Meet The ISOQAR Team

Lee has over 15 years of business process and support services experience, with a strong track record of delivering increased revenue and profitability.

As a CIMA qualified accountant, Lee started his career working internationally with the General Electric Company before moving back to the UK and holding various roles including Financial Controller and Business Unit Director for Vertex Limited, the business process outsourcer.

Later Lee became Finance Director and Managing Director for Kidsunlimited Group Limited, the private equity backed nursery day care provider and Finance Director for the private equity backed health clubs business Total Fitness Group Limited.

Steve joined ISOQAR from Leeds City Council in 1993 as one of the first auditors employed by the Directors.  His background is mainly in food manufacturing and working with local authorities.  He has been instrumental in helping ISOQAR considerably extend its scope of accreditation to many new sectors of industry and commerce.

In 1995 Steve was appointed as Area Manager for the Leeds office. The successful development of this office helped the company grow from a mainly north-west based organisation to a national, and later an international company.  In 1997 he was promoted to General Manager, based at ISOQAR’s Head Office in Manchester.  Since then a major achievement has been to drive forward the successful accreditation to ISO14001, which was achieved in January 2000.

Following the acquisition of ISOQAR by The Alcumus Group in 2010, Steve was appointed as Operations Director.

After 26 years with NatWest Bank, Frank joined the Company in 1996 as office Manager. The growth of the Company and the knowledge and experience he acquired in his banking career allowed him to become involved in all areas of the Head Office work, eventually culminating in his appointment as Chief Executive to the Governing Board where he became heavily involved in Certification issues.

Continued Company growth has now led him into the more specialised area of human resources which also involves dealing with the many Health and Safety issues, management of the building into which the Company moved in 2007, and the ever expanding Company fleet.

Keith has been a quality management professional for more than 30 years.  He was an electrical/electronics engineer who has held managerial posts in both manufacturing and service industries.

Since joining ISOQAR in 1994, Keith has been involved in developing overseas certification world-wide, but now has broader responsibilities that include supporting the UK operation.  

Having completed fifteen years working in the food industry, a change of direction was on the cards for Roger in February 1997. This is when he joined ISOQAR.  It was now a case of the shoe being on the other foot, having been audited by ISOQAR in his previous role.

Roger’s role as Overseas Manager is to ensure the continued development of our overseas operation.  Part of this leads him to audit a wide and varied range of our customers abroad.  During his time at ISOQAR Roger has expanded his industry knowledge and has become one of our most experienced auditors.

As the demand for ISOQAR to deliver training courses grew, Roger was appointed to develop our external training activities both in the UK and overseas.  This has led to ISOQAR’s training portfolio now supporting much of our certification services.

Rob has over 20 years experience of Quality Management Systems and at various times has held the position of Quality Manager, Quality Consultant, QMS Auditor and Verifier for the Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Scheme.

Rob's principle responsibility is to ensure ISOQAR remains accredited to ISO 17021.

Nicole joined ISOQAR from college where she studied computing and business studies.  She gained an Advanced Vocational Qualification in ICT as well as an AS in business studies.

Nicole is now the Client Services Manager.  Nicole’s duties mainly revolve around organising our Southern auditors’ diaries and liaising with clients in the South.  As Client Services Manager she manages the day to day running of the diaries, booking new dates, updating reports, booking travel and hotels for the auditors and generally making sure that they get to their appointments on time.

Tariq joined ISOQAR following various work experience, most recently, with the Civil Service.  At ISOQAR he works as part of the technical sales team.

James joined ISOQAR as part of the audit liaison team in 2007 and is now part of the technical sales team.

Before joining ISOQAR he studied Business Management at University and has had varied work experience, most recently in Social Care.

Ann joined ISOQAR as part of the Overseas Business Team in 2008.

Ann has a variety of experience to offer ISOQAR from working as a young Butchers Assistant on a Saturday to entering into the insurance industry working up from the post room assistant to office supervisor in the Claims department and then into the finance world working her way up to a senior mortgage underwriter and after being made redundant was offered the position as a personnel assistant for a company who sold and mortgaged overseas properties.

Ann is now a part of the Technical Sales Team.

