FORS accreditation drives growth for customers of compliance firm

Lincolnshire-based transport compliance expert Total Compliance has seen exponential growth over the last 18 months as an increasing number of transport companies have turned to the consultancy to help them achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold accreditation. With the FORS Standard becoming an essential prerequisite of many supply chain contracts, the demand for experienced compliance consultants like Total Compliance has risen sharply. While compliance and operational efficiencies have played a big part in this growth, Michelle Scott, director of Total Compliance, explains that many of its customers have seen a huge commercial benefit from being accredited and it is this growing awareness of the business development potential that is driving demand.

She said: “Where our customers have seen most benefit to their FORS accreditation is actually in attracting new business. FORS provides companies with the means to adhere to the specifications set out by many larger organisations, giving smaller operators the opportunity to pitch for large contracts which previously they may not have been considered for.

“One of our customers recently achieved FORS Gold and celebrated this online. Almost immediately, the phone started ringing to bring sales enquiries into them rather than them relying with general operator licence compliance and offer tips and advice to improve their operations. The operators also feel that the training we provide for FORS, along with group e-learning sessions, really changes the drivers and their approach to training. It is much more engaging.” on traditional sales outreach. FORS accreditation completely changed their business.”

Another area of growth for which Total Compliance is preparing is an increase in ADR training and DGSA guidance. With the law having changed at the end of the year, Michelle and the team expect to see a significant increase in demand for external DGSAs, as companies without a current adviser look for a solution.

The benefit of outsourcing transport compliance does not stop at business development though, as Michelle explains.

“Many companies come to us to get help with FORS accreditation and end up getting so much more. We help them