How it works
Congratulations on finding SME Certification Centre for your one-stop-shop to meet SME Standards. We'll help you build, assess and certify systems to get you there.
Based on the principles of ISO, SME Standards are basic management system standards, tailored to the needs of SMEs. They enable SMEs to implement good management disciplines in order to give their customers confidence in their use of good practice and commitment to improvement and to achieve the cost savings that come from effective management systems.
Review SME Standards to find the one that best fits your needs. Visit the Standards page and take time to download and review the Standard requirements, and consider how your business can achieve it. We often find that businesses are already doing a lot of what is required.
Clients can pick one or more standard to combine together into its overall certification framework.
The Sustainability Standard is about operating profitability while taking responsibility for decisions that impact on the environment and society at-large. Whether its reducing waste or supporting your local community this framework allows you to track and evidence how your organisation will consider its wider position in society over the long term.
The Carbon Footprint standard provides a framework, tools and mitigation options to help you to “do your bit” to solve the climate crisis for future generations We provide a toolkit and emissions calculator as well as guidance to enable you to monitor emissions as well as tips and suggestions to enable improvements and develop a wider carbon management plan to show the demonstrable actions taken to your stakeholders.
The Environmental Standard provides a dedicated approach to environmental management including managing risks of pollution and legal non-compliance. The Certified Standard allows you to produce a bespoke Legal Register, listing the legislation that applies to your organisation and how to comply.
2. Choose your Level
If you want to show your intent to improve but are not ready for a fully-fledged management system, then this is for you. Our Committed option is a quick and simple way to show customers and employees that your organisation has good practice and is committed to improving.
If you want to meet SME Standards with a management system that has been inspected against the Standard requirements, then this is for you. The guidance for all Certified levels also includes an extensive collection of ideas for improvement, so you can really create actions that are relevant and achievable.
As well as receiving the marketing pack and 12-month certificate to promote your achievement, Certified members will receive a wood-embossed award for display on your premises to show suppliers, employees and other stakeholders your achievement.
Once you've chosen a Standard and Level, you can start preparing for assessment by working through an on-line Assessment Form, available on the Standards pages.
Don't worry, we've kept this simple. You don't need any experience or expertise.
You'll be able to try the first few questions on the Form for free so you can see how it works. You don't need to have prepared anything to get started - you can work towards meeting the requirements while completing the Form, using the free easy-to-follow guidance included.
To create good practice for meeting our Standards, for every SME Standard we provide:
- Plenty of guidance and examples
- Downloadable templates if you need to create a document e.g. an Action Plan
- Free support from us if you need it
If you already have some of the required documents e.g. a policy, that's fine. Just use the guidance to check your own documents meet the Standard requirements.
You'll find its more straightforward than you think!
Our SME Standards are uniquely designed to be relevant to your organisation and simple to implement.
Each SME Standard-Certified takes the same approach, underpinned by the same management system princples as ISO. They are are made up of 4 sections, each one focussing on a critical aspect of operating an effective management system:
Once you've worked through the Assessment Form, using the guidance to help you, you'll be ready to submit for assessment.
If you pass you'll receive a 12-month certificate and marketing pack. If not, we'll give you easy to follow feedback on the changes needed and you can re-submit