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I would like to offer my warm congratulations to
the United Kingdom Accreditation Service on its 10th anniversary. I am
delighted that this celebratory lunch gives me the opportunity to say a
few words about UKAS' achievements over the last decade and role in the
future.
UKAS was formed in 1995 to provide a unified
national accreditation service and there was at the start some agonising
over a name for the new organisation. This important new business,
operating in an international context, with Government recognition and
licensed to use the Royal Crown, would need to have an acronym without
any undesirable connotations. ‘UKAS’ fitted the bill – but rather late
in the day, DTI learned that, in Russian, ‘ukas’ means ‘Bolshevik
decree’. Some observers might have commented that this was rather
appropriate - but with Communism receding into the mists of time, it was
decided to press on regardless. As far as I know, it hasn't caused too
many problems so far. But moving accreditation outside of government was
not, of course, without risks.
As we look back over the first 10 years, I would
like to pay tribute to the UKAS top leadership, who have brought about
the success. We were delighted to welcome Bryan Smith as the first
Chair. He ensured that UKAS began life on a sound business and
organisational basis. Brian set a well-respected standard. 10 years down
the line, it is very pleasing to see UKAS operating successfully within
the private sector, yet at the same time, retaining its special close
relationship with Government and maintaining a strong public interest
agenda. Lord Jamie Lindsay has taken on this work with his own brand of
effective leadership, considerably raising the profile of UKAS.
The Chief Executive, Paul Stennett, has brought
a more commercial edge and customer focus to the business. Together with
UKAS staff, he and senior management are working hard to ensure that
resources are managed to the full, combining increased turnover with
cost-saving activities.
Today accreditation is more important to the
economy than it has ever been. There is a growing desire for the
assurance of the integrity of products and services in many different
areas. Research shows that standards make a tangible difference.
Technological change accounts for 1% point per annum of growth and
standards some 25% of this, equating to £2.5 billion per annum of
today’s economy.
I am particularly pleased that UKAS is now a
partner in the National Standardization Strategic Framework (NSSF) in
recognition of the important contribution conformity assessment and
accreditation makes to the standards infrastructure. In this UKAS has
joined with DTI, CBI and BSI.
UKAS has successfully established at the heart
of its agenda the development of accreditation at the international
level. Multi-lateral agreements help UK businesses compete in global
markets. Mutual recognition of accredited conformity assessment can play
a much greater role in facilitating international trade. I am very aware
of the contribution UKAS makes to the international accreditation
organisations and it is vitally important that the UK remains at the
forefront of this work.
I congratulate UKAS on recent successes in
securing key posts in a number of international fora. This will help
ensure that the UK’s important work on accreditation is well represented
abroad.
So we have had 10 successful years - but what of
the future for UKAS and Accreditation?
UKAS will be building on the considerable
efforts it has already made to become more approachable and improve the
service it provides to customers. My Department works closely with UKAS
on this issue and I am pleased to see that progress is being made to
make UKAS more responsive to the needs of its customers. I think that
the newly developed customer satisfaction index shows the way ahead and
I look forward to seeing the index reflect UKAS’ ongoing progress in the
coming months and years.
Industry standards, which spread best practice,
are essential for business efficiency and gaining the competitive edge.
The Government, in seeking to promote increased productivity and
competitiveness, sees a growing role for accreditation, not least in
support of our ‘Better Regulation’ initiatives. UKAS accredited
conformity assessment to recognised standards can provide a flexible
alternative to conventional regulation. Accreditation can react and be
tailored to the needs of a fast-changing world. I welcome the increasing
role UKAS is playing in this area.
This Government is taking the opportunity to
reduce the regulatory burdens on business by implementing one of the
most radical packages for the reform of regulation to be found anywhere
in the world. To exploit these opportunities to the full we need a
regulatory framework which is clear, predictable and easy to administer.
Accreditation has a part to play in this better regulation.
In his role as the Chairman of the Better
Regulation Task Force (BRTF), Sir David Arculus has outlined a very
clear message on a ‘red tape revolution’. As you know the Hampton review
sets out recommendations for reforms aimed to reduce the regulatory
burden on enterprise. We want to move towards a new risk-based approach
to inspection and enforcement, which streamlines regulatory structures
and increases accountability.
UKAS has demonstrated its commitment to this
agenda with a generous offer to second an employee to work at the
Cabinet Office’s Better Regulation Executive (BRE).
The UKAS model is successful and influential.
Our national accreditation system has an unparalleled reputation at home
and abroad and its example is widely respected.
UKAS accreditation can play a significant, yet
often unnoticed role in all areas of our lives. When successfully
integrated into best practice, accreditation can go un-acknowledged and
as a consequence there is a danger that it will be taken for granted and
may not be used to the full extent. That’s why my department is
continuing to support the UKAS Accreditation Awareness Campaign
especially as I believe that one of the main challenges is to make
better use of accreditation in government. As UKAS looks ahead to its
second decade, I want to ensure that the profile, value and use of
accreditation is appreciated to the full. I do so knowing that an
effective and dynamic UKAS will be able to deliver on our agenda.
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