UGRA PSO is a colour quality standard, and looks at how a printing company produces accurate colour, including handling foils, producing proofs and PDFs.

The Nottingham-based business gained the certification with the consultation services of ink supplier Stehlin Hostag, which was the first ink company to gain the certification.

Simon Lowe, sales director at Hickling & Squires, said benefits of the standard have included improved efficiency and make-ready times, while also reducing the company's waste.

Press pass times have also "reduced significantly" due to the company's proofing accuracy to the printed sheet.

He said: "It has taken a lot of hard work and a great team effort from repro and the press room to achieve the PSO certification from UGRA.

"We can confidently assure both our customers and prospects colour accuracy and consistency time after time and can provide the physical data to back it up."

Areas assessed by UGRA include the implementation of the quality system, and data reception and a PDF/X compliant workflow, compliant to ISO 15930.

It also includes digital proofing (ISO 12647-7), plate-production (ISO 9001), printing (ISO 12647-2) and standard illumination (ISO 3664).

Richard Gill, technical sales development manager at Stehlin Hostag, said: "We have worked closely with Hickling & Squires in order to help the company gain the standard, and it has now implemented standardised procedures for how it handles foils or produces a proof."