The ISO Show

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Blackmores is a pioneering consultancy firm with a distinctive approach to working with our clients to achieve and sustain high standards in Quality, Risk and Environmental Management. We'll be posting podcasts discussing ISO standards here very soon!

  1. #233 Clyde & Co Achieves ISO 50001 - Setting the Standard for Energy Management within the Legal Sector

    3 天前

    #233 Clyde & Co Achieves ISO 50001 - Setting the Standard for Energy Management within the Legal Sector

    When thinking of sectors that need effective energy management, the ones that typically come to mind include the likes of transportation and manufacturing. However, energy management is something that any business can benefit from. Such is the case with today’s feature, Clyde & Co, a global law firm who made the decision to Implement ISO 50001 energy management to tackle the largest part of their sustainability impact. In this episode, Ian Battersby is joined by Paul Barnacle, Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment at Clyde & Co, to discuss their journey towards ISO 50001, including the challenges associated with implementation and benefits gained from certification.   You’ll learn ·      Who is Paul Barnacle? ·      Who is Clyde & Co? ·      What was the main driver behind obtaining ISO 50001? ·      How long did it take to achieve certification? ·      What was the biggest gap found during the Gap Analysis? ·      What has Paul learned as a result of ISO 50001 Implementation? ·      What are the benefits of gaining ISO 50001 certification? ·      Paul’s top tip   Resources ·      Clyde & Co ·      ISO 50001 ·      Isologyhub   In this episode, we talk about: [00:25] Episode Summary – We invite guest Paul Barnacle, Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment at Clyde & Co, onto the show to share his journey with implementing ISO 50001, including the associated challenges and benefits from gaining certification. [02:50] Who is Paul Barnacle? Paul is the Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment at Clyde & Co , and was the lead for the ISO 50001 Implementation project. One thing that many may not know about Paul is that he’s an avid angler, whether rain or shine, he’s dedicated to getting the next big catch. [04:45] Who are Clyde & Co? Clyde & Co are a global law firm that helps organisations navigate risk and maximise opportunities across sectors such as insurance, professional services, aviation, marine, construction and energy. The firm has over 500 partners with a total headcount of 5,500 people operating across 70 offices around the world. [05:40] Who is included within the ISO 50001 scope for Clyde & Co? For those that aren’t aware, an ISO scope can be against an entire business, a single department or even against a specific product / service. For Clyde & Co, their ISO 50001 scope extends across 9 offices in the UK and Republic or Ireland. [06:15] What were the main drivers behind ISO 50001 Implementation? – One of the main drivers links back to Clyde & Co’s Net Zero Strategy, which included the need to identify which sustainability focused ISO Standard would help them the most. Following a lot of internal conversation with their Chief Sustainability Officer, they settled on ISO 50001 as they were seeking more visibility on their energy consumption and help with identifying opportunities for improvement. Ultimately taking the first steps to tackle their scope 1 and 2 emissions. [07:05] Why ISO 50001 over ISO 14001? ISO 14001 Environmental Management was considered, however they don’t have any industrial processes, so other environmental factors outside of energy aren’t very applicable to a business like Clyde & Co. Seeing as energy was their largest environmental expenditure, ISO 50001 naturally seemed like the best fit. [08:10] How long did it take to achieve ISO 50001? Paul started the Implementation journey back in early August of 2024, and completed the Stage 2 Assessment by April 11th 2025, so a total of nine months. [09:00] What was the biggest gap identified during the Gap Analysis? Paul highlights how key the Gap Analysis was to the whole process, as it gave them a clear picture of the amount of work involved with completing the implementation. One of the biggest gaps identified was the fact that they didn’t have a structured management system in place. There was a lack of knowledge when it came to ISO implementation, so some of the terminology was a bit lost on Paul to start with! They also lacked key documentation such as continual improvement log and Register of Energy Saving Opportunities. [10:10] What were the benefits of ISO 50001 implementation? There are a number of benefits, including:- ·      ISO 50001 allows a business to have a lot more visibility on their energy consumption ·      ISO 50001 certification demonstrates a proactive approach for energy management to clients and prospects. ·      The data provided by ISO 50001 allows for more informed decisions on energy saving and reduction opportunities, allowing you to target your biggest emission sources and spot any anomalies. [11:45] Client influence:  Clyde & Co were seeing an increase in requests from clients regarding their energy performance indicators and related KPI’s. They were also being asked about what they were doing in relation to reducing their scope 1 and 2 emissions. This exercise allowed them to address both, in addition to setting up the infrastructure to continuously monitor this year on year. As a result of ISO 50001 implementation, Clyde & Co now plan to communicate the reduction in their energy consumption on a quarterly basis with staff across all regions. [13:50] Additional Improvement as a result of ISO 50001:  Paul enjoys the renewed communication between teams that hadn’t really interacted prior to ISO 50001 implementation. Previously the energy management team were fairly siloed in the business, but now they’re getting tech champions involved and asking anyone to contribute to the energy performance indicators. It's created a connected culture that encourages new ideas from all corners of the business. They’ve helped to facilitate this through the use of their intranet with dedicated mailboxes where people can submit any questions or suggestions for improvement. They’ve also got QR codes set-up for easy access for mailbox submissions. [15:55] Paul’s Top Tip: Get a copy of whichever Standard you intend to Implement and read it thoroughly. It’s key that you understand what the Standard is asking for. If you’re struggling with the ISO terminology, the Standards will include a glossary of terms and definitions to help you. You can also do what Clyde & Co did, which is hire ISO consultants that specialise in ISO implementation. They will help you interpret the Standard and help you establish a Management system that is both compliant with the Standard and also integrates with the way you work. For ISO 50001 specifically, Paul highlights the need for strong data. Energy monitoring will require some number crunching, so you need those figures to be as accurate as possible to get the best results. [15:55] Paul’s book recommendation: Sustainable Energy - Without The Hot Air by David MacKay [15:55] Paul’s favourite quote: “The best way to predict the future, is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln   If you’d like to learn more about Clyde & Co, check out their website. We’d love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here’s how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

    25 分鐘
  2. #232 Introducing BS 30480 Intervention, Prevention And Support For People Affected By Suicide

    10月8日

    #232 Introducing BS 30480 Intervention, Prevention And Support For People Affected By Suicide

