Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some of the questions we get asked most frequently.

What is the purpose of an RSA accreditation scheme?

The main aim of the accreditation scheme is to improve the design, operation and efficacy of award schemes. Accreditation will give recognition to those schemes, which meet the standard of organisation and operation as set out in the RSA Guide to good Practice 'Organising and Sponsoring environmental and sustainable development awards'.

Why is there a need for an accreditation scheme?

As a result of the recent increase in the number of environmental and sustainability award schemes, organisations have been left bewildered wondering which award, if any they should apply for. There is an uncertainty as to the quality and validity of the awards and whether winning certain awards does anything to add to the credibility of the applicants' organisation. Accreditation would help give applicants (and sponsors) a better idea of the quality of the award they are bidding for.

What are the benefits of accreditation to award applicants?

Applicants entering for an accredited award will have confidence in knowing that they are part of an awards scheme, which has been independently audited and has reached the recognised standard.

What are the benefits of accreditation to award organisers & sponsors?

By offering a scheme, which has reached a recognised standard, organisers and sponsors are likely to attract a higher number and quality of entrants and raise the profile of the scheme.

The Schemes, which have achieved accredited status will be marked as such on the EnvironmentAwards.net database and will be allowed to use a logo on all their literature. Such Schemes will be eligible to provide entrants for consideration for the European Environment Awards.

Newly accredited schemes will be entitled to:

• An announcement on the SAGE web-site with a short description of the scheme
• Half an hour's free advice on the design and arrangements of the scheme
• A separate list of accredited schemes with dates for easy reference.

What are the implications of award accreditation to the European environmental awards?

In the future only RSA Accredited schemes will be eligible to provide entrants for consideration for the European Environment Awards.

How will the accreditation scheme be managed?

The arrangements for accreditation will involve the following steps:

1. The Forum will approve accreditation standards based on the RSA guide.
2. Organisers who wish to have their scheme accredited will apply to the Forum Administrator and will pay £250 for accreditation determination. If on receipt of the application material, it is clear that there is information which would immediately deem the scheme non-accreditable, the organisers will be contacted and given the opportunity to revise their application or withdraw the application incurring a reduced fee of £50.
3. The Forum administrator will appoint 3 auditors to consider the application. The auditors will be chosen from members of the awards Forum Steering Committee and independent specialists, many of whom will be Fellows of the RSA.
4. The Forum Executive will consider the auditors' reports to determine whether the scheme should be accredited. The Executive will report their decision to the Forum before the Scheme organises are told of the result. The members of the Forum have one month during which they can question the Executive's decision. The Forum Executive will make he final decision following this.
5. For those schemes, which fail accreditation, the reasons for failure will be communicated to the organisers. Scheme organisers can then make alterations to the scheme and re-apply or they may wish to appeal against the original decision.
6. Appeals will be considered by asking two further members of the Forum to consider the original application and the views of the original auditors and to report to the Executive, which will make the final decision on appeal.

How long will accreditation recognition last?

Accreditation recognition will be granted for a period of 3 years, with an annual renewal fee of £50, after which a scheme will be required to be re-audited, for which a fee of £250 will be requested. Re-auditing will involve a repeat of the procedure outlined in the original accreditation. Scheme organisers will be expected to notify the Forum of any significant changes to their scheme, which arise during the three year period of accreditation.