26/02/2025
Flagship achieves gold standard in health and safety
The ISO 45001 and UKAS logos.
Flagship’s commitment to health and safety has been recognised with a highly respected accreditation.
The east of England housing provider has achieved the ISO 45001 (UKAS) certification, which is considered the ‘gold standard’ in occupational health and safety management systems.
It follows a rigorous 10-day audit at the end of 2024, conducted by the British Standards Institution (BSI). The audit reviewed Flagship's health and safety arrangements, management system, operational controls, and legal compliance.
Helen Walsham, deputy chief executive of Flagship, said: "This accreditation signifies how seriously Flagship takes health and safety. After a lot of hard work and dedication from the entire business, we are delighted to have achieved this outcome. It reflects our ongoing commitment to the well-being of our employees and tenants and our proactive approach to managing health and safety risks."
Flagship’s Deputy Chief Executive Helen Walsham.
ISO 45001 helps organisations reduce workplace risks, improve employee safety, and create better working conditions. Achieving this certification was an 18-month process that involved a thorough review of Flagship’s practices across all locations. The BSI auditors visited Flagship’s Norwich, Dereham, and Melton offices, as well as operational teams working in the community, to ensure health and safety procedures were consistently applied across different geographical areas.
Daniel Archibald, Flagship's health and safety assurance manager, said: "Although uncommon in our sector, we made the decision to pursue this level of accreditation to set a new benchmark for safety in housing”.
"The audit highlighted several key strengths within Flagship. It recognised that we have a strong health and safety culture, with a workforce that is highly engaged in safety initiatives. Our health and safety management system is well-documented, and leadership is actively involved and supportive of safety efforts. The audit also noted a high level of consistency in our approach across all locations."