To remain relevant in the increasingly competitive market, companies all over the world are seeking to demonstrate excellence, compliance, and operational efficiency through ISO certification. As of 2025 over 2.1 million companies worldwide are ISO certified, with the numbers growing every year. This reflects the growing recognition of ISO standards as a benchmark for quality, safety, security, and sustainability. Obtaining ISO certification not only improves internal processes but also improves credibility with clients, regulators, and stakeholders, which leads to more business opportunities and reduced risks. This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to get ISO accreditation in the UK, but before that, let us take a look at what are ISO certifications and their popular standards.
What Are ISO Certifications?
ISO certifications are official recognitions awarded by independent, external entities to organisations that meet internationally agreed standards developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). These certifications ensure that the process, management system, or product of a company meets the stringent standards of quality, information security, environmental management, or occupational health and safety issues. Gaining ISO certification helps firms improve operational consistency, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and boost customer satisfaction and confidence.
ISO standards apply across a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, business services, technology, food safety, and utilities, proving their broad relevance.
Popular ISO Standards
Here are some of the most opted for ISO standards in the UK:
ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems
ISO 9001 is the international standard specifying requirements for a quality management system (QMS). Its main focus is to help organisations consistently deliver products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. ISO 9001 focuses on continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, leader participation, and evidence based decision making within companies, whether large or small, and in any industry.
ISO 14001: Environmental Management Systems
ISO 14001 provides a framework for organisations to set up an effective environmental management system (EMS). The standard helps companies control their environmental impact, comply with regulations, and improve resource efficiency. Its key aspects include identifying and managing environmental risks, setting sustainability objectives, and committing to continual environmental improvement.
ISO 27001: Information Security Management Systems
ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It provides requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an ISMS to protect sensitive information and manage information security risks. This standard demands organisations to identify information assets, assess risks, implement security controls, and continually review and update practices.
ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
ISO 45001 sets out the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). Its goal is to provide safe and healthy workplaces, prevent work-related injury and ill health, and proactively improve health and safety performance. The standard encourages leadership involvement, worker participation, and risk-based thinking.
Is It Hard to Get ISO Certified in the UK?
The process of obtaining ISO certification in the United Kingdom is an organised journey which involves commitment, careful planning and resource assignment but is quite feasible for any organisation size. Although the requirements imposed by these standards are strict, they are quite practical and scalable. Each year, many companies in the UK achieve certification by taking clear procedural steps, accessing available guidance and dealing with accredited certification bodies.
How to Get ISO Accreditation
Achieving ISO certification involves a series of steps to develop, implement, verify, and maintain a compliant management system aligned with the chosen ISO standard. Below we have mentioned how to get ISO accreditation in the UK with detailed step-by-step guide:
1. Identify the Relevant ISO Standard
The first step is to choose the ISO standard that best matches your business and regulatory requirements. Here are some common standards to choose based on your industry type:
- If you are a manufacturing firm focused on quality improvement, ISO 9001 is the ideal choice
- An agriculture or energy company looking to minimise environmental should select ISO 14001
- If you are a technology business aiming to safeguard data, ISO 27001 might be right for you
- For organisations prioritising workplace safety, ISO 45001 is the right choice
It is essential to thoroughly review the scope, requirements, and benefits of each standard to select the one(s) that precisely meet your needs. This decision will affect the structure of your management system and compliance requirements and therefore it should be taken with due care and after consultation with the stakeholders.
2. Develop and Implement a Management System
Once you have selected the right standard(s) based on your industry, it’s time to develop and implement a system for the same. To do this, you must record all pertinent policies, processes and procedures that confirm adherence to the selected ISO standard. It also includes the establishment of clear roles and responsibilities within your staff to effectively implement and maintain the management system as well as the provision of employee training in order to make sure that everyone is aware of and competent in regards to the ISO requirements. Your system must contain the provision of continuous improvement, monitoring and corrective action to deal with any non-conformities or weaknesses as they arise. If your organisation lacks internal expertise, you can hire an experienced consultant specialising in ISO standards for support.
3. Perform Internal Audit and Management Review
Before applying for formal certification, conduct a thorough internal audit to verify that your system operates effectively and complies with the standard’s requirements. This internal check will help you identify any gaps or non-conformities, which should be resolved in-house before the certification audit. Following the internal audit, senior management should carry out a management review meeting where they should discuss audit findings, assess the required resources, and update objectives or policies accordingly. Corrective actions taken to address any non-compliance must be carefully documented. Demonstrating this proactive management approach will help your organisation when entering the external audit phase.
4. Select a UKAS-Accredited Certification Body
Next step is selecting a certification body accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), as UKAS accreditation guarantees that the certification body meets strict standards of competence and impartiality. UKAS is the only government appointed accreditation body in the UK, and certification from UKAS-accredited organisations is broadly recognised by clients, regulators, and government bodies. Once you have chosen an accreditation body, verify its status on the official UKAS directory to avoid unrecognised or non-accredited certificates, which may not be accepted in tenders, contracts, or regulatory contexts.
5. Apply for External Audit
Once you have selected a UKAS body, make a formal application to them for certification. After this request, there will be an audit conducted by the accreditation body. This audit is normally carried out in two phases. Stage 1 is a document review and readiness evaluation, and as part of this stage, the auditor will review your written policies and procedures to determine if they address all the necessary aspects of the ISO standard. In case any major gaps and/or problems are found, you will be given a gap analysis report and the time to clear them up. During Stage 2 the certification organisation will perform a comprehensive on-site audit to ensure that your management system is functioning as intended. This stage includes interviews, observations of processes, and reviews of records to confirm your organisation’s compliance. All non-conformities found during this audit process should be addressed prior to certification.
6. Certification Issuance and Ongoing Surveillance
When the auditors find that your management system meets all the requirements of the corresponding ISO standard, your official ISO certificate will be issued by the certification body. This certificate usually remains valid for up to three years. During this three year period the certification body will conduct annual surveillance to verify continued compliance with the standard. After this time, to renew the certification, a complete recertification audit will be necessary to demonstrate continued compliance with the standard.
Conclusion
ISO accreditation in the UK is a smart investment in the operational excellence of your organisation as well as for risk management and gaining credibility in the market. By carefully selecting the relevant ISO standard, developing a robust management system, conducting internal audits, partnering with a UKAS-accredited certification body, and adhering to continual improvement practices, your company can successfully gain and maintain ISO certification in the UK. The most important task is to find the right accreditation body to make sure that the certification you have is credible, widely accepted and brings a true value to your business.
With more than thirty years of experience, here at ISO Management Consultants, we specialise in guiding companies through all stages of the ISO process in the UK to ensure a smooth certification process. Our company can help you with ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certification, and provide support throughout to maintain accreditation. Contact us today to learn more about how to get ISO accreditation in the UK.