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NSI Contract Quality Marque Scheme

The Contract Quality Marque (CQM) is an exclusive certification scheme from the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) which is designed with the customer in mind. In addition to providing reassurance that a contract security services (manned guarding) provider can adhere to a set of challenging new standards, the scheme also acknowledges and focuses on the individuality of each customer contract.

A way to differentiate

Recognising the importance of existing sector standards, CQM embeds and builds upon ISO9001, British Standards and the Security Industry Authority’s Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). The CQM was initiated by industry stakeholders and practitioners who wanted to provide the customer with a means of identifying those guarding suppliers who differentiate themselves by delivering a service to a standard significantly above existing industry norms.

Assessing quality of delivery

The scheme is designed to assess a supplier’s processes and procedures, as well as the security officer’s working conditions. By auditing a company’s performance against a specific site, the CQM recognises enhanced contract criteria including the ‘softer’ issues that contribute to staff motivation and job satisfaction. This includes, for example, prescribed minimum sick pay, personal development plans and improved working conditions.

Tangible customer benefits

As a contract specific marque, CQM endorses a positive partnership approach between supplier and customer. In fact, this scheme is unique in awarding the CQM to both the customer and the supplier.

Certification of their own security contract provides the customer with the added reassurance that a quality service is being delivered directly in line with their own specific requirements and to a level unsurpassed in the industry.

Contract security services provider Wilson James Ltd has embraced this new scheme as a way of enabling customers to differentiate between good suppliers and excellent ones. It has already seen five of its high-profile customers benefit from participation, having all successfully passed the stringent audit process since the launch of the CQM in October 2010.

When accepting the UK’s first ever CQM certificate on behalf of Wilson James, Managing Director, Stuart Lowden outlined the importance of the award, “at long last the industry has a standard that clearly establishes what ‘world class service’ actually means. We are proud to be the first UK security provider to meet this exciting new quality marque and applauds the NSI and its key stakeholders in their efforts to raise standards within the industry.”

For more information visit: www.nsi.org.uk\cqm and www.wilsonjames.co.uk\security

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