Exploring Standards with Assent

The EU AI Act is changing how organisations develop and use artificial intelligence. But what does the legislation mean in practice, and what steps should businesses be taking to prepare?

In this episode of Exploring Standards, Jess welcomes Dan Sampson back to the podcast for the second time to discuss the EU AI Act, its requirements and what organisations need to consider when using or developing AI.

They explore the four AI risk categories, the responsibilities placed on organisations, and how ISO 42001 can support a structured approach to AI governance and compliance.

In this episode, we cover:

What the EU AI Act is and why it matters

The four AI risk categories, with real-world examples

What the legislation means for organisations developing and using AI

How ISO 42001 can support AI governance and compliance

Practical steps to help organisations prepare

Common misconceptions about the EU AI Act

Whether your organisation is developing AI systems or using AI in its day-to-day operations, this episode will help you understand the legislation and consider what it means for your business.

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In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess sits down with Kathy Clements from Assent Risk Management — creator and author of the new IDEA Standard (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) — to break down what the standard is, why it was created, and how any organisation can start implementing it.

Kathy explains how the IDEA Standard brings together four critical areas into one structured, ISO-style framework that's designed to be low-cost, low-time-commitment, and accessible to businesses of every size, from sole traders to large enterprises.

Topics covered:

Find out more and get the standard at www.ideamark.co.uk

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ISO 9001:2026 has officially been published, so what does the new version actually mean for organisations already working to ISO 9001:2015?

In this episode of Exploring Standards, Jess is joined by Robert Clements from Assent Risk Management to take a practical look at the latest update to the world's most widely used quality management standard.

We talk through the key changes in ISO 9001:2026, what they mean in practice, and what organisations should be thinking about now as they prepare for the transition.

In this episode, we cover:

What ISO 9001:2026 means for organisations currently certified to ISO 9001:2015

The key changes in the new edition, including quality culture, risks and opportunities, leadership, change management, organisational knowledge and improvement

Whether organisations need to make major changes to their existing QMS

How the three-year transition period works

What to expect from certification bodies as they prepare for the new standard

Different approaches to transitioning, from moving early to aligning the transition with your next recertification

What the update means for customers and supply chains

Why your ISO 9001:2015 certification remains valid during the transition period

Show notes & resources

📅 ISO 9001:2026 Webinar with SGS

📺 Can't make the webinar live? The recording will be available to watch on our YouTube channel.

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What does an ISO 27001 or SOC 2 assessment actually involve, and how can organisations prepare for it?

In Part 2 of this two-part discussion, we take a closer look at the assessment process for both ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Sam Mather from Assent and Rob Hall from Tempo Audits explore what auditors look for, the differences between an ISO 27001 audit and a SOC 2 assessment, and the role of evidence and preparation.

The conversation also covers SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 assessments, how organisations can prepare for a successful audit or certification, common challenges businesses face, and why planning ahead can make such a difference.

Originally recorded as part of an Assent Risk Management webinar, this conversation has been adapted into a two-part episode of Exploring Standards.

🎧 Listen to Part 2 to hear practical advice on preparing for ISO 27001 and SOC 2, avoiding common pitfalls, and approaching your assessment with confidence.

In this episode:

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ISO 27001 and SOC 2 are two of the most in-demand information security frameworks, but how do they actually compare, and how do you know which one your organisation needs?

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Sam from Assent Risk Management and Rob Hall from Tempo Audits to break down the similarities and differences between these two frameworks. They cover the shared risk-based approach and overlapping controls both frameworks require, the key methodology differences (ISO 27001's management-system approach vs. SOC 2's focus on control effectiveness), and why customers request one, the other, or both, from industry mandates and customer location to commercial and cost considerations like SOC 2's trust services criteria.

This is part one of a two-part series adapted from a live Assent Risk Management webinar. Stay tuned for part two, where the conversation continues.

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In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Derek Geyer from DHG Quality Consultants to break down BS 99001, the quality management standard built specifically for the construction and built environment sector.

