UKAS Customer Communication - Status of Accreditation
Whatever the outcome of Brexit, whether the UK leaves the EU with or without a deal, UKAS will continue to be recognised by the UK Government as the UK's sole national accreditation body. This has been confirmed by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, and is included in the Statutory Instrument drafted in preparation of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit occurring.
UKAS’s international recognition through signatory status to the multi-lateral agreements with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) will remain unaffected by Brexit. Within Europe, UKAS will also retain its membership of the European cooperation for Accreditation (EA) and will remain a signatory to the EA multi-lateral agreement. Therefore, we are pleased to be able to confirm that UKAS Accreditation will retain the same international recognition that our customers and their clients rely upon, with the following exception:
We are pleased to say that further to our last update in April 2020, we have adapted some of our core processes and our team have adapted to working in the 'new normal', to continue to provide all of our regular services during the usual working hours. Our previous investments in recruiting and training the right people, combined with developing robust IT systems, have enabled ASAMS to demonstrate a good level of resilience during the pandemic.
Andrew Page, Director, ASAMS
"All of our staff have worked hard to adapt to the changes to ensure that our company can continue to give great service to our customers" said Thomas Whiskin, Director, ASAMS.
In addition to completing a full risk assessment, maintaining social distancing and providing our staff with additional PPE, we have made four main changes:
- We have modified our workflow processes including reducing paper use, using screens to create areas allowing isolation of technicians during testing and increasing cleaning. Reducing paper use has enabled us to produce high quality, secure digital reports and therefore provide an even better service to our customers.
During this period ASAMS have enacted plans to enable normal service for our clients and minimise any possible disruption. Staff will not be engaging in hand shaking and will enact social distancing to minimise the chance of infection. Staff are aware of the symptoms and have been encourage to self-isolate in accordance with government recommendations if they show signs of infection.
Witnessed testing will be carried out as normal and any client visits to site will continue as normal. However, ASAMS will endeavour to minimise unnecessary visitors to the laboratory and ask that visiting ASAMS laboratory is minimised to necessary visits only. Arrangements can also be made for remote witnessing of testing, if required.
ASAMS has contingency plans which may be bought into place to minimise disruption if the situation worsens. We will publicise these if and/or when necessary.
UKAS have now transitioned to issuing digital certificates of accreditation. With this comes additional functionality and reassurance for clients who are now able to check live whether the laboratory’s accreditation is still current. Below are the changes to the way ASAMS uses and publicises its accreditation with the digitisation.
ASAMS are now pleased to announce they have achieved accreditation to ISO 17025:2017 well within the deadline of December 2020 set by UKAS. The smooth transition to the new standard demonstrates ASAMS' commitment to quality and was enabled by the hard work of all staff to analyse and implement the new requirements of the standard.
ASAMS have been implementing the change across various areas of testing in order to comply with the most recent version of BS EN ISO 17025 which outlines general requirements for competence and testing for test laboratories. The awarding accreditation body UKAS visited ASAMS in August, where they conducted an annual audit of the lab in many key testing areas.
Download the certificate here
ASAMS were pleased to exhibit at the biennial conference held in Aberdeen from the 3rd -6th September at the new exhibition centre. The company was represented by Thomas Whiskin (Director/Metallurgist) and Rahul Wadher (Metallurgist) who spent the week connecting with companies locally and worldwide, whilst networking with potential leads.
The event was packed with exhibitors all involved in the Oil and Gas Industry, showcasing their products and services. Visitors from relevant industries were also present, offering further opportunity for the pair to network and make connections.
After the exhibition, Rahul said "I feel that we benefited a great deal from having a presence at this huge event. The contacts made and networking we were able to conduct will hopefully have a positive impact on the company moving forward in the next few years."
Thomas Whiskin (left) with Rahul Wadher (right) at the company stand during the show
ASAMS were pleased to have Mia Steward from Ormiston Venture Academy for a week’s work experience. Mia was shown a range of tests that ASAMS conducts and introduced to the procedures followed to ensure accuracy and traceability.
Rahul Wadher, Metallurgist and STEM ambassador, said “It was great having Mia here and being able to show her some of the work we carry out. We at ASAMS believe it is important to spread the word to students about the range of opportunities within STEM industries.” Mia said “I enjoyed my time with ASAMS and was introduced to a side of engineering I was not aware of.”
We are pleased to announce we have gained UKAS accreditation for the testing of welds on concrete reinforcing bars in accordance with BS 8548:2017.
This includes macro hardness testing, rebend testing, tensile testing to BS EN ISO 15630-1:2019 and shear testing to BS EN ISO 15630-2:2019.
If you would like to speak to us in regards to the new testing services please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01493 653535.