    The topic of suicide is all too often a discussion avoided due to its tragic and uncomfortable nature. However, the reality is that there are 6,000 deaths by suicide in the UK each year, with in excess of 727,000 deaths annually worldwide.  In recent years there has been more awareness about the topic, with a range of resources targeted to help with the prevention and support of those affected. For businesses seeking further guidance, a new Standard is on the horizon. In this episode, Ian Battersby is joined by Marcus Long, Chief Executive at IIOA, who shares his inspirational story of working through an unthinkable tragedy and creating a silver lining that aims to tackle the intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide. You’ll learn ·      Who are IIOA? ·      Who is Marcus Long? ·      What was the catalyst behind BS 30480? ·      Who is involved with the development of BS 30480? ·      What does this Standard hope to achieve? ·      How does this Standard compare to other ISO Standards? ·      How will this Standard develop within the next year? ·      The cost of suicide ·      What are the benefits of BS 30480? ·      How can you get involved?   Resources ·      Register your interest in BS 30480 ·      Contact Marcus Long ·      IIOA   In this episode, we talk about: [00:25] Episode Summary – We invite guest Marcus Long, Chief Executive at IIOA, onto the show to talk about his involvement with the development of BS 30480, a Standard dedicated to the intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide. [01:30] Who are IIOA? The IIOA are the Independent International Organisation for Assurance, which is a trade association for global assurance bodies. Their members carry out certification to a wide range of ISO Standards, related Standard schemes, product certification and the provision of validation and verification training. [02:30] Who is Marcus Long? Before becoming the Chief Executive at IIOA, Marcus worked for the national Standards body side of BSI. There he was involved with ISO Standard development and later moved into certification. He’s had 20 years’ experience within the field of ISO Standards, and spent most of that time pushing the benefits and value of quality infrastructure. One thing many may not know about Marcus is that he spent 48 hours underwater! While not in one stint, Marcus is an avid scuba diver, and has been taking trips under the waves since 1990, with his cumulative underwater adventures reaching 48 hours total to date. [05:30] What was the catalyst behind BS 30480? Marcus experienced an unthinkable tragedy in October of 202, when his son Adam took his life at the age of 21. In the following three years, Marcus sought to find some sort of silver lining to give him some peace. After a while, he turned to look at the industry he worked within, Standards, which is focused on solving problems and finding solutions. Ultimately, it’s aim is to make the world a better place, whether that’s through sustainability, quality or Health & Safety. So why couldn’t that principle be applied to something as difficult and heartbreaking as suicide. With that idea in mind, Marcus got talking to some national standards bodies in different countries around the globe, in addition to ISO, to see if the idea could spark some interest. These discussions reached BSI, who were currently also working on creating a Standards on the topic of menstrual health and menopause in the workplace. Marcus appreciated that they were willing to touch on topics that many shied away from. [08:50] The conception of BS 30480 – The first steps taken included hosting workshops at the Houses of Parliament in February of 2024. There Marcus brought together a wide range of people with different experiences, and asked them if they thought this Standard was a good idea and gather what how they would like to see something like this work in practice.   With that encouragement and feedback, Marcus set to work on setting a scope and deciding who should be involved in the development process. [11:05] Who is involved with the development of BS 30480? As with many ISO’s, the development team are made up of a wide range of people, including people from academia and business owners. Marcus ensured that healthcare specialists and those who’ve assisted in suicide prevention schemes were also included. All of these individuals had the same passion to help reduce the rate of suicide within the UK.   [13:10] What does this Standard hope to achieve? The sad reality is that in many instances, it’s a reactive response to suicide. What Marcus hope BS 30480 can achieve is to encourage the creation of suicide prevention strategies. This turns that reactive response into a proactive one in terms of preventing the worst from happening. As quoted from the Standard: “ The aim is to make workplaces more suicide safe, more conducive to suicide prevention, more supportive of those who have been exposed to suicide and more knowledgeable and confident in talking about suicide and taking actions that prevent suicide.” [15:30] How does this Standard compare to other ISO Standards? This Standard differs from ISO Standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 in the fact that it’s a guidance Standard, so not one that can be certified to. It provides guidelines and guidance that businesses use, and select the parts that are most relevant to them. The Standard also includes a number of Appendix’s that provide more practical guidance to help give businesses a clearer idea on how certain elements can be implemented, for example, the creation and deployment of a suicide prevention plan. So rather than a rigid set of requirements, think of it as a collection of practical ideas and solutions that can aid in the prevention of suicide. [18:20] How will this Standard develop within the next year? BS 30480 is expected to be published in November 2025, as they’ve just finished the consultation period in August 2025, which was met with a very positive response. Marcus would love to see this Standard move into the international stage by becoming an ISO, but for now it’s being published as a British Standard. There are plans to create training and host webinars to spread awareness about the Standard, so keep an eye out on BSI’s socials for more about that! The standard is set to enter a phased communication strategy: Phase 1: The launch of the Standard, which has already had some preparation as various other Standard bodies and those involved have been spreading awareness throughout the drafting process. Phase 2: Public awareness – Marcus and those involved in the creation of BS 30480 will be ramping up public dialogue on what the Standard is about and what it can achieve for people. Phase 3: Engagement – Actively getting business to engage with dialogue around suicide prevention, as this is a topic that some businesses are scared to even tough. But if we’re to tackle it, it needs to be discussed. There is scope for this Standard to fit in with the likes of ISO 45001 (Occupational H&S) and ISO 45003 (Mental Health in the workplace). Marcus also discusses the opportunities for this to help less traditional workplaces such as educational institutions, sports clubs, charities & youth clubs. [23:30] The cost of suicide:  As much as it seems inappropriate to put a price on suicide, there is more to it that the emotional and societal devastation. A report by The Samaritans suggested that each death by suicide resulted in a cost of £500,000. This is due to related costs for emergency healthcare systems and loss of productivity. Marcus emphasizes that if we are to get more businesses, Government and local Governments on board, all impacts of suicide need to be discussed in addition to the benefits of suicide prevention.   While odd to approach it from a cost perspective, it’s more often than not the language that businesses speak. They need to be informed of the investment required in people, time and cost just as much as they need to be aware of the many benefits of effective and proactive suicide prevention. [26:40] What are the benefits of BS 30480?  The ultimate aim is to make workplaces a safer and better place. This Standard can also provide a means of effectively measuring social value, which is often times a rather nebulous metric to grasp. This Standard is here to save lives, and its practical guidance can help businesses create a clear path of actions to help those who may suspect that a colleague is in need of help. [28:25] How can you get involved?  Marcus’ biggest ambition is for BS 30480 to assist with saving lives, but if it’s to achieve it’s main aim, it needs advocates. Whether from trade associations, other Standards bodies or just from individuals, spread the word and encourage businesses to adopt the guidance provided. You can register your interest in BS 30480 through BSI’s website, this ensures you get updates on the Standards progress and any training opportunities. If you’d like learn more about BS 30480, feel free to contact Marcus Long via LinkedIn. We’d love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here’s how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

