LEAPS is growing with new people joining the team!

LEAPS is really excited to tell everyone about our growing team. Over the last few weeks, we have recruited industry-leading experts to improve our professional certification services and best serve our clients.

Pete Brown joins us on a permanent basis and he has over 25 years of experience working in high-risk leisure activity management with leading global providers of indoor and outdoor activities including adventure holidays, multi-activity centres, ropes courses and all manner of indoor and outdoor leisure attractions. He has been the technical author and expert for the development of international standards to do with active leisure activities and has chaired a number of trade associations for leisure. As LEAPS develops its active leisure offering Pete will bring a raft of experience to assist our clients and ensure we deliver the best possible service.

Tony Knutsen joins us after 14 years of inspecting amusement devices following the system for the safety of attractions as outlined in Health and Safety Guidance 175 and is qualified in design review, assessment of conformity to design, initial test and annual in-service inspection of the most complex rides that exist. He has a passion for continuous improvement and has assisted the Health and Safety Executive with training for their inspectors and as an expert in accident investigation. He will play a pivotal role with LEAPS as the Compliance and Assurance Lead for ensuring we are at the leading edge of compliance as we progress to being the first scheme to be UKAS accredited to the new edition of HSG 175 which is expected to be published later this year.

Kerry Johnson comes into the LEAPS team as our dedicated support and client account manager, she excels at customer relations and is adept at digital programme development. She becomes our first line for dealing with our ever-growing client list and managing new parks and attractions that join.

Finally, LEAPS are delighted to announce that Alex Payne BEng(Hons), CEng, MIMechE of Alex Payne Consulting Ltd has entered into a contracted partnership with LEAPS as an associate. Alex has 30 years of experience in the field of amusement park engineering, operations, systems & processes and amusement ride and device safety. He has previously worked as Technical Director for one of the UK’s best-known amusement parks and since leaving that role has provided consultancy and expert services to the amusement industry and further afield. He has been integral in the production of industry standards BS EN 13814 and BS ISO 17842 along with UK industry guidance HSG 175. Alex sat on the IAAPA EMEA Safety Sub-Committee for nearly 5 years and still sits on the BALPPA H&S Committee after more than 20 years’ service. He will expertly lead our 5* assurance visits, assist with the development of LEAPS SOPs and deliver our comprehensive training package whilst still running his own business.

Jon Ruddock MD of LEAPS said:

“I am really happy to announce that the LEAPS team of professional experts in their own fields will ensure we deliver the most comprehensive leisure certification scheme the UK has ever seen. Our team will develop new guidance, training, assurance and certification across all leisure attractions so that we help our clients prove they are providing the safest possible experience for their guests. Our unrivalled depth of knowledge and understanding will assist our clients when dealing with manufacturers, regulators, service providers and all matters of attraction safety.”

Please contact us at [email protected] or on 08000541351 if you’re interested in speaking to any of our team about how LEAPS can help your attraction.