ISO Quality Services February 2015 Newsletter
16 Feb, 2015
Welcome to the ISO Quality Services Ltd February 2015 Newsletter, we hope that you are having a great month!
So far this month we have seen England beat Wales in the Rugby, SKY paid £5.14bn to show Premier League football and HSBC allegedly helping clients evade tax.
What’s in this issue?
Congratulations to our Newly Certificated Clients
‘Business as usual’ is not always the safest path
UK Firms not heeding Cyber Attack advice
Report ALL accidents and near misses!
Eight reasons management review meetings under-perform
SME’s should take advantage of the lack of trust
Tender Process, Quality Manager and Environmental Manager Training available NOW!
Be part of our LinkedIn community
Congratulations to our Newly Certificated Clients
Phosters FM Limited
Formed in 2013 and based in Droitwich, Phosters FM Limited provide a complete Maintenance and Support services network to public and private sector clients across the UK.
On Tuesday 6th January 2015, Phosters FM Limited were presented with their ISO 14001 Environmental Management and BS OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Management certificates.
Although a relatively young company, they ensure meticulous and measurable performance by providing innovative solutions to their customers at superior value.
For more information, visit their website HERE or alternatively ring them on 0845 004 8028.
Chris Lloyd, (left) and Alex Taylor, (right) Management Representatives of Phosters FM Limited being presented with their ISO 14001 Environmental and BS OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Management System Certificates.
TechPro Events Limited
Staffordshire based company TechPro Events Limited provide high-end audio visual equipment and specialised technical support services to the live events industry.
On Tuesday 13th January 2015, TechPro Events Limited were presented with their ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management Certificate.
The people at TechPro Events Limited have a huge wealth of knowledge that they use to address each customers unique requirements effective and efficiently.
Senior Lead Assessor Peter O’Neill (right) presenting Natalie Haddon (left) Office Manager of TechPro Events Limited with their ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System Certificate.
Lontex Exports Limited
Situated in Greater London with over 20 years of experience, LONTEX EXPORTS specialises in Cargo World Wide.
On Wednesday 21st January 2015, Lontex Exports Limited were presented with their ISO 9001 Quality Management Certificate.
Their business provides fast, secure and reliable services to Families, Co-operations, Friends, businesses, Charities and Government bodies.
Lead Assessor Rick Allard (left) presenting Yousuf Al-Minji (right), Director of Lontex Exports Ltd, with their ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certificate.
‘Business as usual’ is not always the safest path
The majority of businesses have struggled in recent years with the worldwide recession taking hold and businesses that once were synonymous with the high street have since vanished.One of the key reasons for this has been the growth of the e-commerce industry which seems like it is just going to go from strength to strength. A more fundamental reason however has the general resistance to change which has seen many senior managers persist with businesses do things because that’s the way they have always done them.
The result of this has been that business models have become obsolete overnight.
The continuation of a well-trodden path may appear to hold the least amount of risk. Conversely, the ‘business as usual’ path is not always the safest; it can be a path covered in black ice. In reality, navigating the path of least risk often means the one where businesses can become ‘future-proof’: resilient against the changes in demand and expectation.
The pressure for organisations to become sustainable as a business imperative is growing: the sooner they find ways to understand and adopt this to be able to implement sustainable practices, the less the risk of a knock-out blow.
That resilient way of working – sustainable in its broadest sense – is no longer just an adornment for Corporate Social Reporting.
Source: Wrap
UK Firms not heeding Cyber Attack advice
According to research carried out by KPMG, UK businesses still have a lot to do to combat the growing risk from cyber-attacks.The core reason behind this has been suggested to be a lack of communication with 74% believing that their boards were taking cyber security seriously, with the findings proving otherwise.
It was found that 61% of board members felt their company had an acceptable understanding of their company’s key information. However just 65 per cent said they rarely or never reviewed risk management around valuable company information and data assets.
An additional theme emanating from the research was that not many knew who should be responsibility for cyber security. Furthermore, just 39 per cent of board members saw cyber risk as an operational risk when comparing it with other threats their companies face. This is a clear indication that boards have some way to go to understanding the consequences that a cyber-attack can have on the brand and bottom line.
Despite the worrying signs, one trend that emerged in the research was that 44% of respondents said they conducted due diligence before signing contracts, up from 7% the previous year; and 48% said they included clauses in their contracts covering cyber risk, up from 33%.
It is clear that there is cause for optimism as there is a huge jump in the number of companies pushing suppliers to review their cyber security as, with each link in the supply chain being tightened, the chances of a breach diminish. That being said, companies should not become complacent in their efforts to protect from cyber crimes.
Source: Channelweb
Report ALL accidents and near misses!
Research has shown that, on average, for every major injury at work there are up to 200 non-injury accidents (near misses). This pattern is sometimes portrayed as an iceberg with the injuries as the visible tip of the iceberg and the near misses hidden under the surface.
- Here are a few reasons as to why it is important to report not only all accidents but near misses also:
- Each of these near misses is a potential learning opportunity that could help your company to prevent more serious accidents.
