The Mark of Trusted Culture™
CultureMark™ Certification:
CultureMark™ is the UK's first independent certification specifically designed to objectively verify and elevate psychological safety and cultural maturity within organisations.
It's your definitive standard for a truly trusted, inclusive, and high-performing workplace, achieved through the implementation of the Fortis360™ Enhanced Framework
- Achieve verifiable psychological safety, going beyond compliance with ISO 45003.
- Build a resilient, high-trust culture that drives innovation and productivity.
- Effectively manage mental health risks and improve employee retention.
- Gain competitive advantage and enhance your employer brand with a recognised mark of excellence.
CultureMark™: A Proprietary Certification for Psychosocial Excellence
CultureMark™ is more than just a certificate; it's a comprehensive proprietary certification standard developed by Fortis & Noble.
It provides objective verification of your organisation's commitment and effectiveness in cultivating a psychologically safe and culturally mature environment, culminating in a prestigious 'kite-mark' of excellence.
CultureMark™ is Built On:
- A Robust Framework: Grounded in cutting-edge research in organisational psychology and safety science, aligning with global standards like ISO 45003 and UK HSE guidance.
- Rigorous Assessment: Utilising our unique methodologies, including confidential employee input, leadership reviews, and comprehensive audits, to provide deep insights into your psychosocial landscape.
- Verifiable Standard: Unlike ISO 45003 (which is guidance-only and non-certifiable), CultureMark™ has clear, rigorous requirements and scoring for each of its foundations, emphasising practical application and behavioural evidence.
The Five Core Foundations of CultureMark™
The Five Core Foundations of CultureMark™: CultureMark™ assesses organisations against five core foundations, each representing a critical aspect of organisational culture and psychosocial safety. These foundations are grounded in ISO 45003’s guidance but extend into broader cultural maturity and practical application. Each foundation has defined criteria and evidences that an organisation must meet.
Leadership Behaviour & Commitment:
- This foundation evaluates senior leadership’s visible dedication, behaviors, and resource allocation to actively model safe practices and champion mental health initiatives.
Psychosocial Risk Governance:
- It examines the structures and processes for identifying, assessing, and mitigating psychosocial hazards, ensuring board-level oversight and clear action plans.
Employee Engagement & Voice:
- This foundation assesses how employees are involved in building a positive culture through open feedback channels, consultation, and feeling safe to speak up without fear.
Support & Well-being Resources:
- It evaluates the practical support systems, preventative measures, and readily available resources (like EAPs or mental health first aiders) provided to maintain employee psychological health.
Continuous Improvement & Cultural Maturity:
- This foundation examines how the organisation measures, learns from, and continuously improves its culture over time, ensuring psychological safety is integrated into all management processes for sustained progress.
The Fortis360™ Enhanced Framework: The Comprehensive System Driving Your Certification Journey
Achieving CultureMark™ certification is a structured journey.
The Fortis360™ Enhanced Framework is our proprietary, evidence-based system that provides the modules, tools, and processes to comprehensively address psychosocial risks and elevate your culture to meet the rigorous CultureMark™ standards.
It’s built on robust foundations including ISO 45003, CAN/CSA-Z1003-13, Human & Organizational Performance (HOP), Just Culture, Neurodiversity-inclusive design, Trauma-informed practices, and Fortis & Noble's own IP like 'The Strategic Shadow' and 'The Synergy Risk Loop'.
Key Fortis360™ Modules (Your CultureMark™ Journey Steps):
Module 1: Psychosocial Risk Survey (The CultureMark™ Express Assessment)
- This initial diagnostic provides a baseline understanding of your psychosocial risks and cultural perceptions, aligned with ISO 45003. It's your first step in gauging your CultureMark™ readiness.
Module 2: Senior Leadership Training – 'Leading Psychosocial Safety'
- Equips senior leaders to manage psychosocial risks and shape a psychologically safe culture, addressing leadership accountability and leveraging models like 'The Strategic Shadow'.
(Directly supports CultureMark™ Foundation 1: Leadership Behaviour & Commitment).
Module 3: Workforce Engagement – 'Speaking Up & Looking Out'
- Empowers all employees to understand psychosocial risks, recognise their role in culture, and confidently use no-blame reporting tools.
(Directly supports CultureMark™ Foundation 3: Employee Engagement & Voice).
Module 4: Joint Incident Reviews – 'From Blame to Learning'
- Provides a structured, fair process for reviewing incidents and concerns through the lens of Just Culture and HOP, focusing on systemic learning.
(Directly supports CultureMark™ Foundation 2: Psychosocial Risk Governance and Foundation 5: Continuous Improvement).
