Strand Group Companies, Strand Facilities Services and Storall have had their ISO quality standards renewed for a further year.
This is the sixth successive year that the Companies have been through the rigorous annual accreditation process that is necessary to achieve the internationally recognised ISO Quality Standards. At the recently completed audit both Companies were upgraded to ISO27001:2013, the latest information security management standard. Storall has also been upgraded to ISO9001:2008 which is a quality management standard. The audit ensures that a specific set of procedures are in place so that customers receive the highest quality of service. Strand Group is just completing the move into a new corporate HQ at Tromode Estate and the latest accreditation audit was carried out at the new premises. The ISO auditors described the Group’s new facility as ‘first class’ in their report.
Strand Group is bringing the four businesses in the Group, Strand Facilities Services, Storall, Krypton Contract Cleaning and Clean A Way, under one roof for the first time. The new purpose-built HQ at Tromode Estate consists of five units of 3,000 sq feet each with mezzanine offices in the first unit, and occupies 1.25 acres of the Estate’s new Gateway Development.
Strand Facilities Services was one of the first local companies to obtain ISO27001 and remains the only Company in its sector to have achieved the standard on the Island. In fact the quality standard is unusual in the facilities management sector, even in the UK, due to the high standards that are required to be maintained on a day-to-day basis.
The new upgraded quality standards mean that both Companies have made improvements in a number of areas.
IS027001:2013, the information security management standard, ensures that adequate controls addressing confidentiality, integrity and availability of information are in place to safeguard client information.
John Hellowell, Strand Group’s Chairman said, ‘These standards are important in all aspects of our business particularly in facilities management where we are key-holders for over 200 companies including several Banks. They are also essential for the document scanning, storage and destruction work carried out by Group Company, Storall’.
Strand Group’s new HQ incorporates a number of additional safety and security measures. The building’s foundations were raised by a metre and building standards far exceed statutory requirements in areas such as fire and flooding. There is restricted access to many parts of the facility and both internal and external CCTV cameras are in operation. A sophisticated intruder and fire alarm system has also been installed.
Mr Hellowell said, about Storall’s additional accreditation, ISO9001:2008, ‘With many of the largest businesses on the Island as customers, and a number of Government contracts too, we strive not just to give excellent service but we constantly look for ways to improve. The ISO9001:2008 approach to quality is embedded across the business and every member of the team understands how their actions create a better customer experience. Processes are in place to continually review and improve our customers’ experience.’
Strand Group employs over 130 people and all have now relocated to the new HQ.
Photo - Some of the Strand Group team responsible for maintaining ISO Quality Standards are pictured outside the Group's new HQ.
