CTSI Conference 2016 - Awards

CTSI Conference 2016 - Awards In this feature fellows examination prizewinners Touchstone CONFERENCE 2016 Saluting success A ceremonial afternoon compered by Ron Gainsford during which the institute celebrated the achievements of many of its members was complemented by a grand awards gala dinner. TS Today reports Super six admitted to College of Fellows Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Dave Bull to Fellowship Before his retirement earlier this year, Dave Bull had led Leicestershire Trading Standards Service since 2002. He was head of a widely scoped and significant directorate, which included the councils registration and coroners services and, for many years, the public analyst service. Bull is renowned for his expertise in food standards and enforcement; for more than a decade he was a key adviser to former consumer bodies, Local Authorities Coordination of Trading Standards and Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services. He also passed on his unique knowledge to students. Always looking to support CTSI and his professional peers, Bull was chair of the East Midlands Branch for two successive years. Best TS Today Article Award Outstanding contribution A complex case investigating a website that advertised potentially poisonous products to cancer sufferers won the Best TS Today Article Award. Author Susan Pembroke, of Essex County Council, accepted the award for her article, Kernel of lies, which was published in the May 2015 edition. The judging panel described it as an easy read about an interesting and unusual case, which demonstrated how cooperation between enforcement agencies can work to obtain a successful outcome. A former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and retired trading standards ofcer, with 34 years service under his belt, has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to the profession. Dave Thompson was presented with the Status International Award by Peter McVeigh, managing director of Status International, at the conference gala dinner. Thompson was the rst chief inspector of weights and measures for Western Isles Council and went on to become director of protective services at Highland Council, retiring in 2001. He became a CTSI vice-president in 2009 a post he still holds. Thompson, 66, joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) at 16 and was hailed as a nationalist hero in 2007, after challenging an election result and bringing about the rst SNP minority government. He had represented the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency since 2011, after four years as a regional list MSP for the Highlands and Islands, before stepping down in March. Speaking after receiving the award, Thompson said it was a very proud moment. Winning way with food Hallmark of a good idea The Touchstone Award, sponsored by the British Hallmarking Council and the UKs four Assay Ofces, goes to the most innovative initiative in relation to the enforcement of hallmarking. The 2016 accolade, presented by Christopher Jewitt, chair of the British Hallmarking Council, went to Hull City Council, which was represented by Christopher Wilson, In a meticulously planned and executed series of operations, Hull undertook coordinated activities with high-street premises and internet sales. They did inspections and carried out seizures, and prosecutions were substantiated with documentary evidence. The operations involved items worth more than 100,000 and the inspectors discovered palladium described as platinum, while an item described as 22 carat was, in fact, less than 9 carat. Prosecutions are currently being processed where appropriate. Hull is also discussing educational matters with various traders and the National Association of Goldsmiths. The joint expertise of the Trading Standards Service and the Assay Ofces, working together, was essential in this successful hallmarking operation. Entries for the Touchstone Award from across the UK consisted of enforcement and information approaches. Flintshire County Council was highly commended. The Steve Whitehouse Award supported by Food Standards Agency Wales went to Ruth Roberts. Gareth Walters (right) collected the award on her behalf from Dave Riley, chair of CTSI Welsh Branch The new Steve Whitehouse Award is given to an individual from a Welsh authority who has gained the Module Certificate in Food Standards during 2015 and achieved the highest average mark across all three exams for Food Standards. Inaugural winner Ruth Roberts joined Gwynedd Council Trading Standards in 2006, having previously worked for the authoritys environmental health department for five years. She currently enforces food hygiene and food standards legislation, with occasional involvement in other trading standards fields. Roberts started the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS) in 2006, inspired by committed trading standards officers. She passed her foundation qualification and will soon gain the DCATS award, which was put on hold after Roberts became a mother again in November 2015. While juggling employment, home life and revision is a challenge, she says the hard work is worth it to achieve her dream. Roberts is grateful to colleagues at Gwynedd Council and neighbouring authorities for their patience, time and support. The Prizewinners Awards were given to the trading standards officers who came top of their class in a ceremony during the gala dinner. Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (supported by the College of Fellows), presented by Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows Legal Metrology (supported by BIS Regulatory Delivery), presented by Richard Sanders, head of legal metrology at BIS Regulatory Delivery Charlene McShane McShane was awarded two prizes, for the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS), and Legal Metrology. The University of Ulster graduate in environmental health joined Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service in May 2013, as a trainee inspector. She was eager to develop new skills by completing the qualications as soon as possible, and sat her rst exam in November 2013. McShane started the DCATS qualications in November 2014 and was awarded them in February this year. She thanks her colleagues for their outstanding guidance and support, and for giving their time and experience, and is looking forward to continuing to build and develop her career. Credits Images: Sam Atkins To share this page, in the toolbar click on You might also like Winning streak August 2015 Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Ed Cairns to Fellowship Ed Cairns is the deputy chief trading standards officer for the Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service. A member of CTSI since he qualified in 1977, Cairns has been a visionary and highly committed professional in the design and delivery of the service by the Northern Ireland government. He has inspired so many trainee professionals in the province, always looking to ensure they are fairly and properly accommodated within CTSIs qualifications framework. His legal metrology expertise is second to none, and is evident in his setting up and management of the NI UKAS-accredited metrology laboratory. But his contribution to the success of NI Trading Standards goes much wider. Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Nigel Farmer to Fellowship A CTSI prizewinner when he qualified in 1974, Nigel Farmers career has been one based on educational excellence in his enduring commitment to securing a highly qualified and competent trading standards profession. Accepting a lecturing post at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) just a few years into his trading standards life proved to be a landmark decision, as he went on to launch the first fully accredited degree in consumer protection, which was subsequently adopted by three other universities. After retirement from the MMU, and until this year, Farmer continued to chair the institutes Qualifications and Awards Board. Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Richard Flinton to Fellowship Richard Flinton is the chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council. His meteoric career path gives inspiration to trading standards officers and other professionals who want an example of a hugely capable and dedicated peer, who aimed high. It also illustrates that local government can offer career mobility to the most senior executive leadership post in the council. Before moving on from trading standards, Flinton had been a pioneer in the county and the profession, taking education, consumer advice, enforcement and special investigations to new levels of performance and innovation. He has proudly maintained his institute membership and was a keynote speaker at the CTSI 2014 Conference. Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Phil Owen to Fellowship Currently on secondment to Regulatory Delivery in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, to develop key regulatory reform projects, Phil Owens role as CTSIs service director for professional standards ensured he performed a lead role in shaping and driving the institutes qualifications and competency programme in support of the award of Royal Charter. He was a practising trading standards officer and visiting lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University before joining CTSI in 2007. He has directed the institutes successful annual conference and, as a board member of PROSAFE, alongside his work with the government of India, he has helped to integrate UK trading standards with European and international consumer protection enforcement. A previous chair of CTSIs Southern Branch, Owen is a Chartered Trading Standards Practitioner par excellence. Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits John Whisson to Fellowship Until his retirement in 2011, John Whisson had dedicated more than 20 years of his professional life to the education and qualification of trading standards students at Teesside University, by leading the delivery of the BSc degree in trading standards and consumer protection. He had begun his career with Cleveland County Council, but education and training were always his calling. More than 300 graduates from Teesside owed their success to Whissons tutelage, as did many more colleagues and professionals in the north east, who profited from the vast range of courses Whisson and his team delivered from the university, in partnership with the then Northern Branch. A previous chair of the branch, Whisson has made an outstanding contribution to trading standards in the north east and nationally. Core Skills in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (supported by the College of Fellows), presented by Bob Wright Aron Goode Goode is an assistant trading standards ofcer with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, where he has worked since joining as a technical assistant in 2010. As well as completing the Core Skills Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (CSCATS) qualication, he has recently completed Licensing Practitioners and Food Safety. Goode also became a father over that time, to Owen, two, and Benjamin, two months. He began studying for the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS) in 2015, completing the intellectual property and fair trading criminal modules, and is due to take food standards and product safety in November, though his wife, Gemma, is not looking forward to the living room walls being covered in revision notes again! Intellectual Property (supported by the Anti-Counterfeiting Group), presented by Alison Statham, director of operations of the AntiCounterfeiting Group Adele Petty represented by David Bull, former head of regulatory services at Leicestershire County Council Petty joined Leicestershire Trading Standards shortly after graduating from university, and started on a temporary contract as an alcohol and tobacco control ofcer. This involved advising premises on how to prevent underage sales, and conducting testpurchasing exercises. It led to a permanent position on the team. Four years later, Petty is now a senior fair trading ofcer on the unfair and rogue trading team, where she investigates complaints of counterfeiting, unfair trading practices and doorstep crime. Intellectual property was Pettys third DCATS examination, and has helped her to understand the law and practical implications of intellectual property investigations. Fair Trading Civil (supported by UK European Consumer Centre), presented by Andy Allen, service director, UKECC Patricia Hennessy Hennessy works as an enforcement ofcer for Nottingham Trading Standards in the fair trading team. Her interest in trading standards was sparked while studying a module in consumer protection and the law of sale as part of a BA (Hons) in business studies and legal studies. Hennessy started her career at Consumer Direct East Midlands in 2005 as an adviser, before moving to Nottingham Trading Standards in 2007 as an advice ofcer. After a career break to travel and work abroad, she returned to England and worked for the Claims Management Regulation Unit and the Financial Ombudsman Service, before getting back into trading standards in 2014. She is currently studying for the product safety exam. Product Safety (supported by Electrical Safety First), presented by Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First Paul Whittington represented by Rob Taylour, head of trading standards for Derbyshire County Council Whittington started working in trading standards in January 2009, as a consumer adviser at Derbyshire County Council. He later progressed to the food, agriculture and metrology team where he completed the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS). In April 2014, he left Derbyshire to take up a position as illicit alcohol control ofcer at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. This was a two-year funded post and, upon its conclusion, Whittington was appointed as a trading standards ofcer. In his new role, he deals with the full range of trading standards functions, so is making good use of his recently acquired expertise in product safety. Fair Trading Criminal (supported by Status International), presented by Peter McVeigh, chairman and managing director of Status International Diane Bryson represented by Graeme Paton, from CTSI Scottish Branch After graduating from the Scottish Agricultural College (Glasgow University) in 2011 with a BSc (Hons) in animal science, Bryson spent two years working as an agricultural consultant for the Scottish Agricultural College. In 2014, she joined South Ayrshire Trading Standards as an animal health and welfare ofcer, determined to challenge herself and undertake qualications. Bryson completed her Certicate of Competence in Animal Health and Welfare and was encouraged to work toward the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS) which she hopes to have achieved by next year. She has thoroughly enjoyed working for trading standards and alongside supportive colleagues, and is now starting to branch out into areas other than animal health and welfare.