BSI and Kitemark(R) Declared Superbrands for 2011

LONDON, February 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BSI and its renowned Kitemark have each scored highly in the prestigious Business Superbrands 2011 chart. Both brands made it into the top 200 of the 500-strong list, with BSI achieving its highest ever ranking.

This is the seventh successive year that BSI has been a top 500 Business Superbrand and the fourth year in a row that the Kitemark has been awarded the same distinction.

BSI, which is also the National Standards Body, is 110 years old this year and continues to move with the times, making its products and services relevant to the marketplace in which it operates. BSI's global business services help organizations improve their quality and performance, reduce their risk, manage and protect their reputations and make their operations be more sustainable. Its activities include the assessment and certification of management systems and medical devices; testing and certification of products and services; provision of governance, risk and compliance solutions; and training services.

Since 1903, the Kitemark has provided reliable and independent confirmation that the most stringent standards for safety and quality have been met, and is one of the oldest product marks still in use today. It has become universally recognised, not only in industry and commerce, but also by the public as a mark that they can trust. In fact, the Kitemark is trusted by over 88 per cent of the UK population and, of those who recognize it, 93 per cent claimed products with a Kitemark were safer, while 91 per cent felt they would be better quality.

'We are delighted that BSI and the Kitemark continue to be seen as high quality brands and our appearance in the Business Superbrands chart is further confirmation of our status as a leader,' said Chris Wright, global head of brand and PR at BSI. 'Our own research has found that 80 per cent of customers choose BSI because of its reputation, and they experience demonstrable business benefits such as improved customer satisfaction and increased revenue.'

Stephen Cheliotis, chairman of the Expert Council and CEO at The Centre for Brand Analysis, commented, 'Congratulations to BSI and the Kitemark on achieving Business Superbrands status. As we enter another difficult year, the resilience of a business can be boosted by its reputation, helping to stimulate demand and loyalty versus weaker-branded rivals. This achievement reflects the views of experts and professionals who deemed the brands to represent quality, reliability and distinction.'

The Business Superbrands table is published by the Centre for Brand Analysis following an assessment by an independent council of experts and more than 2,000 business professionals from across the UK. It establishes which brands have the finest reputation in their field and offer advantages that customers want, recognise and are confident about buying. Brands cannot pay or apply to be assessed and each year the selection process considers thousands of brands before the final 500 are decided upon.

BSI's Superbrands listing can be viewed at http://www.superbrandsdigital.com/2011/bsi.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About BSI Group

BSI Group is a global independent business services organization which enables businesses, governments and other organizations to increase profits and market access, and to enhance reputation with its standards-based solutions and assurance services. From its origins as the world's first National Standards Body, BSI Group draws upon over 100 years' experience to partner with 70,000 organizations in 150 countries from its 50 offices. Today, through its independence, innovation and integrity, BSI continues to improve the lives of millions by raising standards worldwide. To learn more about BSI Group, please visit http://www.bsigroup.com or http://www.Kitemark.com.

For further information please contact Marc Edney, Global Brand Development Manager at pressoffice@bsigroup.com or telephone +44-20-8996-6330.