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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

The Small Business Guide to Making Standards Work
With smaller-sized enterprises firmly in mind, this publication provides a comprehensive guide to researching, buying and introducing standards. Case studies show how standardization can benefit small businesses by promoting profitability and sustainable growth, helping firms to boost their productivity, drive down costs and effectively meet legal responsibilities. Based on careful research and real-world experience, the guide explains how standardization offers smaller businesses the opportunity to shape the market itself. Download 'The Small Business Guide to Making Standards Work' (PDF, 1.71MB) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

The Small Business Guide to Making Standards Work

With smaller-sized enterprises firmly in mind, this publication provides a comprehensive guide to researching, buying and introducing standards. Case studies show how standardization can benefit small businesses by promoting profitability and sustainable growth, helping firms to boost their productivity, drive down costs and effectively meet legal responsibilities.

Based on careful research and real-world experience, the guide explains how standardization offers smaller businesses the opportunity to shape the market itself.

Bullet-point Download 'The Small Business Guide to Making Standards Work' (PDF, 1.71MB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Best Practice... Next Practice
Best Practice... Next Practice explores the current and future competitive world of business. In assessing the challenges this environment presents, the strategic use of standardization is given detailed consideration. Best Practice... Next practice shows how companies able to use standards strategically not only drive their markets, but also are often best positioned to create, or expand into, new areas. Download 'Best Practice... Next Practice' (PDF, 153KB) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Best Practice... Next Practice

Best Practice... Next Practice explores the current and future competitive world of business. In assessing the challenges this environment presents, the strategic use of standardization is given detailed consideration. Best Practice... Next practice shows how companies able to use standards strategically not only drive their markets, but also are often best positioned to create, or expand into, new areas.

Bullet-point Download 'Best Practice... Next Practice' (PDF, 153KB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Standards and Intellectual Property Rights
Standards and Intellectual Property Rights has been developed to assist businesses in making the most of their innovations. Directed at companies involved in innovative technologies, services, products and processes, it provides guidance on developing and using standards and IPRs to increase profitability and competitiveness. Download the 'Standards and Intellectual Property Rights' (PDF, 478KB) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Standards and Intellectual Property Rights

Standards and Intellectual Property Rights has been developed to assist businesses in making the most of their innovations. Directed at companies involved in innovative technologies, services, products and processes, it provides guidance on developing and using standards and IPRs to increase profitability and competitiveness.

Bullet-point Download the 'Standards and Intellectual Property Rights' (PDF, 478KB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

National Standardization Strategic Framework (NSSF)

The National Standardization Strategic Framework is a programme developed collaboratively by the Department of Trade and Industry, the British Standards Institution and the Confederation of British Industry. The programme's goal is to maximise understanding of, and participation in, the standardization process. The NSSF brochures explain the roles of government, business and society, as it is through the active participation of all interested parties that the full benefits of standardization are realised.

Bullet-point Download 'NSSF - Shaping the Future of Standards in the UK' (PDF, 3.55MB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

National Standardization Strategic Framework (NSSF)
The National Standardization Strategic Framework is a programme developed collaboratively by the Department of Trade and Industry, the British Standards Institution and the Confederation of British Industry. The programme's goal is to maximise understanding of, and participation in, the standardization process. The NSSF brochures explain the roles of government, business and society, as it is through the active participation of all interested parties that the full benefits of standardization are realised. Download 'NSSF - Shaping the Future of Standards in the UK' (PDF, 3.55MB) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Standardization as a business investment

In conjunction with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the British Standards Institution (BSI) has produced a White Paper entitled 'Standardization as a business investment'.

The paper outlines how standards can raise productivity, improve environmental credentials and lower the cost of compliance. Drawing on research and using case studies of best practice and standardization from leading companies, this document makes a strong case for the strategic use of standards and dispels a number of myths about standardization with regard to cost, complexity, application and innovation.

Bullet-point Download 'Standardization as a business investment' (PDF, 102KB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Standardization as a business investment
In conjunction with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the British Standards Institution (BSI) has produced a White Paper entitled 'Standardization as a business investment'. The paper outlines how standards can raise productivity, improve environmental credentials and lower the cost of compliance. Drawing on research and using case studies of best practice and standardization from leading companies, this document makes a strong case for the strategic use of standards and dispels a number of myths about standardization with regard to cost, complexity, application and innovation. Download 'Standardization as a business investment' (PDF, 102KB) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Empirical Economics of Standards

The dissemination of technological and other forms of knowledge is well understood to be essential for competitiveness. The results of research and knowledge creation find their maximum economic value when they spread through the economy. Standards (as a source of codified knowledge) are an important vehicle for this dissemination process, but the contribution to the macro-economy of the take-up of knowledge via standards has been relatively under-researched. This paper reports the results of significant original research on the impact of standards on growth, productivity and innovation.

Bullet-point Download 'The Empirical Economics of Standards' (PDF, 969KB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Empirical Economics of Standards
The dissemination of technological and other forms of knowledge is well understood to be essential for competitiveness. The results of research and knowledge creation find their maximum economic value when they spread through the economy. Standards (as a source of codified knowledge) are an important vehicle for this dissemination process, but the contribution to the macro-economy of the take-up of knowledge via standards has been relatively under-researched. This paper reports the results of significant original research on the impact of standards on growth, productivity and innovation. Download 'The Empirical Economics of Standards' (PDF, 969KB) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Enabling Lighter Touch Regulation

Today's emphasis is on regulation and inspection that is low in cost for both the taxpayer and the inspected body, focusing strongly on organizations and activities recognized as presenting the highest risk. This publication explores the role standards can play in reducing traditional regulation, adding value, reducing costs and cutting red tape.

Bullet-point Download 'Enabling Lighter Touch Regulation' (PDF, 3.49MB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Enabling Lighter Touch Regulation
Today's emphasis is on regulation and inspection that is low in cost for both the taxpayer and the inspected body, focusing strongly on organizations and activities recognized as presenting the highest risk. This publication explores the role standards can play in reducing traditional regulation, adding value, reducing costs and cutting red tape. Download 'Enabling Lighter Touch Regulation' (PDF, 3.49MB) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Improving the efficiency of public procurement

To increase procurement efficiency those involved in public sector procurement must exploit all the tools available to them. Standards are a ready-made unambiguous way of judging products and business processes that all concerned can understand. This publication highlights the ways in which procurement departments can achieve 'better procurement' by using standards as a tool to secure continuous improvement.

Bullet-point Download 'Improving the efficiency of public procurement' (PDF, 2.70MB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

Improving the efficiency of public procurement
To increase procurement efficiency those involved in public sector procurement must exploit all the tools available to them. Standards are a ready-made unambiguous way of judging products and business processes that all concerned can understand. This publication highlights the ways in which procurement departments can achieve 'better procurement' by using standards as a tool to secure continuous improvement. Download 'Improving the efficiency of public procurement' (PDF, 2.70MB) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)

The Standards Solution for Government

Standards benefit government organizations in numerous ways - as the case studies in this guide show. By complementing legislation, they enable a 'lighter-touch' approach to regulation. In delivering best practice, standards make procurement more efficient by eliminating waste and ensuring maximum value for money. Working with standards provides a quicker and more cost-effective path to supporting innovation.

Produced specifically for government, this publication will help you find out how standards can help you to achieve your departmental objectives.

Bullet-point Download 'The Standards Solution for Government' (PDF, 1MB)

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (download free from Adobe)