ISO and GRC certification consulting in Manchester

ISO and GRC certification in Manchester at a glance

Manchester's case for certification is spread across a city region rather than one district. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority backs five frontier sectors, from advanced materials and manufacturing to digital, cyber and AI, and points investment at them through its Investment Zone and Growth Locations such as Atom Valley. Corridor Manchester and Manchester Airport City are government-listed Enterprise Zones, one for life sciences and med-tech, the other for aerospace and business services. Across the boundary in Salford, MediaCityUK concentrates broadcasters and technology firms. National law, regulators and accreditation sit on the United Kingdom page rather than here. Sterling serves Manchester from Sterling's London office, bringing 20+ years of experience and 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries, with Effivity and Sterling Academy included with the engagement. Accredited certification bodies issue certificates.

Manchester anchors a city region whose Combined Authority has named five frontier sectors for growth: advanced materials and manufacturing, creative industries, digital, cyber and AI, health innovation and life sciences, and low carbon. Two government-listed Enterprise Zones, Corridor Manchester and Manchester Airport City, give the city a life sciences district and an aerospace and business-services site, while Salford's MediaCityUK adds a media and technology base next door.

Standards Sterling delivers in Manchester

Each page sets out why the standard is asked for in Manchester, what it requires and how Sterling delivers it locally. National law and accreditation are covered on the United Kingdom page.

Industries in Manchester that ask for certification

• Advanced materials and manufacturing: Frontier sector in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's sector plans; the Greater Manchester Investment Zone is directed at it, Atom Valley across Bury, Oldham and Rochdale is the planned innovation cluster, and Invest Manchester lists sustainable packaging, technical textiles, surfaces and coatings, composites and light alloys among its materials strengths. Standards asked for: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO/IEC 17025
• Life sciences, health innovation and med-tech: Corridor Manchester Enterprise Zone, listed by government for life sciences, health innovation, med-tech and ICT; Health Innovation Manchester, formed by the city region's health, care, civic and academic leaders, works on data, AI and real-world evidence. Standards asked for: ISO 13485, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27701, ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 9001
• Digital, cyber and AI: Frontier sector named by the Combined Authority; Salford City Council lists AI and robotics and immersive technology among its emerging specialisms. Standards asked for: ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, ISO/IEC 42001, ISO/IEC 27701, Cyber Essentials
• Creative industries and media: Creative industries is a frontier sector; MediaCityUK in Salford is a strategic growth area, and Salford City Council counts the BBC and ITV among large firms in its business base. Standards asked for: ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, ISO 9001, ISO 45001, UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018
• Financial, professional and business services: Invest Manchester describes the largest financial, professional and business services sector outside London; Manchester Airport City Enterprise Zone also lists business services. Standards asked for: ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 22301, ISO 37001
• Aerospace and airport-linked industry: Manchester Airport City Enterprise Zone, listed by government for advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, business services, industrial biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Standards asked for: AS9100, ISO 9001, ISO 22301, ISO 14001, ISO 45001

Industrial areas and zones in Manchester

• Manchester Airport City Enterprise Zone (government-listed Enterprise Zone): advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, business services, industrial biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare
• Corridor Manchester Enterprise Zone (government-listed Enterprise Zone): life sciences, health innovation, med-tech, ICT
• Atom Valley, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale (Greater Manchester Combined Authority Growth Location): advanced materials, sustainable manufacturing
• MediaCityUK, Salford (strategic growth area named by Salford City Council): media, creative, digital technology
• Greater Manchester Investment Zone (Combined Authority programme): advanced materials and manufacturing

Local authorities

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority: Sets the city region's economic strategy: sector development plans for five frontier sectors, the Investment Zone and the Growth Locations. It does not license businesses.
• Salford City Council: Business-facing services for Salford, home to MediaCityUK: licensing and permits, health and safety, food safety and trading standards.

National laws, regulators and accreditation are on the United Kingdom page.

Ports and logistics

• Airport: Manchester Airport, part of Manchester Airports Group

The Combined Authority describes the Northern Arc, taking in Manchester Airport and the Port of Liverpool, as the international gateway to the North of England, so exporters and aerospace suppliers face customer questions on quality and continuity.

Sterling in Manchester

Served from Sterling's London office. One team carries the work from scoping to certificate, with Effivity ISO & GRC software and preferential Sterling Academy access, with complimentary awareness training for your people. Sterling does not certify; certification decisions stay with independent bodies.

Nearby cities

• London
• Birmingham
• Leeds
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Bristol

What the standards require, clause by clause

Before you start in Manchester, read what each clause and subclause requires of you, how to implement it, the evidence auditors look for and the mistakes to avoid.

Questions Manchester clients ask