    35 分鐘
  3. #231 Evaluating Compliance within ISO Management

    9月24日

    #231 Evaluating Compliance within ISO Management

    When stating ISO Management System ‘compliance’, that in reality means the conformance to ISO Standard requirements, compliance in ISO terminology actually refers to compliance with legal and other statutory regulations. It may sound like semantics, but the difference is distinct for a reason, as you don’t get a ‘non-compliance’ for not meeting requirements, rather you get a ‘non-conformity’. When it comes to compliance with the law as required by ISO Standards, you need more than a Legal Register to prove compliance. In this episode, Ian Battersby dives into what is meant by compliance in ISO, how this relates to legal and statutory requirements, and how businesses can effectively evaluate compliance. You’ll learn ·      What is the difference between ‘Compliance’ and ‘Conformity’? ·      What are the different types of compliance requirements? ·      How do Acts and Regulations work in tandem? ·      Who enforces legal compliance requirements? ·      Where do these requirements sit in ISO Standards? ·      How do you prove compliance within ISO management? ·      How do you evaluate effective compliance?   Resources ·      Isologyhub ·      From Silos to Synergy: The benefits of Implementing an Integrated ISO Management System Webinar registration   In this episode, we talk about: [00:30] Upcoming webinar: If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of integrated management systems, feel free to register for our upcoming webinar here. [01:30] Episode Summary – Ian Battersby discusses the topic of compliance within ISO Standards, and how you can effectively evaluate it within your Management System.     [02:30] What is the difference between ‘Compliance’ and ‘Conformity’? It’s a common misconception that you ‘comply’ with an ISO Standard, when in reality, you conform to an ISO Standard, hence why you can receive a ‘non-conformity’ in audits and not ‘noncompliance’. When we talk about compliance within ISO Management, this refers to compliance with the law, regulations and other statutory requirements, as this is a requirement within all ISO Standards. [03:50] What are the different types of compliance requirements? There are many different types of law, Ian focuses on what is known as statute law legislation, as this is distinct from common law, case law and constitutional conventions. Statute law legislation is clearly written and can be cited in something like a Legal Register, or Register of Compliance Obligations. There are different types of legislation that you’ll need to document, including: Primary Legislation: These are put in place by acts of UK Parliament and may have involvement from devolved administrations as well. Statutory compliance refers to compliance with primary legislation. An example of this type of legislation includes the Health & Safety at Work Act. Secondary or delegated legislation: Those primary Acts often require a lot more detail regarding the practicalities of applying them, which is delivered through Secondary or delegated legislation, otherwise more commonly known as regulations. These have more input from relevant public bodies to provide the requirements that can be applied. Both regulations are issues under Statutory Instruments (SI's), which are the formal legal vehicle that gives them effect. Put simply, regulations are the rules and Statutory Instruments are the legal mechanism which brings those rules into effect. [06:05] How Acts and Regulations work in tandem: Taking the Health & Safety at Work Act as an example, at the start this was quite a broad and generic act, it wasn’t until years later that the workplace health, safety and welfare regulations came about to support the Act. This was further bolstered with the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations. Both regulations were developed through consultation between Government departments and other bodies such as the Health & Safety Executive. These regulations gave companies much more detail on what’s actually required in order to comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act. [06:50] Who enforces legal requirements? – It’s not just the police that enforce legal requirements, there are a number of other bodies independent of government and the judiciary that can enforce regulations and prosecute for breaches caused by organisations and individuals. This can include bodies such as The Health & Safety Executive, The Financial Conduct Authority, The Environment Agency and the Information Commissioners Office. There are more for other areas, and these are often the bodies involved in the development of specific regulations. [07:45] Where do these requirements sit in ISO Standards? As Is the case with ISO Standards, the requirement for compliance is sprinkled throughout the whole document. Starting with Clause 4 Context. Here ‘Interested parties’ are a focus, of which regulatory bodies can be considered an interested party, as they control the regulations that you are required to comply with by law. Even if you don’t think you fall under specific legislation, there are still general applicable business laws that all businesses must comply with. So this exercise is not simply a case of running a Management System, it’s also about running an effective business.  Ian highlights clause 6.1.3 in ISO 45001, which states the need to determine legal requirements applicable to your business, whereas in ISO 14001 this clause talks about compliance obligations. Despite the difference in wording, they are essentially looking for the same thing, which is detailing what legal requirements you need to comply with. In ISO 9001 it also states that any products or services offered should meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This is then further strengthened in the Leadership clause as leaders are required to ensure that their commitments meet all customer requirements, but also any applicable regulatory and statutory requirements associated with the products and service. This is phrasing that is repeated throughout ISO 9001. Going back to ISO 45001 and ISO 14001, both also require an evaluation of compliance, both the part of monitoring and measuring and the results of them to be submitted through your management review process. The Standards are very clear in that they require you to determine the frequency and methods for evaluation of compliance. [12:00] How do you prove compliance within ISO management? In ISO 45001 there is an appendix that give examples of what you can monitor and measure for the fulfilment and evaluation of legal requirements. As mentioned, many organisations opt to use a Legal Register which states all applicable legislation for your business that will be evaluated in an Internal Audit, but proving genuine compliance is much more than just acknowledging the legislation itself. For larger organisations, this can be a very burdensome task, especially if you find yourself in a position where legal requirements aren’t being met. Ian provides an example to illustrate how to prove effective compliance: Waste removal is something that every business has to do, whether they do so through a waste management contractor, or through a landlord, the law states that any waste you generate must be removed, transferred, processed, treated, etc. by licenced organisation in a very specifically regulated fashion. You as an organisation or your landlord may receive an annual season ticket which includes the required demonstration of compliance, which can be in the form of West Carrier license number, the types of waste, the classification codes under the European or waste catalogue, dates and signatures. Now if you run into an instance where something on that waste transfer note was incorrect, like a wrong address or waste type, how do you prove that you were still compliant in the actual activity of removing waste? An Audit will pick up on the note discrepancies and you may be faced with being non-compliant. A way to ensure that you have a record of compliance is to keep electronic copies of all your waste transfer notes, and keep them in a central location, or even possibly linked within your Legal Register if possible. Despite the discrepancy, you will be able to prove that you have a prior record of compliance. Ian gives another example, you may have air conditioning in your area of work that’s due for a service. The contractor will need to verify the engineer before you engage with them, including a check to see if they’re competent under F Gas Regulations and hold a valid REFCOM Registration Certificate. If you wait to check / validate their certificates of competence, you may run into a situation where they may have an expired certificate at the time that they serviced your aircon, and so that may render that service as inadequate under your legal requirements. To avoid this, you should reference that you’ve evaluated the contractor within your Legal Register, this would include a check on their registration number and dates of when their F Gas competency certificates are valid, ensuring your service falls within those dates. In short, to demonstrate compliance, you should be keeping on-going records in relation to your legal requirements. These should also be readily available and easily accessible. [20:35] How do you evaluate effective compliance:  Legal requirements such as the Health & Safety at Work Act are much broader, and it can be difficult to know exactly what records you need to keep to prove compliance. This is where the supporting regulations can provide the required detail and provide a much clearer picture of what evidence is required. One example is the requirement to carry out sufficient risk assessments, which requires you to i

