Our Training Partners

We work with a group of hand-picked, specialist Training Partners, who are each experts in their fields and in the delivery of business training. Find out more below!

Our Training Partners
  • Bernard O’Connor

    Bernard is a Partner in Strong & Herd LLP and has over 46 years’ experience in Customs and international trade activities, ranging from deep-sea container shipping, European road transport operations, Customs procedures and company training.

    Bernard spent a four year secondment with HM Revenue & Customs and worked on international trade projects including the National Export System (NES), the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) and the SAD Harmonisation project (SADH).

    As a Partner in Strong & Herd LLP, Bernard undertakes customs compliance pre-audits, export control pre-audits, educational and training seminars, compliance awareness and technical assistance in most aspects of international trade procedures.

    Bernard has considerable technical expertise in Customs clearance procedures and Tariff completion rules, and is currently involved in the testing of the new CDS customs computer system.

    Bernard is an ICC Registered Incoterms® 2020 Trainer in the United Kingdom.

  • Bryan Leslie

    Bryan Leslie is an accredited coach and trainer, qualified in DISC personality and PIAV personal motivator profiling.

    Bryan started his career in Financial Services in London and Edinburgh, working in Operations Management, Business Consultancy and HR for the Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Life. In 2003 he founded his own training company, Abacus Coaching Ltd, working with organisations to develop the leadership and management skills of their people. He has written three published books: “The Useful Guide to Goal-Setting”, “The Useful Guide to Process Mapping” and “The Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Networkers”, each of which has sold enough copies to ensure he still has to work for a living!

    Bryan’s main areas of expertise are:
    • Growing leadership and management skills
    • Facilitating behavioural change through high impact training
    • Project, programme and change management
    • Developing high performance teams
    • Understanding key financial concepts relevant to your role in the organisation

  • Calvin Sherratt

    Calvin Sherratt is a Customs and International Trade Advisor at Strong and Herd. Calvin has over 36 years of Importing and Exporting experience, and has been a member of the Institute of Export for 26 years, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport for 19 years

    Calvin completed his WCO (World Customs Organisation) Tariff Classification Academy in Brussels, and is also an AET qualified adult Teacher and a Certified Industry Qualifications AEO Level 3 award Trainer/Auditor/Examiner, and an ICC Incoterms 2020 registered trainer.

    Calvin’s speciality areas of teaching include Customs Special Procedures (Inward and Outward Processing), Customs Warehousing, End Use and Temporary Admissions.

  • Fin Wycherley

    A Senior Social Media Marketing Director with around 25 years’ experience in B2C and B2B marketing. Fin is the only accredited Facebook and Instagram trainer in Scotland and leads the #SheMeansBusiness initiative to support more women to start and grow their business with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.

    Fin has trained and worked with a number of leading organisations to improve their sales via social media including more recently Skyscanner, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Meltwater, Hiscox, Sustrans, TSB and Tesco Bank. Experience of marketing across all sectors, including startup, consumer, small and medium business, large enterprise, private and public vertical sectors, and global.

    Fin is a regular contributor to the BBC, both TV and Radio, on the digital and social media economy as well as publications such as The Guardian, Women in Trade, BQ Scotland, SBBN, and Scottish Entrepreneur.

    Fin has won a number of prestigious awards and accolades including:

    • Top 5 Marketing Adviser 2019 by Enterprise Nation
    • “Woman of Inspiration 2018” by the Association of Scottish Women in Business
    • “Outstanding Contribution” 2019 by ASW
    • Advisor to 10 Downing St
    • Advisor to the Scottish Parliament
  • Gary Dhanda

    Meet Gary, a dedicated business growth specialist passionate about helping businesses increase their revenue while optimising their operations.

    With over 15 years of experience, Gary has honed his skills across various industries, such as innovative technology companies, leading professional service firms, large financial organizations, and a multitude of B2C businesses.

    Gary empowers organisations by leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Automation, AI, and SaaS growth platforms to save time, enhance customer experience, and propel growth.

