Council of Management

After leaving school, Steve took up an apprenticeship as a stocktaker, and several years later entered the hotel trade – finishing up as Manager of a reputable hotel outside Edinburgh. He left the trade in 1976 to become a director of a newly formed stocktaking business, and subsequently progressed to become Scottish Regional Manager for one of the largest national stocktaking companies. He later moved on to become a partner in a stocktaking company, based in Edinburgh, and covering the whole of Scotland.

He took on the job as Co-ordinator in 1983, when the then Association was at a very low ebb, and made remarkable progress in gaining recognition for members throughout the Country. After ten years as Secretary he became Chairman of the Institute in 1997. Steve is now President of the Institute, and until recently was also Chairman of the Training and Examination sub-committee. In 2008 Steve was rewarded with life membership for his twenty five years unstinting service to the Institute.

After leaving school, Brett joined a local leisure firm as Trainee Manager and was quickly promoted to Retail Manager and Stocktaker for the 9 Holiday Parks located in Scotland and East Anglia. After 12 years and promotion to Area Director, Scotland, he moved to London to help manage his brothers Private Medical Practice. After 4 years, 2 trips round the world and newly married, Brett decided to settle back in his native North East and set up his own stocktaking firm in 2004.

Brett joined the Institute in 2005 and was elected on to Council in 2009 becoming Chairman in May 2016.

Ron left school in 1970 & joined a major stocktaking company in London. He worked in the office for three years before being let loose on the publicans of London & the Thames Valley.   Ron spent a number of years working for that company in Germany Belgium & Holland, being away for a week at a time every month.

Ron eventually left in 1993 and became self-employed, joining the institute that same year. Taking the exam on joining, he won the George Webber award that year. Ron has served on Council since 1999.

With his experience of Continental working, he spearheaded the TUI initiative which may have seen Institute members carrying out stock audits throughout Continental Europe.

In 2009 he took over as Treasurer, successfully steering the Institute through the turmoil of the past few years. He has recently taken retirement, working just a few days a month and carrying on his work as Treasurer.

After leaving school Paul went to college for two years to study catering,  leaving with City & Guilds qualifications and a BTEC Diploma in Hotel & Catering Studies.  Paul then worked in the hospitality industry in various positions   In 1999 he decided it was time for a career change but still wanted to work in hospitality.    An opportunity arose to purchase a stocktaking business which he did working with the vendor for a number of years.

Paul has a varied client base in Wiltshire, Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, Somerset & Berkshire.  What he enjoys most about stocktaking are the mixture of characters you meet,  the diversity of the job, the challenges of solving stocktake problems and helping business to succeed.  Paul also works in his local pub.

Has three children and is married to Alan Brown who has been a stocktaker for 40 years, is a fellow and ex committee member of the Institute. Pamela started work at Adstock Services which was run by Steve Berry and Bruce Thompson, she continued to work there after the business was taken over by Venners. Pamela left to work for Standard Life, but quickly realised that pensions was not her niche. She joined Scottish and Newcastle working in the take home side of the business which she enjoyed for eight years.

In 1996 Pamela left S&N to start her family and did temp work for various companies. Pamela retirement was short lived after being asked to help out by Alan and Steve who had started their own business together, Calscot Stocktaking. Pamela is an integral part of the team and is still there 20 years on! Pamela took over as secretary of the Institute in August 2020 and is very much looking forward to her new role with the ILTSA.

When Guy left school after taking A levels he worked for Midland Bank in West London. At the same time his parents purchased a Pub near Oxford and they all moved down there. Guy continued to work in the bank moving down to Oxford helping in the pub at weekends when not marshalling at Silverstone. After a few years Guy’s Parents decided to look for bigger premises and decided to purchase a coaching inn in West Cumbria. Guy left the bank and went to work for them full time. Guy then went to work for a private 5* hotel in London. Following this Guy held various Management positions including a Wadsworth pub near Southampton, the Bell Inn in Stilton and a Golf Club and Hotel in Suffolk.

In 1996 Guy set up Sterling Stock Auditors and has had clients ranging from Michelin starred chefs to village locals and everything in between. He is particularly keen on food stocktaking as he loves to cook. In 2010 Guy started to Volunteer at his local Community Centre teaching people how to use computers under their live long learning programme. Shortly afterwards he was asked to run the programme. As part of this he took a PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector) and taught computer courses, business courses and committee courses. Guy is also a member of The Deepings Lions Club and is a past President.

Christopher Newsome is a licensed trade stocktaker with 28 years experience and a passion for delivering exceptional service to the hospitality sector.

With high standards and a driven approach, I help pubs, bars, football clubs, golf clubs, and hotels optimize their stock management, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and cost savings throughout.

I also own/run venues in the same sector so have a wide understanding of how businesses operate.