24 January 2014
Portakabin Group Achieves Outstanding Five-Star Rating in Achilles Building Confidence Audit
The Portakabin Group has been accredited to the highest level in its fifth annual Achilles Building Confidence audit - its best ever performance.
The Group is one of only a small percentage of companies to achieve a five-star rating and the only supplier in more than two years to achieve 12 positive observations. The Portakabin Group offers a series of market-leading modular building brands including Portakabin, Portaloo, Yorkon and Konstructa, which all now benefit from the independent accreditation.
Building Confidence is widely recognised as the preferred standard for supplier pre-qualification, registration and accreditation. In total, 17 buying organisations use a standardised pre-qualification questionnaire to streamline the procurement process and manage risk consistently among 1,500 suppliers.
Its rigorous two-day audit assessment is designed to measure capability, competence and compliance across a number of operational areas, including health and safety, quality and sustainability. It also helps to identify potential areas for improvement, risk reduction and to provide customers with standardised performance criteria.
The Portakabin Group achieved zero errors in the initial pre-qualification questionnaire and it went on to secure the five-star accreditation having demonstrated excellent commitment to health and safety standards, quality, corporate social responsibility, environmental best practice and adherence to legislative requirements and regulations.
"The Achilles Building Confidence audit is designed to uncover any potential weaknesses within a business in order to drive continuous improvement across the construction industry supply chain in the UK," said Stephen Marshall, Manager of Achilles Building Confidence.
"The Portakabin Group has achieved an outstanding accreditation. Only a very small percentage of suppliers receive five-star ratings. This, coupled with having zero errors at pre-qualification stage, and a high number of positive observations, is a significant accomplishment for the Group."
Commenting on its success, Derek Carter, Chief Executive of the Portakabin Group, said, "We are absolutely delighted to be accredited under the Achilles scheme and to achieve such a strong, independently-audited performance. It is a real credit to everyone involved from across the business."
"This latest industry accreditation assures our customers that we have robust and best practice procedures in place, and such a high performing Achilles Building Confidence audit is a further endorsement of our promise to deliver consistently to the very highest standards."
Key observations highlighted in the report include:
- Customer satisfaction - surveys are conducted for every customer and results are closely monitored and set out in regular performance reports with a high score set as the required standard
- Devotion to core values - strong evidence of teamwork, integrity, commitment and innovation throughout the assessment
- Extensive commitment to sustainability - having achieved a number of sustainability accolades, the audit highlighted the Zero Waste Gold award presented to Portakabin for its many recycling initiatives and achievement of zero waste to landfill at its international manufacturing centre in York
- Comprehensive employee training - a wide variety of programmes are in place for staff at every level and all employees are continually assessed for levels of competence
- Employing locally wherever possible
- Engagement with the local community - this includes a number of charitable activities which are publicised internally in the Group's monthly Corporate Social Responsibility publication.
Portakabin customers have the reassurance of many other independent accreditations which include Government Procurement Service framework; Dun & Bradstreet financial rating; ISO 9001 for quality assurance, ISO 14001 for environmental performance, as well as Zurich, BBA, LABC, and CE approvals for its modular buildings.
For further information about modular buildings for permanent and interim applications, visit www.portanews.co.uk, email information@portakabin.co.uk or call 0845 401 0010.
Editor's Notes
1. The Portakabin Group offers a series of market-leading modular brands which includes:
- Portakabin modular buildings for permanent and interim use
- Yorkon off-site design and build solutions
- Portaloo toilet, shower and changing room facilities
- Konstructa site accommodation hire
- Foremans Relocatable Building Systems supplying highly sustainable refurbished Portakabin buildings
- Oecon Mobilraum GmbH - a manufacturer and distributor of modular buildings in Germany.
2. Portakabin, Portakabin Group, Yorkon, Foremans, Portaloo, Konstructa and Oecon are registered trademarks.
3. The Portakabin Group is part of the Shepherd Group.
