Switching ISO Consultants Mid-Cycle In Kent

In 20 seconds

You can switch ISO consultants mid-cycle without losing your certification or needing to start again. Your ISO consultant and your certification body are separate which means that changing consultant support does not affect who audits you or when. Next Step Compliance takes over existing management systems onsite across Kent, working within your current audit cycle from day one.

Switching Consultant does not mean starting again

This is the bit most people don’t realise, and it’s worth saying plainly.

Your ISO consultant and your certification body are two different things. Your certification body (BSI, NQA, or whoever audits you) is who issues your certificate. Your consultant is who helps you build and maintain the management system behind it.

Switching who supports your system does not mean losing your certificate, restarting your audit cycle, or dealing with your existing certification body at all, unless you want to. We simply step in as the team behind your existing management system, prepare you for your next audit under whichever certification body you are already with, and carry on from wherever you currently are in the three-year cycle.

There’s no lapse in your certification, and no need to explain yourself to your current auditor unless outstanding nonconformities need resolving first (which we will help you sort out either way). And no need to start with a new management system if everything is working well for you, unless you feel like you need the support.

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First-time ISO certification success

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Surveillance audit success

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Recertification success

Every client. Every audit. Since 2023.

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.

What we do differently

100% Certification Pass Rate

Every single business we have supported has passed ISO 9001 certification on first attempt. We don’t rush you into audit prep until the system actually works for you.

No Software Lock-In

Some consultants use their own platforms so you are stuck paying them forever. We don’t. You own your documentation, your systems, your compliance. If you decide to work with someone else tomorrow, you can.

Direct Access to Jeanette & Tim

You don’t get assigned to a rotating pool of consultants. You work with us directly. Jeanette is an IRCA Lead Auditor with 13+ years in compliance and education. Tim brings hands-on manufacturing expertise. This matters because we understand the specific challenges of manufacturing, construction, electrical, food production, and facilities management businesses (plus many more). We are not just generic “business.”

On-Site, Embedded Support

We don’t email you a 200-page document and disappear. We work alongside you on site, understand how your business actually operates and build a system that fits your reality, not force your reality to fit the standard.

Transparent About Cost Upfront

No hidden fees. No surprise invoices. We tell you what it costs before you commit.

After Certification, We Stay

The work doesn’t end when you pass the audit. We can stay on as your Outsourced Compliance Manager. Handling internal audits, CAPA tracking, documentation updates, audit prep. You get the compliance expertise without the full-time salary.

Book a free 30 minute chat

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 10 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Sean Davis 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot recommend Jeanette and Next Step Compliance enough. All our issues were highlighted and rectified early on and dealt with in a calm and professional manner. 5 stars all the way !
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Georgia Mitchell 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We couldn’t recommend Jeanette highly enough! When we decided to bring our Quality Management System up to date and work towards achieving our ISO 9001:2015 certification, we knew our existing Quality Policy Manual was a little outdated and needed some work. Thankfully, we found Jeanette, who was local to us in Hildenborough. From the very beginning, she was incredibly friendly, approachable and knowledgeable. She took the time to understand our business, helped us bring our Quality Policy Manual fully up to date, and guided us through the requirements needed to prepare for our BSI assessment. She also carried out our Internal Audits, making sure we were properly prepared and confident going into the certification process. After just two days working with her, we successfully achieved our ISO 9001:2015 certification through BSI — something we’re incredibly proud of! What really stood out was how easy she made what initially felt like a daunting process. Her knowledge and experience, combined with her friendly and practical approach, made a huge difference. We’re so pleased we found her and are delighted that she’ll be continuing to carry out our regular Internal Audits going forward. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to any business looking for knowledgeable, professional and genuinely supportive help with ISO 9001. Thank you, Jeanette — we’re so glad we found you!
  
