Meet the Team
Catherine Storer
Managing Director
Catherine Storer
Managing Director
One of the founding members of Essential Site Skills in 2013, Catherine's role as Managing Director is to direct and control the Company’s operations and to give strategic guidance and direction to the Board to ensure that the Company achieves its mission and objectives.
“Accidents are the biggest threat to workers and families within the UK, leaving devastation that is irreparable, that’s why I believe we can make a difference. It’s not always about ticking a box, it’s about ensuring each individual is aware of their duties, qualified in their job role and that every decision they make is well informed. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in accidents that could have been prevented. I am sincerely proud of each and every member of the ESS team and pleased to be a part of such a wonderful group of like minded individuals, as we all share the same vision – to lead the way into accident prevention through quality training and assessment.”
Gareth Davies
Business Development Director
Gareth Davies
Business Development Director
One of the founding members of Essential Site Skills in 2013, Gareth's role as Business Development Director is to ensure recruitment and retention of the sales and training team, with well-motivated, trained and developed staff to ensure that it achieves its mission and objectives.
“Communication from a training provider to the employer and employee needs to be clear and reliable. My experience working in construction has helped guide me to develop our business model. Our business strategy has foundations that support and ensure smooth delivery of training. Our aim is to make your life as easy possible, so your business can not only keep everyone on site safe but to assist with business growth and sustainability, exceeding the quality expectations you have set out to achieve.”
Stuart Goodman
Operations Director
Stuart Goodman
Operations Director
One of the founding members of Essential Site Skills in 2013, Stuart's role as Operations Director is to ensure strategic and business objectives as well as the values of Essential Site Skills are put into practice. The Operations Director is in charge of the safety, health environment, and quality assurance side of the business, to supervise and coordinate work systems to ensure that the products or services of the company are favourable and safe.
“Having personally delivered training and assessment for the last 25 years in the construction industry, I have observed the fascinating change in peoples outlook in their personal safety. People are the most important resource we have in this room so don’t feel process or product is worth the gamble. Let’s “manage the process to avoid failure” so we can develop competency to enable everyone to go home safely.”
Darren O’Neill
Training & Consultancy Director
Darren O’Neill
Training & Consultancy Director
The Training and Consultancy Director is responsible for effectively managing projects, providing solutions design, and implementing and generating project results for the business. The role involves identifying, creating and delivering innovate service strategies and tools to generate revenue opportunities related to new and existing clients. One of the main functions includes leading and coordinating team efforts to increase company profitability in the southern region. To collaborate in project planning and execution, as well as collecting feedback after project deployment and feeding this information back to the Senior Management Team.
darren@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529
Nick Yoxall
Learning & Development Director
Nick Yoxall
Learning & Development Director
The Learning and Development Director is responsible for the strategic direction and implementation of our training plan, managing all existing training programmes and introducing new programmes that will directly underpin the organisation's strategic direction for the next stage of our growth journey. Working alongside the board to meet the training needs, shape curriculum solutions, and collaborate in the design of detailed training modules to meet overall programme goals and optimising performance across all functions including sales, customer service, procurement and marketing.
nick@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529
John Wright
Senior Training & Consultancy Manager
John Wright
Senior Training & Consultancy Manager
Within a Senior role John is qualified GradIOSH, PIEMA, assisting with internal and external quality audits, course development and internal verification. John delivers a wide range of Health & Safety, Construction and Workplace training such as NEBOSH, IOSH and CITB Site Safety Plus courses in accordance with Awarding Body requirements, striving for Essential Site Skills exceptional standard of delivery at all times. He has responsibility for the guidance and support of learners to achieve their learning goals.
johnw@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529
Martin Dalman
Finance Manager
Martin Dalman
Finance Manager
Martin is Responsible for the financial health of the business, overseeing our accounts team, procedures and processes. Guiding the Senior Management Team in making sound business decisions in the long and short term.