Jenny joined ISOQAR in 1993.  She says that at that time, the company was much smaller than it is now! 

Initially employed as part of the administration team, Jenny has enjoyed watching the company go from strength to strength.  In the early days, her own contribution to this growth was to ensure that all our auditors were in the right place at the right time.  This meant arranging their diaries, travel and ensuring they had everything they needed.  If that wasn’t enough, she also sent out the invoices and handled lots of the phone calls!

Since then, Jenny has taken on roles in both our Marketing and Overseas departments, and her current role is that of SIA/ACS Co-ordinator. Jenny’s role is to manage the administration for all of our clients in the security industry who wish to become Approved Contractors in accordance with the Security Industry Authority.

After studying Textiles and Fashion at University, Fahmeedah completed a short computer course before working as a receptionist and a Pharmacy Assistant (dispenser).

Fahmeedah joined ISOQAR in November 2000 as an Assistant Administrator. Her main duties revolved around ensuring that our auditors know which organisations to visit.

Fahmeedah’s role is to manage the administration for all of our clients in the security industry who wish to become Approved Contractors in accordance with the Security Industry Authority.

Before joining ISOQAR, Anne-Marie worked as a manager at a home delivery company in Manchester before taking some time off to have her second child.  She then returned to work on a part time basis at BUPA Healthcare, but after deciding the call centre environment wasn’t for her, she left to join ISOQAR as part of the Overseas Business Team.

As Overseas Coordinator, Anne-Marie’s role revolves around processing new contract reviews and coordinating audits for overseas companies.  In fact she administers the certification process for overseas clients and agencies throughout the whole certification process. 

Anne-Marie also looks after the financial aspects relating to our overseas agencies and regularly attends conferences and seminars to promote ISOQAR worldwide.

Sheila joined ISOQAR in September 2008 and is part of the HR team.

Steve joined ISOQAR in September 2008 from a Software Development position at a claims handling firm. Steve currently works on developing and maintaining ISOQAR's bespoke systems and website in addition to supporting ISOQAR's office-based and remote staff.

Steve has a Computer Science & Biology degree from Keele University and has extensive experience of software and web development.

Steven started his working life with Plessey Telecommunications Ltd and moved into Quality Assurance after completing an apprenticeship.

He has held a variety of QA related roles and since moving to ISOQAR in 1993, has been appointed Training Manager, responsible for training and monitoring audit staff. Steven still regularly conducts audits, specialising in telecoms, electrical and forensic science related work.

Mike is a qualified electrical and mechanical engineer who has worked in the field of quality since leaving school.  He first worked as an inspector then subsequently as quality engineer, quality manager, quality consultant and quality assessor/auditor.

Jazz joined ISOQAR in May 2002 following a 25-year career in a variety of quality assurance roles. During this time, Jazz gained valuable experience within the electronics and automotive fields and even had a spell in the motor sport industry.

Some consultancy work led to a chance meeting with ISOQAR. This made him think that it may be beneficial to increase the company’s presence in the south. We agreed and invited Jazz to join the team.

Originally working as a butcher for Tesco peter trained as a Meat Technologist and once qualified, worked in Quality Assurance and Product Development for Bowyers of Witshire Ltd – Northern Foods Group & as a Technical Production Manager for Home Farm Products – Sutherlands Group, managing Pig Slaughtering and Bacon Production.

Experience in Quality Standards came whilst employed by Leeds City Council in a Cook Freeze central production unit for school meals. From here he moved within the local authority to work on quality management systems across a range of contracted services.

Peter joined ISOQAR in 1994 to strengthen our experience with local authorities and the food industry. He is now our Food and Care Sector Manager carrying out audits against ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, HACCP, BRC standards & OHSAS 18001.

Originally a biologist specialising in ecology and microbiology, Carolyn became a teacher, decided better of it and went into industry producing toiletries for the supermarkets and retail trade. That company went from a 12 person company to a multi-national and she says she did most jobs whilst there! Later, Carolyn joined a consultancy and training company working on ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 throughout the world.

Now at ISOQAR, Carolyn is a project manager for the environmental standard and audits quality, environmental and health & safety management systems. Carolyn has a diverse expertise which covers waste management to care homes, taking in chemicals, laboratories, construction, education, basic engineering and many other service sectors along the way.