 
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   Silenzio Sales 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We are a small business based in Crayford, Kent and have worked with Jeanette for many years. Our overall experience working with Jeanette at Next Step Compliance has been extremely positive.  She has always been helpful, professional and easy to communicate with.  She genuinely focuses on supporting us to achieve the right outcome in retaining our ISO9001 and FORS accreditation.  We would have no hesitation in recommending her to other organisations seeking certification.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Toni Wickham 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the pleasure of welcoming Jeanette Wessen from Next Step Compliance as a guest speaker at one of our free business networking events at Churchill Square Business Centre. Jeanette delivered an excellent presentation on ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, breaking down what can often seem like a complicated subject into clear, practical advice that businesses of all sizes could understand. She gave an honest overview of what ISO certification involves, the costs, the process and, importantly, helped attendees understand whether it was the right investment for their business. Her knowledge, professionalism and approachable style encouraged plenty of questions, and the feedback from attendees was extremely positive. If you’re looking for expert support with ISO, Health & Safety, Food Safety or compliance, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Jeanette. Thank you again for sharing your expertise with our business community.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   JB Landscape Property Maintenance 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've worked with Jeanette at Next Step Compliance for many years, and her support has been invaluable. She is highly professional, knowledgeable, and always approachable and friendly. Jeanette has extensive expertise in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and her practical advice helps ensure everything is tailored to our business and fully prepared for our ISO audits. She takes the time to understand our requirements and provides clear guidance throughout the process, making what can be a complex task much more manageable. We would highly recommend Next Step Compliance and Jeanette to any business looking for expert ISO compliance support.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sharon 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Pharmaquipe work with Next Step Compliance for our ISO 9001 and HACCP certification and have recently achieved our BRCGS accreditation, Jeanette is very professional and easy to work with and we would have no hesitation in recommending her professional services for any local companies in the Maidstone and Kent area.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Freya S C 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jeanette at Next Step Compliance was an absolute godsend when it came to helping work out if I needed to become ISO 9001 compliant and how to achieve it. She's so full of advice and care, and provides a tailored but practical solution. When it comes to outsourced compliance, she's your gal - she holds your hand through the process, delivers results and makes sure you get over the finish line. I can't recommend her enough!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Team Condimaniac 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've worked with Jeanette for a while now on both food safety and health & safety related matters and cannot recommend her enough. She's always happy to answer questions (no matter how silly) and is very thorough in her approach, which is exactly what you need and provides peace of mind. As a small, scaling business, it's vital to have someone who knows what they're doing to a T and it takes the guesswork out of it all.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Carole Smith 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sarah Wilks 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service, very supportive and pragmatic. A real ally for our company and highly recommended.

What Switching Actually Looks Like

Free Meeting to discuss your current system and what your previous ISO consultant did.

Take over of internal audit and system management cycle. Spending time on site to get to know your business.

Ongoing support each year from your ISO consultant.

Whether you’re based in Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks or nearby, support can be on-site or remote, whatever works best for your business.

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 1^st Stage audits to Recertification.

Areas I cover in Kent

As your local ISO 9001 consultant I regularly work on-site with businesses across these areas and cover all of Mid Kent:

Maidstone

Medway

Tonbridge

Tunbridge Wells

Sevenoaks

Gravesend

FAQ

Will switching affect my certification?

No. Your certificate stays valid and tied to your existing certification body. We work within your current audit cycle, not against it.

What if my current consultant used software I don't have access to?

We will work with what you have, including rebuilding documentation into an open, accessible format if needed, so you’re never locked out of your own management system again.

How long does a handover take?

It depends on where you are in your audit cycle, but most handovers are complete well ahead of any scheduled audit.

What if I'm mid-way through resolving a nonconformity?

That’s fine, we will pick up exactly where things stand and help you close it out.

Get in contact with Next Step Compliance

Ready to take ISO 9001 completely off your plate? If you need help with ISO 9001 in Kent, get in touch and I’ll come back to you by the end of the day.

01732 711674

Looking for ISO 14001 support in Kent?
Need help with ISO 45001 for your business?
I also support small businesses across Kent with environmental, health and safety management systems in a range of industries; engineering, landscaping, various types of manufacturing, retail, spray painting, flight services, etc.

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Thinking About Switching ISO Consultants?

We take over ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 support mid-cycle without disruption to your certification and no starting from scratch.