HUGHENDEN Valley-based BM TRADA Certification Limited has been commended for demonstrating excellence in international trade' by UK Trade and Investment and the South East Development Agency (SEEDA). It recently collected a top international trade award and a short-listing in a new Emerging Markets' category.

The awards and government recognition sets the company, in Stocking Lane, on track towards its goal of becoming "the certification body of choice throughout the world, recognised and respected for enhancing best practice".

Judges were impressed by its methods and work with emerging countries such as China and Latvia. It is particularly impressive for being one of only a handful of certification bodies holding the government gold standard - UKAS - accreditation across all five main areas of certification. That is Quality, Environment, Information Security, Product and Personnel.

With continued expansion of international markets and the need to source services and products from many countries, the need for international certification is essential.

BM TRADA has established joint venture companies in Spain, Turkey and Latvia since the turn of the new century and for several years has worked with agents in more than 40 countries around the world.

Managing director David E James always had international trade in mind when growing the business from its beginnings in certification for the timber industry.

"There has been a clear strategy to grow the business internationally and to enable joint venture partners to establish a strong brand name in their local markets. To be recognised by UKTI and SEEDA as a serious player in the international arena is a great honour," he said.

The certification specialist aims to establish further joint venture operations in key markets such as China where there is Chinese National Certification Authority approval to create a joint venture company. With that in mind, a dedicated team has been created, headed by international business manager David Wood, and assisted by international business co-ordinator Lesley Myring.

"We work closely with our partners overseas, to ensure that we fully understand local circumstances, customs and requirements and to respond quickly to changes in legislation or standards," added Mr James.

As in the UK, a wide range of certification has been made available overseas, including quality management (ISO 9001:2000), environmental management (ISO14001), health & safety (OHSAS 18001), the food industry safety standards HACCP and ISO 22000, information security (ISO 27001) and BM TRADA's own Q-Mark product certification schemes. There are also ambitious plans to work with clients in Latvia on timber projects. The knowledge built up in High Wycombe will be a key ingredient of this project.