What is Q Mark Certification?
The Q Mark is a business excellence standard that reviews all aspects of a company’s performance and commitment to continuous improvement on an annual basis.
What can The Q Mark do for my business?
- The Q Mark has a proven track record that proves it can:
- Increase your revenue
- Increase your turnover
- Increase your customer base
- Increase your profit margins
- Increase staff output rates
- Decrease staff absenteeism
- Decrease staff turnover
- Improve your company’s processes and procedures
- Improve your business efficiency
Why is The Q Mark good for business?
The Q Mark ensures that you are fully conversant and compliant with all relevant legislative and regulatory controls, and gives your team a framework which encourages them to operate to the highest operational standards.
The Q Mark identifies what is working for you and what’s not working for you, at ALL levels within your business.
The Q Mark gives you competitive advantage by demonstrating your organisation’s commitment to the highest standards of quality and excellence by using distinctive certification and marketing material based on the most widely used framework in Ireland.
The Q Mark enhances your opportunity at tender because you can demonstrate that your quality management system operates to the highest level.
The Q Mark gives you the opportunity to review 100% of your business processes and procedures 100% of the time.
Who Should Apply for The Q Mark?
Every company that wants to inspect and improve upon on all aspects of their business, irrespective of whether they are involved in production or service delivery, AND wants their customers, peer groups and the consumer to know that they are operating to the highest standard of quality & excellence.
How long does it take to achieve Q Mark certification?
You can spend as much or as little time as you need to prepare for your audit or assessment. The process can take from 6 weeks to 6 months – you decide!
What are the costs involved?
- The Q Mark for Hygiene & Food Safety Level 1 costs €595
- The Q Mark for Hygiene & Food Safety levels 2 and 3 cost €1400
- The Q Mark for Hygiene & Food Safety on a premises of 30,000 square feet or more costs €1400
- The Q Mark for Quality Management Systems is fantastic value at €1,350
- That’s less that €4.50 per day (price based on a 1 day audit)
Who is going to audit me?
All auditors have a relevant 3rd level degree, lead auditor certification and wide experience in industry. EIQA have both auditor and assessor employees, and a full panel of approved external auditors.
If I fail my Audit, is there an appeals process?
Yes, there is an appeals procedure. This procedure is in place for any company that feels a recommendation by an auditor is unjustified or unreasonable. All appeals must be submitted to the EIQA operations department in writing.
Is there a protocol used for investigating appeals?
- The company sends in a written representation to the EIQA operations department specifying their reasons for appealing the auditor’s decision.
- EIQA will liaise with the auditor to investigate and gather further information on the detail behind the recommendation or findings.
- The appellant company can provide documentation to support an appeal.
Can I use the Q Mark logo on my company headed notepaper?
Once you have successfully completed your audit and have been awarded Q Mark certification, you can use the relevant Q Mark logo on your company headed notepaper, business cards, and on all of your marketing materials.
Q Mark logo guidelines, produced by EIQA, (Excellence Ireland Quality Association – Guardians of The Q Mark) will be provided and must be adhered to.
Can I use the Q Mark logo on my company van?
Once you have successfully completed your audit and have been awarded Q Mark certification, you can use the relevant Q Mark logo on your company’s corporate fleet of van. You can also use the logo on your company’s headed notepaper, business cards, and on all of your marketing materials. Q Mark logo guidelines, produced by EIQA, (Excellence Ireland Quality Association – Guardians of The Q Mark) will be provided and must be adhered to.
Who can use the Q Mark Logo?
All companies who have been audited and awarded Q Mark certification may use the logo for the duration of time specified on their current certification.
Can I advertise that we have Q Mark Certification?
Yes, you can advertise your success in achieving Q Mark certification. This is an excellent way of demonstrating to ALL of your stakeholders that you are committed to continuous business improvement through the use of the Q Mark framework.
I think I got food poisoning who can I talk to?
You should contact the FSAI (Food Standards Agency Ireland) they operate an advice line on 1890 33 66 77. This is staffed by trained advisors and food scientists and is open Monday to Friday between the hours of 09:00 – 17:00.
The standard of hygiene in our local shop is poor, who can I complain to?
If you have concerns about hygiene standards within a store you should make the store owner or manager aware of your concerns. You can also contact the FSAI (Food Standards Agency Ireland) they operate an advice line on 1890 33 66 77. This is staffed by trained advisors and food scientists and is open Monday to Friday between the hours of 09:00 – 17:00.
Will I lose my Q Mark certification if I fail my next assessment?
Yes, the Q Mark certification is withdrawn if a company fails their audit and is deemed ‘not approved’.
What is an ‘unannounced’ audit?
An ‘unannounced’ audit means that the audit can take place at any time that your premises are open for business, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Unannounced audits are only applicable to companies registered on The Q Mark for Hygiene & Food Safety programme only.
Do EIQA provide consultancy on the implementation of a Quality Management System?
Yes, EIQA (Excellence Ireland Quality Association – The Guardians of The Q Mark) offer a range of consultancy services to support companies. Full details can be obtained from operations@eiqa.com.
