HBPW has maintained a perfect 5* rating in its most recent audit under the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS).
RISQS is the supplier pre-qualification service used by buyers of all products and services throughout the British rail industry.
And, as part of the scheme, companies like HBPW must undergo a rigorous annual inspection lasting up to three days, to ensure that their delivery processes and systems are up to scratch.
Associate Paul Jacklin, who has responsibility for quality standards within HBPW, said: “RISQS plays an important role in maintaining industry-wide standards, however, adhering to the Scheme also means each team member has to self-police standards and that requires a lot of individual discipline.
“It is only at inspection time that we can truly confirm how we’ve done over the preceding 12 months, so this latest 5* rating is for the entire HBPW team whose members have has been instrumental in maintaining internal quality standards.”
The accreditation not only allows professionals to work trackside for the likes of Network Rail, but also enables them to complete all aspects of engineering design within the rail sector.
“RISQS is, without doubt, a collective effort which not only maintains and raises professional standards, but also compels people to think at a more detailed level in the name of safety, quality and first-class engineering,” added Paul.
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.
The scheme embraces rail’s qualification arrangements previously known as Link-up. 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.