What is Exor?

Poya: We are an accreditation body working with companies who work in the public sector. There are 30 or 40 different clients in the public sector who use our standards to qualify suppliers, service providers, contractors to go on to their approved lists. So if the companies want to work in the public sector they come to us, we vet them to make sure they meet the requirements to go on to the tender list, and then they can possibly bid for work in the public sector. We also work with private clients like Balfour Beatty and Connaught who use the Exor model as their best standard.

What criteria have to be met to become a member?

Poya: We have various levels of accreditations. The criteria depend on the size of companies and their trading history. They range from Bronze to Gold levels of accreditation. The Bronze Level is generally for companies who haven’t been set up long and aren’t able to do large contracts. They must be health and safety qualified, and if they are not then we can assist them. There are requirements such as public and employers insurances, accounts, equal opportunities and environmental policies and so on.

Does Exor cover several sectors?

Poya: Yes, we have quite a broad category range. The majority are construction but we do everything. It depends on the specific client. Every client has a particular category list.

Let’s say a firm owner wants to join Exor. What is stage one?

Poya:  Stage one is registering your interest and indicating which client you would like to work for. The initial registration is very simple, five minutes or so. You indicate the categories of work that you do. Once you’ve registered your interest then within about half an hour you get a confirmation e-mail to actually activate the proper application. This section of the application is a bit more in depth, it’s a 12-page application. It’s all online. And once you have answered all the questions you click “Submit the application” then at that stage based on the answers that you’ve given you’ll be given a list of documents that are required (standard certificates etc). These you can upload and at that stage you provide payment. The payment covers our costs such as procedures and analyses like financial reports and health and safety assessments. Overall that process takes between 2 to 4 weeks if everything’s going smoothly.

How much would it cost?

Poya: It’s a very broad price range – from £85 to £1 200. £85 would be for a smaller firm which doesn’t have much history. They will be limited to contracts of £5 000 with the public sector and won’t be able to take contracts above that size. And the annual revenue from those contracts must be limited to £12,000. That’s the Bronze Level. The Silver Level is for consultancy based work, specialists like architects. The Gold Level is for larger firms who wish to do bigger projects. The cost depends also of the number of clients those firms want to be visible to. So if it’s just one client at Gold Level it will cost £625. There are discounts if staff are members of some others associations like Constructionline. Next step up is the Gold when companies wish to be visible to two to four clients. This costs £800. Again there are discounts if they are members of one of the SSIP organisations. And finally the top level – being visible to the all clients we have in that category will be £1,200.

Apart of being visible to the clients are there any other advantages of being an Exor member?

Poya: There are quite a lot. We help get them in to the public sector so we will be opening doors because our clients only look for companies accredited by Exor. They also get certification of standards which are recognised. And of course if they go to a private client they can demonstrate they are Exor accredited which will hopefully help them clinch more deals.

Alan: We also work with insurance companies who guarantee discounts on business insurance. This comes with accreditation. And depending on the size of the company concerned we work with companies that can reduce your utility spend, telephone spend and any other business expense.

How many members do you have?

Poya: At least 2,500 fully accredited members, but then within the private sector there are probably another 5,000-10,000. And if you’re talking about companies we’ve accredited for Trust Mark there are a few hundred.

Have you ever worked with Polish people?

Alan: Yes we have. I employed them in my house because the reputation that mainly Polish but most Eastern European workers have is very good. They are very well trained. Generally the qualifications they attained in Poland are very high. I have never heard that anybody who employed people from Poland have had any complaints.

Poya: I had someone who laid the carpet in my flat and they were fantastic! He finished in about half a day. I tried to give him some extra money but he said: “That’s fine.” So at the end of the day if you hire someone Polish you can pretty much be sure you’re going to get a fair deal.

So hopefully you’ll get more Polish members.

Alan: Yes, hopefully. You know, because of what we do, we accredit people who attain high standards. It’s a market for us that obviously fits because the reputation that Polish builders have is very good. And if we can assist them in overcoming the bureaucracy around health and safety, things like that, then we would be delighted to see more Polish members accredited for public sector work.