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About Group 5 Training

Group 5 Training Limited provides training and compliance services in the area of Legal Admissibility of Information stored electronically. It also provides consultancy in Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Records Management and Information Security Management. The consultants and staff of the company regularly present at industry events and can provide companies with "Good Practice" compliance and auditing services. Two of the Directors of the company have been involved in the authoring or editing of the following BSI publications:

  • BS 10008:2008 Specification for Evidential Weight and Legal Admissibility of Electronic Information;
  • BIP 0008-1:2008 Code of Practice for Evidential Weight and Legal Admissibility of Information Stored Electronically;
  • BIP 0008-2:2008 Code of Practice for Evidential Weight and Legal Admissibility of Information Communicated Electronically;
  • BIP 0008-3:2008 Code of Practice for Evidential Weight and Legal Admissibility of Linking Electronic Identity to Documents;
  • BIP 0009:2008 Compliance Workbook;
  • BS 10012:2009 Data Protection - Specification for the Management of Personal Information;
  • BIP 0012:2008 Guide to the Practical Implementation of the Data Protection Act 1998;
  • BIP 0001:2008 A Practical Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 2001;
  • PD 0018:2001 Electronic Information Management Systems - Guide to Auditing Requirements.
  • BIP 0089:2008 Manager's Guide to the Long Term Preservation of Electronic Documents.

Links with other bodies

Group 5 Training Limited, it's directors and associates are active members of the following UK and International associations and organisations:

The directors and associates...

Alan Shipman
Managing Director

Alan has over 30 years experience in information and records management, workflow and microfilm/fiche applications, having been National Technical Manager at Microgen with responsibilities for product development, quality control and the introduction of the optical-based services offered by Microgen in the early 1990's. He is an acknowledged industry expert in legal admissibility of information stored electronically. He represents the UK at relevant International Standards (ISO) meetings as well as chairing the BSI Committee on Document Management Applications. Alan is also a member and past chairman of the UK AIIM Standards Committee. He received the Master of Information Technology (1998) and the Standards Excellence (1999) awards from the Association of Information and Image Management International. More recently, in March 2009 he was awarded the AIIM Distinguished Service Award for his work in International Standards.

Alan was the Editor of the first version of the BSI Code of Practice for the Legal Admissibility of Information Stored on Electronic Document Management Systems, which was published as PD 0008 in February 1996. He was a co-author of the second edition (Legal Admissibility of Information Stored Electronically), published in 1999, and the author of the third edition (renumbered BIP 0008) in 2004. Alan then lead the development of BS 10008:2008, which was based on the Code of Practice, along with the redevelopment of the Code of Practice to act as a Guide to the Implementation of BS 10008. Alan is also co-author of the BSI Compliance Workbook BIP 0009, which accompanies the Code of Practice, designed as both an audit and self-certification tool. Alan is an independent consultant advising on electronic document and records management systems and their practical application, with particular emphasis on management policies and operational procedures.

Alan also provides assistance with the implementation of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Consultancy work already carried out includes Data Protection compliance audits, information audits for Freedom of Information compliance and staff awareness training for both Acts. He also develops strategies for clients who need to be confident in their ability to reliably retrieve electronically stored information over the long term.

Contact Alan at a.shipman@group5.co.uk

Peter Howes
Director

Peter is a Director of Group 5 Training and has over 30 years experience in the application of electronic systems to business operations.

During the past 10 years he has specialised in the Legal Admissibility and Secure Storage of electronic information and communications. Detailed involvement with BSI in this area has included development and delivery of workshops and co-authoring their Compliance Workbook (originally published as BSI PD 0009, now BIP 0009). This has led to a broader role in the International legal aspects of e-Business and e-Commerce. Peter successfully applied his knowledge and understanding of these Legal Admissibility principles by creating a successful business that developed a secure, governance friendly, email archive application which was recently acquired by an American corporation.

Peter is a respected expert in the application of technologies such as electronic signatures and other cryptographic techniques, to enhance the evidential weight of e-Commerce transactions and all aspects e-Business; both Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer.

Within his role at Group 5 Training, Peter has worked closely with a range of blue-chip organisations to help them adopt the recognised statements of "Good Practice" as covered in the British Standards Institution publications.

Contact Peter at p.howes@group5.co.uk

Mike Webb
Associate consultant

Managing Director - Elm Tree Consultancy

Mike Webb is an experienced independent advisor on standardization development programmes and has over 33 years' experience of providing expertise for technical assistance and capacity building activities in the field of standardization. Mike also has extensive experience of working with governmental institutions throughout Central and Eastern Europe, particularly the countries of the Western Balkans under the European Commission's CARDS (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation) programme of assistance for the countries of South-Eastern Europe.

