The STEM project
NQA is leading the way on BS 8555 with its involvement in the ‘Sustainable together through environmental managment‘ (STEM) project. The largest of its kind in Europe, this has been set up to help nine cross-border councils in Ireland and Northern Ireland, the Southern Group Environmental Health Committee (SGEHC) and small and medium sized enterprises in the surrounding area to implement and develop environmental management systems (EMS).
The aim of STEM is to bring 270 companies through to phase three of BS 8555 by August 2007. It will also deliver ISO 14001 to the nine participating councils and any companies who, having achieved BS 8555 phase three, want to commit to ISO 14001. The project is funded by the EU, the nine participating councils (seven from Northern Ireland and two from Ireland) and the DGEHC.
NQA won the contract to be the independent inspection body for the project in open tender, having previously worked successfully with the SGEHC. Sam Glenn, NQA Regional Manager for Ireland and Bill McDonagh, Regional Co-ordinator, have the challenging task of managing this demanding project.
‘The STEM project is proof of the growth and popularity of BS 8555‘ says Sam, ‘and it makes NQA the leading inspection body for the standard in the UK’. So far some 90 companies have signed up for BS 8555 phase three. The first five have already passed and will be presented with their certificates this year and the remainder are being inspected which should be completed very soon.
For SME’s BS 8555 is a very convenient way of going for an EMS because it uses the Acorn Scheme developed by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) to achieve registration. This is a flexible scheme with six phases. You do not have to complete all six, but can choose to only go as far as the level which best suits your organisations needs. Another benefit is that it can be tackled incrementally at a pace to suit the organisation, with the option to complete the full six stages and gain registration to ISO 14001 if desired. NQA is one of only three inspection bodies in the UK to be accredited for BS 8555. For more information on BS 8555/Acorn Scheme contact ems@nqa.com
(Article taken from NQA Reporter Winter 2005/6)
JPD also offer training on ISO 14001 and BS 8555 for more information visit our website www.jpd.co.uk or contact one of our Training Advisors on 0870 438 2573