The award is actually a cycle of submitting your application, being reviewed and assessed, action planning, and follow up reviews.
Step 1: Register as an individual
Once you have registered and created an account you can then log in to the EQM website and look for the "Add a new business" button.
Step 2: Add your organisation
Complete some basic information about your business/organisation. The team will be notified and perform a quick eligibility check. If eligible, you will receive an email to say your business has been activated.
Step 3: Complete your first audit
You can start to complete the self assessment questionnaire and carbon audit tool. You don't need to do this all at once - your progress is saved and you can come back to it if you need to find additional information, or just a cup of tea.
Step 4: Submit your application
When you have completed the questionnaire, you submit your application. This is when you receive an invoice for the annual fee (if you choose to progress to the next stage).
Step 5: Receive an inspection visit
Once you have paid the annual fee, an EQM project officer will look at your application. If the application is satisfactory, the project officer will arrange to visit you on site to see evidence of the statements made in your application.
Step 6: Scoring
The EQM project officer scores your application against five criteria (the EQM principles). The EQM project officer completes a report and makes a recommendation, which is sent to an independent awards panel for review.
Step 7: Panel decision
The awards panel considers your application and evidence from the inspection. If you have met the criteria and requirements of the EQM scheme, your organisation receives the EQM award. If you are not given the award, you will receive feedback on how to improve.
Step 8: Update and review
The EQM is awarded for a two-year period. You are expected to update your information with new achievements and progress. An EQM project officer will contact you to review progress after 12 months. We will carry out a monitoring visit every 2 years. The awards panel selects award holders for a range of additional annual awards.
Complaints or irregularities:
Disputes or irregularities will be dealt with in compliance with the scheme owner's complaints procedure.