    His extensive knowledge and expertise in crafting powerful sales, marketing, and customer success strategies have enabled businesses to achieve transformative growth and emerge as leaders with pioneering technology.

    Earn More, Do Less!

  • Tom Catterick - Head of Academy, Mediaworks

    Tom began working in SEO in 2018 by developing & marketing his own portfolio of websites after retiring from his previous career in professional sport. He then joined the SEO team at Mediaworks in 2021 and has since worked with clients such as Dune London, Cath Kidston, Oceans, Metro Bank & cinch across numerous successful SEO campaigns. Since joining Tom has progressed to Head of Academy and now leads on all learning and development at Mediaworks including of course SEO.

  • Dan Major - Head of Video, Mediaworks

    Dan has worked in the video and film industry for over a decade in a variety of industry sectors after receiving a first-class degree in Media Production from Northumbria University. He currently leads the video team at Mediaworks, directing the creative, technical and logistical output of both film, animation and photography for clients around the globe. Productions at Mediaworks cover a range of formats including organic and paid social, TV and On-Demand and Out Of Home. Dan’s experience allows him to develop the skills and careers of internal team members as well as all levels of trainees looking to further their filmmaking abilities.

  • Joe Helyer - Senior Videographer, Mediaworks

    Analytical and results-driven, Joe prides himself on working collaboratively with businesses to provide tangible results via strategy-led digital. Joe worked as Regional Digital Manager and Head of Commercial Video for Reach plc, overseeing the NE titles and working closely alongside North East businesses with regards to online video and digital marketing strategies. Joe’s expertise lie in video production, creative ideation, business development and revenue generation. He is the senior filmmaker at Mediaworks, often working as sole videographer on client shoots, covering camera operation, audio recording, cinematography, editing and animation.

  • Natalie Newton - Head of Strategic Planning, Mediaworks

    Natalie is a strategic thinker with four years of agency experience at Mediaworks, creating digital strategies across all channels (PPC, PR, SEO, Social) for clients such as cinch, Dune London, Metro Bank, Michelin, Lil-Lets, and CT Shirts.

    She leads the strategic planning team at Mediaworks, directing the creative output, content creation and channel choice for all our clients, working closely with our insights team to report on the success of our campaigns.

  • Rachel McGuigan - Head of Data & Insights, Mediaworks

    Rachel has a Masters of Mathematics from Northumbria University, and in her role at Mediaworks – she specialises in Google Analytics & Google Tag Manager, Data Analysis & Visualisation

    Rachel heads up the data and insights team across the Mediaworks Group. She was the Lead Analyst on the Customer Life Time value project for Where The Trade Buys which won the Drum B2B Marketing Award for the Best Use of Data.

    Rachel has worked across multiple sectors, improving digital visibility and reporting projects to help get the most out of their data. This includes collating information from all active channels, and utilising first-party data where possible to gain end-to-end visibility.

    Rachel is actively creating content for York St John Universtiy & Digital Knowledge Labs for their Digital Marketing Masters around Digital analytics and supporting on the masters drop in sessions.

  • Mark Douglas

    Mark Douglas is a Partner in Blue Ptarmigan, Management Consultancy focusing on ‘helping people achieve more than they ever thought possible’. With specific expertise in leadership and management development, coaching for both individuals & teams, change management, group and programme facilitation and project management, with a proven track record of delivering significant improvements and results. He has extensive experience in partnering with directors, senior leaders/ managers and professionals, in the design and delivery of leadership and management development interventions for SME’s, public sector bodies, third sector organisations and large corporations.

    He has been a retail manager, healthcare manager, change management consultant, led various functions including Supply Chain & Operations, HR, Learning & Development and Property Development for a major multinational company, he is also a business mentor and coach with the Princes Trust.

    When not working he is a keen cyclist, hill walker, skier in fact anything outdoors. And on the dark winter nights he can be found in his shed tinkering with old cars and motorbikes.

