Why use a UKAS accredited certification body for ISO9001?
ISO 9001 update – 27 September 2026: ISO 9001:2026 is now published. The original article below may refer to earlier editions. For current requirements and transition deadlines, read our 2026 update and FAQs.
The benefits ISO 9001 can bring to your business may be obvious, but rushing into a quick solution could be a costly mistake.
The path to ISO certification would normally involve the assistance of a consultant, who would help the company to impliment the quality management system, once this was in place he would put them forward to a UKAS accredited certification body for assessment.
There is an increasing number of companies offering both consultancy and accreditation to ISO 9001 in a “one stop shop” format, this is a similar situation to a driving instructor handing out driving licences.
Although it is not compulsory for your ISO standard to be certified by UKAS, doing so by a UKAS-accredited certification body means that it has been independently verified. An increasing number of customers are insisting on UKAS-accredited certification.
UKAS certified certification bodies are not allowed to offer consultancy, assessment and certification. They are also required to carry out a contract review with their potential clients to ensure that they are able to supply the certification that is required by them.
Not choosing a UKAS accredited body for certification is perfectly legal, but you run the risk of dealing with a company who may not be competent. More importantly, you may end up spending money on a scheme which your customers do not recognise.
A full list of UKAS-accredited certification bodies is available on www.ukas.com.
Advice from government websites suggests finding a company or consultant that uses a certification body who has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) see the links below: