The compliance manager your business needs, without the full-time employee cost
Outsourced Compliance Manager for Small Businesses in Kent
Take compliance off your plate, dedicated support for small businesses across Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge and Mid Kent
So you are ISO Certified?
An Outsourced Compliance Manager is next
As Kent’s outsourced compliance manager, I work with small businesses to keep on top of their management systems and documentation for their ISO certifications and accreditations. I am not only there for creation of your management systems but there to help you to maintain certification.
Especially when small businesses are not at the stage where they need a full or even part time quality manager or compliance manager.
I will support businesses in mid Kent with internal auditing, document reviews, management reviews and every area that is needed for ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001.
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ISO Certification and Accreditations I can manage on your behalf
ISO 9001 — Quality Management System maintenance and support
FORS and Achilles — compliance maintained and renewal support provided
ISO 14001 — Environmental Management System ongoing management
SSIP schemes — SafeContractor, CHAS and similar accreditations kept current
ISO 45001 — Health and Safety Management System support
BRCGS and HACCP — ongoing food safety system support for manufacturers
Integrated management systems — businesses holding more than one standard managed together
If you hold more than one certification, I can manage them together which reduces duplication and making the whole compliance function more streamlined and efficient.
Your Dedicated Outsourced Compliance Manager Without the Full-Time Cost
Employing a full-time compliance or quality manager sounds like the obvious solution. But the true cost is significantly higher than the salary figure alone.
The true cost of a full-time quality manager in Kent?
- Salary = £35,000–£55,000
- Employer National Insurance (13.8%) = £4,830–£7,590
- Employer pension contribution (minimum 3%) = £1,050–£1,650
- Statutory holiday (28 days) = 5–6 weeks where output stops but costs don’t
- Recruitment fees (typically 10–15% of salary) = £3,500–£8,250 one-off
- Training and CPD = £500–£2,000 per year
- Sick pay, absence cover and management time: unquantified but very real
Total true cost in year one: £45,000–£75,000+
And that’s before you consider what happens when they hand in their notice, go off sick, or simply don’t have the cross-sector compliance experience your business actually needs.
| Full-Time Hire | Next Step Compliance | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | £45,000–£75,000+ | Fraction of the cost |
| On-site presence | ✓ | ✓ |
| Knows your business | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recruitment risk | ✓ | ✗ |
| Holiday and sick cover needed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scales with your needs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cross-sector experience | ✗ | ✓ |
| Covers multiple standards | ✗ | ✓ |
With Next Step Compliance you get one dedicated outsourced compliance manager in Kent who knows your business, visits you on-site, manages your compliance throughout the year and is there when you need them, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee, with none of the employment risk.
I provide outsourced compliance manager support for small businesses in Kent with a 100% SUCCESS RATE for ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001
Outsourced Compliance Manager support for small businesses in Kent
You work directly with Jeanette Wessen and Tim Thompson, a husband and wife team based in Mid Kent. No rotating consultants, no being passed around. Always the same two people.
Since 2022 I have supported businesses across Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge and Mid Kent through ISO 9001 certification and ongoing compliance with a 100% pass rate.
I hold Lead Auditor qualifications for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, a NEBOSH Health and Safety qualification and am registered with the International Register of Certified Auditors.
Tim brings expertise in manufacturing and precision engineering environments. Two specialists. One partnership. Everything covered.
Case Study – A Kent Electrical Contractor Who Got ISO 9001 Right Second Time
An electrical contractor in Kent with around twelve employees came to me after a difficult experience with a previous ISO consultant. They needed ISO 9001 to satisfy their clients and stay competitive for the contracts they wanted, but their previous experience had left them disillusioned with the whole process.
They felt they had not been listened to. The system they had been given did not reflect how their business actually worked and the whole thing had felt more like being told how to run their company than being supported through a practical process.
We started from scratch together. I visited them on-site, took time to understand how they actually operated and built a quality management system around that, not around a generic template. The approach was collaborative throughout and the system we built together was one they understood, could manage and that stood up at audit.
They are now certified. More importantly they have a system that works for their business rather than against it.
If you have had a bad experience with ISO consultancy before, I understand why you might be cautious. That is exactly the kind of situation I work well in.
What is an Outsourced Compliance Manager?
An outsourced compliance manager takes on the day-to-day responsibility of managing your ISO system, or broader compliance function, without you needing to employ someone full-time.
For most small businesses in Kent, employing a dedicated in-house quality or compliance manager isn’t cost-effective. A full-time quality manager typically costs £35,000–£50,000 per year in salary alone, before you factor in employer costs, benefits and training. And for many SMEs, the role simply doesn’t need to be full-time.
An outsourced model gives you the expertise and continuity of a dedicated compliance manager at a fraction of the cost, with the added benefit of someone who works across multiple businesses and brings broader experience to yours.
I work with businesses across Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the wider Mid Kent area, providing retained compliance support that keeps your system running, your team confident and your audits straightforward.
Why choose a local outsourced compliance manager in Kent?
Most outsourced compliance services are remote-first. You get a contact who updates your documents and checks in by video call occasionally. That works for some businesses, but for many SMEs it misses the point entirely.
A compliance system works best when the person managing it actually knows how your business operates. That means visiting your site, talking to your team, understanding how things really work day to day and not just what the paperwork says.
I’m based in Mid Kent and work with businesses across Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. I’d rather pop in for a proper conversation than manage your system from a distance. That’s what makes the support genuinely useful rather than just a box-ticking exercise.
How I Support Small Businesses as Their Outsourced Compliance Manager in Kent
As Kent’s outsourced compliance manager, I take on the day-to-day responsibility of keeping your compliance function running properly throughout the year. This is not a remote document service or a pile of templates dropped in your inbox. I work alongside you on-site, getting to know your business and managing your systems so you don’t have to.
Your compliance managed end to end
I take ownership of your ISO systems, SSIP accreditations and ongoing compliance obligations so nothing gets missed between audits.
Independent internal audits
Internal audits carried out on-site by an IRCA registered lead auditor, giving you an honest view of how your system is performing before the certification body arrives.
Ongoing support as your outsourced compliance manager
I stay involved throughout the year so your systems keep working between audits, not just in the run-up to them.
Support with management reviews
Making sure they are meaningful and drive real improvement rather than feeling like a box-ticking exercise.
Support during external audits
I am there alongside you so you have someone who knows your system and can respond confidently to the auditor.
Multiple standards managed together
If you hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or SSIP accreditations, FORS, BRCGS, I manage them as one integrated function, reducing duplication and keeping everything streamlined.
Whether you’re based in Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks or nearby, support can be on-site or remote, whatever works best for your business.
What to expect when we first start working together
Every business is at a different stage with their certifications. Some are starting from scratch, others have an existing system that needs improving and some just need ongoing support to keep everything running smoothly.
Typically I will visit your business to talk to you face to face after our initial phone call or email. My work is done on site rather than remotely so I can get to know your business.
Step 1 – Understanding where you are now
We start by looking at how your business runs and what you need support with, whether that’s full certification, audit preparation or ongoing help with your system.
Step 2 – Agreeing the right level of support
Some businesses need a full system building, others just need gaps filling or someone to keep things on track. We agree what’s actually needed, not a one size fits all package.
Step 3 – Getting to work
From there, I work alongside you to build, improve or manage your system in a way that fits your business and keeps everything practical.
Step 4 – Ongoing support where needed
For some businesses, this is project based. For others, I stay involved longer term to keep everything running smoothly as well as audit and tender ready.
Client Feedback
Next Step Compliance deliver an excellent, professional service from start to finish. Their expertise in Health & Safety and ISO standards made the whole process smooth and straightforward. They offer clear guidance, practical solutions, and help us improve our compliance quickly and confidently. Highly recommended for any business looking to strengthen its safety culture and meet ISO requirements.
Working with Jeanette over the past couple of years has been a pleasure. Jeanette’s professionalism, knowledge and advice have been integral to Locks 4 vans retaining our ISO certification. Jeanette has assisted in carrying out Internal Audits as part of our internal audit schedule as well as performing last minute audits, without any fuss, and gave us insighful feedback.
I would highly recommend Jeanette to anyone seeking ISO certification from 1st Stage audits to Recertification.
Areas I cover in Kent
I regularly work on-site with businesses across these areas and will cover all of mid Kent: –
Maidstone
Medway
Tonbridge
Tunbridge Wells
Sevenoaks
Gravesend
FAQ
Do I need a quality or compliance manager for ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 doesn’t require you to have a dedicated quality manager, but someone in the business needs to take responsibility for the management system. For many small businesses that person ends up being the owner or a senior manager who already has a full workload. An outsourced compliance manager takes that responsibility off your plate, making sure the system is properly maintained without you having to manage it yourself.
How much does an outsourced quality manager cost in Kent?
The cost of outsourced compliance manager support depends on the size of your business, the standards you hold and the level of involvement needed. It’s significantly less than employing someone in-house. A full-time quality manager typically costs £35,000–£50,000 per year before employer costs. Outsourced support gives you dedicated expertise on a retained basis that fits your actual needs and budget. Get in touch for a straightforward conversation about what’s involved for your business specifically.
What's the difference between a compliance consultant and an outsourced compliance manager?
A compliance consultant is typically brought in for a specific project, achieving certification, completing an audit, or fixing a particular problem. An outsourced compliance manager is an ongoing arrangement where I take on responsibility for your compliance function month to month, keeping everything running and audit-ready throughout the year. Many businesses start with consultancy support to achieve certification and then move to an outsourced management arrangement to maintain it.
Can you manage more than one ISO standard for my business?
Yes! Businesses holding ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, managing them together as an integrated management system is more efficient and reduces duplication significantly. I provide outsourced compliance manager support across all three standards and can manage SSIP, BRCGS and HACCP alongside them where needed.
Do you work on-site or remotely?
I can of course do both. But I’m a strong believer in on-site involvement for businesses where it adds value, which for most SMEs it does. I’m based in Mid Kent and regularly visit businesses across Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Gravesend. Remote support works well for routine tasks between visits, but there’s no substitute for being on-site when it matters.
Get in contact with Next Step Compliance
Looking for ongoing compliance support for your business in Kent? Want someone to take the management system off your plate? Need to get your ISO system back on track before your next surveillance visit?
Fill in the contact form for a conversation, or use the button below to contact us via WhatsApp.
We can also support you with your ISO 9001, 45001 and Food Safety needs.