    31 分鐘
  4. #230 Driving ISO Implementation – Meet the Consultant: Anju Punetha

    9月17日

    #230 Driving ISO Implementation – Meet the Consultant: Anju Punetha

    How often have you heard someone say they aspire to be an ISO consultant? Likely not at all! That’s not surprising as it’s quite a niche world to find yourself in, yet despite that, there are still thousands of ISO professionals worldwide. We’re continuing with our latest mini-series where we introduce members of our team, to explore how they fell into the world of ISO and discuss the common challenges they face while helping clients achieve ISO certification.   In this episode we introduce Anju Punetha, a QHSE Consultant at Blackmores, to share the journey of how she transitioned from special education in India, to ISO consultancy for international organisations. You’ll learn ·      What is Anju’s role at Blackmores? ·      What does Anju enjoy outside of consultancy? ·      What path did Anju take to become an ISO Consultant? ·      What is the biggest challenge she’s faced when implementing ISO Standards? ·      What is Anju’s biggest achievement?   Resources ·      Isologyhub ·      From Silos to Synergy: The benefits of Implementing an Integrated ISO Management System Webinar registration   In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – We introduce Anju Punetha, a QHSE Consultant here at Blackmores, to discuss her journey towards becoming an ISO consultant who specialises in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 20121 and ISO 55001.    [04:05] What is Anju’s role at Blackmores? Her role primarily involves supporting clients in two key areas: maintaining and continually improving their existing ISO management systems and helping them establish and implement new standards. As part of that support, she: ·      Conduct internal audits ·      Reviews and updates management system documentation ·      Facilitate management reviews ·      Train internal teams and prepare them for certification audits. When implementing a new ISO standard, she’ll start with a gap analysis – i.e comparing their current practices against the standard’s requirements. Then break down those requirements into simple, easy-to-understand language and create a practical plan to bridge the gaps. Depending on the standard, she may also facilitate strategic business risk assessments, environmental aspects and impacts assessments, or information security risk assessments. Additionally, Anju helps clients develop and implement policies and procedures, create legal and compliance registers, and verify their readiness for certification body audits. [05:55] What does Anju enjoy doing outside of consultancy?: Anju loves spending time outdoors with long walks being her go-to, as they help her unwind both physically and mentally. She also enjoys cooking for her family and friends. Experimenting with different cuisines and blending spices is something Anju finds incredibly relaxing. [08:00] What was Anju’s path towards becoming an ISO Consultant?: Like many of the Blackmores team, Anju never planned to become an ISO consultant. She began her career as a Special Educator, working with children with special needs in India. Later, she transitioned into the development sector as a Research Assistant, working on projects funded by The World Bank and the UN World Food Programme. These projects focused on microfinance, training and development, and women & child health. However, that role involved a lot of travel, which became challenging after the birth of her first son. So, Anju decided that would be a good time to take a career break. When Anju was ready to return to work, she looked for an office-based role which resulted in her joining Ericsson, a Swedish Networking and Telecommunication Company as support staff, and progressed upwards to become the Learning and Development Manager at their rapidly growing Global Service Centre in India. This involved managing training requirements of an employee base of around 4000+ employees, involvement in stakeholder management at all levels and vendor management. As part of the Operational Excellence initiatives, she also got involved in preparing different business teams for their internal and external audits. During that time, Anju became interested in Ericsson’s Group Management System, which all legal entities had to comply with. She then moved into the newly formed Quality Department and helped them to gain various ISO certifications.  She was the Project Leader for implementing Ericsson’s Operational Maturity Model compliant to the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and OHSAS 18001 (ISO 45001’s predecessor). Joining Blackmores as an ISO Consultant felt like a natural next step when she relocated to UK. She’s now been a member of our team for over six years, and continues to inspire others with her level of dedication to her work and clients. [13:35] What is Anju’s favourite aspect of being a Consultant? – The variation in daily activities is a big positive for Anju. One day she may be conducting a gap analysis for Environmental Management System for an IT company, and the next drafting policies and procedures for managing Events Sustainably for an Event Management company or auditing a client on their Information Security Management System. No two days are the same! She also enjoys being able to work with a wide range of clients across sectors like IT, construction, facilities, asset management, event management, and train operating companies, all ranging from small businesses to large, multi-site organisations. She particularly enjoys working on Integrated Management Systems, as they help clients save time and money by streamlining multiple standards into one cohesive system. It reduces duplication, improves efficiency, and encourages collaboration across teams—breaking down silos and building synergy. [15:50] Upcoming webinar: If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of integrated management systems, feel free to register for our upcoming webinar here. [17:30] What Standards does Anju specilaise in and why? Starting with: ·      ISO 9001 Quality Management: A core foundation that many businesses start with when diving into the world of ISO Standards. This is an essential one for any ISO consultant and is often the first Implementation experience for many who go on to become ISO consultants. ·      ISO 14001 Environmental Management: This Standard provides a solid base for any business looking to start taking sustainability seriously.     ·      ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management: Anju helped one of her previous employers implement this Standards’ predecessor, and has since implemented and supported ISO 45001 for a number of Blackmores clients.    ·      ISO 27001 Information Security Management: An increasingly popular Standard as we see more and more business rely on technology to keep their services running smoothly. ·      ISO 55001 Asset Management: A popular Standard within the facilities and public transportation sectors. This Standard aims to create a framework to help organisations manage the life-cycle of their assets. ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management: ISO 20121 focuses on governing principles of sustainable development, which are: ·      Stewardship ·      Inclusion ·      Integrity ·      Transparency ISO 20121 was revised in 2024. The revised standard explicitly requires considering climate change and its impact on the event and stakeholders. The new version also expands beyond environmental concerns to encompass human and child rights, social impact (including mental health and diversity), and digital responsibility and how organisations should start considering these areas at the early stages of planning an event through post event activities. Recently, Anju has been busy in putting together the toolkit for transition to ISO 20121:2024 and preparing her clients with the implementation of the revised and new requirements. [21:10] What is the biggest challenge Anju had faced during a project and how did she overcome it?: Anju offers one experience in particular: She was working with a company that was implementing its first ISO Standard. The project not only involved creating and implementing standardised policies and procedures but also working on the overall change management within the business. The teams were used to working in silos for many years and were not very forthcoming with the idea of establishing and implementing standardised ways of working. This was due to various reasons, such as lack of awareness, operational activities taking precedence over risk and process-based approach. As a result, project leads struggled in getting support from the project sponsor and the extended project team in terms of time and effort. They had to put the project on halt for few months and only proceeded with the project after getting the full commitment from the sponsor and other project team members. During this time, ISO related roles and responsibilities were built into the job descriptions of the various stakeholders, these were agreed as part of the internal review processes and required time and effort for the different stakeholders within the business was agreed with the Management Team. At the end, this project helped the company to embed the standardised processes within the business, rather than it being just a tick in the box exercise to achieve certification. [25:35] What is Anju’s proudest achievement?  Anju’s proudest achievement in relation to work, is when she’s able to see a marked difference in the confidence level of her clients, from the start of the ISO implementation project, which is the gap analysis stage, to confidently facing the certification audit and demonstrating to the external assessors that the implementation

