Guthries accredited with highest industry standards

Scotland’s leading independent distributor of health & safety equipment and facilities supplies, Guthrie Group, has proved it is still top of its game following more than three decades in business after consistently securing industry-wide quality certification.

Guthrie Group provides smart purchasing solutions for a variety of sectors, offering Workwear (embroidered in-house), Personal Protection Equipment, Cleaning and Catering supplies and Packaging.

British Retail Consortium (BRC) has given its UK-wide stamp of approval for the third consecutive year, awarding the company its Global Standard in Storage & Distribution for the eighth successive year.

BSI (British Standards Institute) also certified the West Lothian-based company to ISO 9001, the world’s most recognised quality management system standard.

Thanks to its forward thinking, Guthrie Group was the first in its market sector in the UK to achieve the BRC Global Standard in Storage and Distribution. In 2016, it become one of the first companies in Scotland to achieve the new ISO 9001:2015 certification from BSI, and is the only company in its field in Scotland to hold both certifications.

Established in 1984, the company is run by husband and wife team, Graham and Cynthia Guthrie and is now enjoying a new lease of life having been identified as one of Scottish Enterprise’s ‘high growth’ companies for its innovative use of new technology.

Cynthia Guthrie, joint Managing Director at Guthrie Group, said:

“We are thrilled to have been certificated by BRC Global Standards and certified by BSI. We have worked tirelessly to ensure the service we offer is of the highest possible standard. To be recognised by the people setting these targets in our industry, is just fantastic.

“We are a family owned business and we care about our customers and employees, that’s always at the forefront of what we do. From day one we wanted to create a business that reflected this while creating an organisation that operated as efficiently as possible, seeking to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations whilst saving them money.

“We continually seek to improve the services we offer and ensure the best quality products, services and smart purchasing solutions are going out to our loyal and new customers.”

The BRC Global Standard for Storage and Distribution recognises best practice in handling, storage and distribution of food, consumers’ goods and packing materials.

The ISO 9001 certification is awarded to organisations that meet the highest standards whilst demonstrating continual improvement of the organisation with a focus on internal processes and procedure.

Hannah Bardell, MP for the Livingston Constituency visited Guthries warehouse to congratulate Joint MDs Cynthia and Graham Guthrie. She said:

“Cynthia, Graham and the team at Guthrie Group have set the highest standards in health & safety equipment and facilities supplies, to have such a successful company based in Livingston and West Lothian is a matter of great pride to my constituency colleagues and I.

“It's testament to the hard work and determination of the Guthrie Group that they have received BRC Global Standards certification and the highest BSI standard of accreditation. They are quite simply leading their industry and setting best practice standards across the sector.

“Employers like the Guthrie Group who are thriving and driving forward their business with new and innovative technology - which sees them become one of Scottish Enterprise's high growth companies - stand as excellent examples to West Lothian, Scotland and the World.”

Toni Allen, UK Head of Client Propositions, BSI comments: “By putting ISO 9001 in place, Guthrie Group have committed to incorporating their Quality Management System into the heart of their business processes. This will enable them to continually monitor and manage quality across all operations, ensuring consistent performance and service.”