industry news SME profile Monday 03 Oct 2016 @ 14:22 Chancellor opens new UKAS headquarters

The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP Chancellor of the Exchequer declared the new offices of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) officially open for business on Friday 16th September 2016.  Based in Staines-upon- Thames, the modern offices are located in Mr Hammond’s constituency of Runnymede and Weybridge.

Unveiling a specially commissioned commemorative plaque, Mr Hammond said: “I am delighted to be here at this triple celebration of 50 years of accreditation in the UK, 21 years of UKAS and the official opening of your new office premises within my constituency.  UKAS has a very strong national reputation and its significant role in the international accreditation forum is recognised across the world; knowing that we can trust reports from laboratories, data from food processors and health check results is a hugely important plus for the economy.  UKAS accreditation underpins that sense of confidence as the UK being a place to do business, conduct research and place investment.  We’re going to need these advantages even more in a post-Brexit world.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lord Jamie Lindsay, Chairman of UKAS said: “UKAS performs a central role nationally, with 2016 marking 21 years since DTI Ministers brought together the various strands of accreditation in the UK to create a single national accreditation body.  UKAS also plays a significant international and global role – underpinning trade and facilitating new markets for UK businesses.  Every country in the world has some form of accreditation system and UKAS has been a leader at the very forefront of developing these systems.  With government contemplating how best to form a new relationship with Europe, and open new markets, accreditation is going to be a key pillar of the post-Brexit economy.”

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The Rt Hon Philip Hammond Chancellor of the Exchequer officially opens the UKAS Staines-upon-Thames office

The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP Chancellor of the Exchequer 

officially opens UKAS' Staines-upon-Thames office

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