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Partner organisations

BIS is supported by a wide range of partner organisations in delivering its strategic priorities. Our partners provide services, information and advice to the Department and directly to a wide range of people and organisations. We have nine executive agencies: Companies House, The Insolvency Service, the Intellectual Property Office, the Land Registry, the Met Office, the National Measurement Office, Ordnance Survey the Skills Funding Agency and the UK Space Agency. Read about how we make public appointments. See also the BIS Public Bodies Directory 2010


Innovation and enterprise

  • British Hallmarking Council (BHC)

    BHC ensures that there are adequate facilities for the assaying and hallmarking in the UK.

  • British Standards Institution (BSI)

    BSI is the UK's National Standards Body. It represents UK economic and social interests in European and international standards organisations and through the development of business information solutions, and works with industry, businesses, government and consumers to facilitate the production of British, European and international standards.

  • Capital for Enterprise (CfEL)

    CfEL delivers and manages Government's financial interventions in the SME sector, applying knowledge and understanding of SMEs and the financing environment in which they operate. CfEL informs and improves the quality of Government policy initiatives through close involvement in the market.

  • Copyright Tribunal

    The Copyright Tribunal is an independent body established under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The main function of the Tribunal is to settle various types of disputes, where the parties cannot agree between themselves, mainly in the field of collective copyright licensing.

  • Design Council

    To strengthen and support the UK economy by inspiring and enabling the best use of design

  • Intellectual Property Office (IPO)

    IPO is responsible for Intellectual Property rights in the UK, including Patents, Designs, Trade Marks and Copyright.

  • Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO)

    LBRO aims to reduce burdens on business without compromising regulatory outcomes, working in partnership with local authorities, national regulators and departments to drive up the quality of local authority services.

  • National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)

    NESTA is the UK’s largest single endowment devoted exclusively to supporting talent, innovation and creativity. Its mission is to transform the UK's capacity for innovation.

    Update 14 October 2010: The Government has announced that the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) has been granted full independence, moving from the public to the voluntary sector to become a charitable company.

  • National Measurement Office (NMO)

    The NMO ensures that UK measurement is accurate, fair and legal. It has lead responsibility for policy on measuring instruments in use for trade, is responsible for implementing European Directives on measuring instruments and provides the focus for legal metrology in the UK.

  • National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

    The NPL is the UK's National Measurement Institute and has been a centre of excellence in developing & applying measurement standards, science and technology for over a century.

  • Technology Strategy Board (TSB)

    Research, development and exploitation of science, technology and new ideas for the benefit of those engaged in business activities, to increase economic growth and improve quality of life.

  • UK Accreditation Service (UKAS)

    UKAS is the national accreditation body to assess, against international agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.


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