- If you are ever involved in an accident or near miss you could prevent a more serious accident to a friend or colleague.
- It exposes valuable information that otherwise might not be discussed.
- It develops a positive and necessary attitude surrounding safety.
- It engages the workforce (all workers at all levels) in solving problems.
Management and team leaders have an important role to play in encouraging colleagues to report new misses by continually reminding everyone of their responsibilities with regards to not just reporting actual accidents. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of senior management to make it easy for their colleagues to report near misses.
Sources: Cardiff University and The El Human Factors of Organisation Blog
Eight reasons management review meetings under-perform
The main reason things go wrong is lack of management attention, therefore there is an importance of management reviews. This being said, management reviews often can go wrong. Here are eight of the common causes:
- Failure to attend by the most of the senior management or they show up physically but do not contribute.
- Management attempt to fix all the issues at once instead of prioritising and setting realistic targets.
- The lessons learnt are not implemented across the company so the same issues appear elsewhere.
- Management holding misconceptions of what is wrong, what requires changing and what is the solution. Listening to all staff will help gain a better picture and save money being wasted.
- A Cultural issue within the business and participants do not feel confident giving their opinions.
- There isn’t the opportunity for everyone to voice there opinions and feeling, there must be two way communication.
- A lack of preparation for the meeting. This leads to all the issues not being covered.
- A lack of direction in the meeting which leads to what is important not getting covered.
Source: Intelliven
SME’s should take advantage of the lack of trust
According to fresh research, the big UK companies face a “crisis of trust” and there should be more of an emphasis on business ethics in the future.A survey found that over three-quarters of respondents think big firms put profits before ethical standards. Furthermore, late payment and the treatment of suppliers was also a concern. The survey also found that 74% of respondents agreed that the majority of big businesses have no concern for small business owners in the UK.
The survey commissioned as part of the FPB’s Business Ethics Pledge, calls on big companies to commit to a five-point plan to protect and promote small firms in the UK.
It has also been said that the government and politicians should do something about this crisis but it can also be used as an opportunity for smaller businesses to take advantage of the situation.
Smaller companies should place more of an emphasis on the fact that they are trusted and can provide a more personal service. An additional method of exploiting these public feelings is by demonstrating that they operate ethically as opposed to the public perception of the big firms.
Source: BBC
ISO Training Services Update
We are pleased to offer the following courses in the coming months!
ISO 9001: QUALITY MANAGER TRAINING
Dates: 26th February 2015
Cost: £295 + VAT per delegate
I have lots of questions; is this course right for me?
Have you recently implemented ISO 9001; are you new to the standard or are you not sure if ISO 9001 is for you? Then this is an excellent introduction for anyone involved in the development, implementation and management of ISO 9001.
This training course is designed to help your organisation demonstrate commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, as well as continuously improving your quality management systems (QMS).
Our friendly trainers will help you overcome any reservations you might have and enable you to understand the requirements of the standard, help you to improve your management processes and prepare your business for growth.
And finally it’ll provide an overview of the purpose and requirements of ISO 9001 as a tool for business improvement.
Course Content
Quality Manager training will cover the following topics, as well as allowing for question & answer sessions on the day:
- Principles and elements of ISO 9001
- Role of the Quality Manager
- How to integrate ISO into the daily activities of the business
- Effective objective setting
- How to run a Management Review Meeting effectively
- Guide to internal auditing
- Focus on bench marking and its importance to quality management
- Continuous improvement
TENDERING PROCESS TRAINING
Date: 3rd March 2015
Cost: £350 + VAT per delegate
Why attend this course?
With an increasing number of opportunities being awarded through a tender process, having the right knowledge and skills and making sure you are “fit to bid” has never been so important. So, how do you ensure that the process works for you and that you can put together a compelling bid and win more business?
This engaging one-day course has been developed to provide you with that knowledge, to help you build an effective bidding plan. It enables delegates to gain a thorough understanding of the tender process and in so doing to help them to make headway in removing much of the pain and chance commonly felt amongst organisations when they compete for business via a tender.
Key topics covered
- Who uses the tender process and why – a public and private sector buyer perspective
- How does the public procurement process work
- Expectations of the buyer at the various stages of the process and the implications on the bidder
- Mandatory, desirable and functional elements to be included in a bid
- Avoiding pitfalls and risks when selling via a tender process
- Proactive tender submissions
- Win or lose, what next?
- Public procurement terminology
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER TRAINING
Date: 26 March 2015
Cost: £295 + VAT per delegate
An ISO 14001 environmental management system is a systematic and process driven approach to controlling those aspects of your business that have a significant impact on the environment. The system is proven to make business owners and managers be more aware of their environmental responsibilities, including legal and regulatory accountabilities, and being able to manage and control the associated risks.
Our Environmental Manager training will cover the following key topics, as well as allowing for question & answer sessions on the day:
- What is ISO 14001:2004?