Having spent over 25 years as a civil & structural engineer and a senior manager within the building and civil engineering industry, Ian decided that he would like a change of direction. However, he still wanted to use the skills he had developed in the public and private construction sectors

Ian joined ISOQAR in July 2001. He specialises in building, civil engineering and associated professional disciplines.

Jim arrived on ISOQAR’s doorstep many years ago following five years quality consultancy work throughout the UK and USA. Jim is an engineer by qualification and experience, and he has worked within the quality sector for over 25 years, gaining first-hand knowledge of dealing not only with in house disciplines but also liaising with suppliers and customers.

A registered lead auditor since 1988, Jim has worked with and audited literally thousands of companies across a diverse range of industries, both service sector and manufacturing, ranging from small organisations to large multi-national companies. Jim has been involved with the SIA-ACS since its formation and is currently ISOQAR’s Security Sector Manager and one of our most experienced ACS assessors.

Lottie met her childhood ambition when she started to wear a white lab coat and work in a laboratory, testing and analysing chemical samples.  In fact she has spent most of her working life employed as a works/industrial chemist and achieved a HNC in Chemistry on a day release basis with her first company.

She has been involved with Quality Management Systems for many years and her first experience of auditing came in 1994.  In 2001 Lottie completed the Lead Auditor course and realised that she wanted to become an external Lead Auditor.  Joining ISOQAR has helped fulfill her dream!

Lottie immediately knew she’d made the right decision.  She enjoys auditing companies over a broad spectrum of industry sectors including manufacturing & production, chemical, rubber & plastics, engineering and the security industry.

After completing a 5 year Craft Apprenticeship with the Ford Motor Company, David remained at Ford as a test rig fitter before emigrating to South Africa in 1975.  During these years in SA he held positions at Leyland Cars, Mercedes, and finally as a Supplier Quality Engineer with Toyota in Durban, Natal.  On his return to the UK in 1986 (with two young sons in tow) he was employed at ERF trucks in Sandbach, Cheshire again as a Supplier Quality Engineer. 

David was the fourth auditor to join ISOQAR.  This was back in 1993.  Apart from visiting clients within his own sector of engineering and automotive manufacturing, he audits a very wide and diverse range of organisations both in the manufacturing and service industries. 

Ralph joined ISOQAR in 1998 to enable them to maintain their customer service levels as demand for ISOQAR's services increased. On leaving school he joined a major motor manufacturer as a technician apprentice, where he specialised in quality control. Since then he has spent all his working life in the quality field in a diverse range of industries, including railways, consumer products, office equipment, plastic processing, industrial doors, and spring manufacturer.

Russ Joined ISOQAR in May 2000 following 12 years in heavy engineering and 12 years in the steel industry.  Starting as an apprentice, Russ steadily progressed his career, finally working as Quality and Training Manager before joining our audit team.

With all this experience, Russ now audits customers from the industries from whence he came. He has also expanded his industry knowledge to include stockists, materials testing, and training providers.

Mike has spent 30 years in engineering and the motor trade, starting on the shop floor and working all the way up to Quality Manager before joining ISOQAR in September 2000.With all this experience, Mike now audits engineering and a whole host of other associated industries.

John has over 25 years experience in a wide range of engineering disciplines and project management. Developing himself from a time-served apprentice to Quality Assurance Manger, completing an MBA in the process, John has now notched up over 14 years experience in the field of quality management.

Since joining ISOQAR in September 2000, John has continued to develop his broad range of skills, gaining experience and knowledge in a variety of disciplines such as environmental auditing and the construction sector. He has also gained recognised qualifications in Health and Safety and Street Works, the latter enabling him to work on Highways projects.

Mike began his working life by serving 8 years as Merchant Navy Officer. He followed this with 15 years as a computer programmer designing and developing real time computer systems for the marine market. From there Mike joined Dowding & Mills plc where he learnt his trade as a Quality Auditor as well as taking on the role of Transport Manager.

Mike joined ISOQAR in April 2003 as a lead auditor specialising in electronics, computer hardware and software and road haulage.

