THE ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING SCIENTISTS (ACS)
founded 1958
What is the ACS?
The Members of the Association of Consulting Scientists are independent consultants in science and technology with practices based mainly within the UK. A wide range of expertise is available within the membership and from it solutions to most of your problems can be found. The ACS provides a Code of Conduct for its members, a form of quality assurance system, and identifies expectations of clients and consultants that provides the basis of an equitable and fair working relationship.
If you have any observations on this site, or need any assistance, please contact sg@sgconsult.co.uk
The ACS is a member of the Joint Consultants Forum - more at JCF
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE AGM HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL BE ARRANGED FOR A DATE IN SEPTEMBER
Please let the secretary know if you wish to attend secretary@consultingscientists.co.uk
Looking for a specific item of equipment or laboratory facility? Then some of our members have information on a separate page - equipment/laboratory
Navigating this site - click onto the subject underneath or move down the page:
The benefits of ACS membership MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
Forensic & Expert Witness Group
What to Expect from a Consultant
BSI Committees with members from ACS
What can the ACS offer your organization?
The Association provides a link to member scientists practising as consultants and enables the formation of multi-disciplinary teams to address complex problems involving many fields of expertise. The wide range of expertise that can be applied to solving problems places the ACS in an ideal position to offer a top quality service to those small and large businesses that require the assistance of independent consultants.
DIRECTORY OF
MEMBERS AND SERVICES
The following list of members has keywords to help you identify a suitable consultancy practice. Click onto the consultancy that you wish to know more about and you will be taken to a more comprehensive entry. A number of practices may offer assistance and it could be worth investigating more than one. Each entry has contact information for further information. If you cannot find a suitable practice, then e-mail either secretary@consultingscientists.co.uk or sgc@sgconsult.co.uk and we will try to contact a suitable practice or put together a group of practices that can fit your requirements.
Abbreviations used for keyword entries:
A - accredited laboratory, usually UKAS
E - has court experience as an expert witness
H&S - health & safety
food - includes drinks
Booth Smith Technology -E, food, spoilage, packaging, hygiene, nutrition
Chatfield Applied Research Laboratories Limited - E, A, coatings, plastics & polymers, colour
DNA Defence Ltd - E, A, DNA profiling, defence, prosecution
Dr G.F. Shanks - toxicology, pharmacology
Dr Mark Tyrer - E, geochemistry, environment, cement, molten salts
Francis W Downing - E, art, forensic, forgery, theft
Greenall Food Consultant - food, microbiology, quality, training
H.A. Forsyth - food, hygiene, nutrition, catering
Livestock Genetics Ltd - livestock, pigs, genetics, breeding
Neale Consulting Engineers - E, machinery, failure, friction, lubrication, wear
Phillippa Lavell FAE - E, handwriting, lecturer
R.G. Weatherhead - E, adhesives, flooring, plastics & polymers
SGS Testing Division - E, A, wide range of physical and chemical testing
STR (UK) Ltd - E, A, testing electrical, toys, furniture, cosmetics
Stuart Guy Consulting - E, environment, H&S, risk assessment
Technology For Timber Ltd - timber, historic, design, training
Wright Consultancy Group - buildings, failure, refurbishment
Ingleby, Member:
Derby, DE73 IHW Forensic & Expert Witness Group
Telephone: 01332 862894
Fax: 01332 864616
E-mail: info@boothsmithfoodtechnology.com
Internet http://www.boothsmithfoodtechnology.com
Consultants - composition, quality, processing, packing, and marketing of foods; Development; Analysis, microbiology, and spoilage; Studies of feasibility; Engineering, technology, factory planning; Assessing losses; Audits; Nutrition; Training in hygiene; Expert witness
Senior Management: Brian J. Smith, ANCFT, FIFST
Martin Read
Staff: Two full-time partners; two full-time employees
Associated Organization: Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association
Areas of Activity: Analysis of composition, nutrients, trace compounds, etc. Control of quality (systems to British Standard 5750, International Standard 9000, HACCP - hazard analysis critical control point - and preparing manuals). Microbiology (efficiency, hygiene, shelf-life of goods, spoilage, investigating 'food poisoning' and risk to public health). Development of new products (improving nutritional values, diet ('slimming') products, pilot production, saving costs). Feasibility of new factories and plant (including the improvement of efficiency, expansion, and rehabilitation). Engineering (including selection of process and equipment, supervision). Planning (including lay-out, budgeting, specification, preparing tender documents and business plans). Nutrition (evaluation, formulation of products, labelling requirements). Spoilage (solving problems, studies of shelf-life, health aspects). Assessment of losses (service to insurers and loss adjusters on questions such as damage, spoilage, packaging, liability, and 'food poisoning'). Technology in all aspects of food manufacture. Technical audits (factory inspection for Good Manufacturing Practice; assessments for buyers, investors, owners, and self-audit systems). Training in hygiene (in basic food hygiene to Royal Society of Health standards, for employees handling food).