To compliment his AAT Accounting qualifications, Martin has recently completed his Level 4 Diploma Course in Credit Management to support his dedication to the growth of the business by implementing new systems and procedures, providing further financial security.
Martin has a high attention to detail, supporting current and ongoing projects with financial, technical and industry knowledge, to ensure Senior Management make well informed decisions during business growth.
Konny Papadopoulou
Project Manager
Konny Papadopoulou
Project Manager
Konny is responsible for the NVQ team, ensuring all qualifications are delivered to meet meticulous quality standards. She has strong personal and leadership skills, which encourages team excellence and optimum performance, providing a supportive experience to clients, learners and our assessment team.
She implements, maintains and updates all Quality Assurance processes within the NVQ Centre in line with Awarding Body Standards, and to support the Company’s Internal Quality Assurance Strategy.
Recently completing her L3 Award in Education and Training has provided an understanding of training and assessment methods used out in the field with further insight into the learner’s journey. By continually developing herself, this encourages her team to lead by her example.
Konny has a friendly and supportive approach with outstanding communication and management skills, which embeds into her work and team strategy. With a strong eye for detail and extremely high standards, the Senior Management know that they have the backing of a strong team leader.
Emily Rycroft
Commercial Training Manager
Emily Rycroft
Commercial Training Manager
Emily is responsible for the Commercial Training Team, ensuring all training and development processes are in line with the Company’s quality standards. Her strong personal and leadership skills encourage team excellence and optimum performance.
Emily has recently completed her L3 Award in Education and Training to provide a further understanding of the training delivery. By reinforcing learning within her own team and encouraging them to continually develop she has built a strong and quality driven team.
Emily has a friendly and supportive approach with outstanding communication and management skills, which embeds into her work and team strategy. With a strong eye for detail and extremely high standards, the Senior Management know that they have the backing of a strong team leader.
Michael Harcourt
Training & Consultancy Manager
Michael Harcourt
Training & Consultancy Manager
Michael is responsible for managing varied Training and Consultancy outputs to ensure our clients receive the very best possible training and learning experience. Assisting in the development of market leading training courses and materials who also routinely contributes to the progression of our more junior trainers across varying aspects of H&S training; Michael plays a key part in upholding our quality driven training standards.
A multi-skilled and experienced trainer himself, he delivers a vast array of technical safety courses, both non-accredited and accredited, with clarity, passion and a wealth of knowledge whilst accounting for the learners every need. He thrives on watching learners surpass and exceed their desired goals. His attention to detail and meticulous preparation before, during and post training is testament to his professionalism and conduct and one of the many reasons why his training acumen is sought after and requested across the breadth of the UK.
A conversant H&S industry contributor, you will often find Michael educating and speaking in support of UK wide events in Respiratory Protection and Management making a real difference and improving cultures surrounding Health and Safety.
Jamie Ringsell
Senior Business Development Manager
Jamie Ringsell
Senior Business Development Manager
Jamie leads the national sales operations, supporting SMEs and blue chip companies with their training requirements and contract demands, building long term relationships between clients and ESS. Jamie is highly experienced in sales leadership with a proven track record of delivery for his clients, and a dedication to keeping their employees competent and safe.
Those that have had dealings with Jamie will have experienced his personable and professional approach, and his commitment has resulted in a loyal and trusting client base. A key part of Jamie’s role is to support the Senior Management Team in strategic decision making, using his clients’ requirements to assist ESS in not only keeping up with current market demands – but remaining at the forefront of the industry.
Jamie’s qualifications include IOSH Managing Safely and L3 Award in Education and Training, and he is consistently working towards other qualifications so his consultancy advice is well thought out, considered and up to date. His ethos is based on providing his clients with the learning & development platform to facilitate successful tenders and ultimately save lives.
