Only Positive RISQS For HBPW Clients

If there is a positive side to ‘risk’ then HBPW has found the secret to a winning formula after landing another perfect score in its annual RISQ rail assessment!

Paul Jacklin, the HBPW Associate responsible for maintaining ‘standards’ at the firm, falls under the assessors microscope every year and is grilled over a 48 hour period to ensure that the company’s methods of delivery are still up to the job.

“RISQS stands for Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme and is the supplier pre-qualification service used by buyers of all products and services throughout the British rail industry.

“It is a benchmark to say that we are more than capable and that everyone is working to agreed standards, and, whilst maintaining our adherence to this industry acronym is tough, without it we would be excluded from large projects that we currently deliver on for the likes of Network Rail,” said Paul.

The latest audit, which took the best part of two full days, achieved a 100% perfect score, maintaining an unbroken record that dates back several years.

“Schemes like RISQS require a lot of internal discipline in terms of maintaining the standards and processes that enable us to consistently achieve perfect scores.

“However, the accreditation exists for a reason, not only allowing professionals to safely work trackside for the likes of Network Rail, but also enabling them to complete all aspects of engineering design within the rail sector efficiently, effectively and to an agreed set of standards.”

He said that it was easy to dismiss a 100% score as the ‘norm’ but perfection was only came with a lot of hard work.

“I never take 10 out 10 as a reason to rest on my laurels,” added Paul “because the second you do is the second you start to fail. Needless to say I am delighted for the entire HBPW team that we remain on on track for the next year.”

RISQS helps suppliers sell in to the British rail industry by providing an open, fair and transparent way for them to be formally recognised as capable providers of products and services.

It supports Network Rail, Transport for London, passenger and freight operating companies, rolling stock organisations, main infrastructure contractors and many other buying organisations, in the management of supply chain risk.

RISQS is industry-owned and sponsored by a board of representatives from across the rail industry. This, in turn, reports into the RSSB Board (Rail Safety and Standards Board) to provide a range of services that support operational delivery of the scheme.