Derek explains why ISO 9001, while valuable, simply wasn't designed for the complexity of construction, with its temporary teams, long supply chains, changing designs, and overlapping trades. BS 99001 steps in to fill that gap, offering a practical, project-specific framework that reflects how construction projects actually work.

In this episode, we cover:

Guest: Derek Geyer, DHG Quality Consultants

Derek Geyer has 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Having worked across site, office, and project management roles, Derek spent the last decade focusing exclusively on quality in construction, conducting gap analyses, supporting organisations through standard implementation, and working with those involved in the BS 99001 pilot scheme.

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess sits down with Kit Wells, lead assessor for ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and 50001, and an implementer, auditor, and trainer for ISO 55001, to demystify asset management and explore how this standard is driving real business results across industries.

Kit breaks down what ISO 55001 actually means in practice, from creating a Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) that links company-wide objectives right down to individual operational tasks, to shifting organisations from reactive firefighting to proactive, risk-based maintenance.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Contact Kit:

https://littlegreenconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/little-green-consulting-limited/

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess sits down with Tony Allen, Chief Executive of the Age Check Certification Scheme, to unpack the world of age assurance and the international standard ISO 27566.

Tony explains the critical difference between age verification, age estimation, and age inference, and why the rise of the internet has transformed what was once a straightforward check at a shop counter into a complex, global challenge. From protecting children accessing content online to ensuring privacy and avoiding state surveillance, the conversation covers the competing pressures organisations face when implementing effective age assurance systems.

They also dig into ISO 27566, a three-part standard developed by ISO, IEC, and ITU, exploring its five core characteristics and how it gives organisations a framework to implement trustworthy, technology-neutral solutions. Tony shares what the certification process looks like in practice, who it's designed for and why independent certification carries far more weight than self-declaration.

Key topics covered:

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Rob Clements and Danny Lee to discuss the launch of Vaelo Aerospace and the growing opportunities within the aerospace and defence sectors.

The conversation explores why Vaelo was created, the gap it aims to fill in the consultancy market, and why aerospace requires a specialist approach to quality, compliance, and supply chain management.

Rob and Danny share their backgrounds in standards, aerospace, and compliance, and explain how organisations can position themselves to become trusted suppliers within the aerospace and defence supply chain. The episode also introduces the key aerospace quality standards, including AS9100, AS9110, and AS9120, and discusses how these standards help manufacturers, maintenance organisations, and distributors demonstrate capability, consistency, and trust.

The discussion covers the importance of risk management, supply chain assurance, traceability, cybersecurity, and supplier approvals in a sector where quality and safety are critical. With significant investment planned across the UK defence and aerospace industries, Rob and Danny explain why now is an important time for organisations to consider entering the sector, and how specialist support can help businesses bridge the gap between their current capabilities and the requirements of major aerospace and defence customers.

Whether you're already operating in aerospace, looking to expand into the sector, or simply interested in the role standards play in highly regulated industries, this episode provides valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the aerospace supply chain today.

Contact Vaelo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaelo-aerospace/

Website: https://www.vaeloaerospace.com/

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Exploring Standards, host Jess is joined by Rob Clements, CEO and Director of Assent Risk Management, for a fascinating discussion on how ISO consultancy has evolved over the past 20 years.

Rob shares how he entered the industry from an IT background during the rise of ISO 27001 and information security management systems, a very different route from the traditional quality management pathway. Together, Jess and Rob explore the journey from paper-based management systems and ring binders to shared drives, specialist software platforms, and remote collaboration tools that have transformed the way organisations implement and maintain ISO standards.

The conversation also examines how client ownership has changed over time, with businesses now taking a much more active role in managing their own compliance systems. Rob discusses the growing trend of outsourced compliance functions, including Data Protection Officers and Quality Managers, and the value they can bring to organisations.

Finally, the episode explores the role of artificial intelligence in ISO consultancy, from the productivity gains and efficiencies it can deliver to the risks of over-reliance. Rob shares why, despite rapid technological advances, human expertise, judgment, and experience remain essential to achieving meaningful compliance and successful certification.

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