    30 分鐘
  5. #229 From Platform To Proof – How To Tackle Your Scope 3 Emissions

    9月10日

    #229 From Platform To Proof – How To Tackle Your Scope 3 Emissions

    One of the biggest challenges for those looking to achieve Net Zero is tackling scope 3 emissions, which are indirect emissions that typically reside in your supply chain. These can account for up to 70% of your total emissions and can be quite the undertaking to gather the necessary data to be able to complete your calculations needed for carbon verification. In the final episode of the Platform to Proof mini-series, we invite Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, back onto the podcast to explain how to tackle scope 3 emissions, how it works in practice and how carbon accounting software can streamline the process.   You’ll learn ·      What are scope 3 emissions? ·      What are the drivers for those tackling scope 3 emissions? ·      Where to start with scope 3 emissions ·      How does supply chain engagement work in practice? ·      What are the benefits for suppliers involved? ·      How can carbon accounting software help with scope 3 emissions?   Resources ·      Gravity ·      Carbonology   In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – We introduce Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, who will accompany Mel on a 3-part mini-series diving into carbon accounting software and the value it can bring. In this final part, Mel and Jay dive into scope 3 emissions, the challenges associated with gathering them and how carbon accounting software can help streamline this process. [02:30] Catch-up on the first part – If you missed the first two parts of the series, catch-up with them here: ·      Part 1: From Platform To Proof – What Is The Business Driver For Carbon Accounting And Reporting? ·      Part 2: From Platform To Proof – How Carbon Accounting Software and Verification Combine for Carbon Compliance [03:50] What are scope 3 emissions?: The term ‘scope 3’ comes from a document and initiative called the GHG Protocol, which sets out the core methodology by which companies should measure account for their greenhouse gas emissions. It details 3 different scopes, scope 1 is your direct emissions (i.e. fuel for vehicle use ect), Scope 2 is grid emissions associated with purchased electricity or other forms of energy (i.e. energy for offices). Scope 3 is a very broad term and addresses the emissions created by your value / supply chain. This could include things like transportation of resources you require from a third-party.   These emissions can count to upwards of 70% of a companies total emissions, depending on the nature of the business that can even go as high as 90%! [06:50] What are the drivers for those tackling scope 3 emissions? Jay summaries 3 of the main drivers: Biggest emission source: For those looking to truly hit Net Zero, they can’t simply ignore their largest emission source. It poses the biggest risk to the company, so it’s in their best interest to reduce them where possible. Of course, this isn’t easy as it may involve swapping suppliers or working with existing ones to make their practices more sustainable. It’s not as straight forward as addressing your scope 1 and 2 emissions. Regulation requirement: Scope 3 is increasingly being included within mandatory regulations, whereas in previous years, it may have been a voluntary part of those requirements. For example, the new regulations coming into effect for California in 2026 will see around 10,000 companies needing to report on their scope 3 emissions. In the EU, regulations such as CSRD also require reporting on these emissions. Though these haven’t been made mandatory as of yet, we can see that changing in future. Stakeholder requirement changes: Customers and other stakeholders are asking for more evidence of meaningful sustainability action. Supply chain initiatives now are gearing more towards sustainable procurement, which coincides with the rise of CSR related activities. This drive to evaluate your supply chain is being pushed from all directions. [09:55] Where to start with scope 3 emissions: Likely stating the obvious, but ensure you have addressed your scope 1 and 2 emissions first. When looking to your scope 3 emissions, you’ll first need to determine which of the 15 emission categories is going to be important for your business to get a handle on. The nature of your business will determine which of the categories are a priority, so if you’re a digital service based business, then the raw materials category likely won’t be very appliable to you so you’d only need to provide a very high-level summary of any related emissions. For those categories that are a priority, you should identify how in-depth you would need to get with the data analytics, and create a strategy for each of those categories. If you’re struggling to start, there are some industry average statistics out there to help you with those initial calculations. It’s key to set up a defined measurement cycle, that will need the ability to get more granular as you progress. This is so you can actively track your reduction efforts. Of course, the level of this will be determined by the resource you and your suppliers have to help facilitate the process. It’s definitely worth investing in your supplier relationships to make this process run smoothly year on year. Some business that have say 100+ suppliers will often send out a survey to obtain this data, but the quality of the information returned (if any) can be lacking. So, a more direct approach will likely reap the results you’re after. Mel highlights an instance where an organisation had an engagement programme, where they selected 100 of their suppliers and provided training and guidance on understanding and reporting on their emissions. The suppliers could then see how beneficial the process was not just for that organisations, but for their own company as well. It’s more than just gathering data, it’s about effecting your sphere of influence for meaningful change. [14:15] How does supply chain engagement work in practice? As mentioned, one of the ways many organisations have opted to gather data have been through supplier surveys, however, you need to supplement this with other supplier initiatives to get the best results. Gravity took a more empathetic approach, by looking at this process from the suppliers perspective. They highlighted that this should just be an extractive exercise, the supplier should also be getting something out of this. One such way to do so would be to give them training and / or tools in order to measure their emissions so they can give you the data you need, and also have that data to share with their other customers. You can work with them to identify potential emission reductions and energy saving schemes that could save them money down the line. There are also a number of AI tools that can comb the web and look for any public carbon disclosures or ESG reports that suppliers may have already made. So this saves on the initial outreach and results in less burden for both parties. [17:10] What are the benefits for suppliers involved? By adding further requirements to your supplier relationship, it offers the opportunity to evaluate and develop your supplier engagement strategy. The suppliers can benefit both from your experience with carbon reporting, in addition to gaining access to the same tools you use to manage this. By helping them get a jump start on their carbon disclosures, they can benefits from being ahead of the curve if certain regulations haven’t effected them yet. We’re seeing these sustainability regulations trickle down to new sectors and smaller companies, so them having the data ready puts them at a great advantage. They can also potentially optimise their own processes and save money from the experience by using their data to identify where further reductions can be made. Those supplier reductions then benefit your organisation as your scope 3 emissions improve, it’s a win win situation.  [20:35] How can carbon accounting software help with scope 3 emissions? Using Gravity as an example, they’ve built a lot of tools that can take raw inventory and gather a lot of data concerning purchasing, logistics ect. This is all collated into one area where it can be analysed and used for calculations. They also have an AI agent that can comb the web for specific information that your suppliers may have publicly disclosed. An AI agent can also reach out directly to suppliers for further information which will be collated within your centralised system, checked for accuracy and put into a format that’s ready for reporting. This is all done with a full audit trail for transparency. If you’d like to learn more about Gravity and how their energy and carbon accounting software can help you, check out their website. If you’d like to ask Jay any questions directly, feel free to send him an email. If you’d like any assistance with Carbon Verification, get in touch with the Carbonology team, they’d be happy to help! We’d love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here’s how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