- Principles of Environmental Management
- The role of an Environmental Manager
- Using the management system as a strategic tool to identify areas where cost savings can be captured
- How to monitor the effectiveness of the management system within the company
- How to integrate ISO into your daily business activities and strategic planning of the Organisation
- Continuous improvement
- A guide to internal auditing
Sounds interesting? Want to know more?
For further details of each course and others that we offer, we have a dedicated training website www.isotrainingservicesltd.com where all of our training information, courses and dates will be available, along with case studies, news articles and Meet the Trainer!
Please take the time to visit us!
To book your place please call 01905 670303 or email our Training Co-ordinator debbie@isoqsltd.com
REMEMBER IF YOU ARE A CURRENT CLIENT OF ISO QUALITY SERVICES YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A DISCOUNT ON ALL OUR COURSES…PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS
Be part of our LinkedIn community
If you haven’t joined already – what are you waiting for?
ISO news, training updates and offers, meet the ISO QSL team and connect with other like-minded individuals
Visit us at: ISO QSL LinkedIn Company page
Networking events in February – March 2015
Finditinworcestershire Breakfast & Networking Meeting: Referral Marketing – How to Work Smarter not Harder to Grow your Business
Date: 17.02.2015
Cost: FREE
Time: 06.40 – 09.30
Venue: Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium
Website: Finditinworcestershire
Event Description
Want to learn to work smarter not harder and ultimately grow your business this year? This breakfast meeting will equip you with the skills to transform your business and take its success to new heights.
Expert speaker, Dawn Owen, Referral Marketing Expert is a successful business owner, having had years of experience in networking and generating referrals.
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce – HR Forum in association with Hewett Recruitment
Date: 25.02.2015
Cost: FREE to members
Time: 09.30 – 11.30
Venue: Redditch Golf Club, Redditch B97 5PJ
Website: Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
Event Description
The HR Forum is aimed at HR representatives responsible for more than 10 employees.
It is a confidential forum designed to allow you to share best practice and seek advice and support from peers in an open and supportive environment.
We will hear from Guy Salter, a partner at SME Solicitors who will cover a legal topic.
We will also welcome Julie-Anne Pamplin and Nicky Hawkins from Clearview Systems, who will give a presentation on ‘Implementing a performance management culture’. Performance “culture” is a shared ethos where there is a shared responsibility and ownership for organisational objectives and a commitment to achieve measurable targets.
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Business Expo 2015
Date: 27.02.2015
Cost: FREE
Time: 10.00 – 15.00
Venue: The National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill
Solihull, B92 0EJ
Website: Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
Event Description
Open to members and non-members, the Chamber Expo is the largest networking event of the year. This event provides the opportunity to raise your business profile and showcase your products and services to more than 300 delegates.
Delegates attending will be from a wide range of business sectors from across the Greater Birmingham region. You will receive a delegate list at registration and will have free access to a ‘meet me board’ in order to make your networking targeted and effective.
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Business Expo
Date: 04.03.2015
Cost: FREE
Time: 08.00 – 15.00
Venue: Three Counties Showground, Malvern
Website: Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
Event Description
This free event is a great opportunity for businesses to:
- Network
- Promote your company
- Hear from our speakers
- Kevin Gaskell – rebuilt Porsche GB and increased growth to a record level at BMW UK
- Dr Adam Marshall, Executive Director – Policy and External Affairs, Chamber of Commerce
- Have a go at Wheelchair Basketball with Team GB
We are expecting over 800 visitors.
With over 100 exhibitors from many different business sectors and dedicated Network and Enterprising Worcestershire Zones don’t miss the chance to:
- Meet new suppliers
- Gain crucial business contacts
- Generate sales
- Increase awareness of the products and services that you offer
- Raise your profile within the community
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce – Maximise Your Membership (In association with ISO Quality Services)
Date: 13.03.2015
Cost: FREE
Time: 08.30 – 11.00
Venue: Worcestershire County Cricket Club, Worcester WR2 4QQ
Website: Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
Event Description
All members are invited to join us for a Maximise Your Membership Event in their first three months. This FREE event is sponsored by ISO Quality Services Ltd and offers members the opportunity to meet the Chamber team and find out some of the many ways to make the most of their membership. Attendees will hear from members of the Chamber membership team and the Chief Executive about their experiences of membership and how they get maximum return from their investment. There will also be plenty of tips for networking effectively.
Are you a client of ours? Would you recommend our services to your clients / suppliers…why not refer a friend?
Receive a free case of wine or a £50 Marks & Spencer’s Voucher…..the choice is yours!
(To qualify for this you must refer a successful lead).
To offer your referrals please contact – admin@isoqsltd.com or call 01905 670 303
ISO Quality Services Ltd are proud to specialise in the implementation and certification of the Internationally recognised ISO and BS EN Management Standards.
Do you want to get ahead of your competition? Win more tenders or save time and money on reoccurring issues? Contact us today on 0330 058 5551 or email info@isoqsltd.com.
Alternatively, you can request a quote by filling out our enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
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