BSI's CEO on CNBC: Companies Need to Speak a Common Language to Create Solid Partnerships

LONDON, December 8, 2010 - The current economy is a climate in which companies need to focus and
pursue business partnerships to drive growth and innovation. "Organizations
will have to work together to maximize growth potential. How do they do this?
What are the rules of engagement? A framework, a consistent methodology is
critical to enable companies to speak a common language". So spoke BSI's CEO
Howard Kerr live on CNBC yesterday morning.

Mr Kerr appeared on CNBC's business news programme "Strictly Money" where
he presented the results of BSI's Business Barometer that surveyed senior
decision makers from different industries. The survey ascertained the most
formidable challenges perceived by companies for ongoing collaboration, the
benefits and the key factors that are set to increase the need for
partnerships.

Mr Kerr highlighted some of the results of the Business Barometer with
cultural differences identified as the key challenge for companies working in
partnership with other organizations.

"56% of companies find that cultural differences represent the main
challenge when forming a partnership," said Mr Kerr. "By cultural differences
we are not talking about geographies, not necessarily. It is more about
organizational culture. How do we overcome this challenge? BS 11000 scope is
to enable complex consortia and supply chains to work together speaking a
common language".

Soon after the interview on CNBC, Mr Kerr went to the House of Lords
where BSI officially launched the certification programme for the first
standard on Collaborative Business Relationships (BS 11000-1).

Industry managers, visionaries and thought leaders convened to gain a
deeper understanding on how this unique standard can help them stay ahead of
the curve by generating and implementing practical, innovative solutions
through effective business relationships.

The event featured key speakers from BSI and Partnership Sourcing Ltd
(PSL), with an additional session from NATS, one of the five organizations
that achieved certification under PAS 11000 - the precursor to BS 11000 -
during the certification pilot programme earlier this year.

BS 11000 is a breakthrough standard - not just for BSI, but for the whole
of industry. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already committed to adopt it.
Building on PAS 11000, which presented an eight-stage approach to successful
business collaboration in the public and private sectors, BS 11000 has
expanded the scope of this approach to address a wider audience, including
small and medium-sized enterprises.

About BSI Group

BSI Group is a global independent business services organization that
develops standards-based solutions to improve management practices and
promote innovation. BSI can help businesses, governments and other
organizations around the world to raise quality and performance in a
sustainable and socially responsible way. From its origins as the world's
first National Standards Body, BSI Group draws upon over 100 years'
experience to work with 66,000 organizations in 147 countries from its 50
offices. To learn more, please visit www.bsigroup.com

Chiara Carella, PR Manager of BSI Group, +44-(0)20-8996-7248, mobile, +44-(0)77-6835-8730, chiara.carella at bsigroup.com