We bring a shared ambition for success to every project
With an exceptional reputation for delivering successful innovation programmes, and for adeptly guiding businesses and organisations through the challenges of technology commercialisation. Formed in 2013 and led by principal, Frank Allison, FIS360 is managed by a core team of PhDs with international industry experience, who share an enthusiasm for exploring and developing the potential of innovation and technology.
Our principals and associates have technical backgrounds in engineering, metallurgy, biochemistry, chemistry and geology, and bring their ambition for success to every project. To further our capabilities, we select proven specialist associates to add specific knowledge where necessary, and to deliver:
The FIS360 approach is dependent upon healthy and open relationships. We understand the information you share with us may be highly confidential and industry sensitive, so being comfortable with each other is key.
Join our multi-faceted team of innovation professionals – visit our careers page
“I have worked with FIS360 for over 7 years on a variety of projects and initiatives and have found their approach to commercialisation to be grounded, flexible and pragmatic. The FIS360 team are skilled at quickly gaining the respect of the academic and industry inventor teams and inspiring the teams to focus on commercialising their technologies. Their commercialisation experience, passion, proven track record and breadth of industry contacts enables informed commercialisation decisions and invariably maintains project momentum. FIS360 excels at bridging the gap between academia, the supply chain and end users to set appropriate expectations across each party.”
“The involvement of FIS360 was instrumental in supporting our engagement with key individuals at Sellafield during the Game Changers application process and throughout the proof-of-concept project. We have greatly benefitted from their sector specific and broader technology commercialisation expertise to transfer our technology from the Oil & Gas industry to new applications in the Nuclear sector. The Game Changers proof-of-concept project provided the springboard to our more recent successes with TEPCO and the MOD, and FIS360 have been very effective in supporting us as we continue to commercialise our M3 technology.”
“FIS360 has played an instrumental role in the development and delivery of the Game Changers Innovation Programme at Sellafield. They have enabled us to articulate our challenges and reach out globally to a wide range of organisations across diverse sectors. Companies who have the expertise and technologies to help accelerate the decommissioning process, save time and money, improve safety, and reduce environmental impact. FIS360’s experience and ability to understand our organisation’s culture, structure and existing processes has led to the creation of an effective innovation programme that flexes to meet our needs. The FIS360 team has excelled in building strong relationships across the Sellafield workforce, driving engagement with Game Changers, and generating solutions from across a wide range of innovative organisations.”
11, Riverview,
Embankment Business Park,
Vale Road, Heaton Mersey,
Cheshire, SK4 3GN
Office 4, 33 Sandgate House,
Penrith, Cumbria,
CA11 7TJ
You can verify the validity of our ISO certificates by entering the certificate numbers 247241 and 247738 via this link here
Frank is CEO of FIS360 Ltd and an expert in the commercialisation of early stage cutting edge technologies, from concept to commercial product. He has developed and delivered several commercialisation programmes, including Sellafield’s Game Changers innovation programme. He has over 15 years’ experience commercialising early stage technologies into a wide range of sectors. Spending 10 years working at University of Manchester Intellectual Property (UMIP), Frank was responsible for commercialising a portfolio of spin-out companies, and licensing technologies.
A highlight of his career was working in the Middle East to establish a technology transfer business unit and innovation investment fund for Dhahran Techno Valley Company (DTVC).
Frank has also spent many years working in the steel, space and aerospace industries in the UK and US. He now mentors early stage companies, sits on several innovation committees and has a real passion and enthusiasm to make a difference.
Jo has enjoyed a varied and interesting career. After undertaking a chemistry PhD at the University of Nottingham, she joined the Royal Society of Chemistry to lead UK-wide programmes supporting the delivery of chemical science education in the UK. She then went on to oversee a national programme of school-university engagement for a government funded organisation.
Whilst caring for her young family, Jo set up her own successful business in the creative arts. She developed a deep understanding of the impact of marketing and the skills needed to consistently deliver client satisfaction. She has been a member of the FIS360 team since 2017. She loves the opportunity to bring together all her skills – combining her scientific background with her programme management knowledge, marketing ability and experiences which have sharpened her ability to focus strongly on the needs of clients.
Stuart is an experienced innovation consultant and senior manager helping innovative companies to develop and commercialise new ideas.
