The initiative, launched as BSI marks its 125th anniversary, brings together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to highlight how standards help the UK respond to global challenges – from emerging technologies, to workplace wellbeing.
Bathgate and Linlithgow MP Kirsteen Sullivan has been appointed as a Parliamentary Champion for the British Standards Institution (BSI), joining a new cross-party network of MPs and Peers committed to promoting the importance of standards in Westminster and beyond.
The initiative, launched as BSI marks its 125th anniversary, brings together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to highlight how standards help the UK respond to global challenges – from emerging technologies, to workplace wellbeing.
Ms Sullivan said: “It is a real honour to take on the role of Parliamentary Champion for BSI. Standards play a vital role in everyday life, often without us even realising it.
“From something as simple as the safety of the plugs in our homes, to the reliability of fire alarms and the protection offered by workplace equipment, standards help ensure the products and services we rely on are safe, effective and trustworthy.
“Through my work campaigning for inclusive personal protective equipment (PPE), I have seen first hand how important it is that standards work for everyone.
“I want to use this role to raise awareness of just how important standards are – not only in underpinning safety, but in supporting innovation, improving quality of life and ensuring fairness across society.”
BSI, the UK’s national standards body, has a long history of shaping safety and quality in public life.
From its origins developing standards for infrastructure such as bridges and railways, to modern work on areas like net zero, artificial intelligence and digital technologies, standards continue to provide consistency and trust.
The newly launched Parliamentary Champions network reflects the universal importance of this work.
It aims to strengthen understanding of how standards support safe products, resilient supply chains and economic growth, while ensuring protections keep pace with rapid technological change.
Ms Sullivan added: “As we enter a new era of industrial and technological change, standards will be more important than ever.
“Whether it is ensuring new technologies are developed responsibly, or making sure workplaces are safe and inclusive, standards provide the foundation we need to build a fairer and safer society.
“I look forward to working with BSI and colleagues across Parliament to champion this vital work and highlight how standards make a real difference in people’s everyday lives.”
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