Expert Witness: Aspects of food as follows: additives, analysis, control of quality, hygiene, labelling, losses, packaging, poisoning, processing, spoilage, storage, taint, technology
Accreditation: Department of Trade and Industry (listed as consultant, quality control and manufacturing)
Experience Overseas: Bangladesh, Barbados, Benelux, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Mexico, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia
Languages Available: French
Chatfield Applied Research Laboratories Limited
Newton House, Byers Lane, Member
South Godstone, Forensic & Expert Witness Group
Surrey, RH9 8JH Testing Laboratories Group
Telephone: 01342 893344
Fax : 01342 893542
e-mail: chrischatfield@paintsealanttest.co.uk
Practical independent consultants specializing in surface coatings (adhesives, ceramic decorations, lacquers, paints, printing inks, synthetic resins, etc.); Investigations of corrosion; Materials for building and road-making; Plastics; Rubbers; Sealants; Measurement of colour
Senior Management: C.J. Chatfield, BSc, PhD, CChem FRSC, MICorr, MAE, MIMMM
A.F. King, BSc, PhD
Staff: Five full-time
Associated Company: Independent Paint Inspections Limited
Areas of Activity: Consultancy, analysis and testing for products such as adhesives, paints and allied products, printing inks, sealants; development, formulation and research for such products, building and road materials; inspections; investigations of failure; protection against corrosion
Expert Witness: Adhesives, paints, printing inks, sealants, surface coatings
Accreditation: Department of Environment; United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), regn. no. 0140 to BS EN ISO 17025:2000
Experience-Overseas: World-wide
Languages Available: French, German
1 Harley Place Member:
Clifton Down Forensic & Expert Witness
DX 130678 CLIFTON 4
Telephone: 0117 370 2727
Fax: 0117 911 8583
E-mail: info@dna-defence.co.uk
Internet http://www.dna-defence.co.uk
Consultants – DNA Defence is widely acknowledged as the UK's leading independent forensic science consultancy providing professional, personal and punctual expert witness services to the criminal defence lawyer, barrister and private client.
Senior Management: James M. Clery BSc (Hons), MSc, FLS, CBiol, MBiol, MRSC, MEWI, MioD.
Staff: Two full-time employees.
Areas of Activity: As a leader in the field of forensic DNA profiling, with unique expertise as experts in the USA and UK, we regularly prepare reports and attend court as expert witnesses and professional advisors. Our experts have worked for the Crown and defence, and have established a UKAS and National DNA Database accredited Crown forensic DNA testing facility whilst attending the UK DNA Database Technical Working Group. All experts have passed the Bond Solon Cardiff University Expert Witness course and are regulated by UK professional forensic and expert witness bodies.
We are not a broker of forensic services and all work is performed in-house by our scientists.
Expert Witness: ISO quality led Crown case, report and exhibit re-examination, and interpretation for STR DNA Profiling, complex DNA mixture interpretation, Low Copy Number, MtDNA, bodyfluid analysis and interpretation, paternity/ hereditary, bloodstain pattern analysis, and scene of crime interpretation and reconstruction. We have immediate access to the UK’s most advanced forensic DNA profiling and paternity testing facilities accredited to UKAS 17025 standards.
Experience Overseas: Canada, Germany, United States of America (New York City, Albany, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey), South Africa.
Languages Available: English.
Other Experience: Lectures regularly and provides CPD regulated courses on forensic biology/ DNA examination to legal bodies/ peers. Is published in leading UK forensic journals.
32 Crosshill Drive,
Bo'ness
West Lothian
Scotland, EH51 9TB
Telephone:
Consultancy; Pharmacology; Toxicology; Synthetic and biological processes
Senior Management: G.F. Shanks, BSc, PhD, DipChem Pharmacology, FNZIC
Staff: One part-time
Areas of Activity: Consulting chemist and pharmacologist; planning of research and development; assessing bio-organic and synthetic processes; biological evaluations and inter- actions; toxicology; surveys of literature and of scientific opinion.