    25 分鐘
  6. #228 From Platform To Proof – How Carbon Accounting Software and Verification Combine for Carbon Compliance

    9月3日

    #228 From Platform To Proof – How Carbon Accounting Software and Verification Combine for Carbon Compliance

    As the sustainability crisis grows more pressing each passing year, companies are increasingly being required to comply with various sustainability regulations and legislation, most of which include the need to monitor and verify your carbon emissions. Calculating these carbon emissions can be tricky, especially if you have a lot of sites or international locations that require conversions. This is where dedicated carbon accounting software can save you a lot of headache! In the second episode of the Platform to Proof mini-series, we invite Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, back onto the podcast to discuss how carbon accounting software can be utilised on your carbon verification journey, and explore the additional benefits provided by this technology. You’ll learn ·      What is the role of carbon accounting platforms and how does carbon accounting software help to overcome the challenges that organisations are facing today? ·      How does carbon accounting software work? ·      What additional benefits are there from using carbon accounting software? ·      Why is carbon verification becoming increasingly important? ·      How can carbon accounting software encourage a culture shift?     Resources ·      Gravity ·      Carbonology   In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – We introduce Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, who will accompany Mel on a 3-part mini-series diving into carbon accounting software and the value it can bring. In this second episode Mel and Jay explore how carbon accounting software and verification work together for carbon compliance, in addition to the other benefits companies can gain from utilising carbon software.   [02:30] Catch-up on the first part – If you missed our first episode in the series, go back and listen to that before continuing. It gives a more in-depth introduction to Jay, Gravity and carbon accounting software in general. [04:05] What is the role of carbon accounting platforms and how does carbon accounting software help to overcome the challenges that organisations are facing today?: Jay has had many conversations with those that have had challenges historically with gathering the data needed for carbon calculation and verification. As we see more regulations and legislation, this challenge is passed down to those just starting on their journey. Carbon accounting software can help ease the burden involved with these tasks. This can come in the form of making it easy to aggregate the data and doing the necessary calculations while maintaining a trail of where all that information comes from.   There’s also an audit trail available for the calculations done, which can be monitored and dug down further into. There’s scope in many dedicated carbon accounting platforms for you to be able to dig deeper into your data if needed. Lastly, this level of transparency in the data is often a requirement of going through full carbon verification in alignment with best practice standards (such as ISO 14064). Ultimately, carbon accounting software can make the verification process go a lot more smoothly. [09:05] How does carbon accounting software work? Jay breaks this down to help define the purpose of carbon accounting software, and the additional benefits it can bring, including: A centralised place for carbon data: Often times, businesses need to pull data from a wide variety of places, and collating that data is always a challenge. Dedicated software allows for easier collection and storage of data from all of the necessary sources, such as utilities, logistics and finance. Carbon accounting software will often allow for integrations that allow for existing systems to feed data into the software without any extra burden. With the addition of AI tools, they can even allow for automatic document processing that can interpret the meaning of utility bills, fuel invoices, waste receipts ect to save on manual data entry. Carbon calculation: Another headache associated with carbon reporting is the calculation utilising all that data you’ve painstakingly collected. There’re often additional layers such as conversion or emission factors that need to be considered when making these calculations. Carbon Accounting Software can do all of this for you, saving you the trouble and potential of making mistakes. This in addition to the transparency offered as the software will provide an audit trail to show how it arrived at the final numbers. Carbon Reporting: This isn’t a feature in all carbon related software, but it can be another time saver if you find one that does. The raw calculations data will only get you so far, and that alone may not be enough to meet the requirements of whichever framework you need to comply with. Carbon software can assist with putting those calculations into a usable reporting format. This report and data can then be analysed and used for meaningful action, in addition to complying with a number of different frameworks. Carbon reduction: Some carbon accounting software will also have the additional bonus of being able to help you source potential solutions and vendors to help reduce your carbon emissions. This more proactive stance on taking your findings and making improvements is voluntary in a lot of schemes currently, but we are seeing a rise in a mandatory requirements to show evidence of carbon reduction, so it’s better to get your head around this sooner rather than later. [15:20] Why is carbon verification becoming increasingly important? Sustainability is no longer isolated to one person or department in an organisation, there’s an increasing overlap of sustainability with other functions such as financial reporting. It also coincides with those working towards ESG compliance, as the data collection, calculations and reporting infrastructure for sustainability information can have a very big practical effect. The need for transparency regarding sustainability is also becoming a bigger concern for customers and stakeholders, so naturally, companies are taking it more seriously as more questions are being asked of them in that regard. Having the data and paper trails (or software trails if you prefer) to back up their claims is vital.   [19:20] How can carbon accounting software encourage a culture shift? Carbon accounting software is the glue that pulls all the elements of carbon compliance together. It’s often the case that the person responsible for the software in a company is crucial for the full verifications process as well. Though the gathering of data is a team process, and if embedded correctly, then it can act as a catalyst for a cultural shift towards sustainability. Not everyone has to have knowledge of all the inner workings of carbon collection, calculation and reporting, but by being involved in the process they can feel a sense of accomplishment when milestones are reached. By spreading the burden companies can also afford to spend a lot more time working on this than they would have otherwise. Carbon accounting software can help this along by ensuring the data gets where it needs to go, and to make the process simpler for all those involved. The use of both a team-based approach in tandem with dedicated software can also help in regard to risk mitigation by removing single points of failure. Carbon reporting and verification is an annual task, so when people come and go from the business, it’s key that you have the necessary skills, people and tools to help facilitate that process through those organisational changes. If you’d like to learn more about Gravity and how their energy and carbon accounting software can help you, check out their website. If you’d like to ask Jay any questions directly, feel free to send him an email. If you’d like any assistance with Carbon Verification, get in touch with the Carbonology team, they’d be happy to help! We’d love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here’s how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

    24 分鐘
  7. #227 From Platform To Proof – What Is The Business Driver For Carbon Accounting And Reporting?

