Standards
AA1000 Governance
Ensuring independence, integrity, and global impact.
The AccountAbility AA1000 Standards Board and AA1000 CIC oversee the development and governance of the globally recognized AA1000 Series of Standards. As a Community Interest Company, AccountAbility AA1000 CIC is legally structured to ensure the Standards serve the broader global community, not just private interests. This independent governance structure safeguards the AA1000 Standards' integrity and ensures they remain a trusted resource for organizations worldwide.
GOVERNANCE
The AccountAbility AA1000 Standards Board
The AccountAbility AA1000 Standards Board frames the vision, approves the standards’ strategy, and oversees the ongoing development of the Standards used by institutions worldwide.
The composition of the Board is designed to provide broad representation from the public and private sectors, civil society, and the standards community. Meet the Board members here.
Overview
Accountability AA1000 CIC
AccountAbility AA1000 CIC was incorporated on September 7, 2011 by the Directors of AccountAbility Strategies. The CIC was established as an appropriate vehicle to promote and develop the AA1000 Series of Standards as an independent complement to AccountAbility's Advisory Services. In its articles of association, the AA1000 CIC was established with the mission to:
Globally promote and develop the AA1000 Series of Standards and to foster and maintain investigations into the best means and methods of developing and applying such Standards.
Encourage, increase, disseminate, and promote knowledge, education, and training and the exchange of information and ideas in respect of questions relating to the AA1000 Series of Standards.
Overview
Directors
The Board of Directors for AccountAbility AA1000 CIC hold legal and fiduciary responsibility for the CIC under the UK Companies Act. They do not determine the Standards’ strategy as set by the AA1000 Standards Board.
AccountAbility AA1000 Standards CIC has a sole, independent Director. As a part of the Director's duties, the AA1000 CIC must deliver to the registrar of companies a community interest report, with its accounts, such that both documents are placed on the public record. The community interest company report provides transparency of operation.
Support
Important Information
In April 2013, AccountAbility Strategies completed an asset transfer to AccountAbility AA1000 CIC. This transfer was a legally bound process and included the intellectual property, assets, and business contracts associated with the Standards, which are now held and safeguarded under the CIC’s asset lock.
The articles of Association of AA1000 are available here.
A Community Interest Company (CIC) is a limited company, with special additional features, created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage. This is achieved by a “community interest test” and “asset lock,” which ensures that the CIC is established and managed for community purposes and the assets and profits, are solely dedicated to these purposes. Registration of a company as a CIC has to be approved by the Regulator who also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role.
The AccountAbility Issue Resolution Process is an essential part of maintaining the integrity of the AA1000 series. If there is a query with regard to an AA1000AS Licensed Assurance Provider, Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner (CSAP), or AccountAbility approved training providers, we recommend that where possible, the party concerned is contacted first to try and resolve any issues themselves. Where this is not possible or appropriate, or where the issue has not been successfully resolved, AccountAbility welcomes queries to be addressed to the AA1000 Standards team.
Further Information
If you would like to know more information about AA1000 CIC please use the Webcheck service with company number 07765165. This service is provided by the Registrar of Companies. This information is free of charge and may be accessed by clicking on the link above. In accordance with the CIC Regulator the Annual Accounts and CIC Report are available for download from Companies House.
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