At the recent annual Amenity Forum Conference, BASIS announced a major project to modernise and strengthen its amenity assurance and CPD offering, ensuring it continues to meet the evolving needs of the amenity sector.

Corrina Urquart, BASIS Chief Executive

The initiative, now underway, is designed to update, improve and develop the BASIS amenity framework, creating schemes that are fit for purpose in today’s dynamic sector. Through structured consultation, BASIS is actively engaging with stakeholders across the amenity industry to gather insights, validate direction, and ensure the enhanced offering reflects real user needs and expectations.

 At the heart of this project is a new Amenity Assurance Scheme, designed to bring clarity, consistency, and credibility to the sector. The scheme will:

• Certify amenity businesses while requiring operators and professional advisers to participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes that demonstrate individual competence.
• Combine core standards under one comprehensive assurance scheme, with optional modules tailored to specific sub-sectors.
• Cover the full spectrum of weed, pest and disease management, extending beyond pesticide use to reflect modern integrated approaches.

The BASIS team is currently reworking the audit framework for amenity, which will be completed by January 2026 and launched in spring 2026.

The new structure will deliver a practical, transparent process:

• On-site audits in Years One and Four.
• Self-assessment audits in Years Two and Three.
• Generic questions supported by relevant activity-specific checks.
• Audits accredited by sub-sector and site type, including sports turf, lawn care, golf, and grounds maintenance - whether mobile, fixed-site, or depot-based operations.

Supporting this modernised approach will be a new digital portal and mobile app, enabling businesses to manage all audit interactions and requirements efficiently in one place. Each certified business will receive a digital certificate of assurance, clearly identifying the areas audited and approved.

To further enhance visibility, BASIS will maintain an online register of certified amenity businesses, helping customers and clients identify accredited professionals. Members will also receive a brand pack to promote their certification and demonstrate their commitment to quality and professional standards.

Working together for a stronger future

This project represents a significant step forward for the amenity sector. By collaborating with industry professionals and businesses throughout the process, BASIS aims to create an assurance framework that supports professionalism, sustainability, and trust across all areas of amenity management.

This project is about ensuring our assurance and CPD schemes evolve with the sector, reflecting best practice, embracing technology, and supporting everyone who plays a part in maintaining safe, sustainable, and high-quality amenity surfaces and spaces.

The new framework promises to deliver not just compliance, but confidence - helping the amenity sector raise its standards together.