ISO 14001


How do I get ISO 14001?

  1. Identify what you do that affects the environment (or has the potential to do so in the event of an accident or emergency situation)
  2. Identify what legislation apples to you, why, and what you do to comply with it.
  3. Establish a system that complies with the standard and the law
  4. Brief staff
  5. Operate the system to make sure it is working
  6. Appoint a “certification body” to certify the system
  7. Keep using the system once it has been certified (to keep the certificate)

There is more detailed information below about the various stages you need to go through.

Your ISO 14001 certification journey

Group 161

Getting Started

  1. Provide a comprehensive briefing of what the standard asks you to do in simple to understand terms
  2. Begin to understand in detail how you operate
  3. Set a timetable and stick to it
  4. Decide what you want covered by the certificate – which sites, products and services.
  5. Put the right resources in place
  6. Collect all existing documentation
  7. Establish a dedicated client portal on our collaboration and document sharing platform
  8. Identify your environmental aspects and impacts and emergency situation & put plans in place to manage
Group 162


  1. Establish a detailed project plan in our online project management platform (and stick to it)
  2. Decide with you what you need operationally
  3. Map out your business processes
  4. Identify your legal responsibilities and ensure compliance
  5. Complete a gap analysis between what the standard requires and what you have/do already
  6. Implement the system
  7. Submit the system to Episode Head Office for final QC checks
  8. We return it to you for your final approval
  9. Separate consultant internally audits the system
  10. Carry out a management review
Group 163


  1. Work with you to select and appoint a UKAS accredited certification body
  2. Be onsite throughout the certification process
  3. Address any issues that arise during the audit
  4. Brief you on post-certification activity:
    a. 3 year cycle of annual surveillance audits and
    b. what you need to do throughout the year to maintain the system
  5. Agree where the finished, certified system should be housed

Episode guarantees certification


How do we know what we should be doing environmentally?

You are not expected to be experts in environmental matters. If you are in a high risk industry (such as oil & gas), or highly regulated industry  (such as waste management) you will already be aware of the regulations that apply and what you must do.

For general businesses Episode consultants are experienced enough to identify your aspects and impacts with you, and we have a great online compliance tool, Libryo, that ensures you comply with legislation.

However, if between us we feel we need specialist environmental input, Episode has a partner able to work with us (they helped shape or environmental management system framework so know how to make best use of it with us if needs be).

What’s business strategy got to do with it?

The standard is written to help you arrive at your business strategy, if you haven’t already, and then tailor systems and processes to achieving that strategy. ISO even considered renaming ISO 9001 Business, rather than, quality, management systems. It is actually a really good business model to adopt (we have).

Will it create red tape and take too much time?

Done wrong, absolutely. Too many systems we see have a form or document to cover every aspect of the standard. That’s the easy way to build a system, and an equally easy way to cripple you operationally. You know when this is the case when you spend a  month “updating” (i.e. creating false) records, etc. before the auditor next comes.

Done right, as we will make sure it is, the system should be at the core of how you work. Remember, we make ISO work for you, not the other way around.

How long will it take?

It is difficult to give precise timescales, as it depends on a number of things such as how complex the business is, how close you are to complying with the standard already, and so on. We recommend planning for it taking at least 3 months.

Why should I choose Episode?

For a fixed cost we will do as much of the work as possible, and guarantee certification.

Episode has worked with over 40 clients, many of whom have more than one standard they comply with (one has 5). All have been successfully certified and many  subsequently ask us to help them maintain certification, and get more out of the system.

How much will it cost?

There are the following costs that will arise

  1. External consultants

Episode always gives a fixed fee proposal for a project, and we include guaranteed certification. A typical single standard project is about £3,900, but this does depend on the size and complexity of your business.

  1. Certification costs

You will need an external company certify the system as being compliance with the standard. There are over 100 UKAS accredited bodies in the UK, and a range of prices. All UKAS accredited bodies will get you to where you need to be (i.e. issued with a UKAS accredited certificate). We will manage this process for you, and typical costs for a single standard range from £1,800 to £2,500 for a single standard, depending on size and complexity of the business.

  1. Internal business costs.

Sometimes, but rarely, you may have to invest in things such as having machinery serviced &/or calibrated.

To speak to an expert to discuss your requirements call us on 0113 801 9001

What is quality management and ISO 14001?

ISO 14001:2015, environmental management system requirements, sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and can be certified to. It maps out a framework that a company or organisation can follow to set up an effective environmental management system. It can be used by any organisation regardless of its activity or sector.


ISO 14001 is suitable for organisations of all types and sizes, be they private, not-for-profit or governmental.




When done correctly, gaining and maintaining ISO certification is not as complicated as most think. Trust Episode to make ISO work for you, not the other way around.

Contact us today on 0113 8019001 or click here to email us


It was only by utilising the expert guidance and experience of ‘Episode Ltd.’ That Thurston Group was able to attain certification within an exceptionally challenging time frame. We therefore offer our thanks to Episode Ltd. For the diligent and professional services provided. We also look forward to working with them again soon and would not hesitate to recommend their services."


Peter Spieight, Senior Divisional Director, Thurston Group, Wakefield

Roger's support was invaluable in terms of gap analysis, recommendations for improvement, and facilitation of the certification process. I would strongly recommend Roger to any organisation wishing to develop or improve its management systems, in a way which minimizes bureaucracy, and focuses on best serving the needs of the organization.

Gary Evans, Flour Corporation, Abu Dhabi