Security Industry - Approved Contractor Scheme
Why you should consider becoming an Approved Contractor under the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme
- SIA Approved Contractors have special dispensation to deploy security staff while their licence applications are being processed.
- Verification of SIA-ACS by an approved certification body shows commitment to quality, customers, and a willingness to work towards improving efficiency.
- It demonstrates the existence of an effective quality management system that satisfies the rigours of an independent, external audit.
- An SIA-ACS certificate enhances company image in the eyes of customers, employees and shareholders alike.
- It gives a competitive edge to an organisation's marketing.
The SIA Approved Contractor Scheme is firmly based upon the concepts found both in ISO 9001 and the EFQM (European Forum for Quality Management) model.
Meeting the minimum standards
The Approved Contractor Scheme requires you consider 89 criteria covering just about every aspect of your business; you are required to meet the minimum standard for each criteria. An Assessor for the Approved Contractor Scheme will need to see evidence that you meet the criteria from records and documentation and from interviewing your staff and customers.
Associates in Excellence have unique experience
Associates in Excellence, regional partners of Excellence North West have considerable experience in working with companies who wish to use EFQM to improve performance or to achieve Investor in Excellence status.
On the board of Associates in Excellence is a Director who is a specialist ISO 9001 Consultant, an Assessor for the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme and a Validator for the EFQM model. With this experience the company is able to offer a unique service to its clients in help, support, pre-assessment and validation.
Fast track to Approved contractor status
The fast track allows approval to Approved Contractor Status if you already have ISO 9001 status, however you will still need to be visited by an assessor within 12 months and it is possible if you do not meet the minimum criteria for each of the 89 criteria you may have your Approved Contractor Status revoked.
Positive help from the experts
If you are considering your SAI ACS application, have already made the application, or you have been approved under the fast track scheme Associates in Excellence can help by:-
- Assisting you with an initial assessment against the requirement of the scheme and provide help and support to complete the application form.
- Providing you with a pre-assessment to highlight potential problem areas.
- Validating your answers and review the evidence you will assessed against.
- Helping you to develop areas of your business that need improvement to meet the requirements of the scheme.
- Providing an impartial and objective report of your staff and customers' opinion of your company (a key part of the actual assessment)
- If you are opting for the fast track approach we can assist you in achieving ISO 9001 (a pre-requisite for fast tracking) and the relevant British Standard.
- Providing any other assistance you require.
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