Guaranteed independence & impartiality
Impartiality and Independence Policy Statement
We value our independence and impartiality. We do not provide age check systems or age verification services, all we do is test that these systems and services work. Our impartiality is guaranteed through our Impartiality Panel and through our governance framework. We have strict confidentiality requirements, set out in our terms and conditions and as part of ISO 17065 requirements for certification bodies.
We have put in place policies and procedures to manage impartiality and to ensure that the certification activities are undertaken impartially. Certification will not be restricted to applicants on the grounds of undue financial or other limiting conditions. Applications and procedures have been designed so as not to unfairly impede or inhibit access by applicants, candidates or clients. All our employees, contractors or committees will act impartially.
This page represents our Impartiality and Independence Policy Statement that is publicly available without request. We do not allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise impartiality. In order to analyse, document and eliminate or minimise the potential for conflict of interest arising from its certification activities, we have developed an Impartiality Risk Register. The Risk Register is an ongoing working document, used to continually assess threats to impartiality. It is used in conjunction with other documentation, such as Interview Assessment Records, CVs, Contracts, etc.
Our Impartiality Panel consists of the Chief Executive of the Scheme and at least two independent members. The role of this Panel is to review our certification activities and verify that they are performed impartially without undue influences that might affect the impartiality of services offered.
The main responsibilities of the Impartiality Panel are:
- To assist with the development of policies relating to the impartiality of our certification services,
- To periodically review the impartiality of our certification processes.
- To advise on matters affecting confidence in certification, including openness and public perception,
- To prevent commercial or other considerations from affecting the objective provision of certification services, and
- To ensure that the actions of the panel itself do not present any risks to impartiality.
Our Employees will not be certified themselves under this Scheme. Our management, review and certification officers are not be involved in the activities of any legal entity that offers or produces the certified product, process or service. In addition, personnel of a client or applicant are not be involved in our management, reviews, or the certification decisions.
We are not:
- the designer, manufacturer, installer, distributor or maintainer of the certified product.
- the designer, implementer, operator or maintainer of the certified process.
- the designer, implementer, provider or maintainer of the certified service.
- offering or providing consultancy services to our clients.
- offering or providing management system consultancy or internal auditing to our clients.
We may implement, maintain or operate a product, process or service where this is necessary for the purpose of evaluation of the product, process or service.
We are not marketed or offered as linked with the activities of any organisation that provides consultancy, nor do we state or imply that the use of any particular consultancy organisation would make certification simpler, easier, faster or less expensive.
Access to our services is available to all applicants whose activities fall within scope of the scheme. No application is be conditional upon the size of the client or membership of any association or group, nor is certification conditional upon the number of certifications already issued.
Our Certification Officers nor any of our employees involved in the review or decision making process have worked for or provided consultancy to any Scheme Client for a period of at least two years prior to their activity for us.
We confine our requirements, evaluation, review, decision and monitoring to those matters specifically related to the scope of certification.
ACCS Experience
We’ve worked with customers all over the world in a wealth of sectors, bringing our expertise to retailers, age check providers, gambling companies, entertainment providers and more. Find out how we can help your company safeguard young people and stay compliant.
Head Office Team
Test Purchase Crew
Number of Visits Completed
Age Check Certification Scheme
History
2022
Appointed to operate the Digital ID System Certification service for the UK Government’s Digital ID Trust Framework
2021
2021
2020
We opened our Age Check Testing Studio enabling us to examine all types of age check systems, equipment, devices and ID cards.
2019
2018
We launched the beta version of our state-of-the-art test purchasing app on the Android and iOS app stores. This app enables our test purchasers to manage their day-to-day activity in a geocoded secure and live process.
2017
We gained our accreditation as a Highfield Qualifications Awarding Centre as we switched from EdExcel, providing new training opportunities, new workbooks and improved services for our learners
2014
We started our first major partnership programme of activity aiming to reduce the number of legitimate retailers that were at risk of selling tobacco to children
2011
Team Behind Our Success
In every journey towards success, there exists a pivotal force that propels progress, fosters innovation, and embodies resilience. Our journey is no exception. Behind every milestone we achieve, there stands a formidable team, a collective of dedicated individuals whose passion, commitment, and unwavering resolve serve as the cornerstone of our success.