Mike's experience extends to countries throughout the world, with particular and recent experience of strategies for converting mandatory standards to the WTO and EU consistent system of technical regulations and voluntary standards, introduction of sales & marketing strategies to National Standards bodies including developing & implementing systems to achieve global product & process technical standards identification.

In recent months, Mike has undertaken the following roles in successfully completed projects:

  • Key Standardization Expert on CARDS standards, certification and accreditation institution building project in Albania (2007);
  • Expert Facilitator for CARDS Regional Quality Infrastructure Project regional sub-group on standardization which included representaives from the standards bodies of Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina (at both State and Entity level), Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo. Ongoing forum for representatives of the national standards bodies of the CARDS countries to work together to agree common actions in support of preparations for full membership of CEN and CENELEC, the European Standards Organisations (2007).
  • Standardization Assessor for CARDS Regional Quality Infrastructure Project in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina (at both State and Entity level), Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo (2007);
  • Expert Facilitator at CARDS Regional Quality Infrastructure Project regional Awareness Raising Event in Kosovo on the role of Standards, Accreditation and Metrology in supporting the implementation of Free Trade Agreements in the Western Balkans (2007);
  • Trainer at CARDS Regional Quality Infrastructure Project regional Hands On Training course in Macedonia on developing a standardization strategy to ensure and encourage the involvement of all stakeholders (2007);
  • Expert Facilitator at CARDS Regional Quality Infrastructure Project regional Awareness Raising Event in Macedonia on cooperation amongst national standards bodies - achieving full membership of CEN and CENELEC and the steps taken to fulfil the nine conditions (2007);
  • Expert Facilitator at CARDS Regional Quality Infrastructure Project regional Awareness Raising Event in Albania on standardization and the importance of the quality infrastructure (2007);
  • Key Standardization Expert on CARDS standards, certification and accreditation institution building project in Albania (2007);
  • Project Director for the development, implementation and promotion of supply agencies in Middle Eastern countries for the dissemination of British, European and International Standards ( Present).
Mike has also managed and prepared on a consultancy basis successful tenders for international quality infrastructure development programmes.

Mike's business career spanned over thirty three years with the British Standards Institution (BSI). During this time, Mike has worked extensively on the evaluation and testing of electrical and electronic products to national and international product safety specifications. He has particular expertise in advising organizations of the correct & current global safety standards & system process documentation appropriate to their products and businesses particularly in the Business Continuity, Health & Safety, Information Security and Document/Records Management areas. This has involved client consultation at all levels including negotiation with accredited global testing bodies to secure relevant testing programmes and ensure continuity of communication leading to successful awarding of national approval marks and certification. He also has first hand experience, as a consultant and trainer, of in-country implementation of national quality infrastructure programmes.

Mike's experience extends to countries throughout the world, with particular and recent experience of strategies for the conversion of mandatory standards (in Eastern European countries) to WTO - consistent technical regulations and standards. As BSI Distribution Sales & Marketing Manager, he was responsible for managing a team of 10 staff responsible for the sales & marketing of a range of technical documents and services to 250 global distributors.

Mike left BSI in January 2007 to become an independent consultant principally to promote and distribute British, European and International Standards in the Middle East. Mike has advised a range of organisations across both Western and Eastern Europe on their standardization development strategy, promotion strategy, business development strategy, tendering strategy, bid management (including the preparation of Technical Proposals) and project/programme management. These activities have included advice on the organisation of sets of standards and the implementation of standardization programmes. Mike has also advised CEN and CENELEC, the European Standards bodies, on the successful completion of applications from national standards bodies outside the European Economic Area wishing to apply for full membership as part of the EU accession process.

Contact Mike at m.webb@group5.co.uk

Bernard Dyer
Associate consultant

Bernard Dyer is a Visiting Fellow of the Information Systems Group within the Department of Management at the London School of Economics. He holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science and a Diploma in Civil, Structural and Mechanical Engineering. His early career was spent in civil and structural engineering when he pioneered the application of computers in the design and analysis of major engineering structures.

From the late 1980's his work extended to business modelling and analysis to resolve business management issues within such business sectors as government, banking, insurance, retailing and engineering. This work covered process re-engineering, information and knowledge management, security, audit and compliance, electronic commerce, document management and the development of IS and IT strategies.

At the LSE he is involved with research projects, sponsored by the EU and UK research councils, studying interoperability, identity management, security, risk and anti-money laundering. A major research programme into "Best Practice" was sponsored by the Home Office, the National Audit Office, the Public Record Office, CCTA, CITU, HM Customs and Excise, Lloyds TSB Group, Barclays Bank, and Unisys.