Stuart’s experience spans two decades in managing innovation and research. His career has encompassed business strategy development, entrepreneurship, knowledge exchange, new venture creation, business engagement, incubation, economic development, private investment, grant funding, commercialisation of intellectual property rights (IPR), and he is an experienced non-exec of high-tech early stage companies.
Ellen graduated with a degree in biology & food science. She specialised in microbial physiology, completing a PhD from Oxford Brookes University, sponsored by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc, in 1996.
After a further two years in biosciences research, Ellen migrated from the lab bench to the world of technology transfer and commercialisation, joining UMIST Ventures (UVL) Ltd in 1998. Her role at UVL included fostering SME engagement under a European Regional Development Fund programme; negotiating research contracts on behalf of the bioscience departments and implementation of the Genetic Innovation Network in collaboration with Manchester Innovation. Ellen has lived in the Lake District for the last 15 years becoming involved with a local gin company and the hospitality industry in addition to gaining accountancy qualifications. A further chapter begins in 2020 as Ellen joins FIS360 on their mission.
Janet has over 22 years’ experience in high-technology product development, manufacturing and commercialisation. Previously Production Director of an instrumentation SME, Janet has spent the last 10 years at the front end of innovation and founded Genmhor Ltd to work with and support a range of pre-start and early stage technology companies to understand their commercial opportunity and take products from proof of concept to manufacture.
Janet has personally negotiated over £2m in commercial contracts and has experience in a wide range of markets including lighting, agritech, gas sensing, security and defence, nuclear, aquaculture, marine, renewable energy and scientific research.
Deborah has worked across a number of industry sectors since obtaining her PhD in materials engineering and design from the University of Nottingham. Her career has been focussed on the delivery of specialist laboratory testing and analysis. Highlights have included leading the corrosion testing division for a global independent laboratory in the oil and gas sector, and delivering projects on advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing to partners and clients in the pharmaceutical sector as part of CMAC at The University of Strathclyde.
Deborah has worked with FIS360 since 2017, and joined the team in an expanded role in 2021 to provide additional operational and programme management support as the company continues to grow.
Kirstie graduated with a degree in Materials and Design Engineering from Loughborough University and has since gone on to complete a PhD in Nanostructured Materials at the University of Manchester.
After an 18-month, Research Associate position focused on developing multifunctional resins for SLA 3D printing including in situ polymerisation of conductive polymers and nanomaterials for electrochemical applications, Kirstie joined the RAIN hub (Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear) as the Outreach and Project Manager. This involved engagement with industry, regulatory bodies and schools, whilst supporting the implementation of the overall RAIN project plan as the central contact point for demonstration activities across the UK.
Kirstie joined FIS360 as a Project Manager in 2022. She works on various programmes including the Game Changers innovation programme, communicating innovation challenge opportunities. Kirstie’s hobbies include hiking, camping, cycling, sewing, and making clothes.
Karim graduated with a MSci degree in Natural Sciences from University College London and then completed a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at Imperial College London, which included a one-year secondment to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Melbourne, Australia.
Karim then re-joined Imperial College London as a Research Associate and Assistant Supervisor and was then appointed as a Research Coordinator at The University of Liverpool to undertake research in the area of transition metal catalysis and method development. Alongside academic responsibilities such as directing PhD projects, supervising members of the research group and delivering lectures to undergraduate students, Karim was also responsible for management of the laboratory, procurement, logistics and health & safety.
Karim joined FIS360 as a Project Manager in 2022. He has a passion for technology and innovation and works on various programmes, including the Game Changers Innovation Programme and FIS360’s innovation forum.
Rob joined the FIS360 team in summer 2022 as a placement student. Rob works across a number of areas of the business, including data management and analytics, market research, event organisation and supporting innovation projects.
Rob is currently undertaking his BSc in Business Management at Lancaster University and continues to work for FIS360 on a part-time basis, supporting innovation programme delivery.
In addition to studies and work, Rob is also keen tennis player and experienced coach.
Stephanie joined FIS360 in November 2022 and she has over 10 years of experience working in a variety of administrative roles. She has worked in a range of areas including the private sector, civil service, and higher education, and in this time has developed many administrative skills combined with a client focussed approach.
Stephanie enjoys the multi-faceted aspects that her role in administration brings by being involved across all areas of the business and the programmes delivered by FIS360.
Brenda is a communications expert with a career in journalism and public relations spanning almost 40 years.
As a journalist, she worked as a reporter and sub-editor on newspapers in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sheffield, gaining experience in all aspects of news coverage and production before being appointed editor of the Sheffield Weekly Gazette.
