What VPS Group has to say about Alcumus ISOQAR
The VPS Group are specialists in the protection of people, property and assets on a temporary or emergency basis.
With more than 1100 staff operating from 23 locations, including headquarters in Manchester, London and Norwich, they’re market leaders in the provision of bespoke solutions to help protect vacant property, remote sites and infrastructure, so helping clients to mitigate risk.
“Management of such a diverse business across so many sites with a large workforce introduces many challenges,” says Mark Wilson, Group Head of Compliance. “Not only that, the nature of the business means that our clients want evidence of our capabilities and competence.”
So, the implementation of international best practice in the shape of certified management systems was the logical way to go. The company now holds certificates for ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health & Safety (being upgraded to ISO 45001) and ISO 27001 Information Security.
“Quality, Health & Safety and Environment are all the obvious choices for our business,” says Mark. “They’re all internationally recognised certificates, each bringing its own peace of mind to our clients. They assist us in preventing accidents and reducing our environmental impact. They provide a structure for us to constantly review our day-to-day activities and policies.”
“ISOQAR IS WIDELY RECOGNISED AND RESPECTED AND OFFERS GOOD VALUE. THEIR RANGE OF TRAINING COURSES MEANS THEY OFFER THE COMPLETE PACKAGE.”
And it’s not just about the confidence it provides to clients – there are also strong internal benefits. As Mark says: “We have a strong focus on safety first to protect our staff, and we also want to operate as efficiently as possible as we have to react to situations quickly. In that regard, the systems fit neatly together as an integrated management system. We look at them as a whole, rather than the individual parts.”
As for the inclusion of ISO 27001, Mark comments that “information security is paramount to any business in today’s technological environment – not just our own, but that of our clients and suppliers that we also retain.
“The system brings strong discipline in the way we manage data and provides real confidence throughout the supply chain.”