Exploring Standards with Assent

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Rob Clements and Danny Lee to discuss the launch of Vaelo Aerospace and the growing opportunities within the aerospace and defence sectors. The conversation explores why Vaelo was created, the gap it aims to fill in the consultancy market, and why aerospace requires a specialist approach to quality, compliance, and supply chain managem...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Rob Clements, CEO and Director of Assent Risk Management, for a fascinating discussion on how ISO consultancy has evolved over the past 20 years. Rob shares how he entered the industry from an IT background during the rise of ISO 27001 and information security management systems, a very different route from the traditional quality mana...

This episode of Exploring Standards is a recording of a webinar hosted by Assent Risk Management in partnership with ISOQAR, exploring the upcoming changes to ISO 14001:2026 and what organisations need to know to prepare. Featuring Robert Clements from Assent Risk Management and Natalie Walker from ISOQAR, this session brings together both consultancy and certification perspectives to cut through...

This episode of Exploring Standards is Part 2 of a live recording from the in-person event, “ISO 9001: Now and Into the Future,” hosted by Assent Risk Management in collaboration with Interface NRM. Featuring Rob Clements from Assent Risk Management and Ryan Stevens from Interface NRM, this session continues the discussion from Part 1, bringing together both implementation and certification perspe...

This episode of Exploring Standards, is a recording from an in-person event, “ISO 9001: Now and Into the Future,” hosted by Assent Risk Management in collaboration with Interface NRM. Featuring Rob from Assent Risk Management and Ryan from Interface NRM, this session brings together both implementation and certification perspectives on one of the world’s most widely used standards. The episode beg...

The ISO 14001 standard has been updated, and there's a lot of noise around it, but should you be worried? In this episode, we break down exactly what's changed, what it means for your business, and why the transition is far more manageable than you might think. In this episode we cover: What ISO 14001 is and why it matters The key changes in the 2026 update (spoiler: it's not as dramatic as 2015)...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess sits down with Tobias Mielke, Global Product Manager at TÜV Nord, to explore one of the most overlooked dimensions of information security - culture. While many organisations treat ISO 27001 as a compliance checkbox, Tobias makes the case that the standard is actually a powerful framework for embedding security into the DNA of your organisation. Fr...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess sits down with Cornelia Campbell-Swart, a healthcare compliance and safety professional with over 15 years of experience, to break down ISO 7101, the first ISO standard written specifically for healthcare organisations.   What You'll Learn What ISO 7101 is and why it's a landmark standard for global healthcare Which healthcare organisations benefit...

In this episode, host Jess sits down with Gary Beales from UTAC, an expert in management systems and certification implementation for the automotive sector, to explore IATF 16949, the international quality management standard designed specifically for the automotive industry. What You'll Learn: What IATF 16949 is and why it matters for organisations in the automotive supply chain How the standard...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess sits down with Frances Gordon, a content strategist and plain language expert who has been a contributor to ISO 24495 - the international plain language standard. With nearly three decades of experience, Frances shares insights from the recent Brussels Plain Language Experience and breaks down what plain language truly means beyond just "simple wor...

In this episode, host Jess sits down with Sandra Chalhoub, a food safety expert specialising in ISO 22000, to explore the international standard for food safety management systems. What You'll Learn: What ISO 22000 is and why it matters in today's global food supply chain How climate change and globalisation are creating new food safety challenges The difference between ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRC,...

Welcome to Exploring Standards! In this episode, host Jess sits down with Dan Sampson, a GRC consultant and certified lead auditor specialising in ISO 27001 and ISO 42001, to explore the intersection of information security and AI governance.   What You'll Learn: The key differences between ISO 27001 (information security) and ISO 42001 (AI governance) How these two standards complement each other...

In the final episode of Season 3 of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by two special guests: Kirsty Wakefield, Information Security Sector Manager at ISOQAR, and Rob Clements, CEO & Director of Assent. Together, they explore one of the most talked-about topics in today’s business world, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the emerging international standard ISO 42001. Kirsty Wakefield is...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Jay Riddler, Co-Founder and Director of Dynamic Consultancy Solutions, to dive into ISO 39001, Road Traffic Safety Management and its impact on the haulage and logistics industry. With over 20 years of frontline and management experience in transport, Jay brings a wealth of knowledge on compliance, accreditations, and safety standards....

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Ben Moulds, Risk, Assurance & Compliance Manager at Whistl, one of the UK’s leading logistics companies. Whistl recently completed its first year of outsourced internal audits across five ISO standards, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 45001, and ISO 50001, all certified with UKAS-accredited certification body LRQA. Ben shares W...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Robert Low, founder and lead developer of ApexGlobal Quality, to explore ISO 22716, the international standard for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the cosmetics industry. With 16 years of experience in personal care and household sectors and credentials as a lead auditor in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22716, and BRCGS CP, Rob brings...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Michael Venner, CEO of Auva Certification, to discuss what organisations really need to know when preparing for a certification audit. With years of experience overseeing audits across various industries, Michael offers a clear and practical look at what auditors are truly looking for and how to avoid the most common pitfalls. Michael...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined once again by Rob Hall, Founder of Tempo Audits, following his earlier appearance this season discussing remote auditing in ISO 27001. This time, Rob returns to share his journey to achieving UKAS accreditation, a significant milestone for any certification body. Rob walks us through why UKAS accreditation matters, not just for credibilit...

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Danny Lee, an experienced quality professional with a strong background in aviation and aerospace. Together, they dive into the world of AS9100, the internationally recognised quality management system standard specifically designed for the aerospace, aviation, and defence industries. Danny begins by explaining the purpose and scope of...

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...