Steve’s background is in mechanical engineering. Many moons ago he started his working life as a time served toolmaker. He later moved on to JCB, where he spent 15 years in Research and Development followed by 2 years as a Quality Supervisor.

ISOQAR rescued him from a life of grime and he is now a Lead EMS and QMS Auditor. He also delivers the QMS training courses within a team of other experienced trainers.

Mick is a trained polymer technologist and joined ISOQAR in November 2003 after working 34 years in the rubber industry, mainly with tyre manufacturer Pirelli. Mick’s work has always been in the Quality or Technical field and he spent several years as Materials Quality Manager at Pirelli’s Burton on Trent facility. He has been directly involved with Quality standards from “birth” when it was BS 5750. This led to Mick’s involvement with QS 9000, TS16949 and finally ISO 9001:2000. During his time at Pirelli he conducted numerous second party and internal audits. He achieved his Lead Auditor qualification prior to joining ISOQAR. His move to ISOQAR was the result of him wanting to use these skills on a full time basis.

Mick is also a qualified “Adult Learning” tutor and has done part-time tutoring at his local college for courses within the community sector.

Graham joined ISOQAR in 2004, bringing with him 24 years experience of working in quality assurance.  Ten of these were spent as Quality Manager at Essex Training and Enterprise Council.  He has also worked with GEC, Pye and Ilford Films.

As an auditor with ISOQAR, Graham's main field of expertise is in those sectors involving engineering, electronics or training.  He is also certificated by the Security Industry Authority as an assessor for their Approved Contractor Scheme.

Philip worked for 31 years in a company manufacturing PVC sheeting & flooring in Frome, Somerset. Although in one location, the company was owned at various times by ICI, Enichem, Marley and EVC. Philip worked his way up the ladder, ending up as Purchasing Manager. Finally, in 2001 he left to join a Paper and Film Label Manufacturer for the Print Industry, where he worked for nearly 5 years as Purchasing & Logistics Manager.

Philip joined ISOQAR in February 2006, auditing customers' quality and health & safety systems. He also specialises in the security industry.

Since completing his Mechanical Engineering Technician Apprenticeship, Robert has accumulated over 30 years experience in Quality Assurance and Production Management.  He has also managed his own business focussing on Support Engineering.

Joining ISOQAR in 2007, Robert brings with him specialist industry sector knowledge in machinery, building installation and the manufacture of beverages, domestic appliances, medical and surgical equipment.

Paul joined ISOQAR in 2008 after nearly 25 years in the Royal Navy where his last job was as an internal quality and environmental auditor, and H&S advisor, with a wide-ranging remit across Portsmouth Naval Base.  He had been responsible for testing, commissioning and operating a variety of engineering systems across the UK and NATO fleets and has also gained much experience of HR, especially the application of training and personnel welfare.

Paul is an auditor for a range of industry sectors but specialises in the engineering and manufacturing spheres, with a background encompassing hydraulics, pneumatics, power conversion and distribution, digital and analogue control systems, data processing, radar, communications and micro-electronics as well as military aviation, explosives and bulk fuel and cargo shipping.

After studying Chemistry at University, Tom worked in testing construction materials. Moving from Laboratory work to Quality Assurance he picked up an MSc in Total Quality Management (TQM) and worked in civil engineering consultancy, local authority housing, fertiliser production, printing and more recently plastic fabrication.

Tom audits a wide diversity of standards including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and the Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Scheme (SIA ACS).

Amanda started her career as a beautician and moved on to be a croupier working briefly on a cruise liner round the Caribbean, until finding out she suffered from sea sickness! Wanting a life and career on land, she started working in telecommunications before moving into IT and software compliance.

In recent years, Amanda has worked in the security sector. She studies performance and life coaching in her spare time. Having previously experienced auditing, joining ISOQAR has helped Amanda achieve her ambition of becoming a Lead Auditor.

Colin started work as a craft apprentice before becoming a sheet metal worker in the paper and materials handling industries. Eighteen years later, in need of a change, he studied a BSc (honours) in quality management at Salford University. Following this, he worked for Philips and Initial Shorrock Systems in quality and health & safety training roles. He has also worked part time as a youth & community worker for adults with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Colin joined ISOQAR in 2009 whilst studying for a NEBOSH diploma in occupational health & safety. This adds value to his work auditing OHSAS 18001 and integrated management systems.