George Wilks
Programme Manager
George Wilks
Programme Manager
Working for the learning and development department as the Programme manager, I am responsible for the design, development, delivery and quality for a diverse number of qualification delivery programmes including NVQ assessments, pre-employment strategic development and employability work programmes. This is achieved through networking with partnerships and clients, building a professional customer rapport to meet the business needs including contract acquisition, strategic programme renewal proposals, quality assurance, customer service and retention planning and marketing.
george@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529
Tom Marshall
Business Development Manager
Tom Marshall
Business Development Manager
Tom leads the UK Northern division, offering our high end accredited training services to clients and establishing excellent working relationships, developing growth opportunities for your organisation through the importance of qualified and competent employees. Tom is enthusiastic in getting in front of employers to showcase what ESS is all about, frustrated by poor training and client’s struggling with day to day problems that can easily be solved. He wants the booking process to be simple for his clients, consistent and reliable, everything ESS stands for.
Tom has a number of construction related accreditations and is actively engaged in further professional development to compliment his experience in funding and commercial training to establish ESS products and services.
Matt Fletcher
Training & Consultancy Instructor
Matt Fletcher
Training & Consultancy Instructor
Matthew is one of our passionate and dedicated Health and Safety trainers supporting our clients across the breadth of the UK within the Construction Industry. A multi-skilled and qualified trainer, he ensures all courses, both non-accredited and accredited, are delivered in accordance with the standards and procedures required to deliver an informative, enjoyable and quality driven training session.
Matts ability to unlock and exceed the potential of those he teaches is second to none. He possesses an in-depth library of experience he can relate to when working with learners across a diverse and varied spectrum. His calm, detailed and active learning style to teaching enables his audience to receive the very best training experience catering for almost any learner need.
Travelling and delivering courses to a variety of trades and organisations daily, Matt will scrutinise, assist and feedback vital data enabling us to keep abreast of the evolving needs of the industry, and the learner, to ensure we are adapting and meeting our client’s wishes.
Nigel Anker
Assessor / Tutor
Nigel Anker
Assessor / Tutor
Nigel delivers a combination of NVQ Assessments and Health & Safety Training courses in accordance with Awarding Body requirements, following industry standards and guidelines, striving for Essential Site Skills exceptional standard of delivery at all times.
He is passionate about delivering high quality training to develop the skills of individuals and assist them in achieving their goals. Using his vast experience as a tutor and assessor to assist learners to gather the evidence they need to obtain qualifications.
Liam Moore
Enrolment Officer
Liam Moore
Enrolment Officer
Liam assists with client and learner management by ascertaining the employers training requirements through a Training Needs Analysis, carrying out profiling sessions with potential learners to establish the most suitable qualifications to enhance their skills. He will conduct enrolment sessions with learners to obtain all the relevant information to register them onto the relevant qualification.
Liam is qualified as a minimum with IOSH Managing Safely and L3 Award in Education and Training which helps him provide a service to all clients and learners that meets the Company’s rigorous quality standards.
With a flexible and friendly approach to his team members, Liam provides a reliable and highly supportive role to a fundamental part of the NVQ team.
Athena Wragg
Client Sales Coordinator
Athena Wragg
Client Sales Coordinator
Athena plays a key role within the sales team, supporting SMEs and blue chip companies with their training needs. Athena’s knowledge and experience is well received by her clients, as is her passion and enthusiasm for helping them upskill their employees and keeping them safe.
Building long term relationships is of the utmost importance to Athena, and she strives to continuously deliver for her clients no matter what their requirements and contract demands. Athena is committed to her own personal development, and is consistently building her own knowledge of the industry in order to provide the best support possible to her clients. Athena also has the skillset to help companies benefit from funding and grant opportunities, resulting in a comprehensive service that leads to further work and successful tenders.
Lauren Heath
Client Sales Coordinator
Lauren Heath
Client Sales Coordinator
Lauren plays a key role within the sales team, supporting SMEs and blue chip companies with their training needs. Lauren’s knowledge and experience is well received by her clients, as is her passion and enthusiasm for helping them upskill their employees and keeping them safe.
