Impartiality is fundamental to the provision of audit and assessment services, and a core value at NSI. Certification or approval with complete impartiality ensures rigorous, objective and fair assessment of auditees’ activities and processes and underscores the value and benefits of certification for approved companies. It is essential that audit assessments are conducted by an independent party free from, and without the appearance of, bias or prejudice.
NSI’s policy is to actively promote, consider and scrutinise impartiality throughout all aspects of its business, and in the training and development of all its staff. Where any risk to impartiality is identified, NSI takes action to manage and mitigate the risk as far as possible. NSI fully appreciates the importance of impartiality in its management system and product certification activities. NSI procedures are designed to identify, manage and monitor any conflict of interest to ensure the objectivity of its management system and processes at all times.
NSI is governed by a non-executive Management Board of Directors which has appointed an Impartiality Committee responsible for maintaining NSI’s impartiality and objectivity. The Committee includes representation from significant external stakeholders and is structured in such a way that no single interest group might predominate. The Committee has the right of appeal to the Management Board should it feel the need to do so in any matter of compromised impartiality or risk to impartiality.
NSI is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) which operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government through the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. NSI’s Impartiality Policy is key to its continued UKAS accreditation to the International Standards ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065.
