Collaborative business relationships – BSI consultation

01 July 2010

The draft British Standard BS 11000 Collaborative business relationships is now out for public consultation. This standard builds upon the successful PAS 11000, the framework specification for supporting collaborative business partnering.

The framework developed by BSI with PSL (Partnership Sourcing Limited) along with government and procurement professionals has so far helped organizations to establish, manage and improve strategic partnering both within and across the public and private sectors. BS 11000 aims to expand this further, addressing wider business sectors and elements of partnering relevant to small and medium-sized enterprises.
PSL’s unique CRAFT methodology provides a framework for business relationship management developed from the collective experience of the PSL knowledge network. This programme was adopted by the British Standards Institution (BSI) as the foundation of the Collaborative Business Relationship Framework – PAS 11000, published in November 2006 - the world’s first Standard in relationship management.
Martyn Hart, Chairman of the National Outsourcing Association (NOA) said: "The NOA believes that this is an important initiative enabling all to benefit from the good practices of a robust and widely accepted standard in this essential part of the UK economy. The NOA has joined with BSI to vigorously encourage other industry associations, and individual organisations, involved in all types of collaborative business relationships across the UK to participate in the consultation process."
Mike Low, Director of BSI Standards commented: "Both business and the public sector are increasingly working in open environments with collaboration seen as an increasingly effective business model for organisations to work together. PAS 11000 has already helped a number of key partnerships to improve their collaborative working and the move to a British Standard will further support this. I would encourage all those interested to examine this draft standard and provide us with their comments."
BS 11000 is expected to be available in Q4 2010. Earlier this year, five leading companies in the defence, aviation and support services sectors become the first in the UK to be awarded PAS 11000 certification. EMCOR Group (UK), Lockheed Martin UK, NATS, Raytheon Systems Limited and VT Group worked closely with PSL to achieve PAS 11000 certification, awarded by BSI after they were audited in a pilot certification programme.
To view and comment on the draft standard, BS 11000, please visit www.bsigroup.com/drafts by 31st July 2010.