Reception convened by the Secretary of State for Scotland highlights Scotland’s Quality Infrastructure – boosting innovation, trust, and fair and safe markets.
6 May 2025: A Westminster reception at Dover House, hosted by the Secretary of State for Scotland, brought together parliamentarians, business leaders, regulators, and standards bodies. The event explored how Scotland’s quality infrastructure—accreditation, standards, and enforcement—supports growth, innovation, and trust in markets.
Held in partnership with UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service), BSI (British Standards Institution), and SCOTSS (Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland), the reception showcased how these three elements work together to support economic growth, safety, sustainability, productivity, and consumer confidence. Key sectors highlighted included renewable energy, AI, construction, and consumer protection.
The Rt. Hon. Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “Scotland’s quality infrastructure – accreditation, standards, and enforcement – can make a huge contribution to the UK Government's Plan for Change. Scotland has always punched above its weight in innovation, expertise, and leadership. And behind every success story are the systems that protect people and businesses alike. It was a real pleasure to welcome UKAS, BSI, and SCOTSS to Dover House to celebrate the role they play in helping Scotland grow and trade.”
Lord Jamie Lindsay, Chairman, United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), said: “In a fast-moving world, trust matters more than ever. Accreditation provides confidence that testing, inspection, and certification services are competent, impartial, and consistent, enabling innovation while managing risk. Events like this are a valuable reminder that trust isn’t automatic; it’s earned, underpinned by robust infrastructure.”
Scott Steedman CBE, Director-General, Standards, BSI, said: “Standards are a catalyst for growth and an engine for trade and innovation. Used strategically, standards increase economic growth rates, deliver quality, enhance consumer safety, and help deliver the net zero transition in the UK and around the world.
"However, standards are just one part of the national quality infrastructure that actively manages how the market functions in practice and can deliver remarkable advantage, creating optimum conditions for market success. BSI is working hard to raise awareness of this valuable resource and engagements such as this Dover House reception will help us do just that.”
Alexandra Connell, Chair, SCOTSS, said: “Enforcement is where good intentions meet reality. Trading Standards services across Scotland work hard every day to make sure that the protections set out in law and standards are real, practical, and meaningful. Collaboration across enforcement, accreditation, and standards helps ensure that businesses can thrive and consumers can trust the products and services they rely on.”
