FAQ’s: Appointing a Consultant to help implement a Management System

1. What will our Consultant do for us?

Your Consultant is responsible for guiding you through this process. He/She is responsible for producing any documentation required, inclusive of supplying templates so that you have the correct format in order to produce records. All of our Consultants come with a 100% guarantee of success.

2. What is expected of us?

Whilst our Consultants can hold your hand through what can appear a daunting process, they cannot do everything. You need to ensure that the various staff within your business are aware of any new or changing policies / procedures throughout the process and that the management system is being implemented. Your Consultant will be very clear in communicating any implementation requirements to you.

3. How much time will we spend with our consultant?

We pride ourselves in practicing what we preach by delivering services to a high standard. We feel that in order to do that, it is imperative that our Consultant gets a grasp of what your business does and the way you operate as quickly as possible. In order to do this, we feel that having our Consultant on site assists in the success of this. We accept that in a world where technology is continuously evolving, it may not always be practical to you for our Consultant to be on site. In some cases, with your agreement, your Consultant may work remotely.

4. Do I have to pay for my Consultant’s expenses?

No, we work to a fixed fee which includes expenses.

5. How available will our consultant be when they are not on site?

Your Consultant is available by email or telephone, however it’s important to note that when your Consultant is not on site with you, they are on site with another organisation. Therefore, they may not be immediately available but they will always come back to you as soon as they can.

6. How does the audit process work?

The external audit process works in two phases; Stage 1 and Stage 2. Generally Stage 1 is a review of the organisation and allows the Auditor to get a clear understanding of what your business does. It is during this that the Auditor will have sight of the framework, including documentation that has been produced to ensure that you are on track in time for your Stage 2 audit.

During the Stage 2 audit the Auditor will verify that you practice what you preached during the Stage 1 audit. For example, if you had a specific policy or procedure which you demonstrated to the Auditor at the Stage 1, the Auditor will want to see it in practice during Stage 2.

7. Who pays for the external audit?

We are completely independent to the certifying body and cannot issue your certificate (as per UKAS rules). This means that you will be required to appoint another third party to provide this service. Their costs are completely separate to ours. We can help you choose the right certification body for you.

8. What happens after the audit?

Once the audit is complete, your Consultant will provide our office with feedback on the project and we will provide you with an Ongoing Support quotation. This quote will be for ongoing internal auditing services and general maintenance of the management system. You will also be requested to provide us with feedback on the service(s) you received – we’d really appreciate if you could complete this to assist us with our continual improvement.

9. When will I receive my certificate?

Generally, certificates take 2-3 weeks to be issued by the Certification Body. If you haven’t received your certificate during this time, don’t hesitate to contact your Consultant who can give the Certification Body a nudge.

If you have a contractual or other obligatory requirement to confirm that you have had a successful audit, we are able to obtain a letter of intent from the Certification Body so just let us know.

10. I have a different question about the proposed management system?

For more information don’t hesitate in contacting us.

Useful Links: BRCGS, Information Security