For the first time ASAMS are exhibiting at the SPE Offshore Europe 3-6 September 2019, Aberdeen. Come and see us; please book an appointment with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Great Yarmouth based ASAMS Ltd celebrated 30 years of metal testing at The Cliff Hotel, Gorleston with around 100 staff, clients and suppliers.
ASAMS Ltd is an independent UKAS accredited metals testing laboratory based in Great Yarmouth offering services to multiple industries with a main focus on the oil, gas and renewables industries. Founded in 1989 ASAMS has been providing excellent customer service and reliable results for 30 years to local, national and international clients.
Director Thomas Whiskin who has been with the business for the last 10 years said, “We are proud of what we have achieved for our clients. We continue to invest in the development of our staff so we can achieve our expansion plans and provide consistently high levels of service”.
As Nelson’s Journey, the child bereavement service for Norfolk, continues to be ASAMS charity of the year, the celebration was combined with the Purple Picnic fundraising week. “We are so pleased that ASAMS combined their 30th birthday party with our Purple Picnic week fundraising initiative.
Nelson’s Journey can only continue to help the increasing number of bereaved children in Norfolk requiring support with the financial contributions of business and the local community,” said Simon Wright, CEO, Nelson’s Journey who attended the celebration.
Rachel Blackburn, Director of Norwich based US2U Consulting, who organised the event said, “It was fantastic to combine the talents from so many Norfolk businesses to make the day a success; the venue staff, the cake maker, balloon provider, entertainers and photographer came together as one virtual team to provide a most memorable occasion.”
For more information, please contact Rachel Blackburn at US2U Consulting on 01603 716852 or 07786 263610 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
With cyber-crime and GDPR compliance very much in the news, customers and potential customers of ASAMS Limited will be re-assured to know that the company has achieved compliance with the industry-standard, cyber security guidelines.
We have been certified that our organisation was assessed as meeting the Cyber Essentials implementation profile [BIS/14/696/1.5] and thus that, at the time of testing, our organisation’s ICT defences were assessed as satisfactory against commodity based cyber-attack.
Thomas Whiskin, Director stated "ASAMS takes security very seriously, as we have access to sensitive data belonging to all our customers in the course of our testing activities. The Cyber Essentials certification is further evidence of ASAMS' commitment to data security."
You can view our certificate here.
With qualifications in metallurgy increasingly diminishing in the UK, ASAMS Ltd supports Richard Brown of M&C Educational Training Services Ltd who discusses the current situation and how metallurgy training can be saved.
The state of metallurgy training in the UK is dire, with very few organizations providing the opportunity for approved continuing professional development training. This is even lower for part-time and employed positions in metal work, as so few institutes can progress to regulated qualifications and have their own degrees available, in collaboration with a university partner.
ASAMS Ltd were proud to be represented by Thomas Whiskin and Ziggy Cooke along with Rachel Blackburn from US2U Consulting at this year’s 20th Anniversary Ball as part of the company’s continued support of The Nelson’s Journey Charity.
Nelson’s Journey is an organisation based in Norfolk providing support for bereaved children and ASAMS were pleased to be supporting their organisation for 2018.
As part of ASAMS continued commitment to reducing the company's environmental impact, ASAMS has purchased a new gas-powered forklift truck. This has replaced the old diesel forklift and will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the company. The forklift is regularly used to transport heavy test coupons into the machine shop for testing.
The benefits of using gas powered over diesel can be seen in its lower carbon emissions as it burns cleanly with fewer harmful bi-products such as sulphur, lead and soot.
We have recently invested in a new forklift truck, surface grinder and air compressor for the machine shop. The purchase of which has been supported by a grant secured through the New Anglia Small Grant Scheme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
These will enable us to handle larger items and increase the turn around of machining, meaning ASAMS will continue delivering the excellent service our customers expect.
We’ve been supported by New Anglia LEP’s Small Grant Scheme. Could it help you too? Find out at www.newanglia.co.uk
Following a successful recruitment campaign we are pleased to welcome Ziggy Cooke as the latest addition to our growing team. Ziggy has significant experience of being a Workshop Technician and is developing his skills as he learns the specifics required to carry out metal testing.
"Starting at ASAMS was an exciting new venture for me and a chance to learn new skills. Everyone has welcomed me as part of the team and have gone out of their way to answer the many questions I have been asking over the past few months while training me on specific machines and processes.
"It's great to see, and be part of, everyone working together to get the job done; there's no task that's too big or small and I'm grateful to be part of this growing company."
We are currently looking at expanding our range of services by purchasing a chemical analysis machine.
As part of the purchasing process we will be looking to consult with clients regarding their potential needs in this area - please get in touch if you are able to assist with the consultation process.