Dennis joined ISOQAR in June 2009 after serving 26 years with the Royal Air Force. As a communications and information systems manager, his background is predominantly that of electronic, electrical and mechanical engineering associated with installation, maintenance and repair of ground equipment.

His introduction to auditing started in 1991 with a course covering BS 5750 supervision of quality followed by relevant IOSH, NEBOSH and IEMA courses. At ISOQAR he audits a range of industries against the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards.

In the 1980s, Gary worked as a formulation chemist in the agrochemical industry. Gary’s technical role eventually saw him becoming an internal auditor for ISO 9001 before formally moving into quality management in early 2001. Immediately before joining ISOQAR, he worked as a regional quality manager for a large global Swiss agribusiness company.

With a manufacturing and supply background in chemistry, Gary has gained lead auditor status in ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. He is keen to expand his portfolio of standards and expertise into further industry sectors.

Mike trained as a chemist in pharmaceuticals and chemical engineering designing pressure vessels, heat exchangers and biological waste gas digesters. His numerous roles included management of a laboratory carrying out quality control, research & development and implementing an integrated management system. He has also run a business improvement consultancy and conducted food manufacturing auditing.

Mike audits to quality, environmental, health & safety and food management systems. He has chartered status in several disciplines including Chartered Chemical Engineer, Chartered Chemist, and Chartered Quality Professional.

Nicola has experienced a varied career in the textile, automotive and print industries as a designer, marketing and media coordinator, and quality manager, before becoming an auditor.

In the 17 years before joining ISOQAR, Nicola has been auditing a wide variety of organisations and industries to quality, environmental and legal standards and specifications. She has specialised in the design, print, legal and business service sectors as well as many local and central government organisations.

Jim spent 12 years in the Royal Corps of Signals before becoming an integrated systems manager for the Smith Anderson paper mill. Following this he worked for James Donaldson as a timber merchant and timber engineer, and for Fife Joinery. Jim also worked for 4 years at a large certification body prior to moving into private consultancy work.

He joined ISOQAR in 2008 as a lead auditor for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and the SIA-ACS. His main areas of expertise are in the construction, printing, security and facilities management sectors.

Chris Joined ISOQAR after over 23 years Military Service with his last job as an IRCA Lead Auditor at the MoD FAA HQ responsible for leading teams of multi-disciplined auditors in a variety of roles both in the UK and overseas. Chris’ background is predominantly Aviation Engineering at source including everything from Sheet Metal to Power Plants, Hydraulics and Pneumatics.

Throughout his career, he has been heavily involved in a variety of roles and positions ranging from providing instruction on Quality and the creation of bespoke training packages on Engineering Principles through to Logistical Support, HR, Quality manager, Implementation of several QMS’ and involvement with Ordnance.

Chris is experienced in a wide range of industry sectors for 9001, 14001 and 18001.

Iris has worked within the security sector for in excess of 23 years. Iris was a police officer for 12 years as a firearms officer initially (Markswoman) before moving into CID working with police forces nationally on numerous enquiries and investigations.

On leaving the Force Iris moved into Corporate / Commercial security in 2005 taking up the mantle of UK Head of Security for two American backed UK based companies. Having cut her teeth in the ATM / Cash in Transit Arena Iris was recruited as a consultant to set up a new Cash in Transit company in the UK in 2007. This proved a successful venture which Iris ran for two years prior to moving into the manned guarding, security service industry primarily to grow and develop business for a grass roots security company based in the South East.

Iris joined Isoqar in 2011 and is using her extensive experiences to cover QMS and ACS.

Kelvin served a five year technological apprenticeship in a specialist steel foundry, after which, as a qualified Welding Engineer, he worked mainly in the Oil & Gas industry in various roles. His work took him to Europe, Canada, the Middle and Far East.

Following four years working in Jakarta as a Senior Technical Advisor for an industrial manufacturing company which included the development and implementation of the ISO 9001 QMS, he decided to return home and pursue a career as an Auditor.

Kelvin joined ISOQAR in November 2008 and is now a Lead Auditor covering a range of business sectors.