RISQS price increases to all memberships and audits expiring from 6 April 2025
During the past year, RISQS has made further investment into improving both the scheme development and the scheme portal itself without passing on costs to industry.
We have increased buyer use of the scheme by matching it to the new Procurement Act, and we have simplified our approach to environmental and road risk through new protocols.
The RISQS senior management team has also continued to make significant cost efficiencies in the operational running of the scheme while delivering the investments mentioned above.
However, it is with regret that due to the CPI 12-month rate being at 2.2% at our measurement point and business costs still rising—which includes a 1.2% rise in employers’ National Insurance (NI)—we need to deliver a 2.2% (still sitting behind compounded CPI) price increase to industry from April 2025.
Please note: If you have received a membership renewal or audit invoice, your pricing will not be affected this year. However, all memberships and audits expiring on or from 6 April 2025 that have not already been created and invoiced from the date of this communication will be subject to the new rates.
These are as follows:
Supplier membership rates*
Buyer membership rates*
*Please note that all rates are exclusive of VAT.
As you will see, we have managed costs accordingly to ensure that the price increase will still fall below CPI.
This means in real terms that the railway industry supply chain will still be protected from full inflationary cost increases.
We are also banking on improvements to be gleaned under the hybrid audit system for next year (please see separate communication). This will hopefully help you with less time spent face to face in the audit and mean you have a greater ability to spend more time doing what you do.
We need your help, though, by uploading your management information in advance. This will help us truly benefit you by only getting face to face with you to run through your processes and answer any findings we have in the management information before we fulfil the reporting requirements.
We are also planning more cost savings for next year so that we can continue to stay behind ‘real terms’, as politicians call it, in price increases. Thank you for your efforts in doing that with us.
How does this affect me?
If you have received a membership renewal or audit invoice, your pricing will not be affected. However, all memberships and audits expiring on or from 6 April 2025 that have not already been created and invoiced from the date of this communication will be subject to the new rates listed above.
Cheques
Please note that we no longer accept cheques as a form of payment.
If you can only pay by cheque, please contact us (payment@risqs.org) so that we can discuss how we can support you.
FAQs
Q: Can I book my audit early to benefit from the current pricing rate?
A: Unfortunately, the date you book your audit does not affect the pricing. The new rates will be effective from the current expiry date of your audit or membership.
Q: How can I check my expiry date to know if this change affects me?
A: Please log onto the RISQS portal, and you will be able to check both your audit and membership expiry dates.
Q: Can I change my expiry date to bring it forward before the new pricing comes in?
A: Unfortunately not. Your annual expiry and membership dates will remain the same.
Q: As a new supplier to the scheme, I don’t yet have an expiry date. What pricing applies to me?
A: Unless you have already received an invoice, all new supplier audits are generated with a 16-week advance audit date. Therefore, if your audit date falls from 6 April 2025 onwards, the new pricing rates will apply.
Q: How do I book my audit?
A: The scheduling team will be in contact with you when the diaries are available for booking. Please note that they will only book with people listed as ‘authorised contacts’ in your questionnaire, so it may be worthwhile ensuring that this is up to date. To update, go to RISQS Portal, then the ‘Your Requirements’ page, then ‘Commercial Header’, then ‘Audit Contact Details’.
For any further questions, please contact scheduling@risqs.org.