ISO Quality Services Ltd – May 2017 Newsletter
4 May, 2017
Welcome to the May 2017 edition of the ISO Quality Services Ltd Newsletter. What’s been happening this month?
What’s in this issue?
Putting Energy into the ISO 14001
How ISO 14001:2015 can improve your business
Book your place on our Environmental Management Training Day in June
ISO Quality Services shortlisted for Excellence in Professional Services Award
Successful Blindfold Mile raising money for Sight Concern Worcestershire
ISO Quality Services – Company Video
Be part of our online community
Putting Energy into the ISO 14001
ISO 14001 is the established standard for environmental management. It has gained both traction and acceptance as the way to demonstrate that you operate in an environmentally conscious way.
First published in 2004, ISO 14001 is now in its third edition. The latest, 2015 edition has brought 14001 in line with the new High Level Structure (HLS) that will be introduced across all ISO management system standards. Whilst this will mean changes the good news is that the HLS will bring all the management standards closer together with a common structure and terminology.
Under ISO 14001 there is a requirement to identify your environmental aspects. Or put another way how does your organisation impact on the environment? Typically, aspects include waste and pollution, but not often is energy use fully addressed. Of course, we do have a separate ISO standard for energy – ISO 50001:2014 – which is currently under revision to bring it in line with the HLS. ISO 50001 focuses on energy use and its management – it does not look at the environmental impact of energy use.
Arguably, energy use is an environmental aspect for any organisation – it is simply a matter of do you choose to include it in your EMS? Before ISO 50001, a response might have been “maybe, but I am not really sure how to go about it.”
Today, we have a solution in the form of ISO 50001. However, do you want to embark on another certification? Instead of looking at a separate certification for ISO 50001, you could consider including elements of ISO 50001 in your existing ISO 14001 system. This works if you identify energy use as an environmental aspect, it then has a place in your ISO 14001 system. To do this you need to take a climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) view of energy use for ISO 14001 – i.e. carbon footprint. Then to manage that carbon foot print you need to manage energy use, so we can include energy and manage its use under our ISO 14001 EMS. Converting energy use into carbon is a simple process – all that is needed are the relevant conversion factors – and this conversion only needs to be done at a high level, say annual, not day to day.
OK, so I could include energy in my ISO 14001 system, but why would I?
A good question! The answer is that effective energy management can typically reduce energy use (and hence cost) by 5% or more, without capital expenditure.
The challenge is identifying and embedding the right procedures and processes. An ISO management system is a good tool for this job.
Looking at it another way, energy savings can become a ‘revenue’ stream generated through the ISO 14001 system. Not all environmental management options result in cost reductions, so adding energy to ISO 14001 improves its cost effectiveness, or value for money.
By John Pooley, Energy Management Consultant
Find out more about ISO 14001 here
How ISO 14001:2015 can improve your business
ISO 14001:2015 has seen its latest update, but how can your business improve by upgrading your standard?
ISO 14001:2015 is the latest version of the Environmental Management standard. Specialising in controlling the impact your business has on the environment, ISO 14001 can help your business achieve its green credentials. But with this latest update to the standard, what improvements can come to your business from upgrading?
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It includes more detail
One key improvement to the 2015 version of the standard is that it includes a lot more detail than its 2004 predecessor. Integrating the need for more detail for both internal and external communication is an example of a change that has come from building on the amount required. From including this it means that it can be made a lot more relevant for your business now, allowing you to make significant improvements based on the improvement.
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More involvement with leadership team
The newest version of the standard includes requirements that are specific to higher management in the organisation. By including higher management with specific responsibilities, it means that it has the involvement of people at the highest level, promoting the environmental elements of the company. Involving leadership and people in higher positions exposes your environmental management system to more people, making more people aware of it in the company. This in turn also helps you to follow this system, with multiple members of each department being aware of their responsibilities.
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Improved Management Reviews
With the inclusion of more detailed requirements, your management reviews will now require more detail relating to the inputs and outputs of the review. This can help you to make the most out of these reviews as well as help your management to bring the focus more to the environmental impact the business has.
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Brings the environment to the centre focus of the business
By bringing the impact the business has on the environment to the centre focus of the business, it allows you to set your business direction in a way that considers the environmental impact you have and your existing management system. This helps you to plan future business opportunities and ventures in a way that also takes your environmental commitment into account.
If you are looking to upgrade to ISO 14001:2015, or gaining ISO 14001 certification, you can find out more about the standard by clicking here and getting in touch with our team on 01905 670303 or info@isoqsltd.com.
Alternatively, if you are in the process of transitioning to the 2015 version of the standard, you can find out more about our transition seminars by getting in touch with our team on 01905 670303 or training@isoqsltd.com.
Book your place on our Environmental Management Training Day in June
Environmental Management Training
20th June 9:00am – 4:30pm
Quality Suite, Oak House, Everoak Industrial Estate, Bromyard Rd, Worcester
Why attend this course?
Do you have questions about how to identify areas of your company that are impacting on the environment?
Environmental Management Training will cover the core principles and structure of ISO 14001 and help you to be more aware of your environmental responsibilities, as well as also providing an introduction to the revised 2015 version of the standard.
