What Garden Landscape Designer Accreditations Should I Look For

Before deciding on a landscape company for your grand build and makeover, it’s important to check companies’ accreditations and understand what these really mean for you. Accreditations provide protection for both parties and although it’s easy to become baffled at first glance by various ISOs and knowing your BALI, from a CHAS, from a SSIP, they hold fundamental significance and determine the quality of the workmanship you receive.

Essentially this means your chosen landscapers must meet very high standards of work and quality set out by the governing bodies. It provides reassurance throughout the entire project that all correct processes are being adhered to, and in the unlikely event you experience any issues, your contractor will have to meet certain criteria in order to resolve any disputes.

Graduate Landscapes is BALI, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, CHAS, and SSIP accredited. Graduate Landscapes are relatively unique among landscape design companies to have acquired quite so many different levels of ISO accreditations. We do so because we value the independent oversight and input that being fully accredited provides. All these accreditations are reassessed and awarded every year, and not simply paid for.

Bali is the leading trade association for all landscape professionals covering design, build, and maintenance through to supply, training, and education. To apply for Bali membership, a company must sign up to the association’s Code of Conduct pledging to carry work out to the highest standard. Bali members must invest in staff training and development, adhering to health and safety regulations whilst considering the environmental and ethical impact of work carried out. Honesty and integrity are key, and something you should ensure you have from day one of any landscaping project.

To gain ISO 9001 a company must follow strict processes and high levels of professionalism. Despite not being specific to landscaping, it ensures companies have a strong customer focus with continual improvement throughout. ISO management systems help organisations create a culture constantly engaging in self-evaluation whilst assessing processes throughout.

ISO 14001 helps organisations improve their environmental performance by reducing waste and efficient use of resources. The internationally agreed standard sets out the requirements for an environmental management system which helps organisations identify, manage, and monitor environmental issues holistically. The organisation has to consider all environmental issues relevant to its operation, such as air pollution, water and sewage issues, waste management, soil, and climate change mitigation.

ISO 45001 is the gold standard for workplace health and safety and is for organizations that are serious about improving employee safety. With effective ISO 45001 systems in place, we reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions. Following these health and safety systems at work not only save lives but also helps develop effective business performance.

CHAS helps companies achieve compliance in all areas of risk management and committed to setting health and safety benchmarks whilst meeting excellent high standards. Once an organisation has joined CHAS, they gain further accreditation through Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP). SSIP is an umbrella organisation for health and safety assessment bodies, approved by HSE. SSIP doesn’t work directly with contractors, instead, it provides core criteria for assessment. Overall, if your chosen landscaper has CHAS and SSIP accreditation, you can rest at ease knowing all health and safety benchmarks are being met.