ISO 9001 upgrade prompts business support

Business advice and mentoring organisation, Airedale Enterprise Services (AES) is delivering support to Yorkshire’s firms who have to update their quality systems in line with changes to the ISO 9001 standard.
As the business world continues to evolve and organisations face new challenges, the International Standard has been modified to reflect the changes in globalisation, complex supply chains, shifts in technology, increased business diversity and a greater focus on consumers’ expectations since it was first introduced nearly 30 years ago.
Currently accredited businesses now only have until September 2018 to make the transition and retain their registration. Enterprise Agency AES is ensuring firms in the region are supported by offering audits and internal training either on site or through workshops delivered at its business centre, based in Keighley.
Business advisor and ISO specialist, David Gagen is one of the experts at AES helping Yorkshire businesses navigate their way through the recent ISO 9001 changes. He works with a range of sectors in the region, delivering high calibre advice to help them both acquire and retain the coveted quality management standard.
He said, “As a well-established enterprise agency our ethos is on supporting businesses to grow, prosper and, most importantly, to ensure that all the advice we provide is affordable. The recent update to ISO 9001 has seen an increase in businesses needing to understand the improvements and we have designed a range of common sense workshops demystifying the changes. Delegates are also offered additional support with consultancy and on-site support should they require it.”
With support from AES, West Yorkshire based business Control Technology UK Ltd has successfully acquired ISO 9001 accreditation.  A manufacturer providing industrial heating and control systems, the firm invested in the ISO 9001 to help increase its market share, streamline its procedures and increase its efficiency.
Control Technology UK’s Managing Director, Henry Pettinger said, “The ISO 9001 accreditation has been an excellent way to improve the way we operate and has led to improvements in some of our practices. It certainly ensured that nothing was overlooked and that we run as efficiently as possible. We currently work with a range of Blue Chip organizations across a range of industries and I believe having the latest IS0 9001 will certainly stand us in good stead.”
The latest version of the ISO standard was designed by over 150 leading global businesses, industry and government experts to help business of all type, sector and size. It aims to ensure they become more efficient, increase profit margins, expand into new markets, meet their legal obligations, increase employee motivation and improve customer satisfaction.
As well as supporting firms across Yorkshire and Lancashire to attain and update the new standard, AES is also helping firms to meet the costs involved.  An approved LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) provider, it helps eligible businesses access funding of up to 50{afd41c4ab3623e68baffe29f6190c4c16e77cb65ef9a747ad10afe8b083b250d} towards the cost of training and coaching support.
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