Building long term relationships is of the utmost importance to Lauren, and she strives to continuously deliver for her clients no matter what their requirements and contract demands. Lauren is committed to her own personal development, and is consistently building her own knowledge of the industry in order to provide the best support possible to her clients. Lauren also has the skillset to help companies benefit from funding and grant opportunities, resulting in a comprehensive service that leads to further work and successful tenders.
Sarah Murphy
Client Sales Coordinator
Sarah Murphy
Client Sales Coordinator
Sarah plays a key role within the sales team, supporting SMEs and blue chip companies with their training needs. Sarah’s knowledge and experience is well received by her clients, as is her passion and enthusiasm for helping them upskill their employees and keeping them safe.
Building long term relationships is of the utmost importance to Sarah, and she strives to continuously deliver for her clients no matter what their requirements and contract demands. Sarah is committed to her own personal development, and is consistently building her own knowledge of the industry in order to provide the best support possible to her clients. Sarah also has the skillset to help companies benefit from funding and grant opportunities, resulting in a comprehensive service that leads to further work and successful tenders.
Luke Brailsford
Training Coordinator
Luke Brailsford
Training Coordinator
Luke provides knowledgeable and supportive advice to clients, ensuring all elements have been covered for them to achieve the required level of competence. He supports the delivery of NVQ qualifications to ensure all Assessor and Client needs are met to an exceptionally high standard, qualified with his Level 2 in Information Advice and Guidance. He is always friendly and supportive, organised with fantastic IT skills and willing to go that extra mile to ensure the client's needs are met.
luke@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529 (option 2)
Leigh-Anne Boon
Training Administrator
Leigh-Anne Boon
Training Administrator
With the support of the Commercial Training Manager, Leigh-Anne provides knowledgeable and supportive advice to clients, ensuring all elements have been covered for them to achieve the required level of competence. She also supports the delivery of Health & Safety, Construction and Workplace safety training courses to ensure all trainer and client needs are met to an exceptionally high standard. She has a friendly and helpful approach with good communication skills. Having recently completed her Level 2 in Business Administration, Leigh-Anne is now working towards her Level 3.
leigh-anne@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529 (option 1)
Emma Green
Training Administrator
Emma Green
Training Administrator
Emma provides efficient and professional administrative support to managers and employees, assisting in daily office needs and managing the companies’ general administrative activities. With the support of the Commercial Training Manager, she also provides knowledgeable and supportive advice to clients, ensuring all elements have been covered for them to achieve the required level of competence. Emma is currently working towards her Level 2 in Business Administration.
emma@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529 (option 1)
Jordan Wheatley
NVQ Administrator
Jordan Wheatley
NVQ Administrator
Jordan provides efficient and professional administrative support to managers and employees, assisting in daily office needs and managing the company's general administrative activities. With the support of the Project Manager he provides knowledgeable and supportive advice to clients, ensuring all elements have been covered for them to achieve the required level of competence. Jordan is currently working towards his Level 2 in Business Administration.
jordan@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529 (option 2)
Ellie-May Soar
Accounts Administrator
Ellie-May Soar
Accounts Administrator
Ellie provides efficient and professional administrative support to managers and employees, assisting in daily office needs and managing the companies’ general administrative activities with the Finance Department. With the support of the Finance Manager she provides knowledgeable and supportive advice, undertaking a wide range of financial reporting and administrative tasks. Ellie is currently working towards her Level 2 in Business Administration.
ellie@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529 (option 3)
Lily Sheldon-Reid
Business Admin Apprentice
Lily Sheldon-Reid
Business Admin Apprentice
Lily provides efficient and professional administrative support to managers and employees, assisting in daily office needs and managing the companies’ general administrative activities. With the support of the Commercial Training Manager, she also provides knowledgeable and supportive advice to clients, ensuring all elements have been covered for them to achieve the required level of competence. Lily is currently working towards her Level 2 in Business Administration.
lily@essentialsiteskills.com 0115 8970 529