GO FOR GOLD
FORS Gold requirements primarily involve best practice measures, including you promoting the FORS Standard through your supply chain and demonstrating meaningful improvements against the baseline data gathered in FORS Silver.
Your route to Gold accreditation
Getting ready - FORS Standard Version 4
Please check your scope of accreditation in the FORS evidencing system before submitting your application to make sure you include all operating centres in scope, but no more than that. Remember that both your Bronze and Silver accreditations need to be maintained and remember that there must be a minimum of 30 days left on your Bronze accreditation when submitting evidence for a Gold application.
To assist Gold members with submitting case studies to meet the G3 Published and updated case study requirement, FORS has introduced a template. Operators submitting a Gold application for the first time, and those re-submitting their case study as part of their Gold re-approval process, are required to use this template. Please note that applications submitted using a previous case study template will be rejected so please ensure you download and fill in the latest version. Operators submitting a re-approval application should also note that the case study needs to be a review of the last 12 months and not a copy of the previous submission.
The new Gold case study template is available to download from the relevant section of the evidencing system or you can click the button below to access the template for G3.
Furthermore, in order to help you in your progression to FORS Gold, FORS has produced two guidance templates which can be completed to demonstrate how you meet FORS Gold requirements G8 Noise assessment and G9 Modal shift and alternative vehicles.
Whilst the templates are not mandatory to use, you are encouraged to use these to ensure that you cover all aspects of the requirements. However if you have your own templates which contain the same information, these will be accepted as evidence and should be uploaded in the usual way. The templates are available to download from the relevant section of the evidencing system or you can click the buttons below to access them.
Getting ready - FORS Standard Version 5
Please check your scope of accreditation in the FORS evidencing system before submitting your application to make sure you include all operating centres in scope, but no more than that. Remember that both your Bronze and Silver accreditations need to be maintained and remember that there must be a minimum days left on your Bronze and Silver accreditations when submitting evidence for a Gold application for the first time. For re-approval of Gold, there must also be 45 days left on your Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation.
To assist Gold members with submitting case studies to meet the G3 FORS case study requirement, FORS has produced a template which must be used. Applications submitted using a previous case study template will be rejected so please ensure you download and fill in the latest version.
The FORS Standard version 5 Gold case study template is available to download from the relevant section of the evidencing system or you can click the button below to access the template for G3.
Furthermore, in order to help you in your progression to FORS Gold, FORS has produced a guidance template for G6 Sustainable operations. Whilst this template is not mandatory to use, you are encouraged to use it to ensure that you cover all aspects of the requirement. However if you have your own template which contains the same information, this will be accepted as evidence and should be uploaded in the usual way. The template will be available to download from the relevant section of the evidencing system or you can click the button below to access it.
Application
To gain Gold accreditation, you need to provide evidence for every operating centre that is in scope of accreditation demonstrating that they meet the specific requirements. To apply for Gold then please click here.
FORS Gold accreditation does not require a physical audit.
Accreditation decision
Within 15 working days of evidence submitted, FORS will either:
- Accredit your company to FORS Gold
- Request you to provide further evidence to meet the requirement
- Not accredit the company, giving reasons for such a decision
Certification
Following accreditation, you will receive your FORS Gold certificate. As a FORS Gold operator, you only need to book your Bronze re-audit once in every two years, but you still have to make sure your Silver and Gold evidence is supplied yearly. For an overview on audits, click here.
Your documents
How much does it cost?
Your FORS fee is made up of the annual subscription fee (based on fleet size) and an audit fee (based on the number of operating centres accredited). Use the Fees link to access more details.
Who can help?
There are many ways to get support and training through FORS and their Suppliers.
FORS have an extensive training programme. Produced by TfL, FORS has developed a variety of opportunities for both managers and drivers. In order to meet the FORS Standard you will be required to demonstrate that you have plans in place to ensure all drivers and managers undergo approved and progressive training and continued professional development. This includes induction training, compliance and vulnerable road user training as well as remedial and refresher training to ensure skills are fully embedded.
Our Suppliers provide exclusive offers or discounts on products and services aligned to the requirements of the FORS Standard.
Pre-Audit Service Providers can help organisations gain FORS accreditation. Please make your own assessment to discover the best routes to gain your accreditation.