Construction firm earns BSI accreditation hat-trick

Swindon-based construction firm Beard has earned British Standards Institution accreditation on three key measures of industry best practice.

The hat-trick of endorsements from the UK’s nationally recognised standards body comes in recognition of a company-wide commitment to drive ongoing improvement in quality management, reduce the firm’s environmental impact, and enforce the highest possible health-and-safety standards:

ISO 9001:2015 is the most used standard globally and demonstrates Beard’s commitment to effective quality management, enabling it consistently to deliver in line with customer specifications and regulatory requirements. Achieving the standard also requires a commitment to continual improvement.

ISO 14001:2015 is an environmental management system standard – becoming more important with increasing public focus on climate change. It recognises Beard’s commitment to reducing environmental impact across the company’s operations, as well as complying with relevant legislation and regulation.

OHSAS 18001:2007 provides a framework to identify, control and reduce the risks associated with health and safety in the workplace – a particularly important consideration in the construction industry. Achieving the standard is indicative that Beard attaches the highest priority to the health and safety of all its employees and contractors.

Commenting on the accreditations, Tricia Hardy, quality assurance manager for Beard, said: “Achieving all three standards in one year has been a significant challenge for Beard. Effective communication with staff at all levels was critically important.

“From the outset, we have been clear what we were trying to achieve and why, and this has helped to overcome any resistance to change. Accreditation can sometimes be seen as something of a bureaucratic, tick-box exercise but at Beard we were determined to use the process as a catalyst for real improvements to how we work.”

Chairman Mark Beard added: “Beard has always been committed to the highest possible standards across all its operations. Through the BSI accreditation process, we have been able to renew and reinforce that commitment and prepare the business for further sustainable growth.

“We are determined that this is not a one-off process. By continuing to live up to these standards and seek continuous improvement, we will ensure the business stays up to date and that we fulfil our obligations to our clients, to those who work with and for us, and to wider society.”