Strand Group Companies, Strand Facilities Services and Storall, have had their ISO quality standard ISO 27001:2013 renewed for a seventh successive year. The Companies undergo a rigorous annual accreditation process involving inspectors who travel from the UK to review all aspects that are covered by the international standards awards.

Chairman of Strand Group, John Hellowell, explains, ‘The inspectors aren’t looking to approve businesses that stand still. They look for constant development and improvement, so we can’t rest on our laurels and take our accreditation for granted. This is no rubber stamp procedure, it’s real and it’s ongoing. Several members of the team are involved in monitoring standards continuously throughout the year and we are always looking for ways to improve our service to customers.’

In 2014, Strand Group Companies Strand Facilities Services and Company, Storall, were upgraded to ISO 27001:2013, the latest information security management standard, and the 2015 audit sees them retain this accreditation. The audit checks that a specific set of procedures are in place to ensure that customers receive the highest quality of service. In particular, ISO 27001:2013 ensures that adequate controls addressing confidentiality, integrity and availability of information are in place to safeguard clients' information. Document management specialists, Storall, also holds ISO 9001:2008 a quality management standard which it has held for nine successive years. Following the move into Strand Group’s new purpose-built HQ, Storall attained the 2008 standard. This has also been part of the recent audit process. 

Mr Hellowell said, ‘These standards are important in all aspects of our business, particularly in facilities management where we are keyholders 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.’

Mr Hellowell went on to say, ‘Attaining and retaining these quality standards represents a significant investment, particularly in the time allocated by managers to ensure we don’t just maintain standards but constantly work to exceed expectations. Over the past two decades Governments and business groups on the island, in the UK and further afield have championed international ISO standards and encouraged companies like ours to go after the accreditation. We are glad we took up the challenge and we are better for it.’

Strand Group employs over 130 people within its four businesses, Strand Facilities Services, Storall, Krypton Cleaning Services and Clean A Way. The Group recently celebrated its first year in its new purpose-built HQ at Sailmaker House on Tromode Estate.

Full information on the Groups’ activities can be found at www.strandgroup.im. 

Photo - John Hellowell.