The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), the professional body that represents the interests of organisations engaged in the acquisition of business professionals, has appointed the British Assessment Bureau (BAB) as its certification partner to assist its membership in achieving the latest ISO quality and environmental standards.
International standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 can help organisations improve their performance in quality management and environmental sustainability and lead to greater business opportunities as clients favour suppliers that are approved.
APSCo members will benefit from expert information and advice via a new portal on the APSCo website and concessionary rates from BAB for their assessment to a range of ISO management standards.
ISO management standards require organisations to establish and maintain practices and processes which are measurable and traceable and to be client focused and committed to continuous improvement. This is achieved through joined-up management controls, internal audits, client feedback and external assessment. Research shows that organisations that are ISO certified are better managed and achieve greater success.
The whole ethos of APSCo is to enhance the professionalism and raise standards within the UK recruitment sector. APSCo members already have to adhere to a rigorously-enforced Code of Practice.
Marilyn Davidson, Director, APSCo, said: “We see this link up with the British Assessment Bureau as a further measure of our intent to help raise standards in the industry and provide our members with easy access to best practice information and assistance. We selected BAB because of their pre-eminent status and the fact that they are UKAS accredited. This will add real value to our members and enhance their status. We have also negotiated concessionary rates for APSCo members.
David Fenn (Chief Executive of BAB) said; “Bringing consistency to the delivery of a service which relies on the flexibility of its approach requires suppliers to assure their clients that they are fit for purpose and that they can demonstrate their quality management. Added to this, discerning buyers are looking more into the environmental credentials of its suppliers and with the Olympics just around the corner, certification to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 will put suppliers in pole position.