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New research highlights economic value of UKAS accredited management systems certification
Accredited management systems certification helps UK businesses achieve stronger performance and greater resilience during economic disruption, according to new research commissioned by The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
The study analysed nearly two decades of business data covering more than 34,000 firms certified to ISO 9001 and over 14,000 firms certified to ISO 14001. By linking UKAS certification records with firm-level financial data, the research represents the largest study to date examining the economic value of accredited management systems certification in the UK.
The findings show that firms holding accredited certification generally report higher levels of revenue and productivity than comparable non-certified businesses. Certified firms were also more resilient during major economic shocks including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and energy price volatility.
Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular benefited from accredited certification, with management systems providing organisational structure and risk management capabilities that helped businesses adapt during periods of instability.
The research also highlights the widespread adoption of ISO 9001 quality management systems and ISO 14001 environmental management systems across the UK economy. Manufacturing and construction account for a significant proportion of certifications, although service sectors including professional services, retail and administrative activities also demonstrate strong uptake.
Matt Gantley, CEO at UKAS, said:
“Accredited management systems certification provides organisations with more than a compliance framework. It strengthens governance, embeds continuous improvement and builds the organisational discipline that enables businesses to perform and adapt over the long term.”
He added:
“This research reinforces the role of accredited certification within the UK’s quality infrastructure. Robust management systems help organisations navigate uncertainty, maintain credibility in global markets and support sustainable economic performance.”
While the study found that immediate productivity gains following certification can be modest for recent adopters, the research concludes that certification should be viewed as a long-term investment in organisational capability and resilience.
The full report, The economic value of accredited management systems certification, was produced by researchers from Aston University, the University of Nottingham and Durham University.
The research is based on a large longitudinal dataset combining the UKAS CertCheck certification database with financial data from Moody’s Analytics Orbis covering the period from 2005 to 2024.
Download the report
Full research report
Research summary
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