Parabola awarded Intellect Business Professional Certification
As a mature company Parabola has for some time wanted to get formal recognition of its business excellence and commitment to professionalism. On becoming a member of Intellect, the UK trade association for the IT, telecoms and electronics industries Parabola gained access to the Business Professional Certificate (BPC) accreditation process. The BPC has been created by experienced industry professionals who are already developing and sharing best practice and who are motivated to improve their own standards and supporting the reputation of the industry. It is an assurance of professionalism to clients that want to work with suppliers committed to attaining high standards.
Parabola was attracted to this particular certification process because the BPC is recognised widely, within the technology sector and outside it has been praised by Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise who said; "I am pleased to support the Business Professional Certificate scheme and congratulate those companies who have successfully completed the process. For companies to receive recognition in a programme designed by their peers is a clear indication of their professionalism and commitment to high standards."
In addition the certificate looks at the whole business, tying everything together, rather than focussing on discrete parts. The BPC involved a thorough examination of Parabola"s professionalism, best practice and market expertise covering the following areas:
• Information Security Policy
• Business Continuity
• Project Management
• Proposal Review
• Customer Care
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Human Resources
• Customer References
• Professional Indemnity and Escrow
The certification process was of great value to Parabola, it did highlight small gaps in some processes and it also enabled documentation of processes in a way that was meaningful to not only to employees of the business but to any external organisations who might be involved with the company.
Achieving this award illustrates to Parabola's existing clients that it is not complacent about standards, and is always striving to improve and develop. New customers can use the fact Parabola has achieved this standard to compare it against competitors.
The certificate was awarded to Parabola during a seminar by Intellect's deputy director general Tom Wills-Sandford.
Linda Major from Parabola attended to receive the award and commented; "It was interesting to see the range of businesses which participate in this certificate, they ranged from SME's like ourselves to larger organisations with hundreds of employees. In each case it shows their commitment to professionalism."