Brenda then joined BT Corporate Relations as a Press Relations Manager at a time when the company’s PR operation was the largest of its kind in Europe. Responsible for helping manage company reputation, working with all aspects of media, her role expanded to include reputation management with senior opinion-formers within communities, such as council chief executives, MPs and business leaders. Subsequently, she moved into internal communications, responsible for helping devise and deliver communication strategy to BT’s engineering teams, now known as Openreach.
Helen graduated with a degree in Veterinary Sciences from the Royal Veterinary College, before completing a PhD in Evolutionary biology and biochemistry at the University of Liverpool. Her PhD position was sponsored by Genus PLC and included a secondment at the University of Maryland. Helen then undertook a 2.5 year postdoctoral position at Uppsala University within the Evolutionary Biology department.
Applied research has always interested Helen. After completing her postdoctoral position, she took a role as project manager within the medical engineering department at King’s College London. She relocated to Manchester in 2017 to become the Outreach and Project Manager for the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear (RAIN) Hub, where she worked to build relationships and collaboration across academia and industry to support the development and deployment of innovative technology for nuclear applications. In 2020, Helen took on a different role at the University of Manchester, as project manager for the Nuclear Waste Services Research Support Office (RSO). The RSO was tasked with building and managing an expanding portfolio of NWS funded academic research to enable the delivery of a Geological Disposal Facility. Helen joined FIS360 in 2023 as a project manager.
Lauren’s varied education and work experience combines a passion for copywriting and editing with a scientific background. After graduating with an MChem in Chemistry from the University of Sheffield, Lauren spent time working in hazardous waste treatment before deciding to pursue her more creative side. She completed an MA in Publishing at Kingston University and took on a role as Production Editor for a non-profit academic publisher, working on titles in life sciences, agriculture, animal welfare, and more. After moving back to the Midlands, Lauren joined an online marketing team, continuing to edit and then write and optimise content for scientific, engineering and manufacturing clients.
Having joined the FIS360 team at the beginning of May 2023, Lauren now works closely with Jo Tunney, applying her skills and experience to delivering comms and marketing activities for FIS360 and its partners.
Kate has a PhD in Physics from the University of Glasgow. It was a collaborative project with University Tor Vergata, Rome, and Northern Foods, UK, and used computational modelling of electromagnetic fields at microwave frequencies to investigate practical applications of non-invasive temperature measurement.
Following her love for travel, Kate then moved into the world of Student Recruitment and has over 18 years’ professional experience recruiting students to the Higher Education sector in a variety of senior roles. She has worked internationally, within the EU and across the UK for a small private company and the University of Glasgow. Kate loves to meet new people and has forged many strong relationships when working in her markets in Japan, Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Russia, South America and the EU.
Kate joined FIS360 as Project Manager in 2023 and works on various projects for both Open Nuclear and Game Changers. She relishes a challenge and is passionate about science and the novel solutions it can bring to everyday life.
Derek has worked in the Energy sector for more than 40 years in power generation, R&D and technology commercialisation. In 2010 he joined Innovate UK as Head of their nuclear innovation programme. During that time, he designed and was responsible for a total portfolio of over £100m ‘Challenge led’ nuclear innovation competitions driving innovation into the nuclear sector.
He is well known and respected amongst the UK’s nuclear community and was a former member of the UK Government’s Nuclear Innovation & Research Advisory Board (NIRAB) from 2014-16.
Gordon is a fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and is an energy industry veteran with 35+ years industry experience. He has been the chairman of 2 university spin-outs and an oil and gas software start-up. Through the Scottish Enterprise Proof-of-Concept programme and High Growth Ventures team, Gordon has worked as an advisor to 50+ start-up and spin-out businesses mainly in the energy and digital sectors.
He was a Director of Entrepreneur Business School Ltd between 2017 and 2021.
Barry is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Professor of Applied Control and Nuclear Engineering Decommissioning at the University of Manchester, Royal Academy Chair in Emerging Technologies, and academic lead for the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo), which aims to develop technology to support the decommissioning of the UK’s legacy nuclear facilities.
He has experience in the commercialisation of technology, having co-founded Perceptive Engineering, a process control solutions provider who employed more than 30 FTEs before it was sold to Applied materials in 2020 and he has been responsible for the development of numerous robots that have been deployed into active nuclear facilities in the UK and overseas.
