Addressing the needs of the nation

For more information about Standards visit the British Standards Institution (BSI) website at www.bsi-global.com Bullet-point

For more information about Accreditation visit the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) website at www.ukas.com Bullet-point

For more information about the Department for Trade & Industry's (DTI) work in promoting innovation visit www.dti.gov.uk/innovation Bullet-point

For more information about the work of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) visit www.cbi.org.uk Bullet-point

Standards underpin all levels of government and business. They work for the safety and convenience of all, ensuring that processes, services and products are safe, ethical and easy to use.

Standards are used by government to:

Bullet-point Promote collaboration with business and society.

Bullet-point Benefit the UK economy in terms of regulation and innovation.

Bullet-point Enable more effective procurement.

Bullet-point Create efficiencies and reduce internal costs.

Supporting regulation and public policy

Standards can offer all the security of centralised regulation. However, their adaptability, flexibility and independent verification promote a more dynamic UK economy through:

Bullet-point 'Goal based regulation': meeting government criteria in collaboration with business and society.

Bullet-point Industry-led response to changing circumstances.

Bullet-point Eliminating the costs and delays incurred in continually revising regulations.

Bullet-point Easing acceptance of regulation through active collaboration.

Supporting innovation, productivity and competitive advantage

A collaborative approach to standardization constitutes an unparalleled framework for shared knowledge, by:

Bullet-point Channelling the UK's wealth of knowledge for national benefit.

Bullet-point Reducing costs and risks associated with innovation, while ensuring quality, safety and accessibility.

Bullet-point Overcoming the obstacles standing between idea and market.

Bullet-point Ensuring compatible technologies, enabling rapid market growth and interoperability throughout supply chains.

Bullet-point Improving competitiveness and access to overseas markets through a demonstrated commitment to quality, compatibility and reliability.

In taking advantage of standardization at a governmental level, the UK economy is well positioned to compete in the global market.