Awards

Awards

In this feature l fellows l examination prizewinners l Touchstone Their just reward Conference celebrates the success, hard work and dedication of many trading standards professionals. Accolades were presented during an enjoyable afternoon session, compered by Ron Gainsford, and during the much-anticipated International Awards Dinner Five new faces are welcomed to the College of Fellows Awards CONFERENCE 2017 Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Louise Baxter to Fellowship Louise Baxter is renowned for her redoubtable spirit in fighting for victims of scams and financial fraud, and driving the consumer education agenda onwards and upwards. She has built – and leads – the National Trading Standards Scams Team (NTSST), embracing 200 national and local partners. Her success with the NTSST has now assumed an international dimension, as it leads a global Mass Marketing Fraud Group. Baxter has been chair of the CTSI Consumer Empowerment Alliance since 2009, and her enthusiasm for key associated events – such as Young Consumers of the Year, the Consumer Challenge Quiz and Playsafe – is legendary. She is a CTSI lead officer on consumer advice and education, and is a member of – and education officer for – the CTSI South Eastern Branch. Baxter received a CTSI Hero Award in 2015 and was made an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list in 2017. Winning way with words The award for best TS Today article went to Andrew Wyllie, from North Ayrshire Trading Standards, for ‘Strength in numbers’, which appeared in the August 2016 issue. His article outlined the chain of events that resulted in the rst prosecution and conviction of its kind in Scotland of a lettings agent who failed to secure tenancy deposits. The judging panel was impressed by Wyllie’s clear explanation of the shared bene ts of collaborative working with the council’s housing team, while the implications for end-of- the-line tenants – and their sometimes ‘accidental landlords’ – added extra interest. Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, presented the award. Loyal service recognised Phil Bottomley receives a special award from Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, in recognition of his service as registrar to the College over the past 10 years Committed champions Jonathan Kirk QC is a barrister specialising in consumer law and financial regulation. He has spent most of his career advising and representing parties in litigation concerning trading standards/consumer law, and he is the general editor of a popular textbook on consumer law. He acted in judicial review proceedings against Liverpool City Council, in relation to the claim that the authority had drastically reduced its trading standards capacity and so breached its European and domestic consumer-protection responsibilities. Kirk’s knowledge, enthusiasm and long- standing commitment to sustainable trading standards services, informed businesses, and empowered consumers is inimitable. Stephanie Hudson has dedicated her whole working life to trading standards. A staunch supporter of the institute and the North Western Branch, she was a CTSI Council representative for many years, and was awarded Fellowship in 2012. Life Membership was awarded in recognition of her dedication to trading standards and, particularly, in relation to the Liverpool judicial review (see above). Hudson was so devastated by the proposed cuts to Liverpool Trading Standards that she independently vowed to fight the decision in court, risking everything – including her home – before CTSI provided the financial backing needed to cover the legal bills. CTSI Council chair, Sara Barry, gives CTSI Honorary Membership to Jonathan Kirk QC Andrew Wyllie receives his award for best TS Today article from CTSI College of Fellows chair, Bob Wright Stephanie Hudson receives her CTSI Life Membership award from Sara Barry From left: CTSI chief executive Leon Livermore, Tim Keohane from Caerphilly Trading Standards, Gareth Walters from Monmouthshire Trading Standards and Status International managing director Peter McVeigh Conference volunteers take centre stage Tim Keohane and Gareth Walters received Outstanding Contribution to Trading Standards and CTSI awards from Status International’s managing director, Peter McVeigh, and CTSI’s chief executive, Leon Livermore, during the International Awards Dinner on the Tuesday. The award – given to individuals or teams who have had an outstanding input to the profession or to CTSI – is sponsored by Status International in its role as main Conference sponsor. Keohane, from Caerphilly Trading Standards, received his accolade in recognition of the many years he has volunteered his own time to manage the exhibition at Conference. His work includes helping to ensure the smooth setting up, day-to-day management and break down of the event, which includes more than 100 exhibition stands. Walters, from Monmouthshire Trading Standards, earned the award for his work as front-of-house manager at Conference. Since taking on the role in 2000, he has dealt with a larger number of VIP speakers, including government ministers and chief executives of national corporations. He has also managed the staging of the Hero Awards. Food boffin wins award The Steve Whitehouse Award was this year presented to Emma Cooke, of Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Trading Standards at the awards dinner. It is given to an individual, from a Welsh authority, who has gained the Module Certificate in Food Standards in the past year and achieved the highest overall mark across all three exams. Steve Whitehouse was Cooke’s former boss and mentor. ‘When I found out that I had won, I did shed a few tears,’ she said. ‘I owe Steve Whitehouse a lot; he gave me the opportunity to work in trading standards, and he saw that I had absolute determination to succeed. I feel honoured and humbled to have won this award, and I hope that I have done him proud.’ Gareth Walters, from Monmouthshire Trading Standards, receives the Steve Whitehouse Award on Emma Cooke’s behalf, from CTSI Council chair Sara Barry Hallmark heroes Ealing Trading Standards team won the British Hallmarking Council’s Touchstone Award 2017 for its work in cracking down on jewellery businesses that sell items without hallmarks or with illegal descriptions. The award – sponsored by the British Hallmarking Council and the four Assay Of ces – was presented by Noel Hunter, chair of the British Hallmarking Council, to Mohammed Tariq, Peter Clark and Brian Gohery during the awards dinner. After complaints from members of the public, the team at Ealing worked with police to check that jewellery was being described accurately and that counterfeit trademarks were not being used. They offered guidance to shops and then made a series of unannounced visits. The team also held an intervention day with local police, when jewellery was checked. If any items were found to have suspicious trademarks – or were being sold as 22 carat, but without