What is the national standards body?

BSI is a private company incorporated by Royal Charter, first awarded (to the British Engineering Standards Association) in 1929. Royal Charters were first awarded in the 13th century and are granted by the British sovereign on the advice of the UK Privy Council.

BSI is recognized as the UK national standards body (NSB) by the UK Government. This status is formally codified in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United Kingdom Government and the British Standards Institution in respect of its activities as the United Kingdom’s national standards body.

The NSB is under the responsibility of BSI’s Director-General of Standards and is administered within the Standards Policy team. It receives some funding from the UK Government in recognition of work undertaken in the public interest. 

The Standards Policy and Strategy Committee (SPSC) is appointed by and ultimately reports to the BSI Board. Being the focal point for BSI’s NSB stakeholder views, the SPSC informs and assists the development of BSI’s strategic direction and policy for national, European and international standards. 

The Electrotechnical Standardization Strategic Advisory Council (ESSAC) will provide BSI with high level strategic policy advice and guidance in the UK electrotechnical industry. The committee will also look at areas of emerging technology in the electrotechnical sector and identify possible standardization linkages with non-electrotechnical sectors.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is responsible for UK government policy on standardization and BSI receives funding from BEIS in respect of its role as the UK NSB. Recognizing the importance of the work we do and that some aspects are not self-funding, BEIS fund specific activity in three main areas: 

• Influence and Leadership – helping to support the infrastructure necessary for the UK to participate in international standardization and giving His Majesty’s Government (HMG) access to standards
• Standards Development – covering activities relating to developing standards content
• Participation in Standardization – enabling UK participants in international standards work by contributing towards their travel costs

Each year, we produce a report which covers in detail how this money is spent. Download BSI's annual report to the UK Government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the use of BEIS funding.