Expert Witness: Not undertaken
Other Facilities: Arrangements for laboratory work can be contracted.
Experience Overseas: Australia, New Zealand
38 Darley Park Road
Darley Abbey
Derby
DE22 1DA
Telephone: 01332 553 741
Fax: 07976 758 707
E-mail m.tyrer@mtyrer.net
Internet: www.mtyrer.net
Geochemistry, Cement stabilisation of waste, Leachate control, Mineral Processing, Geomaterials.
Senior Management: Mark Tyrer, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D, FGS
Staff: One part-time
Areas of Activity: Low temperature geochemistry as it applies to Environmental Protection and Resource Efficiency. Groundwater-Rock-Cement-Waste interactions. Cement
chemistry Nuclear Waste Management and near field processes Geomaterials. Microscopy. Computational thermodynamics. Mineral processing. Molten salt chemistry.
Other Areas: Training in computational thermodynamics and applications to geochemical processes. Research Manager MIRO. Principal Research Fellow, University College, London, Visiting Fellow, Imperial College, London. Associate, Quarry Design Ltd. Bristol.
Expert Witness: Reports as required.
203 Wetherby Road
Harrogate
North Yorkshire HG2 7AE
Telephone: 01423 886962
E-mail: francisdowning@msn.com
Internet: www.francisdowning.com
Analysis, Research and Conservation of easel paintings on canvas and panel from early Renaissance to present day.
Senior Management: Francis Downing – Forensic Conservator
Staff: One full time – three part time
Areas of Activity: Examination, Conservation and Restoration
work, Identification of fraudulent paintings.
Advice for Police, Trading Standards, Institutions
Museums, Insurance Associations and Private
Clients.
Other Areas: Long term investigations into Art theft and
Forgery.
Expert Witness: Reports as required.
Experience overseas: Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Spain.
Meadow View,
Brook Road,
Ipplepen,
South Devon, TQ12 5SQ
Telephone: 01803 812184
Chartered microbiologist; consultancy on starting food and drink businesses; laboratory facilities, training and technical support
Senior Management: R.G. Greenall, CBiol MIBiol, MIFST
Staff: One full-time
Areas of Activity: The processing and testing of food and beverages; control of quality; investigations; starting new businesses in these fields; training scientific and technical staff
Laboratory facilities: Microbiological facilities
Mill Farm, Eardington,
Bridgnorth,
Shropshire, WV16 5LA
Telephone: 01746 763486
e-mail haforsyth@forsythconsultancy.co.uk
Consultancy; Food hygiene; Food vending; Cook-Freeze techniques; Nutrition; Design of kitchens; Evaluation of catering products; Bio-engineering; Educational liaison, Business simulations
Senior Management: H.A. Forsyth, BSc(AgriSci), CBiol MIBiol, MIFST, CMBII, MRIPHH
Staff: One full-time
Areas of Activity: Food hygiene, especially in vending; nutrition, including control of nutrients by computer systems; the application of cook-freeze techniques; freezer ratings; other scientific and technical aspects of work in these fields; design of kitchens; calculation and development of exercises in nutrition and simulation; evaluation of catering products (including novel proteins); bio-engineering; technology for liaison in education
Rye Cottage,
Peasemore,
Newbury,
Berkshire, RG20 7JN
Telephone: 01635 247152
Fax: 01635 247152
e-mail: rex.walters@virgin.net
Consulting scientist in all aspects of breeding and genetic programmes for livestock, particularly pigs
Senior Management: J.R. Walters, BSc, MPhil, PhD, CBiol MIBiol
Staff: One full-time; professional association with consultants in statistics, computer training, mathematical modelling, nutrition and veterinary science
Areas of Activity: Mating plans; control of interbreeding; analysis and management of testing programmes; design of selection indices, BLUP, pyramid appraisal; objectives of selection and criteria; analysis of carcase data; programmes for monitoring, genetic audits, DNA testing; investigation of congenital defects; feasibility studies
Experience Overseas: Australia, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, United States of America.
