‘working in partnership – to build a fairer and safer world for businesses and consumers,’ is especially fitting.

UKAS is pleased to attend and exhibit at the annual CTSI conference. This year UKAS also sponsored the welcome drinks reception, where delegates were able to network, enjoy drinks and canapes and welcome addresses from CTSI Chair Tendy Lindsay, CEO, John Herriman, and UKAS CEO, Matt Gantley.

In 2021, UKAS’s Chair, Lord Lindsay, also became President of CTSI. On taking this role, Lord Lindsay confirmed his commitment to “ensuring that customer-facing standards and regulation are fit for globalised internet-based trade, the fourth industrial revolution and a zero-carbon world.”

The post UKAS sponsors the CTSI 2023 conference appeared first on UKAS.

Each year UKAS holds its flagship stakeholder event in the beautiful and inspiring surroundings of the House of Lords. The 2023 event was held at the start of June and was very well attended by individuals representing a range of organisations from UK government, the UKAS membership and the broader quality industry, along with experts in international trade. 

The theme of the event aligned with that of World Accreditation Day (also occurring in June) and focused on ‘supporting the future of global trade.’ 

UKAS’s Chairman, Lord Jamie Lindsay introduced the event and our partners for the day, BSI and the Institute of Export and International Trade, acknowledging the important role they play in facilitating trade, economic growth and external investment into the UK. Such efforts are supported by testing, inspection, certification, calibration and validation & verification services, which have been accredited against nationally and internationally agreed standards to provide confidence in the quality of goods and services. 

Lord Lindsay referenced the vital role played by the mutual recognition agreements of which UKAS is a signatory, from the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Such agreements help to reduce unnecessary barriers to trade and can aid the removal of requirements for testing or certification that can be duplicated in different jurisdictions. Lord Lindsay also emphasised the role mutual recognition has played in the delivery of new free trade agreements between the UK and other nations including Australia and New Zealand, as well as the conformity assessment agreement with Switzerland.  

Following Lord Lindsay’s introduction, the first of our keynote speakers for the day was Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minster for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business at the Department for Business and Trade.  

Touching on the recent creation of the Department for Business and Trade from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kevin explained this strategy demonstrates a wider end-to-end remit, which will help businesses make the transition from small to medium and from SME to larger organisations. 

Kevin discussed the role the UK’s national quality infrastructure (NQI), of which UKAS is a part, plays in protecting consumers whilst giving businesses confidence to trade and grow. The NQI provides an important aspect for businesses of all sizes – that of a fair and level playing field upon which they can trade. With only 10-11% of UK businesses exporting their goods and services, there is an opportunity to expand and the UKQI helps ensure businesses operate in a safe and environmentally friendly way whilst promoting their interests within international bodies, at the same time as supporting UK government priorities. 

Kevin ended his speech with a request for his audience to think collectively about what we can do to ensure the UK remains safe whilst also promoting the confidence to grow and thrive. 

The second of our keynote speakers was Hanane Taidi, Director General of the TIC Council, who began her speech with a question: why should we care about the UK’s NQI? Hanane answered that question by illustrating how the NQI is fundamentally embedded in all aspects of our daily lives. On a broader scale the NQI can be a catalyst for international trade and a trigger for peace amongst nations. 

The UK’s departure from the European Union has created fundamental changes in the way the UK trades with Europe and accreditation plays a crucial role in supporting businesses, helping them navigate through the complexities of that changing environment to pursue trade with confidence. Hanane emphasised that healthy international trade is built on the common foundations of trust, credibility, and reliability, which is fundamentally what is provided by the testing, inspection and certification sector. 

These three speeches were followed by a networking event within the splendid Cholmondeley Room and Terrace overlooking the river Thames. Whilst the weather was very pleasant, we bucked our trend of picking the hottest day of the year, which certainly made the event more comfortable, luckily so as we had over 150 delegates in attendance. 

UKAS would like to thank our speakers Lord Lindsay, Kevin Hollinrake and Hanane Taidi for their thought-provoking insight, and also to everyone who attended, helping to make this event so vibrant and enjoyable.  

The post Celebrating international trade at the House of Lords appeared first on UKAS.

Lynsey Poyner is UKAS’s new Operations Director and brings with her 18 years of experience in the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry managing operational teams and leading transformational change.

