POLARIS LEARNING - Key Persons
As a qualified assessor, butcher and meat inspector, Alastair has worked with Improve in setting the criteria for Meat Inspection standards, delivers SVQ and ILM work based qualifications for aspiring team leaders, supervisors and technical staff, and is involved in the delivery of HACCP, food hygiene, butchery demonstrations, internal audit and other technical and production management courses.
An experienced and qualified senior consultant, and a Lead Auditor and Dual Qualified Meat Inspector with an in-depth knowledge of Technical, Quality Assurance Systems, HACCP and Auditing for a wide range of food manufacturing industries. As a training consultant Bill is predominantly involved with HACCP, Food Safety Management, Food Hygiene, Animal Welfare, Meat Science and Food Manufacturing VQ's.
An experienced, qualified consultant and assessor with a vast knowledge of Modern Apprenticeship programmes for a wide range of food manufacturing companies. Clive is involved in HACCP, food hygiene, animal welfare, butchery demonstrations and food manufacturing VQs.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager
I joined Polaris Learning in 2010 as Business Development Co-ordinator.
My role here is very varied and covers sales, marketing and customer service. This means no day is the same and I will never complain about being bored!
Isobel joined Polaris Learning in August 2015 working as an Administration Assistant. Isobel joins us with a wealth of experience working within Administration roles.
Primarily Isobel is responsible for taking candidates through from registration to resulting, which includes creating portfolios and resources for consultants, putting candidates on the appropriate databases and internal spreadsheets as well as ensuring they are awarded certificates for any unit or qualification achievements.
Isobel also ensures that the correct candidate procedures are followed by liaising with consultants to gather information and update the awarding body systems.
Karen joined Polaris Learning in March 2015 as an Accounts Administrator and has since progressed into the role of Office Manager.
Primarily Karen is responsible for the input and processing of the company accounts. As well as processing and finalising accounts, other tasks that she carries out on a regular basis are invoicing, payments, assisting with the Skills Development Scotland contract, timesheets and salaries, expenses, HR records, cashflow reports, help to the consultants (resources, lists, profiling) and a variety of other financial tasks to help with the running of the business.
When needed, Karen will also assist the team with candidate tasks such as maintaining candidate records and internal systems so that it is as up-to-date as possible, registering and resulting candidates on governing body systems, and more importantly, that the correct procedures are being followed in line with requirements set out by the governing bodies. Karen will assist with the printing and collation of candidate and training portfolios to the timescales given across all sectors within the business.
Prior to joining Polaris Learning Karen worked in similar roles within a wide range of industries including beverages, clothing and oil & gas.
Keith has over eighteen years experience in the design, development and implementation of training and competency solutions. This includes the project management of several current organisational competency development and implementation initiatives using a range of techniques to identify, document and implement technical and behavioural competencies.
He also has in-depth experience of senior management, middle management and supervisory training, as well as the development and delivery of qualifications across a wide range of industries.
Linda joined Polaris Learning in June 2015 as a Business Support Officer.
As part of the marketing team Linda is able to put her excellent communication and project management skills to good use on a daily basis. She is used to working on multiple tasks and meeting strict deadlines. Her main duties include assisting with the development and maintenance of marketing materials, proposals and the marketing database, producing statistical reports, as well as liaising with customers on service evaluation and customer surveys.
Linda also assists with the management of the business management system, including development and implementation of procedures and document control across the business.
Prior to joining Polaris Learning, Linda worked for a large services company within the energy sector for over 30 years in a variety of roles starting as an Office Junior, progressing through the organisation to a role in Human Resources.
Michael is currently the Marketing Officer at Polaris Learning Ltd. Having joined the company at the beginning of September 2011, Michael started off as an Administration and Marketing Assistant but later on moved more towards the Marketing side of the business. Right from the start of his employment here, he was given the opportunity to enhance his skills and knowledge from Aberdeen College by undertaking on the job training and went on to successfully complete Modern Apprenticeships in Business and Administration MA Level 2 & 3.
The main aim of his job role is to help with the development of the sales and marketing team by contributing and building on ideas, assisting with sales and marketing activities, and helping to promote Polaris Learning Ltd while retaining customers and securing new clients. Michael also can help the office administration team as and when they need assistance in busy periods with tasks such as the registrations and resulting of candidates on our governing body systems.
To follow on from the above, Michael is very much involved in direct marketing campaigns including the design aspects, from project planning and implementation to the mail merging and printing of materials. To go alongside this, Michael will also look for photography and video opportunities to help develop our online image and representation. Another task that he is carrying out regularly now is assisting with training materials, more so with the designing and editing of course materials to keep everything to a high, professional standard.
Other tasks he carries out in his role is assisting with the maintenance of our contact database and proposals register whilst following the procedures in place, supporting the creation and delivery of sales and marketing activities, maintaining and updating the company website as well as updating our social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Before joining Polaris Learning, Michael attended Meldrum Academy for 5 years before progressing to complete 2 years at Aberdeen College studying NC and HNC Business Administration and Information Technology which he then graduated in. Whilst at college, he had a part time job as a server/fryer at Meldrum Fish Bar but chose to leave due to having a full time job at Polaris Learning.
Sarah joined Polaris Learning in September 2013 as an Administration Assistant after successfully completing her master of art degree in Psychology. During this time Sarah has developed into the role of Training Co-ordinator and has successfully completed her SVQ in Business and Administration at Level 3 and ILM Train the Trainer Qualification.
The main aim of Sarah's job is to liaise with the consultants and compile a central training plan for key dates and training delivery. This also involves taking candidates through from registration to resulting, which includes creating portfolios and resources for consultants, putting candidates on the appropriate databases and internal spreadsheets as well as ensuring they are awarded certificates for any unit or qualification achievements. Sarah works closely with consultants to ensure the correct candidate procedures are followed such as issuing review lists on a monthly basis, proof reading work they have developed and updating information as required.
As Sarah has progressed in her role, one of her new key areas is to help the Office Manager with the processing of the company accounts. This involves both purchase and sales invoicing and dealing with company timesheets and expenses.
Sarah also takes minutes at company meetings, ensures follow up actions are taken and works closely with colleagues in the Administration team to ensure the effective running of the office.
Prior to starting at Polaris Learning and whilst undertaking her degree Sarah held various positions for companies throughout Aberdeenshire which included both administration duties and retail.