Highfield Member:
Pilcot Hill Forensic & Expert Witness Group
Dogmersfield
Hampshire, RG27 8SX
Telephone: 01252 629199
Fax: 01252 815625
E-mail: mike@chalkdell.com
Internet http://www.tribology.co.uk/
Solving problems with machinery and plant; Failure and accident investigation; Design reviews; Technology surveys; Friction, wear, lubrication, bearings, gears, seals, couplings, pistons and rings
Senior Management: Michael Neale, OBE, BSc(Eng), DIC, FCGI, WhSch, FEng FIMechE
Dennis Summers-Smith, BSc, PhD, CEng FIMechE
Sandy Polak, MA, CEng MIMechE
David Harrison, MA, PhD C Eng, FIMechE
Roger Allen, BA, C Eng, MIMechE
Staff: Three full-time directors; five Consulting Engineers & twenty Associates
Areas of Activity: Called on internationally for urgent investigation of the failure of critical machines. Advice to manufacturers on improving the reliability of their products. Advice to companies operating process plant on the solution of machinery problems. Specialist expertise on the moving parts of machinery, including friction, wear, lubrication, vibration. Investigations have been conducted on aircraft, helicopters, railways, ships, commercial vehicles, cars and motorcycles, textile machinery, power stations, refineries and chemical plant, lifts and escalators.
Expert Witness: Mechanical engineering; Failures and accidents.
Experience Overseas: Borneo, China, Europe, India, Japan, Kenya, Middle East, Nigeria, Pakistan, Phillipines, Singapore, South Africa, United States of America, Venezuela
Languages Available: French, German, Spanish
9 Village Close, Member:
London, NW3 5AH Forensic & Expert Witness Group
Telephone: 0207 794 6060
Fax: 0207 431 4699
e-mail: scribe@plavell.plus.com
Forensic handwriting examiner with own laboratory including ESDA; Expert witness and lecturer
Senior Management: Phillipa Lavell (Fellow of Academy of Experts, Member of International Forensic Science Society, Member of Royal Institution, Law Society's Register of Expert Witnesses)
Staff: One full-time and two part-time personal assistants
Areas of Activity: Examination and comparison of genuine and questioned handwriting (including signatures and digits) on commerce and insurance documents, Wills, old manuscripts and anonymous communications, to establish authorship.
Expert Witness: Forensic handwriting examiner
Experience Overseas: International clientèle.
Other Experience: Lectures regularly on forensic handwriting examination to legal bodies; author of several articles in legal journals.
Languages Available: French, Spanish and experience with other alphabets, such as Arabic, Urdu.
30 Seaforth Gardens, Member:
Stoneleigh, Forensic & Expert Witness Group
Epsom,
Surrey, KT19 ONR
Telephone: 0208 393 4370
Fax: 0208 393 4370
Adhesives; Corrosion (control, protection against); Composite materials; Flooring; Glass-reinforced plastics ('GRP'); Paint; Plastics (epoxy, polyester, reinforced); Surface coatings
Senior Management: R.G. Weatherhead, BSc
Staff: One full-time
Areas of Activity: Chemistry and technology of: adhesives; concrete (resin-modified); epoxides; flooring materials and floorings; glass-reinforced and fibre-reinforced plastics; laminates (electrical and structural); membranes; polyesters; synthetic resin coatings (for chemical resistance and protection against corrosion); use of resins at site.
Expert Witness: Adhesives, coatings, corrosion, flooring, plastics (epoxy, polyester resins, 'GRP', etc.)
Experience Overseas: Belgium, France, India, Libya, Netherlands, Norway, United States of America
Consumer: Member:
SGS
United Kingdom Ltd
Laboratories Group
7th Floor Forensic & Expert Witness Group
Westec
W5
Hanger
Lane
Ealing
London
W5 1YY
Tel:
020 8991 3410
Fax:
020 8991 3417
Electrical:
SGS International Approvals
Unit
10 Bowburn Industrial Estate
Bowburn, County Durham, DH6 5AD
Telephone: 0191 377 2000
Fax: 0191 377 2020
Analysis; Calibration; Consultancy; Expert Witness; Testing; Fields such as: consumer goods, electrical goods, leisure, minerals, nursery equipment, ores, textiles, toys, welds and welders
Senior Management Jonathan Hall (General Manager)
Keith Hutchinson(Manager - Electrical Services)
Chris Wood (Customer Care Manager)
Ricardo Fleming (Manager - Consumer Products Services)
Staff: Seventy full-time and three part-time employees.
Parent Company: SGS United Kingdom Limited
Ultimate Holding Company: Societe Generale de Surveillance Holding SA
Associated Practice: Wool Testing Services International Limited (WTSI)
Areas of Activity: Consulting metallurgists and materials scientists; analysis of chemicals, concretes, dyes and auxiliaries, effluents, ferrous or non-ferrous metals and alloys, minerals, ores and concentrates, paints, plating solutions, refractories, soil, water, etc