People

Directors and Senior Staff

Matthew Helks BSc(Hons), CoCA - Managing Director

Matthew Helks is a graduate of the University of Huddersfield and a Certified Competent Person in Asbestos (CoCA). Matthew has 11 years experience in the asbestos industry in both a practical and operational capacity, having started out in asbestos testing and surveying whilst at Kirklees Metropolitan Council. He then joined BES Consulting Ltd as Commercial Manager in 1999, and worked in that business until 2009.

Matthew is well known and respected throughout the asbestos consulting industry, and has gained considerable experience in providing and delivering asbestos management solutions for a diverse range of clients, including many blue chip clients.

Matthew was appointed Managing Director of PCS Asbestos Consultants in November 2009.

'My aim is to offer a highly responsive asbestos consultancy service that provides more than 'just a survey report'. Asbestos inspections and testing has become increasingly commoditised in recent years. This commoditisation of asbestos services has lead to many corporate clients becoming frustrated with poor levels of customer service across the industry, often as service providers have taken their 'eye of the ball' by trying expand their service offering to provide a diverse range of compliance services, rather than focusing on providing one service well'.

Out of the office Matthew enjoys skiing, motoring and walking.

You can contact Matthew directly at mhelks@pcs-asbestos.co.uk

Paul Kelly BA(Hons) - Director

Paul joined the PCS Asbestos Consultants as a Director in 2009. Having started his career in supply chain development with Unilever PLC, Paul managed the product launches of Lynx, Dove and other various branded products. From 2006 Paul worked with in the client account management team at BES Consulting Limited and became Head of Service Delivery in 2008. This role included management of the service delivery team for ongoing asbestos risk compliance for major corporate clients. His role at PCS Asbestos Consultants Limited is focused on finding out what clients require and tailoring solutions to ensure their asbestos risk management is on a firm footing going forward. Paul's out of office interests include most sports, particularly following Leeds United and playing golf.

You can contact Paul directly at mail to:pkelly@pcs-asbestos.co.uk

Simon Farrar BSc(Hons), CoCA - Director

Simon has worked in asbestos testing, surveying and consulting since since leaving university in 1987, where he started out as an asbestos analyst for Oakwood Analysis Centre Limited prior to being appointed to Group Development Manager for the parent company, The Forest Group Plc.

Simon was one of the founding directors of Bradley Environmental Consultants Limited in 1991, and went on to set up a northern regional office in Huddersfield which gained its own UKAS accreditation in 1994.

In 1998 Simon successfully lead a management buy-out team and founded BES Consulting Limited, providing a high volume, low cost asbestos surveying and data management business. The business grew both profitably through providing asbestos risk management services to large corporates such as Barclays, HBOS, the MOD, the Co-operative Group, plus the majority of the Pub Retailers and many other high street retailers. BES Consulting was sold to LDC Lloyds Development Capital Ltd. for £24.5m in 2005.

Whilst as CEO of BES Consulting Holdings Limited the BES Group was acknowledged as the largest asbestos risk management consultancy in the UK, achieving No.40 in the Sunday Times Profit Track Top 100 companies in 2006, and Simon was personally a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of Year 2007.

Simon stepped down from BES Consulting Limited as Managing Director after the sale of the business and was a member of the Board of BES Consulting Holdings Limited as CEO until 2007 before exiting the BES Group. Simon has recently co-ordinated the development of PCS Risk Manager, industry leading asbestos risk compliance software, the development and investment of this following a period of extensive market research into the needs of corporate clients in todays market.

Simon is regarded as one of the most experienced asbestos consultants in the industry. When not at the office Simon is a keen golfer, casual cricketer and enjoys skiing in the Alps during the winter months.

You can contact Simon directly at sfarrar@pcs-asbestos.co.uk

Sally Rhodes BSc(Hons), CoCA - Quality & Technical Director

Having been at both board director level and senior manager level for 18 years in UKAS accredited testing and inspection consultancies, Sally has considerable experience in both the industry and in terms of quality management.

Initially being appointed in 1991 as Quality Director of Bradley Environmental Consultants Limited, which she continued up until 1998, and then was appointed Technical Director at BES Consulting Limited in 1998 until the business was sold in 2005. During her time at BES Sally successfully implemented ongoing robust quality management control during a period of rapid business growth. By 2005 that company had become the largest UKAS accredited asbestos consultancy in the UK.

When not at the office Sally enjoys walking, skiing, and reading.

You can contact Sally directly at srhodes@pcs-asbestos.co.uk

Debra Myers - Office Manager

Debra has had considerable experience in the public sector working for the West Yorkshire Fire Service HQ as well as experience in the private corporate sector with Yorkshire Building Society.

From 1999 until 2005 Debra was Office Manager at BES Consulting Limited and was part of a successful team that took turnover from £0.1m to £8.5m by 2005. Debra's role expanded with business growth and she was responsible for managing utilisation of a large field based workforce (70 people), and at busy times managing the delivery of up to 3,000 clients surveys and report per month. Debra's role changed from 2005 to Reports Delivery Manager which she carried out until 2009.

Debra is now in the key role role for PCS Asbestos Consultants as Office Manager.

Outside of the office Debra enjoys socialising, walking and relaxing at home after a hectic week at the office.

You can contact Debra directly at dmyers@pcs-asbestos.co.uk

Surveying and Consultant Staff

Our field staff have many years practical asbestos surveying and consulting experience, and are typically qualified to BOHS P402 and/ or P405. Senior field staff also are Certified Asbestos Professionals qualified to BOHS CoCA qualifications.

All staff are experienced in working in UKAS testing and Inspection organisation, and at PCS Asbestos Consultants Limited work to an in-house documented method and work within the PCS Asbestos Consultants Limited Quality Manual.