Public Sector
UK Market Conformity Assessment Body (UKMCAB)
Supporting OPSS in enabling transparent, efficient accreditation for post-Brexit trade compliance.
Context
The UK Market Conformity Assessment Body (UKMCAB) is a search engine designed to help businesses find accredited conformity assessment bodies. It was developed in response to Brexit, replacing the European Union’s NANDO system. UKMCAB serves manufacturers seeking certification to sell regulated products, such as construction materials, personal protective equipment, and medical devices, in both the UK and international markets (Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the USA).
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The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), alongside the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), manages UKMCAB, working closely with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and other government departments (OGDs). Initially, a temporary WordPress-based version of the service was created, but it lacked essential functionalities, leading to the development of a robust, scalable platform.
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UKMCAB’s complexity arises from the multi-stage approval process for accreditors, involving UKAS inspections, DBT validation, and oversight from various OGDs before Secretary of State approval. Additionally, the need for structured data management and integration of accreditation details into search functionality added to the project’s intricacy.
Challenge
Despite its critical role, UKMCAB faced several challenges:
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Fragmented accreditation process: at launch, DBT manually entered and approved records in the system without external oversight. However, UKAS and OGDs needed to be integrated into the workflow, requiring a more sophisticated approval and tracking system.
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Limited search capabilities: accreditation documents were uploaded as PDFs, making it difficult for users to search for relevant certifications. Future improvements needed to extract and integrate document content into the search engine.
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Lack of Agile processes: the previous team had limited structured Agile implementation, leading to inefficiencies in requirement refinement and backlog management.
Our Solution
To tackle these challenges, Olive Jar restructured the entire project approach, as follows:
Redefining Discovery and Alpha phases
We conducted a rapid but thorough Discovery and Alpha phase, delivering the MVP to replace the previous WordPress site, ensuring alignment with user needs and policy requirements.
Key user groups, including manufacturers, UKAS, DBT, and OGDs, were engaged through workshops and research to validate requirements.
Developing a scalable and structured system
We built a new search engine, replacing the temporary WordPress system, built as It is a cloud-first solution and makes extensive use of services within Microsoft Azure.
The backend was designed to handle increasing complexity as the accreditation approval workflow evolved.
The system allowed DBT to add, modify, and archive records while integrating UKAS and OGDs into the approval process.
Approval workflows were automated, ensuring that UKAS, DBT, OGDs, and the Secretary of State could review and authorise accreditations in a structured manner.
Enhancing search and data management
Integrated PDF content directly into the search engine, allowing users to retrieve relevant information more efficiently.
Categories and filters were introduced to help manufacturers navigate accreditation bodies by industry type, mirroring intuitive browsing experiences like those on e-commerce platforms.
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Implementing Agile ways of working
We transitioned the team to structured Agile workflows, adopting JIRA for backlog management.
We introduced "Three Amigos" sessions to refine requirements more efficiently, reducing time spent on full-team discussions.
Bi-weekly updates with DBT ensured alignment with stakeholders, and ad-hoc meetings replaced traditional "show & tells" due to time constraints.
Optimising resource allocation
We streamlined our team to balance expertise with time and budget boundaries, working collaboratively with OPSS staff. Mentorship was provided to OPSS digital team members to ensure knowledge transfer and sustainability beyond project completion.
Outcomes
Our structured approach resulted in significant improvements to UKMCAB:
Successful delivery of the MVP and further enhancements
A fully functional search engine replaced the inadequate WordPress site.
The new system established a scalable framework for future phases, allowing for seamless integration of UKAS and OGDs into the accreditation approval process.
Improved accreditation process
The service reduced manual data entry, ensuring accreditations followed a structured approval pipeline.​
UKAS now initiates records, OGDs validate them, and OPSS conduct final reviews before publishing accreditations.
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Better user experience
We designed the services using the GOV.UK Design System and meeting WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.
Search functionality was enhanced, making it easier for manufacturers to find accredited bodies.
Plans for integrating accreditation details into search (instead of PDF attachments) will further improve usability.
Efficiency gains through Agile adoption
The introduction of structured Agile practices improved workflow efficiency, reducing delays and miscommunication.
The transition to JIRA and refined backlog management ensured better tracking of project milestones.
Strategic planning for future phases
We collaboratively worked with OPSS senior stakeholders to clearly define the roadmap for additional improvements (searchable accreditation details, category browsing, and international accreditor integration).
Civil servants were upskilled through mentoring, ensuring the project’s sustainability beyond Olive Jar’s involvement.
Conclusion
UKMCAB is a crucial service for manufacturers seeking accredited assessment bodies in a post-Brexit regulatory environment. By overcoming significant initial project failures, we successfully delivered a robust, scalable search engine within tight constraints. Through Agile methodologies, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic planning, UKMCAB now provides an efficient and transparent accreditation process, ensuring regulatory compliance and market accessibility.
Future enhancements will continue to refine the service, making accreditation searches more intuitive and inclusive of international markets.