The Infologue.com ACS Star Performers is a list of ACS (Approved Contractors Scheme) companies who have achieved the highest 5% of assessed scores within the ACS Over the past few years there has been a call for ACS assessed scores should be made public to facilitate the opportunity for high scoring companies to demonstrate differentiation; equally there are strong voices that oppose publication of individual scores.

Infologue.com believes that the ACS Star Performers list allows high scoring companies the opportunity to demonstrate their achievements whilst not revealing individual company ACS assessed scores. There is no direct or implied connection between the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the ACS Star Performers list.

The methodology of the Infologue.com ACS Star Performers list

Currently the threshold score in order to qualify for the ACS Star Performers list is 150. Currently the maximum ACS score is 174. Infologue.com estimates that there are 40 companies with scores that meet or exceed these criteria. The Star Performers list will not contain individual company scores but will provide the name, the licensable activity and certification expiry date of each company; therefore it is possible that the ACS Star Performers list may not be complete. As a result of the ACS scores being confidential to each company the ACS Star Performers list and therefore can only be listed with the permission of each qualifying company.

In addition, each application to be included in the ACS Star Performers list will have to provide independent verification from their inspection body or the Security Industry Authority that the company meets ACS Star Performers list criteria. Prior to listing a company on the ACS Star Performers List, we require written confirmation from the respective ACS inspection body or the SIA that the company meets or exceeds our threshold assessment score. There is no direct or implied connection between the Security Industry Authority and this project.

How the ACS Scoring System works

The SIA has set out the following explanation of how the ACS scoring system works:

Each year every approved contractor — except for those on certain Passport schemes — assesses its performance against 89 individual indicators of achievement. At assessment these scores are verified by an independent assessor. Performance above the required level results in a +1, +2 or higher score. Performance below the required achievement level results in a -1, -2 or lower score. The minimum overall score that a company can achieve and still be approved is zero. Zero is a good score, as it demonstrates that the company is meeting the ACS standard and following recognised industry good practice. The maximum overall score that can be achieved is currently 174.

ACS scoring not designed as a marketing or differentiation tool — Andrew Shepherd

Andrew Shepherd, the ACS Assistant Director told Infologue.com exclusively in a feature article; “The ACS scoring system was not designed to be a marketing or differentiation tool. However, it can provide an indication of overall quality, provided that its limitations are understood. A high score may not mean that an approved contractor performs well in all areas; equally, some approved contractors may achieve a lower overall score but may perform exceptionally well in a particular aspect. Ultimately a lower score is still a good score, as it demonstrates that a business is meeting the ACS standard and following recognised industry good practice.”