    8月27日

    #227 From Platform To Proof – What Is The Business Driver For Carbon Accounting And Reporting?

    One of the biggest hurdles for businesses when embarking on their journey to net zero is the calculation required for carbon verification. Depending on the nature and size of a business, it can be quite the undertaking! Those looking to tackle this challenge have various options available to them, including the use of dedicated carbon accounting software, which we’ll explore in our latest mini-series: From Platform to Proof. In the first episode of this series, we introduce Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, to explore the key drivers behind carbon accounting and reporting and how you can maximise value from going through the process. You’ll learn ·      Who is Jay Ruckelshaus? ·      Who are Gravity? ·      Why do businesses measure their carbon footprint? ·      Why is the language of business value becoming more important for sustainability professionals? ·      What are the key drivers for carbon accounting? ·      How has GHG emissions reporting helped to drive business value? ·      What should businesses be thinking about to maximise business value? ·      How can businesses keep up with ever changing sustainability legislation? ·      The importance of data quality ·      How can carbon accounting software help?     Resources ·      Gravity ·      Carbonology   In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – We introduce Jay Ruckelshaus, Co-Founder and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Gravity, who will accompany Mel on a 3-part mini-series diving into carbon accounting software and the value it can bring. In this first episode, they explore the key drivers behind carbon accounting and reporting, and how businesses can maximise the value from the process. [03:10] Who is Jay Ruckelshaus? Jay’s involvement in sustainability was almost an inevitability, coming from a family of environmental lawyers. Energy, climate and sustainability were topics that often came up at the dinner table, and so it remained a subject near and dear to his heart. Initially, Jay thought he would remain in the academic world, studying polarisation and exploring how energy intensive industries think about sustainability. He found his enthusiasm spiked when working directly with companies and individuals on these topics. As a result, he broke out of the academic world to join forces with a few technology leaders to develop a solution to help businesses measure and reduce their emissions. [04:45] Who are Gravity?: Jay founded Gravity 4 years ago (2021). It provides a carbon and energy management platform, which assists businesses with compliance to the alphabet soup of sustainability legislation currently in effect, such as CSRD and TCFD. This platform also uses the data collected to help businesses find and invest in projects to help reduce their emissions, which ultimately saves on energy, costs and utilities. Their aim was to make it easier for businesses to report their emissions, by streamlining the collection process, and using the data to pre-qualify potential vendors that would fit the businesses needs when it comes to the reduction phase. Jay initially started with emissions heavy industries such as construction, manufacturing logistics, utilities, metals, mining, energy ect. These are industries where data collection can be very challenging, so it provided a very solid base for their software so that it could tackle these challenges first and provide a way for them to work with various e-commerce, software companies and financial institutions, all within one system. [09:05] Why do businesses measure their carbon footprint? Historically, back in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, sustainability was often wrapped up in the wider corporate social responsibility movement. We’ve seen a lot of change in the last decade, where we used to have strictly voluntary schemes such as CSR, that are now transitioning into a requirement. Whether that be by stakeholders or legislation. We’ve also seen a greater interest in ESG metrics, which require solid figures to back up your claims. This trend follows from the introduction of mandatory legislation from the European Union’s CSRD, which is trickling into California law as around 10,000 companies of a certain size that operate in California must now disclose their carbon emissions. [11:40] Why is the language of business value becoming more important for sustainability professionals? It wasn’t too long ago that sustainability professionals were lumped in with groups that managed general social responsibility. We’re seeing more dedicated and senior roles in relation to sustainability, such as ‘Chief Sustainability Officer’. These roles now integrate with most every branch of an organisation, from the financial reporting to the general strategy for the business. It becomes a central part of the business. Its role can reap many benefits for businesses that embed it effectively, including cost cutting, energy reduction, creation or use of innovative products, opening doors to new markets and investment opportunities. [14:15] What are the key business drivers for carbon accounting? There are many benefits for carbon accounting, such as: - Saving energy: Energy prices are volatile, and often on the rise. Carbon accounting allows you to have a full view on what you’re consuming and where you can reduce or look to more efficient options. Building in sustainability from the top down: With increasing scrutiny from stakeholder and consumers regarding sustainability, it’s in leaderships interest to ensure that sustainability is embedded in your business strategy. This alignment sets you up well for the future, In addition to creating an avenue to reap other benefits from meaningful sustainability action. New opportunities: Embarking on your sustainability journey will open many new doors. Whether this be for innovative new technology, new partners and suppliers that better align with your values, or access to new investment opportunities. [18:05] How has GHG emissions reporting helped to drive business value? Businesses that get their emissions verified against ISO 14064 can benefit from improved insurance rates and access to green finance. It’s also a necessary step towards energy and cost savings. You can’t reduce what you can’t measure. Doing this correctly will require time and resources, thankfully we’re at a time where there are a lot of tools to help businesses with data collection for reporting purposes. The key is to understand where you currently stand, and where you can make improvements. From there you can look at vendors to assist and what financing is available to help facilitate the required changes.   Jay states an example of where Gravity managed to save a US based aluminum foundry over $400,000 in energy costs from their initial assessment. This was achieved through identifying energy hotspots and finding vendors and initiatives to help reduce the energy use and costs. [21:15] What should businesses be thinking about to maximise business value?: The biggest challenge for carbon accounting is typically gathering the data. There are a lot of things to consider, facility energy usage, travel, home workers ect. To make this easier, you should ideally have a centralised location to report and track your emissions data. You also need to ensure that this is as accurate as possible. In order to make sure this doesn’t turn into an annual tick-box exercise, you need to embed proactive processes for monitoring and measuring this data. This way, when you have anomalies in energy usage, you can identify these quickly and put plans in place to address it. [24:25] How can businesses keep up with ever changing sustainability legislation? In recent years, the goal posts for specific sustainability regulation and legislation has changed a lot. This is in part due to convergence that is happening between the frameworks, countries and Governments adopting the best bits out of other requirements to make theirs more robust. So, while a lot of the information they’re asking for is largely the same, it can still be very confusing to navigate. Jay advises that businesses focus on getting a core system for reporting, monitoring and measuring energy usage and carbon emissions in place. Depending on the requirements that you need to adhere to, you can slice and dice that data up however it’s needed, but setting up a unified approach that’s embedded throughout your business to get the data needed is they key. [28:40] The Importance of data quality: Your first attempt at this process will likely be rough and ready. Gathering the basics of what’s available such as utility bills and general energy usage. Presenting this estimation can make for a great business case to put in place measures to get more granular data. The more granular the data, the more insightful it can be, offering you more opportunities to save money and implement reduction initiatives. This data will reveal trends, form benchmarks and present opportunities for meaningful action that benefits both the business and the environment, all while satisfying your legal and regulatory requirements. [30:50] How can carbon accounting software help?: Data collection is hard, getting the data where you need it to be can be nightmare, especially when multiple departments are involved. Having a centralised location makes this task a lot easier. Calculating this data into something usable is also tricky, and would likely require a skillset that you won’t have readily available. This may also involve knowledge of conversion factors if you have multiple international locations. Having a system that can manage all of this, while using methodologies that are in alignment with best practice

