Whenever compliance and accreditation are discussed, many of us focus on ensuring everything is okay without considering the potential benefits.
We think about the mandatory things we need to do to ensure our products and services are legally safe, that they adhere to the standards set out for them and that our teams are working in a safe, compliant environment.
We invest a lot of time and resources into ensuring those boxes are ticked; we have to, after all! However, there is also a whole range of other accreditation and certification that isn’t mandatory.
You and your business have already put in the hard work to get the compliance you need; is it worth your time to bother with anything else?
Yes, it is. It can pay off in all kinds of ways…
Gaining an edge
You don’t need me to tell you any competitive business advantage is worth grabbing with both arms. Taking compliance and accreditation to the next level is a powerful way to do that…
Boost your reputation and allow you to gain a competitive edge over others in your industry
Win you more business and empower you to bid for lucrative contracts with external agencies
Improve the inner ethos of your organisation, maximising staff morale, productivity and giving your teams a real sense of pride
Win trust and confidence in your business, which can be essential in some sectors, such as social care or the financial sector
Drive growth for small to medium-sized businesses
Accreditation can highlight legal compliance, green credentials, and an ethos of sustainability.
Investing in your business and its people
The range of accreditation out there for your business can be considerable. It ranges from ISO standards like ISO 27001 (managing information), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), and ISO 9001 (quality management) to industry-specific accreditation that will allow you to bid for contracts with government agencies, schools, and the NHS. For charitable organisations, accreditations such as NCVO can demonstrate their trustworthiness and win the confidence of potential donors.
On an individual level, accreditation can also have a positive impact; mental health champions, data protection, and safeguarding, to name just a few, are all precious accredited courses for key employees; they might also go some way towards gaining Investors in People accreditation, an award which any forward thinking company should be proud of.
A sign of quality that is easy to share
Showcasing your accreditation is an easy and effective way to show your qualities to the world and prove that you stand head and shoulders above your competitors. You can add them to your website’s homepage as logos, share them via your social media channels, blog about the important part they play in your company’s story, send out newsletters and even contact the local paper!
You’ve gone the extra mile, after all. Why wouldn’t you want to shout about it from the rooftops with pride and passion?
If you are working towards gaining accreditation to drive growth and demonstrate your quality, collating the right materials and information and presenting it in the correct format is essential. Failing to do so can cost you time, money, and more than a bit of frustration.
Without a doubt, every business aims for success, and even though ‘success’ can mean a range of different things depending on you, your business and the industry you are in. It is almost always linked to a good service or product, delivered safely, ethically, and positively. Therefore it makes sense that you should aim for the best standards of quality and compliance. But what do those things actually mean? How can we make sure those important boxes stay ticked?
How do we take steps to add quality to our services and ensure they operate the way they are legally required to? Well, I’m here to offer help and support to understand (and achieve) both, so let’s take a closer look.
Quality is defined as products and services that deliver intended performance, while compliance is looks at meeting regulatory requirements.
Good products and great service
There is simply no denying it; an amazing product is completely wasted when combined with poor service. Even the most excellent customer service is useless when the product itself isn’t up to scratch.
Those two pillars of every business are a crucial marriage. They go hand in hand. Quality in one area is always going to cause problems. It needs to run throughout, and it can. Here’s how:
Building relationships and seeking feedback
Be bold, be brave and reach out to your customers. If the feedback is good, you already have a firm foundation to blow away the competition. It is a great start to make those areas even better. If there is room for improvement in places, then feedback has made you aware of the issue. You can take steps to improve, and thanks to your feedback, you know exactly where…
Inevitably, things can go wrong. That happens to every business. However, what the best ones do is communicate. If the feedback isn’t ideal (it will sometimes happen, even to the best), then it is a vital early chance to put things right. I can’t stress that enough; communication is key in the quest for quality.
Developing a compliant, ethical business
Compliance, like quality, will mean something slightly different for every company. The one thing they all share in common is that both compliance and quality are important.
Lack of compliance can all too often lead to data breaches, health and safety risks and damage to your business and brand. On the other hand, a compliant, well-run business can mean happy teams working for a first-rate organisation. This combined means great services and a reputation to match.
To start you off on the road to compliance and real quality, here are the initial things to focus upon:
Identify what quality is within your business sector.
Identify the compliance requirements for your business. Some may be unique to you. Others, such as Health & Safety, GDPR etc., are vital to everyone.
Develop in-house policies and procedures around quality and legal responsibility
Undertake audits, adopt a culture of positivity towards self-assessment and personal development
Invest in your business and your people through certification and accreditation. Both are amazing selling points that will enrich your staff, improve your business and earn revenue.
Seek to build lasting relationships and react positively to every kind of feedback
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, don’t be afraid to reach out to a specialist with experience in common compliance issues such as GDPR. With my background in a busy Quality Department, I can help you develop the policies and procedures to make your business better in every way. Let’s work together to add ensure quality and compliance in your organisation.
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