Can EIQA provide contacts for Consultancy?
Yes, please contact operations@eiqa.com and specify the type of business or sector that you operate in.
Where can I buy a copy of The Q Mark standard?
The Q Mark standard is provided to companies who register with EIQA and pay the appropriate fee. Further details are available from operations@eiqa.com.
How do I know if The Q Mark for Quality Management Systems is suitable for my business, we only have 3 employees?
EIQA hold a number of free breakfast briefings throughout the year. This is the ideal forum to understand if The Q Mark is suitable for you. Contact operations@eiqa.com for full details.
About the Training Courses
What happens once I submit a course booking?
When you submit a course booking, you will receive a ‘Receipt of Booking’ email which will confirm your course details.
The Q Mark team will also send you a ‘Reminder’ email two weeks prior to your course.
Are there exams?
There are exams on some of our accredited courses, whilst others are assignment based. There are no exams on non-accredited courses.
Who are NHP/EHOA/CIEH/FETAC/HETAC/IEMA/IOSH/IRCA/NEBOSH/?
The following are Accreditation Bodies that have approved courses delivered by EIQA (Excellence Ireland Quality Association – The Guardians of The Q Mark)
- NHP National Hygiene Partnership
- EHOA Environmental Health Officers Association
- CIEH Chartered Institute Environmental Health
- FETAC Further Education Training Awards Council
- HETAC Higher Education Training Awards Council
- EMA Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment
- OSH Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
- NEBOSH National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health
Where are The Courses held?
When you have booked a course, all information regarding the venue will be included in the ‘Receipt of Booking’ email which will be sent to you.
Are course venues wheelchair accessible?
If you are attending a course and have specific accessibility requirements, please advise us in advance, as we may be able to facilitate the training in a different venue.
What times do courses start/finish?
Courses generally run from 9.00am to 5.00pm. However some of our courses will run longer. All relevant course times are included on the ‘Receipt of Booking’ email.
Do EIQA book accommodation?
The Q Mark team will include hotel contact information and details on your ‘Receipt of Booking’ email.
When you contact the hotel to make a booking just advise them that you are attending an EIQA course to avail of the special rate.
Please note* From time to time, recommended hotels may have additional special offers available on their website.
Is lunch provided?
Lunch and Morning/Afternoon Break refreshments are provided by EIQA. Should you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know.
Are bookings transferable?
A substitution can be made up until the day of the course.
Where a course had specific entry requirements, the substitute will need to be approved.
How do I cancel a course booking?
If you need to cancel a booking, please call a member of The Q Mark team on 01 6604100 with the details of your booking.
Please keep the following EIQA Terms and Conditions in mind:
Course Cancellations
Notice outside 15 working days will incur no penalty
Notice of 10 to 15 working days will incur a 50% fee
Notice within 10 working days will incur a 100% fee
Course Postponement
Notice outside 15 working days will incur no penalty
Notice of 10 to 15 working days will incur a 25% fee
Notice within 10 working days will incur a 100% fee
Will I receive a Certificate?
Delegates on accredited courses will receive a Certificate from the accrediting body on successful completion of the course.
All delegates with full attendance will receive an EIQA Certificate of Attendance on non-accredited courses.
How can I get a replacement cert?
EIQA can re-issue your Certificate of Attendance. Please call or email us with the name and date of the course you attended and also the address which you require the Certificate to be issued to.
Please note that a fee of €25 will apply for each certificate replacement.
Should you require a replacement certificate for an accredited course, further charges may apply, please contact EIQA for further information on 01 660 4100.
When is my course fee payable?
Full payment must be made at least two weeks prior to course commencement.
How can I pay my Course Fee?
Payment can be made by cheque (made payable to EIQA Ltd), bank transfer or by Credit Card/Laser Card/ PayPal.
For security purposes we do not accept credit/laser card details by email/web.
Once you have indicated that you wish to pay by credit/laser card, a member of the EIQA team will contact you by telephone for your card details, which will be destroyed once the payment has been processed.
What happens if the course I am scheduled to attend is cancelled?
EIQA reserves the right to cancel a course should there be insufficient demand. In the event that you have paid for a course which is subsequently cancelled a full refund will be given or your payment can be transferred to another EIQA training course.
What is included in the Public Course Fee?
All course documentation, lunch and refreshments are included in the public course fee.
What rate of VAT is charged on training?
Training is exempt from VAT, therefore no VAT is charged.
Do you provide courses in-house?
All EIQA training courses can be held on an in-house basis offering substantial cost reductions to participating companies. For details please contact operations@eiqa.com.
I have a group of people to be trained, can I get a discount?
Yes, EIQA offer volume discount and special offers. Further details can be obtained from the operations manager on 01 6604100.
We don’t have Q Mark certification, but we are interested in the training course for internal auditor training.
Please contact the operations manager on 01 6604100 to discuss non-member prices and availability.
I’m a student on the Diploma in Quality Management, do you have any short courses that would benefit me.
Yes, the IRCA (International register of certificated auditors) 2 day internal auditor course is of particular value to students studying on The Diploma in Quality Management. Please contact operations@eiqa.com for further details.