Course Content
Environmental Management training will cover the following topics, as well as allowing for question and answer sessions on the day:
- Principles and structure of ISO 14001
- Risk Based Thinking
- How to identify the Environmental aspects and measure the impact of these aspects
- Environmental objective setting and a guide to Environmental legislation
- How to use 14001 to identify areas where cost savings can be identified or captured
- How to communicate the benefits and monitor the success within the company
- How to integrate ISO into your daily business activities
- Performance Evaluation and Continuous improvement
- A guide to internal auditing
How to book
Book your place here or email training@isoqsltd.com to make an enquiry.
Our next training course dates
Information Security Management Training – 13th June 2017 – Find out more
Environmental Management Training – 20th June 2017 – Find out more
Quality Management Training – 26th July 2017 – Find out more
Internal Auditor Training (2 day course) – 25th/26th October 2017 – Find out more
ISO Quality Services shortlisted for Excellence in Professional Services Award
ISO Quality Services like to ensure that the service they deliver is of high quality. Focusing on the service that is being delivered, they work to make sure that the customers’ needs are met and that they are more than satisfied with the service. By entering this category, it is giving the company an opportunity to prove their commitment to delivering a professional service.
The company also has an extensive customer promise in place. This ensures that the service that is being delivered is second to none, and that they will communicate with the client in a manner that is always professional, friendly and constructive. After a recent annual customer satisfaction survey, 100% of the company’s clients rated their service as good or above, with 100% also being willing to recommend ISO Quality Services to another company.
Upon being announced as a finalist, Operations Director Jennifer Appleton commented:
“Our business approach makes sure that our service is professional and recognisable. Specialising in quality, it is important to us that our service is delivered in a professional way that focuses on the support of the customer. Having been recognised by the Chamber for our service as well as recent success at the National Apprenticeship Awards, it is good to see that our effort in providing an excellent service is being noticed.”
The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber Business Awards is a great opportunity to showcase businesses within Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Now in its 15th year, the event will be taking place on Thursday 15th June at the Worcester Arena. Good luck to finalists Cherington HR Ltd, Focus Ecology, Haines Watts Hereford Ltd and Thursfields Legal Limited in the Professional Services category, as well as the finalists for the other awards.
You can find out more about the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber Business Awards here.
Click here to find out more about our customer promise.
Successful Blindfold Mile raising money for Sight Concern Worcestershire
The ISO Quality Services team completed the Blindfold Mile through Worcester City Centre on Saturday 22nd April and have raised £140 and counting!
On Saturday 24th April Jennifer, Debbie, Ryan, Ina, Aleks and Sarah took part in the Blindfold Mile raising money for Sight Concern Worcestershire. The event took them through the city centre in pairs, one blindfolded and one guiding, then swapping over at quarterly stages. By doing the walk it gave them an insight to the challenges that those with sight loss face, including navigating through the busy Worcester high street. There was also the opportunity to complete additional challenges at the end of the walk, including walking independently with a white cane.
Operations Director Jennifer Appleton, who took part in the walk, commented: “The event was a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness and money for such a worthy cause. It also gave us all an insight into the challenges that those with sight loss face.”
Sight Concern Worcestershire is dedicated to improving the lives of people with sight loss across Worcestershire and have been dedicated in supporting people for over 130 years. They work to support blind and partially sighted people by helping people come to terms with sight loss as well as providing support for adapting to the loss of their sight. You can find out more about what Sight Concern Worcestershire do as a charity by visiting their website here.
The ISOQSL team have managed to raise £140 so far, beating the target of £100, and the number is still increasing. If you would like to support this cause by sponsoring the ISOQSL team walking the Blindfold Mile, you can do so by clicking here to donate online.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Are you a keen golfer? Join us at our annual Charity Golf Tournament in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance
Tuesday 20th June
18 Hole Stableford Competition at Bransford Golf & Country Club, Worcester
The agenda for the day is a 9.45am registration with bacon butties, tea and coffee and the chance for networking before heading out to the course for a 10.30am tee off.
In the afternoon sit down to enjoy a one course meal followed by a prize giving presentation and charity raffle, before continuing networking until around 6.00pm.
The cost of the day will be £35.00 per player including a donation to our charity, the Midlands Air Ambulance.
On arrival, you will be given a complimentary pack of three ISO Quality Services golf balls and a limited number of buggies are available on a first come first served basis.
So if you would like to join us for a day on the green or for more information please email marketing@isoqsltd.com or call 01905 670303.
Also, share our Golf Day post on Twitter or LinkedIn and follow our page to be in with a chance of winning a 4-ball at The Vale Golf Club.
ISO Quality Services – Company Video 2017
Listen to Operations Director Jennifer explain who we are as a business and what we can do to help you achieve ISO certification.
Be part of our Online 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 our LinkedIn page: ISO QSL LinkedIn Company page
Twitter: @ISOQSL
Are you a client of ours? Would you recommend our services to your clients/suppliers…why not refer a friend?
Take your pick of a free case of wine, £50 Marks & Spencer’s Voucher or £50 donation to Midlands Air Ambulance!
(To qualify for this you must refer a successful lead).
To offer your referrals please contact – info@isoqsltd.com or call 01905 670303
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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