He was an expert consultant to the Committee on Information Technology and Law of the Council of Europe. The work of the committee reviews relevant laws and regulations within the member countries concerning the application of IT.

He published, in conjunction with Bill Mayon-White, a book "Principles of Good Practice for Information Management" published by the British Standards Institution as BSI DISC PD0010. The Principles have been incorporated into the "BSI Code of Practice for Legal Admissibility and Evidential Weight of Information Stored Electronically", published as BSI DISC PD0008 (now BS 10008). He was a co-author of this Code of Practice and the associated "Compliance Workbook" BSI DISC PD0009

Contact Bernard at b.dyer@group5.co.uk

Nicola McKilligan
Associate consultant

Nicola is an experienced Data Protection consultant who developed her expertise in data protection law while working with the Information Commissioner in compliance, international and strategic policy roles. During her time with the Information Commissioner, Nicola worked closely with the European Commission Directorate responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Data Protection Directive.

Nicola is the author of several of the BSI Data Protection Guides and writes regularly for both the trade and mainstream press on Data Protection issues.

Nicola graduated in History from the University of Aberdeen in 1992, and obtained her Common Professional Exam and Diploma in Law from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1996.

Contact Nicola at n.mckilligan@group5.co.uk

Alan Stevens
Associate consultant

Alan graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham in 1964. His early career covered a range of research, design, development and management roles in several heavy engineering companies.

Alan joined the British Standards Institution in 1973 and his responsibilities have ranged over a wide variety of topics involving many different groups of people and technologies (including "IT" from 1976) at national, International and European levels.

He was appointed as Senior Technical Officer in 1984, then as Deputy Head of Department in 1988. From 1989-90 Alan was intimately involved in the creation of DISC - the arm of BSI Standards dedicated to the area of information and communications technologies. It had a unique responsibility not only for formal standards development, but also for value-added activities to support awareness, understanding and application of good practice.

His direct responsibility for managing the development of the "added-value" side of DISC's business contributed to appointment as Head of DISC in 1997. In particular, Alan developed the concept of forging joint ventures with like-minded business partners to help businesses exploit ICT facilities, services and standards. His team had responsibility also for managing related training and for direct marketing of DISC's services.

Alan is an independent consultant in formal standardization and, especially, the documentation and adoption of good practice guidance.

Contact Alan at a.stevens@group5.co.uk

Valerie Taylor
Associate consultant

Throughout her career Valerie has specialised in data protection matters as well as IT and intellectual property law. Valerie qualified as a solicitor at Clifford Chance, the London based international law firm, and went on to work in the in-house legal department of the Royal Mail Group plc where she was the principal data protection adviser.

Valerie now works as an independent consultant advising large and small businesses in the public and private sector on data protection compliance. She advises on all aspects of data protection and freedom of information including data related projects, internal business policies and procedures, and lobbies on proposed new legislation. Valerie frequently takes part in speaking and lecturing engagements and writes about privacy related issues.

Valerie graduated in law from King's College London in 1990 and completed her Law Society Finals in 1991. She also has a diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice from Bristol University.

Contact Valerie at v.taylor@group5.co.uk

Group 5 Training clients

Since 1996, Group 5 Training have been retained by a number of organisations to assist with particular aspects of achieving compliance including:

Ashford Borough Council Ashford Borough Council Web Site
Cable & Wireless plc Cable & Wireless Web Site
Canon (UK) Limited Canon Web Site
Central Networks Central Networks Web Site
Circle Anglia Circle Anglia Web Site
Coutts Co Coutts Web Site
Cornwall CC Cornwall CC Web Site
De Montfort University Coutts Web Site
EDF Energy EDF Energy Web Site
EFile EFile Web Site
Flintshire County Council Flintshire Web Site
Mouchel Mouchel Web Site
Halifax PLC Halifax Web Site
ICC Information Services Limited ICC Web Site
International Financial Data Services IFDS Web Site
Leicestershire County Council LCC Web Site
Merchant Investors Assurance Company Limited Merchant Investors Web Site
M&G Financial Services Limited Remote Web Site
Nottingham Building Society Nottingham Building Society Web Site
Police Superintendent's Association  
Professional Document Management Limited PDM Web Site
Readsoft UK Readsoft Web Site
London Borough of Richmond LB Richmond Web Site
Rullion Group Rullion Web Site
Rural Payments Agency RPA Web Site
RPost RPost Web Site
Saga Saga Web Site
Santander Santander Web Site
Sellafield Limited Sellafield Limited Web Site
Watson Wyatt Watson Wyatt Web Site

We have a significant number of other clients in both Private and Public Sectors where we are subject to confidentiality agreements.

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