The development team received a significant number of enquiries from a range of stakeholders in 2021/2022, notably regarding personnel certification, stemming from government initiatives such as Net Zero.
UKAS accredited the first Certification Body delivering an ICO-approved GDPR scheme, alongside work on new projects in Data Assurance Identity and Internet of Things. New accreditations were also granted in the food/farming and environmental sectors, such as Protected Food Names, FAMI-QMS, Farm First and Compost Certification Scheme.
UKAS’s first verification application
New assessment methods were further grown to support national needs for COVID-19 services
In healthcare, new assessment approaches were further developed to support government requirements for COVID-19 services to be underpinned by accreditation. The pilot covering Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering service was also completed with all four pilot participants gaining accreditation.
Development work continues in broadening the areas of health and social care which can fall under accredited conformity assessment activities. Assessment approaches are being developed for UKAS’s first verification and validation application (outside of Green House Gases) under ISO/IEC 17029.
Range of sustainability schemes
UKAS is also working with Assurance Service International to support its two-tier assurance program for a range of sustainability schemes underpinned by accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065.
eLearning modules that provide awareness of scheme requirements have been launched to assist Scheme Owners in developing compliant and internationally recognizable schemes. Further conformity assessment scheme modules are planned for the coming year.
