Profile

Established in 1996, and incorporated in 2003, PVA Technical File Services Limited is now one of the leading providers of consultancy and advisory services to manufacturers, distributors, purchasers and end-users of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Whilst for obvious confidentiality reasons we cannot divulge the identities of our client companies, they range from small businesses with less than 12 employees up to multi-national corporations with staff numbering in the tens of thousands.

With an extensive working knowledge of EU Directives, manufacturing methodology and product standards, PVA Technical File Services Limited has rapidly established an enviable reputation for quality of service and obtaining results! PVA provides on-site service throughout Europe and elsewhere in the world, and is recognised for its pioneering product development work in, for example, China, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan and Vietnam.

More recently, PVA has been involved in the drafting of British Standards for protective equipment used by the police and military in public disorder training and operations, and in the development of products meeting the requirements of these standards. Technical Director Paul Varnsverry regularly advises the police and military on their equipment selection, and has given many lectures relevant to this field of work around the globe to civilian and non-civilian organisations alike.

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Firsts

PVA Technical File Services Limited has scored a series of "firsts" in the CE marking field.

Amongst the projects where we have secured the first EC type-examination certificates for products of their type have been applications for football players' shin pads and motorcyclists' back protectors. We also project-managed the first application for approval of motorcyclists' clothing by a manufacturer from outside of Europe (Pakistan).

Recently, we dealt with an application for the EC type-approval of an inflatable body protector for motorcyclists. This appears to be an area of growing interest, and where a significant number of competing products are beginning to appear in the market place. Our client's products enjoy a distinct advantage, however, since they are to the best of our knowledge the only such product to carry independent, third party certification.

We also project-managed the first EC Type-Examination certifications of personal defence shields and limb protectors for Police and military users. This included the preparation of a technical specification and test protocols for the testing and assessment of these products; documents which have subsequently been submitted to a BSI technical subcommittee to assist the preparation of British Standards for these products.

We continue to work on a variety of other ground-breaking and innovative projects in a number of other industries which will be revealed within these pages in due course.

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Accreditations

Mr. Paul Varnsverry is Technical Director and the Chief Consultant at PVA Technical File Services Limited. He is Independently assessed and accredited by the British Accreditation Bureau, Small Business Service and Sweet & Maxwell Expert Witness Register. The British Accreditation Bureau runs The Consultant Register, where Paul is a 'Certified Practitioner' (registration number SAC 1130).

Sanctioned by the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and recognised by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) as a Certification Body, the stringent qualification criteria imposed by the British Accreditation Bureau, for all consultants wishing to be listed on its Consultant Register can be considered as an ISO 9000 certification for consultants.

But before they are accepted, the work of each consultant applying for accreditation is closely scrutinised. The consultant is required to submit a substantial dossier on their past work and former client companies are approached for references. If the consultant's application is provisionally accepted, they are then required to attend a personal interview, where their personal skills and abilities are placed under still closer scrutiny.

For those consultants who make the grade, this is not the end of the process, merely the beginning; for thereafter their performance is reviewed annually. Only consultants achieving and maintaining high standards in terms of professionalism, service and integrity are permitted to carry 'Certified Practitioner' status. The presence of the British Accreditation Bureau Certified Practitioner Award logo permits the client to select a business consultant with confidence.

Consultants can make a valuable contribution to the management of change and are frequently used to deliver outsourced services. Many businesses, however, are wary of selecting consultants due to anecdotal evidence of bad experiences which their contemporaries may have suffered!

Consultants are often engaged through word of mouth; however, this method can sometimes (but not always) result in mis-matches where a consultant is engaged more for his or her personality than his or her expertise.

In contrast, the British Accreditation Bureau's Consultant Register enables clients to match their exact requirements with a shortlist of consultants who are accredited and have a proven track record. Additionally, the client can be sure that a British Accreditation Bureau registered consultant is of a high calibre and that their work is monitored on an ongoing basis.

This assured quality leads to a substantially reduced risk for the client and an increased likelihood of a successful outcome to the project.

British Accreditation Bureau accredited consultants are ranked according to their abilities. The highest rating is "ADVANCED" and an intermediate rating is classified as "COMPETENT". Two other ratings can be applied: "DEVELOPMENTAL" and "UNCLASSIFIED".

Paul Varnsverry's "Certified Practitioner" status recognises the "ADVANCED" ratings he has been awarded in the fields of "Design - Fashion & Textiles" and "Prototyping", and in "Quality Management - CE Marking"; with "COMPETENT" status awarded in respect of "Computer Aided Design". He is also ranked as an "Expert Advisor", the British Accreditation Bureau's criteria for which are: "A well known figure in his or her area of expertise with outstanding qualifications".

Furthermore, Mr Varnsverry is registered with the UK Small Business Service, and his involvement in various legal cases - including complicated and precedent-setting actions - has earned recognition from the Sweet and Maxwell registry of Expert Witnesses.

Quite simply, clients of PVA Technical File Services Limited are guaranteed the very highest standards of professional service and experience.

> View Paul Varnsverry's Profile

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EU Funding for Qualifying Companies/Projects

A variety of funding schemes are available, to qualifying companies and projects, to assist with the cost of consultancy fees when a British Accreditation Bureau or Small Business Service-registered consultant's services are utilised.

Several clients of PVA Technical File Services Limited have applied for grants under the Department of Trade and Industry's "Diagnostic and Consultancy Scheme". This has provided up to 50% of the project consultancy fees.

For further details on this and other available grant-aided funding schemes, please contact your local business development agency.
 

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