     

  • Mark Mackenzie Smith

    Mark started his career in Air Traffic Control, leaving to establish a personal and business brand development consultancy working with individuals, SME’s and an extensive range of UK Charities. He is an associate of Caledonia PA and owner of Boom, presentations training specialists. He delivers a range of business based workshops linking tried and tested techniques to practical solutions.

    With over 30 years of business behind him, Mark has developed a workshop method that is relaxed and activity focused. His seminars are challenging, pushing you to perform at your very best.

    He is chair of Lothian Young Enterprise and a Young Person’s coach with Edinburgh based charity Bright Light. Mark also sits on the Edinburgh Napier University Business Advisory panel and when he’s not working with clients he’s training his Guide Dog puppy.

  • Mervyn Stanley

    Mervyn Stanley is a Director/Consultant with over 25 years Sales, Account Management and Business Development experience within Professional Services, Oil & Gas, Food and Drink and the finance sector.

    In 2012 after leaving RBS as a Commercial Director, Mervyn set up business growth specialists, Cameron Carnegie Consulting Ltd.

    As well as a number of Consultancy and Non Executive Director roles, Mervyn also delivers a number of training courses for Chamber of Commerce and privately in the areas of, Sales & Account Management, An introduction to Sales, Networking for Success, Growing your Business and The Business Development Accelerator. This training is practical and hands on, designed around the needs of todays sales and business development professionals – They don’t want “death by powerpoint”, they want to participate, learn and most of all DO!

  • Shona Watson (Ferris)

    Shona has worked in the advertising and education industries in Edinburgh and Glasgow for over 15 years across a wide range of disciplines.

    She started work at Euro RSCG Riley, Glasgow in advertising client services 15 years ago before moving into education at City of Glasgow College, where she was a lecturer for six years. During this time, Shona was integral in the development and delivery of the Advertising and PR course to NQ/NC, HNC and HND students, with the units including: Consumer Behaviour, Advertising: Planning a Local Campaign and Media Sales. After helping many students achieve their qualifications, Shona then made her next move to focus on the industry which she loves and started working at MediaCom, Edinburgh, planning and buying media space before moving onto AKA Scotland. During her time with AKA Scotland, Shona created marketing and advertising campaigns for clients within the Arts & Culture Industry including National Galleries of Scotland and ATG Theatre Group.

    Shona is now a Director at SW&CO a brand, design, and digital creative agency she founded with her partner Scott Watson. As an agency they focus on building brands with people, for people. SW&CO work as creative partners with clients to establish their brand identity, naming & tone of voice, logo design, website design through to digital marketing strategy and implementation.

    Her love of teaching and helping people learn has never changed and she has always been involved in training & education throughout her full career and is delighted to now join Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

     

     

  • Steve Berry

    Steve has over 30 years’ experience in International Trade. This includes working for a variety of manufacturing companies in order supply roles as well as a logistics focus with a shipping line and a freight forwarder.

    Steve has worked for Strong and Herd LLP since 2014 supporting clients in export and import compliance in a variety of ways. This includes; providing technical support, delivering training on a variety of topics and carrying out audits. This knowledge also includes assisting businesses in UK and US Export Control Compliance.

    By utilising his manufacturing experience, Steve can relate to clients’ circumstances to provide relevant assistance and support.

    Steve is an ICC Registered Incoterms ® 2020 Trainer in the United Kingdom.

  • Sue Wright

    Sue Wright, Manging Director of Exporter Services, began her International career over 30 years ago as a junior Shipping Clerk for an Engineering and Manufacturing Company. Inspired by her work she quickly progressed and saw this as a career path going on to study to post Graduate level with The Institute of Export.

    Sue moved on after several years to take up a Shipping Managers role for an engineering company. The work involved project managing contracts of supply and delivery across the world and working with Letters of Credit for payment.  There were multiple parties involved in the cross-trade movements with Customs and HMRC compliancy being paramount.  Some of this work involved Special Import Procedures, Import Licences and Controls of various items.