Before joining UKAS, Lynsey worked for a leading UK TIC company, where her most recent role was head of UK Medical Devices with full operational responsibility for the Certification, Operations, Auditing and Customer Service teams. Her strive for continual improvement in this setting is an ethos that she brings with her to UKAS.

She started her career in an administrative role and quickly moved up through the ranks, working in a wide range of departments including Systems Support, Sales, Operations Management and Customer Service. During this time Lynsey gained a degree in English and an MBA in Business Administration at The Open University. She is also qualified as a QMS 9001 Internal Auditing Certificate Lead Auditor with the IRCA (International Register of Certificated Auditors).

Lynsey is looking forward to getting out in the field working with customers and her UKAS team.

The post A warm welcome to Lynsey appeared first on UKAS.

The first Verification Body (VB) has been accredited under ISO 14065: 2013 Greenhouse gases – Requirements for greenhouse gas validation and verification bodies to undertake verifications for PAS 2060: 2014 Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality activities.  In addition to the requirements of ISO 14065: 2013 the assessment also took account of ISO 14064-1: 2018, IAF MD6: 2014 and IAF MD14: 2014.

The pilot project enabled the UKAS development project team to consider the scoping approach for PAS 2060: 2014 taking into consideration the various related documents and sectoral aspects.  It is recognised that further work is needed to refine the approach to scoping PAS 2060: 2014 to ensure available descriptions reflect the potential range of objects of conformity assessment.  Once this work has been concluded the approach will be detailed in a communication to be published in the future.  In addition, UKAS has used the pilot to determine the assessment approach to be utilised moving forward for this new area of accreditation, including the typical effort that will be needed when considering the full scope of activities covered by PAS 2060: 2014.

UKAS is now able to receive applications for this area of accreditation, however due to the changes brought about by the introduction of ISO/IEC 17029: 2019 and the updating to ISO 14065: 2020, applicants are advised that they will undergo an initial assessment against these standards together with PAS 2060: 2014 taking into consideration the relevant parts of ISO 14064.

The pilot project concluded that initial scoping of this new area would take into consideration three factors, namely

• PAS 2060: 2014 Annex C Table C.1 “Application” – Organizations.
• Related standard – ISO 14064-1: 2018
• Sector as applicable detailed in IAF MD14: 2014 Annex A

Therefore, applicant bodies are required to provide these details on their application form together with documentation, including details of their competence criteria for their applied for scope.

For further information please contact the UKAS Development Project Manager Steve Randall – steve.randall@ukas.com.

The post First ISO 14065: 2013 Accreditation for PAS 2060: 2014 Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality appeared first on UKAS.

Assurance Services International (ASI) and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) are pleased to announce the signing of a cooperation agreement to provide assessment services of UK-based Certification Bodies for ASI Voluntary Sustainability Standards. This partnership will bring together UKAS accreditation and ASI assurance under the ASI Two-Tier Assurance Program.

In the words of Guntars Laguns, Managing Director of ASI: “This agreement aligns with our vision of forging strategic partnerships with National Accreditation Bodies throughout the EEA and UK. With UKAS’s reputable standing in the world of accreditation, we look forward to pursuing common synergies and priorities to drive sustainable practices forward.”

Matt Gantley, Chief Executive of UKAS, said: “We are delighted to partner with ASI with respect to the accreditation of several reputable schemes operating in the sustainability area. We fully recognise the important role these schemes play in meeting the expectations of a more environmentally and sustainability-aware market. This cooperation agreement is  crucial in helping UKAS expand our knowledge and capability within this sector.”

The partnership between ASI and UKAS is expected to foster sustainability and promote rigorous accreditation processes. Both parties will inform Certification Bodies about next steps in the practical implementation.

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About ASI

ASI is the leading global assurance provider for social and environmental standard systems. Our mission is to assure the credibility of voluntary sustainability standards and initiatives and support them to deliver real social and environmental impact through our assurance services. For more information about ASI, please visit: www.asi-assurance.org

About UKAS

UKAS is the National Accreditation Body for the UK. Its role is to check that organisations providing conformity assessment services such as certification, testing, inspection,  validation & verification and calibration services, are meeting a required standard of performance. The assessment criteria used by UKAS are internationally recognised as being the best indicators of accurate, impartial and consistent performance. UKAS accreditation demonstrates an organisation’s competence, impartiality and performance capability against internationally recognised standards. For further information about UKAS accreditation, please visit: www.ukas.com.

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