ISO 22301:2019 (BSMS) Lead Auditor Course

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Continuity Management Systems

• Fundamentals of business continuity management.

• Purpose and benefits of ISO 22301:2019.

• Principles of Business Continuity Management Systems.

• Organisational resilience and continuity planning.

• Overview of the ISO 22301 standard and its structure.

Unit 2: ISO 22301:2019 Requirements

• Organisational context and interested parties.

• Leadership, commitment, and business continuity policy.

• Roles, responsibilities, and authorities.

• Planning, objectives, and support requirements.

• Operational planning and control.

• Performance evaluation and management review.

• Nonconformity, corrective action, and continual improvement.

Unit 3: Business Impact Analysis and Risk Assessment

• Business continuity risk identification.

• Business impact analysis (BIA).

• Identification of critical activities and dependencies.

• Assessment of operational disruption.

• Recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs), where applicable.

• Business continuity strategies and solutions.

• Resource requirements and recovery priorities.

Unit 4: Business Continuity Planning and Incident Response

• Developing business continuity plans.

• Emergency response and crisis management.

• Incident communication and escalation procedures.

• Business continuity exercises and testing.

• Recovery procedures and restoration of operations.

• Evaluation of plan effectiveness.

• Review and improvement of continuity arrangements.

Unit 5: Audit Principles and Audit Preparation

• Fundamentals of management system auditing.

• Audit principles and professional conduct.

• Audit programme planning.

• Defining audit scope, criteria, and objectives.

• Preparing audit plans and checklists.

• Reviewing documented information.

• Risk-based audit planning.

Unit 6: Conducting an ISO 22301:2019 Audit

• Opening meetings and audit communication.

• Conducting interviews and observations.

• Reviewing documents and records.

• Sampling and collecting objective evidence.

• Evaluating compliance with ISO 22301 requirements.

• Identifying and documenting nonconformities.

• Preparing and presenting audit findings.

• Conducting closing meetings.

Unit 7: Audit Reporting and Follow-Up

• Preparing audit reports.

• Classifying and documenting audit findings.

• Reporting nonconformities and opportunities for improvement.

• Corrective action and root cause analysis.

• Verification of corrective actions.

• Audit closure and follow-up activities.

• Maintaining audit records and confidentiality.

Unit 8: Lead Auditor Competence and Practical Application

• Managing an audit team.

• Assigning audit responsibilities.

• Managing audit meetings and stakeholder communication.

• Handling difficult audit situations.

• Evaluating audit evidence and reaching conclusions.

• Practical audit case studies and exercises.

• Professional ethics and auditor competence.

• Continual development of auditing skills.

Completing the ISO 22301:2019 Lead Auditor Course can help learners to:

• Develop specialist knowledge of business continuity management.

• Improve their understanding of international management system auditing.

• Strengthen risk assessment and operational resilience skills.

• Learn structured audit planning, execution, and reporting techniques.

• Support organisations in identifying weaknesses in business continuity arrangements.

• Enhance professional development in risk, compliance, governance, and auditing.

• Prepare for relevant business continuity and auditing roles.

• Build a foundation for further study in business continuity, risk management, and management system standards.

This course is suitable for:

• Business continuity professionals.

• Internal auditors and aspiring lead auditors.

• Risk management professionals.

• Quality assurance and compliance officers.

• Health, safety, and environmental management professionals.

• Consultants and management system advisers.

• Emergency planning and crisis management personnel.

• Operations and business resilience managers.

• Professionals responsible for organisational continuity and recovery.

• Individuals seeking to develop their knowledge of ISO 22301 auditing.

• Written assignments.

• Knowledge-based questions.

• Case study analysis.

• Audit planning exercises.

• Practical audit scenarios.

• Identification and reporting of nonconformities.

• Preparation of audit reports.

• Final knowledge assessment or examination, where required.

Learners should demonstrate an understanding of ISO 22301 requirements, audit planning, evidence collection, evaluation of findings, corrective action, and audit reporting.

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

After completing this course, learners may consider further development in:

• ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management.

• ISO 31000 Risk Management.

• ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems.

• ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.

• ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

• ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems.

• Integrated Management Systems (IMS) auditing.

• Enterprise Risk Management.

• Crisis Management and Organisational Resilience.

Learners may also pursue advanced auditor development, relevant professional memberships, or further business continuity qualifications, subject to the admission and experience requirements of the relevant provider.