Exploring Standards with Assent

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess welcomes back Juliana Wood, Managing Director of Certifications at CIRQ. Following her popular appearance on the podcast where she introduced ISO 20252, Juliana returns to dive deeper into the standard, this time focusing on the top non-conformances seen during certification audits. ISO 20252 is the international standard for market, opinion, and s...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Kathy Clements, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Consultant and Head of Business Development & Partnerships at Assent Risk Management. Together, they take a deep dive into Assent’s anonymised Non-Conformance Log, revealing the Top 5 ISO 14001 non-conformances identified between April 2020 and April 2025. Drawing on findings from both interna...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by James Williams, Operations Director at 3Core2, who brings over 18 years of experience in the certification industry. Together, they dive into the BAFE SP101 Scheme – a key competency standard for organisations and technicians working with portable fire extinguishers. James explains what BAFE SP101 stands for and provides a clear overvi...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Will McKinney from Interface NRM to explore ISO 14064-1, the international standard for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As sustainability continues to climb the business agenda, this episode offers a clear and practical look at how ISO 14064-1 can support organisations on their path to carbon accountability. W...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Sarah Smith, a highly experienced consultant specialising in ISO 13485 Medical Devices and ISO 9001 Quality Management. With over ten years of experience in the medical device industry and expertise as a certified data protection officer, Sarah provides invaluable insights into the world of ISO 13485 and its importance for medical devi...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Robert Clements, Founder and CEO of Assent Risk Management, to discuss the Top 5 Non-Conformances often encountered during ISO 27001 audits. As one of the most critical standards for information security management, ISO 27001 helps businesses ensure their data is protected, but non-conformances can lead to delays in certification or co...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, we dive into ISO 20252, the international standard for market, opinion, and social research, with Juliana Wood, Managing Director and Director of Certifications at CIRQ. With the market research industry evolving rapidly, ISO 20252 is gaining more attention than ever—so what does it mean for businesses, and why is it becoming so popular? Juliana shares insig...

In Part 2 of our live Grow with ISO series, we delve into ISO 42001, the newly introduced international standard for artificial intelligence (AI), and explore how it is shaping the future of AI development and governance. Building on the insights from Part 1, this episode focuses on the strategic importance of ISO 42001 in ensuring AI systems are designed, implemented, and managed responsibly. Lea...

In this special episode of Exploring Standards, we bring you highlights from the live event, Grow with ISO, held at the stunning Spitalfields Conservatory in London in November 2024. Hosted by Robert Clements from Assent Risk Management, Paul Stevens from AvISO, and Kevin Shinners from A-LIGN, this event brought together industry leaders to explore the transformative power of ISO frameworks. Part...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Adam Hollick, an ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor with 12 years of experience in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Together, they dive into the essentials of ISO 27001, the globally recognised standard for information security management. Adam provides a clear overview of ISO 27001, explaining the purpose of an Information Security Managem...

In this episode, we dive into the journey of implementing ISO standards at Assent Risk Management, as host Jess is joined by Kathy Clements from Assent Risk Management. Kathy, shares the experience of implementing ISO standards across the organisation, including the process of selecting the right standards and choosing a certification body. Kathy also provides valuable insights into the internal a...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Martin Davies from Drata to discuss how businesses can streamline ISO and SOC compliance using automation. Martin shares insights into Drata’s innovative tool, detailing how it alleviates common pain points in compliance processes and caters to various types of businesses. The episode delves into how consultants can collaborate with Dr...

Starting your ISO journey can feel like a daunting task, but in this week’s episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Robert Clements, Founder and CEO of Assent Risk Management, to guide you through the process and help you take those first steps with confidence. Robert shares valuable insights on how to choose the right ISO Standard for your organisation and outlines the initial step...

Welcome back to Season 3 of Exploring Standards with Assent. In this week’s, host Jess sits down with Rob Hall from Tempo Audits to discuss how Tempo is shaking up the world of ISO 27001 certification. With an innovative approach to certification and auditing, Tempo Audits is leading the way in remote auditing practices. Rob shares the story behind Tempo Audits and how their unique certification p...

Join host Donna and Jonathan Hurley, ISO Consultant & Trainer, in this insightful episode of Exploring Standards as they delve into Six Sigma, a project management based approach to business process improvement. In this episode, Jonathan provides in depth insights into Six Sigma, how companies can use it valuably, and explores its significance in increasing profits. 

In this episode, Danny Lee shares how his 15 year career in the RAF has led him into the world of compliance and consultancy. We discuss the aspects of Danny's role in the RAF and how they're relevant to ISO standards and compliance. We take a look at why ISO consultancy was a first choice career path when leaving the forces and which skills were most transferable when becoming an ISO consultant.

Rob steps in for host Jess to talk to Paige Dadds.  Paige is a managing consultant at Montash a recruitment firm focusing on contract and permanent recruitment in IT. In this episode, we look at the growing need for artificial intelligence resources.  We explore the current needs of employers in the A.I space and discuss whether their expectations in terms of experience and salaries are realistic....

Join host Jess in an inspiring conversation with Sam Cande, CEO of Responsible Futures, in this episode of Exploring Standards. Focused on "How Businesses Can Become More Sustainable and Socially Responsible," this discussion offers valuable insights into leveraging international standards to drive positive change. With over 20 years of experience in sustainability and social responsibility, Sam b...

In this episode of Exploring Standards host Jess delves into the intricacies of managing conflict of interest with Robert Clements, Founder and CEO of Assent Risk Management. In this insightful discussion, they explore how international standards are utilised within organisations to drive improvement and manage risk, focusing specifically on conflict of interest in ISO consultancy. Robert provides...

Join host Jess and expert consultant and lead auditor Kathy Clements in this enlightening episode of Exploring Standards. Focused on "Preparing for Audits and Certification," this discussion provides valuable insights into the stages of the ISO certification process and what organisations can expect on audit day. In this episode, Kathy answers essential questions surrounding audit preparation, inc...

Join host Jess and Pete Rushmer, Founder of Flagship Partners, in this insightful episode of Exploring Standards as they delve into the realm of fleet logistics and compliance. Discover how international standards drive improvement and ensure compliance within organizations, particularly in the context of fleet management. In this episode, Pete provides valuable insights into ISO 39001, the standa...

Join host Jess in this insightful episode of Exploring Standards as she delves into the transition from auditor to consultant with special guest Paul Venter. With experience in ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and ISO 27001, Paul shares valuable insights gained from his journey, offering unique perspectives on the utilisation of international standards within organisations. In this conversation, Paul discusse...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, Jess is joined by Tom Wheat from Perry Johnson Registrations UK to discuss Moving ISO Certification Bodies. Throughout the discussion, Tom addresses key questions and topics surrounding the process of changing ISO certification bodies.   One of the fundamental questions explored in this episode is whether organisations can change their ISO certification body...

Join host Jess in a discussion on the future of infrastructure as she sits down with Henry Fenby-Taylor, the Founder of Athenophillia, a thought leader in digital twins, information management, and a key contributor to ISO 19650. In this episode, they explore Cyber-Physical Infrastructure. Henry opens the conversation by offering a brief explanation of cyber-physical infrastructure, he then provid...

Making ISO Accessible with Kathy Clements   In this episode Jess welcomes back ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 consultant and lead auditor, Kathy Clements, for an another episode of Exploring Standards. Join us as we bridge the gap and make ISO more accessible with Kathy, providing invaluable insights and practical advice for organisations seeking to drive improvement through international standards.   In...