What is BSI?

BSI was the first national Standards-making body in the world. Independent of government, BSI is a non-profit distributing organisation*. It is globally recognised as an independent and impartial body serving both the private and public sectors, working with manufacturing and service industries, businesses and governments to facilitate the production of British, European and international Standards.

Today BSI is a modern and dynamic organization with a turnover of £464m and a staff of over 2200 in 110 countries.

As well as facilitating the creation of British Standards, BSI is the UK's National Standards Body (NSB) and represents the UK interests across all of the European and International Standards committees.

[* A non-profit distributing organisation is defined as an organisation in which profits are not distributed to its directors, shareholders, employees, or any one else; they are reinvested into the services provided.]

A brief history of BSI

In 1901 the Institutions of Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Naval Architects and the Iron and Steel Institute created a committee, to standardize iron and steel sections for bridges, railways and shipping.

The committee succeeded in cutting the production of different tram rails from 75 down to five. This saved the industry about £1 million a year!

By 1929, the committee became the British Engineering Standards Association and was granted a Royal Charter, which defined the Association's objectives. A year later the Association became the British Standards Institution (BSI).

Today, more than 100 years after the British Engineering Standards Association first met, BSI has 2,274 employees world-wide and operates in over 110 countries. There are over 27,000 current British Standards.

So who pays for BSI's work?

Each part of the BSI Group generates income through its Business Operations e.g. product testing, certification and systems assessment. As part of the BSI Group, BSI British Standards derives its income through sales of products and services, and BSI Subscribing Membership.