Governance and impartiality

Impartiality is at the heart of NSI values, governance, management system and all security and fire safety certification activities

We actively promote, consider and scrutinise impartiality throughout all areas of our business, and in the training and development of all of our staff

We manage and mitigate all material risks, including identifying conflicts of interest to ensure the objectivity of our own management system, processes and certification activities

Our structure, policies and procedures are designed to facilitate active monitoring and review of risks to impartiality

Why UKAS Accreditation Matters - And Why NSI is the Right Choice

In today’s competitive landscape, credibility isn’t optional - it’s essential. And when it comes to certification, credibility starts with UKAS accreditation.

What is UKAS Accreditation?

UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is the UK government’s sole appointed authority for accrediting certification bodies. Their seal of approval means an organisation operates to the highest international standards of competence, impartiality, and quality assurance.

At NSI, we’re proud to be UKAS-accredited. It means we don’t just set the bar - we’re held to it. Just as NSI-certified companies are regularly assessed to meet rigorous standards, NSI itself is continually evaluated by UKAS in accordance with international standards for accredited certification i.e. ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 (management systems certification) and ISO/IEC 17065:2012 (product conformity certification).

In short, if NSI is the ‘checker’, UKAS is the one checking the checkers.

Why Accredited Certification Matters to You

It’s more than just meeting a standard. Accredited certification gives you the power to:

Win lucrative contracts and stand out in competitive markets
Build credibility with clients and stakeholders
Reduce risk through independent, impartial oversight through a regular audit process
Demonstrate your commitment to quality, trust and reliability

Only a UKAS accredited certification body like NSI can prove true competence, impartiality, and credibility. Your certificate carries unquestionable authenticity - anything less increases your exposure and puts your reputation at risk.

NSI is governed by a Board of Directors

In addition to executive directors, the Board includes non-executive directors from within the fire and security sector and insurance industry and observers from the National Police Chiefs' Council and the National Fire Chiefs' Council. It is structured in such a way that no single interest predominates.

The NSI Board of Directors regularly review Impartiality within the organisation, and have appointed an internal Impartiality Committee responsible for. Regularly scrutinising NSI activities. Oversight and management of processes to ensure impartiality is not compromised. Review of impartiality training for all staff. View the View the Impartiality Policy Statement.