    34 分鐘
  8. #226 Driving ISO Implementation – Meet the Consultant: Minoo Agarwal

    8月20日

    #226 Driving ISO Implementation – Meet the Consultant: Minoo Agarwal

    Becoming an ISO consultant isn’t a career path many aspire to, rather it’s one often stumbled on after being tasked with either implementing or maintaining a Standard for a business. We’re continuing with our latest mini-series where we introduce members of our team, to explore how they fell into the world of ISO and discuss the common challenges they face while helping clients achieve ISO certification.   In this episode we introduce Minoo Agarwal, a QHSE Consultant at Blackmores, to learn about her journey of following in her father’s footsteps towards ISO Standards Management, and what drives her to help clients on their ISO journey.   You’ll learn ·      What is Minoo’s role at Blackmores? ·      What does Minoo enjoy outside of consultancy? ·      What path did Minoo take to become an ISO Consultant? ·      What is the biggest challenge she’s faced when implementing ISO Standards? ·      What is Minoo’s biggest achievement?   Resources ·      Isologyhub   In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – We introduce Minoo Agarwal, a QHSE Consultant here at Blackmores, to discuss her journey towards becoming an ISO consultant who specialises in ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001.    [03:50] What is Minoo’s role at Blackmores? Minno’s official job title is QHSE Consultant. She is the ISO14001:2015 standard champion and a Mental Health First Aider for Blackmores. Ultimately, Minoo supports clients with embedding Management System into the heart of their companies. Her work with them typically consists of: ·      Conducting internal audits ·      Management review ·      Consultancy days or document review days Essentially doing whatever it takes to getting the management system to be at a suitable level to pass external audits.   [05:05] What does Minoo enjoy doing outside of consultancy?: Minoo’s free time is mostly taken up by her dear son, Aarav. He’s very young at the moment; and so Minoo makes sure that any of her input into his life is to ensure that he is successful in whatever career he chooses. In addition, Aarav has a very busy social life! So, she’s makes sure her gets plenty of time to play with his friends. Minoo is also a bit of a foodie, enjoying eating out when possible. She also enjoys reading books by authors such as Jay Shetty and the Sad Guru. [07:10] What was Minoo’s path towards becoming an ISO Consultant?: Minoo, like many of our consultants, didn’t know that she would become a consultant. The opportunity was presented by Mel Blackmore via LinkedIn in 2019, on April 1st of all dates! Minoo’s passion for this field arose from her father, Mr Hardial Agarwal, who is very well known in the industry. He worked as a consultant for Crayola for many years, travelling abroad to meet with various suppliers and international branches of the company. His work always held an air of mystery to Minoo as a child, and she become more curious about his role in later years, even attending CQI meetings with her father to learn more. She started her career in 2006 as a Quality, Environmental, Health & Safety Administrator and since then really never looked back, progressing from role to role from roles like Quality Associate, to a Business Quality Control Officer, to a QESH Auditor, to HSQE Compliance Manager and then as a Head of Quality.  Each role gave her a different experience of life. As a result, she has worked in many industries ranging from electronics to logistics to pharma and even automotive and IT. She feels very fortunate to gain experience and knowledge from a range of industries from her previous roles, and now more so from Blackmores where this knowledge develops further. [12:35] What is Minoo’s favourite aspect of being a Consultant? – Minoo genuinely loves her role as a consultant at Blackmores, it was hard to narrow down a specific aspect. That being said, Minoo loves to hear when a client of hers has passed their surveillance and re-certification audits, especially if it was with no findings. It’s a return on their combined effort as a team to get recognition of that fact from a certification body. She also enjoys the teamwork involved, often being seen as a real member of the client’s team. As a consultant, a bid part of your role is building strong working relationships, which makes the whole process run a lot more smoothly. She also takes a bit of joy in being able to be a bit bossy, though all the guidance is with the best intentions. [15:40] What Standards does Minoo specilaise in and why? Starting with: ·      ISO 9001 Quality Management: A core foundation that many businesses start with when diving into the world of ISO Standards. This is an essential one for any ISO consultant and is often the first Implementation experience for many who go on to become ISO consultants. ·      ISO 14001 Environmental Management: Minoo is our Standards champion for this Standard. This involves keeping on-top of any changes to the Standard and creating internal training material for the team.    ·      ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management: A few of Minoo’s previous roles involved health and safety compliance, so she learned a lot about ISO 45001 and general risk management along the way.    ·      ISO 27001 Information Security Management: This one was a necessity to learn when joining Blackmores. Many of our clients have integrated management systems with multiple ISO certifications, most of which include ISO 27001. Minoo also has some experience with MHRA regulations and TS 16949. [18:20] What is the biggest challenge Minoo had faced during a project and how did she overcome it?: Minoo stresses that it’s fundamental to fully understand the requirements of the client from the very onset of the project, if that is understood then there will be no challenges during a project. She provides two incidents in particular that stood out: Scope creep: There was an incident when there was a misunderstanding of the work agreed, and the client had anticipated much more than what was agreed. As a result, Minoo had to complete the work in her own time to meet their expectations. Personal bias: There have been incidents not related to projects but external audits when external assessors start to audit the client by providing what they believe their interpretations is of the standard is the only way that it can be implemented. Forgetting the fact that Standards are built to be flexible in the way they are implemented. They can get very fussy about the exact way documentation should be laid out and worded, which is obviously not a specific stipulation within a Standard. Minoo has overcome this by confronting the assessor at the time and asking them to explain where in the standard it say that – basically keeping them in check. [21:30] What is Minoo’s proudest achievement?  On the work side, Minoo is always proud to hear when a client has passed their Surveillance and Recertification Audits with no or few findings. On the personal side, it’s her son who she lovingly dubs as her masterpiece. She’s already instilling the values of health and safety into him, and he’s always looking out for others. She couldn’t be prouder to watch him grow up into his own person. If you’d like any assistance with implementing ISO standards, get in touch with us, we’d be happy to help! We’d love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here’s how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

    25 分鐘
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簡介

Blackmores is a pioneering consultancy firm with a distinctive approach to working with our clients to achieve and sustain high standards in Quality, Risk and Environmental Management. We'll be posting podcasts discussing ISO standards here very soon!

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    Blackmores UK
  • 活躍年代
    2019年 - 2025年
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    200
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    兒少適宜
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