    In 2010, with this vast amount of knowledge, Sue started Exporter Services. Initially as a trainer, she delivered courses in various areas of International Trade. Training expanded as planned and in phase two of the growth plan, the business developed into a support service for those SME’s who required technical support and assistance in the how and why of International Trade movement of goods.

  • Tim Hiscock

    An international sales and marketing professional, with more than 20 years’ experience in business development, Tim has field sales experience in a variety of sectors. He is skilled in the development of international distribution networks, advertising, promotions and public relations management, event management and project management.

    Tim is responsible for delivering training to a wide variety of organisations, both face-to-face and in a “Virtual learning” environment. His specialist skills are in the areas of sales, research, customer relations, marketing management, research and export sales.

    Tim speaks French and German.

    He is an ICC Registered Incoterms ® 2020 Trainer in the United Kingdom.

  • Sarah Adams-Greener

    Sarah has over 18 years’ experience gained within HM Customs & Excise (latterly HM Revenue & Customs) and was heavily involved in the implementation of the National Export System (NES).

    Sarah’s expertise within the export regulatory environment is extensive, having worked in HMRC’s Export Unit of Expertise, applying legislation through practical application and providing export advice to colleagues, trade bodies and companies. Sarah was involved in the creation of HMRC’s Export Best Practice Guide which can be found on GOV.UK.

    Sarah is responsible for delivering training to a wide variety of organisations, predominantly in the area of EU Exit. She also undertakes export consultancy and audit wok for Strong & Herd.

    Specialist areas include exports, CHIEF replacement, UK tariff, customs duty reliefs, Returned Goods Relief and the Community System of Duty Reliefs (Samples, Goods for Test).

    Sarah is a fluent Welsh speaker.

  • Andy Baker

    Andy has over 19 years’ experience in freight forwarding and logistics. Covering Airfreight Imports , Sea freight and Road freight logistics. Having worked for various freight forwarders within this period he was responsible for all aspects of logistics and supply chains , customs entries and compliance.

    Andy’s expertise covers import and export entries, inventory link ports, NCTS and ETSF warehousing and various customs entry software along with customs audits and compliance.

    Andy is responsible for assisting and delivering various courses including the our new NCTS course, along with assisting our clients with our onecall service, shipping office, consultancy and audit work.

  • Susi O'Brien

    Susi has worked in Human Resources (HR) management since 2003. She’s a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and has masters’ degrees in both HR and Employment Law. Her professional mission is to combine a technical understanding of employment law alongside a softer but equally important understanding of workplace cultures so to help organisations succeed through their people.

    Since early 2022 Susi has been an independent HR consultant, working under the brand of Susi O’Brien HR. Prior to that she spent fourteen years working in the social care sector, and before that worked in retail. Susi has significant experience working at a senior management level and her areas of expertise cover employee relations, pay and reward, employee engagement, and recruitment.

  • Andrew Blenkinsop

    Andrew Blenkinsop is Chief Strategy Officer at global marketing agency, Mediaworks. In the seven years he’s been with the agency, Andy has developed its strategic focus to transform Mediaworks into one of the UK’s few true independent end-to-end digital marketing agencies. He oversees the transformation of the agency’s data and insight-led approach into the implementation of channel agnostic campaigns.  Prior to joining Mediaworks, Andy worked on the development and creative visualisation of digital content for some the UK’s biggest media brands, including The Telegraph and The Guardian.

  • James Tudor

    James Tudor has been working with Exporter Services since August 2022 and has developed a passion for all areas of International trade training. James focuses on all areas of Export and Import processes, with a particular interest in Incoterms, Commodity codes and Rules of Origin. He develops training courses which encourage engagement and discussion among delegates in an effort to allow delegates to explore both their own and each other’s experiences.

     

    Before moving into International Trade James’ career was primarily in Secondary School and Adult education, working in this field for 12 years. James is also a Geography graduate who specialised in Economic and Political Geography. His knowledge, therefore, has a strong rooting in international trade and global economic systems.