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Our People

You are in safe hands. Our fire risk assessors and trainers have a vast amount experience within both the private and public sectors and possess an understanding of the culture of both these working environments.

Our fire risk assessors are all ex-fire safety officers with decades of practical fire safety experience in the Fire Service (more about our Fire Risk Assessors). All of our trainers are highly experienced in their respective fields.

The Office Team

Roger Balderstone

Roger is part of our internal audit team, using his experience to monitor the standard of fire risk assessments we produce. Roger also conducts fire risk assessments and provides guidance advice based on his vast experience in the Fire Service.

Roger is keen on his cars and is currently enjoying life as a BMW driver. Watch out for him not indicating at a junction near you soon.

James Grew

James has recently graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a BSc and MSc in Fire Safety Engineering. James is now working with SMUK as an apprentice specialising in fire risk assessments. Eventually James will be producing and auditing fire risk assessments whilst also providing advice to assessors out in the field.

James has many hobbies ranging from playing drums, guitar, piano whilst on weekends you will find him either surfing, downhill mountain biking or in the gym.

Brian Gregory

With a background in The Scots Guards and Fire Service, Brian has vast experience in the Safety and Training arena. Brian took part in the 1987 Trooping of the Colour and served around the world, before joining Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. As an amateur rugby player of both codes, formerly with the famous Heysham Atoms for 12 years, Brian now plays for his local Union side but he still follows the Bradford Bulls and has an interest in most sports.

Brian is at his most relaxed with a beer in hand, especially if Star Wars happens to be on. He has recently developed a taste for chicken's feet following a trip to Hong Kong, and when the time comes, he would like to come back as a fully trained Jedi Knight.

Stuart Hutchinson

After recently graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours Degree in BEng Fire Engineering, Stuart is currently in an ‘apprentice type’ role working alongside our highly experienced compliance team auditing fire risk assessments which involves checking for consistency and quality of the reports we produce. In addition, as part of our compliance team, Stuart provides guidance and advice to assessors out in the field and also conducts fire risk assessments.

Stuart is a lifelong Manchester City fan and firmly believes that good things come to those who wait; all of which was proven not too long ago!

Lisa Harris

Lisa is our Receptionist and has had a varied background in office administration since leaving school. She has previously worked for a large car importer and also spent several years employed in local government.

Lisa enjoys narrow-boating and used to own one before two sons (now teenage boys) took over her life. She practices silversmithing and jewellery-making, and has a large collection of silk postcards from the first world war.

Louis Jefferies

Louis has taken on the role of New Business Development Executive and will be ensuring all enquiries are dealt with professionally. Louis has experience in all sorts of roles, from windsurfing instructor to car sales, to selling and teaching people to drive motorboats. He is most likely to call and make sure you are up-to-date on your fire risk assessment needs and will always make sure you are well looked after.

Outside of work, Louis can be found by day either on the beach windsurfing in the warmer months or at the local dry slope on a snowboard during winter. By night, he’s often seen behind the mixing desk at music venues or on stage with a guitar. Another Manchester City fan, he dons a 'Silva' shirt some evenings and pretends he has a talent with a football.

Cyndi Powell

Cyndi is our office and project administrator. She supports Chris in managing the office and takes charge in his absence. Cyndi began her career working as a waitress in a hotel.

Cyndi is obsessed with the twilight saga, both in book and film form, and has a soft spot for the character Edward. She has ambitions to visit Paris and loves all things pink.

Pam Richards

Lancashire-born Pam will be ensuring that the busy Safety Management office continues to run like clockwork as well as being the first point of contact for both customers and staff. Pam’s previous experience as an office all-rounder will be well utilised as will her sunny disposition.

Pam enjoys travelling and regularly jets off to different corners of the globe. She is also a dark-horse when it comes to bingo.

Mark Smith

Mark is part of our internal audit team, using his experience to monitor the standard of fire risk assessments we produce. John also conducts fire risk assessments and provides guidance advice based on his vast experience in the Fire Service.

Mark is a keen diver and enjoys adventuring in the great outdoors. He can often be found exploring the wild corners of Scotland.

Chris Tyler

Chris is our Head of Business Support who has spent most of his career in media monitoring and found his way to us via a quaint cafe in Kendal. Chris is an avid reader with a spare room at home dedicated to books. When asked about other hobbies, Chris says that with a young daughter at home, his time is filled well.

Chris is at his happiest sat at the kitchen table enjoying a Thai meal and has ambitions to visit Mexico City. Chris enjoys French films, his favourite being Diva (1981), and when the time comes, he would like to come back as himself and do it all again.

Rachel Webb

Rachel joins us following a move back to the UK from warmer climates. She is our full-time project administrator and supports Cyndi in the Operations Department.

Rachel is a keen traveller who enjoys experiencing different cultures. Hobbies include reading, cooking international cuisine, diving and learning different languages.

Christine White

Christine is our finance and personnel manager. She oversees the smooth running of the systems that support the staff and ensures the bills go out on time. If you receive an invoice from us, Christine will have sent it.

Christine is a keen traveller and enjoys attending blues festivals across the globe.

Nicola Whiteside

Nicola is our sales and customer service representative. She is the person most likely to ring you to see how a job went and to keep you informed of new products and developments that may interest you.

Nicola is easily recognised by her impressive hair and has been known to sleep standing up, so as to avoid re-styling it in the morning. Her first paying job was as a waitress at the Highwayman Inn where she wowed the locals with her ankle socks, and she has plans to come back as a cat in the next life.

Dale Williams

With an extensive background in managing different types of businesses, Dale manages the Operations Department, aiming to provide exemplary customer service and efficient processing of SMUK's work. Any customer with an enquiry about the business should have no hesitation in contacting Dale; if he doesn’t know the answer himself - he’ll know someone who does!

With his grown-up family now “fled the nest”, he enjoys the fells with his wife and two Labradors, obviously ending up with a pint in a local hostelry. This being his only acceptable excuse (in the eyes of his wife) for not attacking the endless list of jobs at home!

Ben Yates

Ben specialises in web design and all things IT, making him a rare commodity in Safety Management (UK). Having been with the company since 2003, Ben has seen the business grow considerably during this time.

Ben is an avid car enthusiast and enjoys football, being a Blackburn Rovers supporter for his sins in life.

To discuss your requirements, or if you don't see what you are looking for, call +44 (0)1524 784356. Alternatively you can use our contact form or e-mail us