BSI Gives HBPW Green Light

The British Standards Institution carries out an annual quality audit on thousands of firms across the country who are privileged enough to display its quality kitemark.

And, while a perfect score may seem like a formality, it isn’t, as Associate Paul Jacklin explains!

“When it comes to the BSI,” said Paul, “I am merely the entry point, the front door to the firm if you like.

“But, behind that door is a superb team and, collectively, we work to a series of exacting standards that have to be delivered seamlessly, if we are to maintain the perfect record that has stood for many years now.”

Each year there is a two-day audit when an external professional attends the firm and grills Paul to ensure that there have been no slips that could compromise standards.

“It never fails to be unnerving,” he added, “however, the BSI keeps us, and firms like us, on our toes and that has to be a good thing for the industry as a whole.

 “We got the green light once again, however, as you might imagine, the pressure to maintain that perfect record never goes away, a pressure that spills to the entire workforce who are key to implementing, and maintaining, agreed processes, standards and protocols. Needless to say, I am, once again, relieved that it’s over but delighted at the outcome!”

The firm developed its own quality assurance scheme several years ago but this has now evolved to closely align itself with the exacting standards and criteria of ISO9001:2015.

ISO provides for the simple integration and unification of quality procedures demanded by clients such as Network Rail and Electricity Alliance, and, by aligning its own processes to those of ISO in recent years, HBPW continues to ensure that adequate experienced and well-trained resources are always available to ensure that designs and details are delivered on time and to programme constraints.