EBs Accreditation - Questions and Answers
Q1: What is the Environmental Bodies Accreditation scheme?
A1: The Environmental Bodies (EBs) Accreditation scheme is a voluntary process, which enables those EBs who wish to do so, to be subject to a systems based review of their internal control and governance frameworks. If an organisation can demonstrate that they reach the required standard, ENTRUST will be able to apply a lighter regulatory touch.
Q2: Why is the Accreditation process different from Certification?
A2: The Certification process has undergone a fundamental review, which has resulted in a more robust risk based review process. The new approach requires organisations to provide substantive evidence that their internal control and governance frameworks are effectively operating, rather than simply stating that it has the controls in place.
Q3: How has this Accreditation process been designed and reviewed?
A3: The Accreditation process has been developed in conjunction with EBs and it builds upon the stakeholder’s feedback on the Certification process and adopts auditing and accounting best practice standards.
Q4: If my EB was previously Certified under the older system, will it be granted Accredited status?
A4 If your EBs was previously Certified under the old system, it will not be possible for you to be granted Accredited status without being subject to the robust testing required under the new system.
Q5: What benefits does the Accreditation process give EBs?
A5: Once EBs are designated as reaching the required standard, they will be subject to a lighter regulatory touch through an annual compliance review. In addition, Accredited EBs will be able to self register projects through ENTRUST Online.
Q6: What if my organisation does not reach the required standard to be Accredited?
A6: To become accredited, EBs will be subject to a rigorous objective assessment of their internal control and governance framework. Any EBs which do not initially reach the required standard will be, as part of the review process, provided with a report detailing the areas of improvement required and be implemented to attain Accredited status.
ENTRUST is committed to working with and providing support to EBs to ensure they are able to take the necessary standard.
Q7: How do I go about becoming Accredited?
A7: The process is very easy and you should simply contact ENTRUST’s Operations Team and ask that your organisation is subject to the EBs Accreditation process.
Q8: Once Accredited, am I still able to submit projects to ENTRUST for registration
A8: Accredited bodies are granted the ability to register their own projects through ENTRUST online, but this is subject to monitoring by the Regulator to ensure appropriate standards are maintained. Accredited EBs will still be able to submit projects to ENTRUST for registration in the normal way if they wish.
Q9: How do I maintain my Accredited status?
A9: All Accredited EBs will be subject to an annual review by ENTRUST, which includes in year monitoring of projects, internal controls and other Key Performance Indicators during the year.
ENTRUST hopes that many EBs will take this opportunity to register for Accreditation and will be pleased to answer any further questions you may have concerning the new scheme.
Please address any issues to:
ENTRUST
Acre House
Sale
Manchester
M33 7WZ.
Tel: 0161 9720044; or
Email: information@entrust.org.uk
Please note that ENTRUST will be undertaking a series of training events during the coming months and would be available to discuss any issues you may have.