The ASA’s merchandising department has secured re-certification for the new BSI standard IOS 9001:2008, a standard of quality that is recognized and respected throughout the world.

The ASA’s Awards Centre in the Kingfisher Enterprise Park, Redditch, underwent a major BSI audit early this month to examine the quality of the centre’s management systems, which deal with sales of almost two million certificates and badges, as well as the sales of other ASA products.

The auditor found the ASA was complying with all of the standards needed to achieve the quality mark and has reported he is pleased to recommend the continuation of the ASA’s registration.
Specifically the auditor looked at key business areas including customer complaints and the pick, pack and dispatch process.

The report praised the centre for ‘effectively implementing’ the necessary quality administration and acknowledged the role ‘top management’ played at the Centre, stating they ‘demonstrated a commitment to the system and requirements of the standard.’

Jane Nickerson, the ASA’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “It is a great achievement for the Awards Centre to have met the BSI standard and received ongoing certification, especially as this was not just a routine audit but a major re-accreditation against the new standard.

“The auditor found no non-conformities against the standard and, as we also passed our last audit six months ago with no non-conformities, this demonstrates the high standards we have kept in the past year.

“We sell around two million badges and certificates through our Awards Centre so it’s important to us to make sure our customers are happy. This complete clean bill of health just shows how hard all of the staff at our Redditch base have worked to achieve this high standard of customer care, with support from the team at our head offices in Loughborough.”

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For more information contact the ASA PR Manager Sharon Rose on 01509 632262, 07876 652318 or email sharon.rose@swimming.org

The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

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British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers.  The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency.  Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money.  So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year.  To complete a report go to www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report

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The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg's has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg's ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.

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