hallmarks – they were seized for further inspection by the London Assay Of ce. Of the items seized, 82 per cent were not hallmarked and 22 per cent were fraudulently described as 22 carat. Weighing machines were also checked and those found to be unlawful were also seized. In total, the team impounded £42,000 worth of jewellery and nine weighing machines. Two traders have been prosecuted and ned more than £11,000 between them. A hallmarking project is now embedded within the Ealing Trading Standards Annual Service Plan and Priorities. From left: Ealing Trading tandards’ Brian Gohery, Mohammed Tariq and Peter Clark receive the Touchstone Award from Noel Hunter, chair of the British Hallmarking Council Top of the class Six outstanding students were rewarded for their hard work during the awards dinner on the Tuesday evening, when they received certificates in their specialist areas. Sarah Watson is presented with the Core Skills in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (CSCATS) top student award by chair of CTSI College of Fellows, Bob Wright You might also like Images: Sam Atkins click on in the toolbar Saluting success – July 2016 Credits To share this page, Five new faces are welcomed to the College of Fellows Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Gaynor Jackson to Fellowship As director of operations and company secretary for Trading Standards South East (TSSE), Gaynor Jackson has long been at the forefront of collaborative trading standards service delivery. In 1999, she contributed to making the Crossing the Boundaries Partnership a pioneering success, and then helped lead and coordinate the new South East Trading Standards Association partnership of 10 local authorities, with a budget of £14.5m. In 2004 – partly in response to the challenge of delivering the government’s Consumer Direct flagship advice service – Jackson was a driving force behind the more comprehensive TSSE, supported by 19 authorities. She has led the way in securing and managing several key central and local contracts ever since. CTSI has benefited from her expertise as a non-executive director on its board and as chair of its audit and finance committee. Five new faces are welcomed to the College of Fellows Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Wendy Potts to Fellowship Wendy Potts realised early on that a trading standards professional does not have to be in local government to help businesses achieve self-regulation and compliance – and, in turn, productivity and success. Her move to Law Laboratories in 1994 marked the beginning of a new career path on which she has excelled in being a champion of business and of her profession. Potts was CTSI’s Business Members Group (BMG) representative on CTSI Council for more than seven years, and is now chair of the BMG and of the CTSI Midlands Branch. As a director of Legaleyes, she has continued to support the institute in the appointment of board directors, reviewing the professional qualifications framework and the delivery of Conference – as well as in training trading standards peers around the country and educating the young consumers of Leicestershire. Five new faces are welcomed to the College of Fellows Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Andrew Stephenson to Fellowship Andrew Stephenson embarked on his career with Cleveland Council in the late 1980s, and has been a torchbearer for the education and training of his professional peers at local, regional and national levels ever since. He remains a joint CTSI lead officer for education and training, and is a key member of the institute’s Qualifications and Awards Body, an internal verifier for the Trading Standards Qualifications Framework, and an external member of the Standards Committee at Middlesbrough College. He was chair of the North East Branch from 2009 until 2011, and represented the branch at Council for 12 years, until 2015. With his legal metrology expertise, he delivers specialist training throughout the North East, as well as educating colleagues in consumer credit, agriculture, animal health, travel and tourism. Five new faces are welcomed to the College of Fellows Bob Wright, chair of the College of Fellows, admits Dave Thompson to Fellowship Dave Thompson started his trading standards life in the late 1960s, on the Banff, Moray and Nairn joint weights and measures committee. He moved on to be chief trading standards officer in Western Isles, director of protective services for Highland Regional Council, and then senior adviser to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Local Authorities Coordinating Body On Trading Standards. After retiring from local government in 2001, Thompson joined the Scottish National Party, becoming a member of the new Scottish parliament in 2007 and Convener of the Scottish Parliament Cross-party Group on Consumer Affairs in 2015. He left Holyrood in 2016 after being an immense standard bearer for his profession. He was made a vice-president of CTSI in 2009, and hosted the Young Consumers Competition at Holyrood from 2009 until 2012. In 2010, Wright gave an inspiring College of Fellows Annual Lecture. Top of the class Six outstanding students were rewarded for their hard work during the awards dinner, when they received certificates in their specialist areas. Aron Goode obtained a top student award for Product Safety – sponsored by Status International and presented by Poundland’s trading director, Barry Williams – and for the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS) – sponsored by the College of Fellows and presented by College chair Bob Wright Top of the class outstanding students were rewarded for their hard work during the awards dinner, when they received certificates in their specialist areas. Neill Balfour was given the Fair Trading Civil Award by Peter Stonely, director of Stonely Training and Consultancy, which sponsors the award Top of the class Six outstanding students were rewarded for their hard work during the awards dinner, when they received certificates in their specialist areas. Karen Macdonald received the Fair Trading Criminal Award, sponsored by Think Jessica. Martin Fisher, from Cornwall Trading Standards, accepted the award on her behalf from Think Jessica founder Marilyn Baldwin Top of the class Six outstanding students were rewarded for their hard work during the awards dinner, when they received certificates in their specialist areas. Gregg Portass was awarded the Intellectual Property Award, sponsored by the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG). Sherry Carter, from Cornwall Trading Standards, received the award on his behalf from ACG’s intelligence coordinator, Graham Mogg Top of the class Six outstanding students were rewarded for their hard work during the awards dinner, when they received certificates in their specialist areas. Leanne Foy received the Legal Metrology Award – supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Regulatory Delivery – from Regulatory Delivery assistant director Dennis Ager