ISO
Spencer is certified to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. It therefore follows the guidelines as set out within these industry standards.
ISO 14001 specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects which the organization has control and over which it can be expected to have an influence. This standard is applicable to any organization that wishes to:
• Implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system
• Assure itself of its conformance with its own stated environmental policy
• Demonstrate conformance
• Ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations
• Seek certification of its environmental management system by an external third party organization
• Make a self-determination of conformance
ISO 9001 is the worlds most established quality framework. It is used by over 897,000 organizations in 170 countries worldwide and sets the standard, not only for quality management systems, but management systems in general. ISO 9001 specifies requirements for a quality management system where an organization:
• Needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide product that meets customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Part of Spencer’s ISO 9001 certification also covers National Highway Sector Scheme 18 for the Environment and Landscape including Ecology.
NHSS 18 is the new bespoke management system for landscaping and the environment (including ecology) contractors. The scheme is particularly concerned with the development of training and competency of operatives and their supervisors and the identification of best practice, including health & safety requirements. National Highway sector schemes are mandatory for highway agency contracts. It will be a contractual requirement for organisations engaged by the Highways Agency in England, Transport Wales, Transport Scotland and Roads Service Northern Ireland to work on their highway estates including any sub-contractors they may use.
BALI
Spencer is a member of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), which is the UK’s representative trade association for firms undertaking landscaping - both interior and exterior – and a wide range of associated suppliers to the industry.
BALI helps to encourage high standards of quality, workmanship and service in the industry. It helps to encourage the placing of contracts by Public Authorities, Developers and Architects with BALI Members by close liaison between such bodies and the Association. Contractors who carry the BALI Logo are recommended to authorities, councils, housing associations and the general public.
UVDB – Achilles
Spencer is registered on the Utilities Vendor Database (UVDB), a supplier management service which acts on behalf of all the major UK utility organisations. The UVDB helps Utilities to comply with EU Procurement Legislation by providing a fair, open and transparent means of selecting suppliers for potential tender opportunities.
Operated by Achilles Global Supplier Directories, the databases contain high level, sector specific information on suppliers and registered contractors.
Spencer is a member of the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS), which is established as the market leader for health and safety pre-qualification in the UK. It is a non-commercial scheme available to suppliers (those who provide goods and services) and to organisations (buyers) looking for suitably competent suppliers.
CHAS
CHAS assesses health and safety for all types of suppliers, from construction companies to care services, demolition contractors, designers and consultants. The aim of the scheme is to save time and resources by avoiding unnecessary duplication in the first stage of competence assessment for the following items:
• Health and safety policy statement;
• Organisation for health and safety;
• Specific health and safety arrangements to an acceptable standard.
Renewable UK
Spencer is a member of Renewable UK (formerly BWEA - British Wind Energy Association), which is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries.
Formed in 1978, Renewable UK is the leading renewable energy trade association in Britain, its primary purpose to promote the use of wind, wave and tidal power in and around the UK. Wind has been the world's fastest growing renewable energy source for the last seven years and this trend is expected to continue with falling costs of wind energy and the urgent international need to tackle CO2 emissions to prevent climate change.
Spencer are therefore pleased to be associated with this initiative and is positioned to provide a range of services commensurate with Renewable UK's stance on environmental responsibility.
Highways Agency
Spencer is accredited for Highways Sector Scheme 18, for the environment and landscape, including ecology.
National Highways Sector Schemes are bespoke integrated management schemes within an ISO 9001 framework. They have been developed in partnership with all sides of the highways industry to interpret the international quality management standard as it applies to a particular activity or industry within Britain.
They are designed to:
• Provide an industry benchmark
• Ensure that all processes are planned
• Provide a basis for continuous improvement
• Focus on quality as an objective
• Reduce overall costs for the client and supplier
• Provide and maintain a properly trained and competent workforce
• Involve all sides of the industry in scheme ownership within a partnership framework
• Ensure that Certification Bodies use auditors with technical knowledge and experience of the sector concerned
• Promote confidence in quality management systems by provision of a robust, transparent system.
The Sector Schemes are included in the procurement process through reference in the Specification for Highway Works (SHW). For Highways Agency contracts their use is a mandatory requirement of SHW.