Module 5: Safety Circles – 'Conversations That Shape Culture'
- Establishes regular, peer-led forums for open dialogue about safety, risk, pressure, and culture, fostering psychological safety from the ground up.
(Directly supports CultureMark™ Foundation 3: Employee Engagement & Voice and Foundation 5: Continuous Improvement).
Module 6: Monitoring & Feedback – 'From Pulse to Progress'
- Establishes mechanisms for ongoing measurement, tracking, and reporting of cultural health and psychosocial risk trends, ensuring continuous improvement and accountability.
(Directly supports CultureMark™ Foundation 5: Continuous Improvement & Cultural Maturity and Foundation 2: Psychosocial Risk Governance).
Module X: Support & Well-being Ecosystem
- Ensures accessible, appropriate, and effective resources for employee mental health and well-being are provided, tailored to diverse workforce needs and identified risks.
(Directly supports CultureMark™ Foundation 4: Support & Well-being Resources).
Achieving CultureMark™ certification is a structured journey.
The Fortis360™ Enhanced Framework is our proprietary, evidence-based system that provides the modules, tools, and processes to comprehensively address psychosocial risks and elevate your culture to meet the rigorous CultureMark™ standards.
It’s built on robust foundations including ISO 45003, CAN/CSA-Z1003-13, Human & Organizational Performance (HOP), Just Culture, Neurodiversity-inclusive design, Trauma-informed practices, and Fortis & Noble's own IP like 'The Strategic Shadow' and 'The Synergy Risk Loop'.
Your CultureMark™ Certification Journey –
From Assessment to Award
The CultureMark™ certification journey is a structured and thorough process, designed to guide your organisation from initial interest through to successful certification and beyond. It ensures a consultative approach, providing you with valuable insights at every stage.
- Discovery & Scoping: We begin by understanding your organisational goals, context, and readiness. In this stage, the scope of certification is defined (whole company, specific unit/project, etc.), and a preliminary assessment or questionnaire may be used. The outcome is a clear proposal and plan tailored to your organisation’s needs.
- Assessment Planning: After discovery, a detailed assessment plan is drawn up. This includes scheduling on-site (or hybrid) audit dates, identifying key locations or departments to visit, and scheduling interviews or focus groups. You'll be informed what documents and evidence to prepare in advance, and assessment criteria are shared.
- Audit & Evidence Gathering: The core audit phase involves a thorough evaluation by Fortis & Noble’s accredited CultureMark™ assessors. Auditors will review documentation, conduct interviews with leadership and employees, hold focus groups, and observe the workplace. Evidence for each Foundation's criteria is collected and scored.
- Evaluation & Review: After the audit, the findings are compiled and evaluated against the CultureMark™ framework. Provisional scores are calculated, and an internal review process ensures consistency. Any minor non-conformities are identified, and the appropriate certification level (Certified, Verified, or Elite) is confirmed.
- Certification Decision & Award: Once reviewed, Fortis & Noble formally notifies your organisation of the outcome. If successful, you are awarded the CultureMark™ certification at the attained level, receiving an official certificate and guidelines on how to use the certification marks. Your certification is added to Fortis & Noble’s public register.
- Report & Recommendations: Alongside the certificate, you receive a comprehensive audit report. This details findings for each Foundation (strengths, areas for improvement, scores), an executive summary, and practical recommendations for further cultural development. The report serves as both a record and a valuable management tool.
- Ongoing Assurance & Re-Certification: CultureMark™ is not a one-off achievement; it requires maintenance to ensure standards remain high. The scheme operates on a 2-year certification cycle with annual surveillance reviews and a full re-audit, ensuring continuous improvement and sustained standards. This means your "Mark of Trusted Culture" is continuously validated.
CultureMark™ Certification Levels
Recognising Your Commitment to Excellence
CultureMark™ Certified
CultureMark™ Certified: This base certification indicates an organisation meets all core requirements of the CultureMark™ standard, establishing solid foundations in psychosocial risk management.
CultureMark™ Verified:
CultureMark™ Verified: This mid-tier status denotes advanced practice and consistent positive results, demonstrating the organisation rigorously exceeds the core standard in several areas.
CultureMark™ Elite
CultureMark™ Elite: This pinnacle certification is awarded to exemplars of cultural excellence, signifying an organisation that consistently sets the standard for psychological safety and workplace well-being.
Contact us
Telephone:0208 058 9053
E-mail: info@fortisandnoble.co.uk
Suite 2044
Fleet House Springhead Road,
Northfleet
Gravesend
DA11 8HJ,
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