Whether you’re attending an event, applying for a job, or considering a business partnership, you’ve likely encountered the term ‘accreditation.’ But what exactly does an accreditation award mean, and why should you care?
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is the process in which an authoritative body, such as UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service), grants recognition to an individual, an institution, a business or another organisation that meets specific criteria or standards.
Accreditation is not to be confused with certification, which is usually just for individuals.
Why does accreditation exist?
At its core, accreditation exists to ensure high quality standards are upheld across an industry. In order to become accredited, organisations are audited by accrediting bodies according to specific criteria, such as the policies and procedures they have in place. This ensures that industry standards and best practices are followed, giving consumers and clients reassurance that your organisation is credible.
Accreditation schemes also exist to open doors to various opportunities like grants and partnerships. A lot of Many accrediting bodies hold networking events or conferences to further promote high operating standards, and becoming accredited with them can give you access not only to the people who attend these events but the information that is shared at them.
Types of accreditation awards
Most industries have their own accrediting bodies, all of which provide their own accreditations according to their own criteria. Common types of accreditation awards include:
- Professional accreditation, for individuals or organisations in a particular profession like law, accountancy or engineering
- Educational accreditation, for schools, universities and training organisations which must meet certain educational standards
- Industry-specific accreditation, like BSO or ISO, sustainability, and health and safety
There are many well-known accreditations which you may recognise. In business and industry, the most common ones are BS (British Standards) and ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation). These organisations cover a range of standards such as quality management, environmental management, and health and safety management. Other common accreditations include ConstructionLine and CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) in the construction industry, FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification) in the food industry, or the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) for higher education.
How to get an accreditation award
The process in which you can get an accreditation award can vary from body to body, industry to industry. However, the crux of it involves you sending off an application, submitting your evidence of compliance with various standards, regulations or guidelines, and receiving an audit of your workplace or paperwork. After this, a decision will be made as to whether you have met the required accreditation standards. Many awarding bodies will provide feedback on how to improve your processes or compliance, particularly if your application was unsuccessful.
Some accrediting bodies require an application fee, whilst others require regular payments in order to stay accredited, much like a membership. Generally, however, you’ll be required to prove that you are maintaining your standards by undergoing periodic reviews and audits in order to keep your accredited status.
Benefits of having an accreditation award
Becoming accredited can be an arduous process, and you may wonder if it’s worth the extra time, money, and admin work. With so many different awarding bodies and types of accreditations even within industries, there are some which are essential, whilst others will give you more of an advantage over competitors without the accreditation.
Accreditation awards benefit both organisations and consumers in different ways:
Benefits of accreditation for businesses
Credibility
You can’t get accredited without providing a lot of evidence to show you’re upholding the required standards. Accrediting bodies have already established trust with consumers, which means their accreditation logo on your website or email footer makes a huge difference. If a trusted accrediting body has approved you, people will be much more likely to trust you – consumers, clients, partners, and other stakeholders.
When looking to expand their supply chain, many companies require new and ongoing suppliers to possess various accreditations – both to satisfy the standards of their own accreditations, and to provide certainty in the supply chain.
Competition
In a competitive industry, your accreditation can be the difference between you winning a job and losing it. If you’re finding more work is going to your competitors, seek to achieve the same accreditations as them – and possibly even more to set you apart. An accreditation can act like a marketing tool, showing potential customers that you’ve met rigorous standards and can be trusted.
Quality
To obtain and maintain accreditation, you’ll typically need to implement and continually improve your processes. Whilst this can feel like a lot of work at the time, it can lead your business running more efficiently or to a higher quality of service. Applying for, receiving and maintaining accreditation gains you access to a set of standards which you can implement – many of which you may not have otherwise thought of.
Lower risk
By meeting accreditation standards, you will be reducing the risk of non-compliance with laws and regulations. This can help avoid fines, legal challenges, and damage to your reputation. Becoming accredited is all about being proactive and staying ahead of the game, making the required changes as they arise and receiving and implementing feedback from auditors. This can also help you see where there is room for improvement in your processes and procedures.
Customer loyalty
Accreditation often means higher standards of customer service and product quality. Satisfied customers are far more likely to remain loyal and recommend your business to others.
Benefits of accreditation for consumers
Confidence
Accreditation assures consumers that your business adheres to strict standards, ensuring that products or services are of high quality and meet safety requirements. Certain accreditations will also show that you are operating ethically and sustainably – an increasingly important issue for consumers. They’ll feel confident that they aren’t going to receive a substandard product or service – the accreditation can almost act like a recommendation from a trusted source.
Informed choices
When a business is accredited, consumers can make more informed purchasing decisions, knowing that it’s been independently evaluated. Marketing is a huge part of running any business, but bold claims can come up empty if not backed up by accreditations from trusted bodies. Instead, having the right accreditations for an industry can give consumers peace of mind, especially in industries like healthcare, construction, education, and finance, where trust is paramount and the risks associated with receiving a substandard service are large.
Consistency
Accredited businesses are held to consistent standards, ensuring a reliable and predictable experience. Consumers know what to expect when they choose an accredited provider – they feel confident that they won’t receive great service on one day and poor service on another. Accredited businesses are required to have clear policies and procedures in place to ensure their operations are fair for everyone.
Transparency
Accreditation often requires businesses to be transparent about their operations, helping consumers feel more secure in their interactions. This transparency can involve things like pricing, processes, and practices, and ensure consumers aren’t going to be blindsided by cleverly hidden costs or clauses.
Access to better services
With accreditation often tied to improved quality and operational standards, a huge benefit of the concept is that consumers can access services or products that meet their needs in a more effective and efficient manner. If an industry was largely unregulated by these accrediting bodies, it would be far more challenging to find a consistently high quality service.
An accreditation award is a valuable recognition that assures both businesses and consumers of high standards, credibility, and trustworthiness.
For businesses, an award like this can open doors to new opportunities, help them hold up against competition, and improve the quality of their operations. For consumers, accreditation offers confidence, consistency, and the assurance that products or services meet rigorous safety and quality requirements.
Although the process to obtain accreditation can be demanding, the long-term benefits of increased trust, customer loyalty, and compliance with industry standards make it a worthwhile investment for any organisation.
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