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.
“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
Dr. Frank Allison 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.
Dr. Josephine Tunney 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.
Dr. Stuart Brown 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.
Dr. Ellen Barker 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 Milne 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.
Dr. Deborah Bowering 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.
Alexandra Duesbury is a graduate of the University of Derby, with a professional background in the private medical sector as a Practice Manager. She is experienced in strategic management, business development and is passionate about establishing exceptional client relationships and customer service.
Alexandra is a keen ultra marathon runner, undertaking race distances as far as 100 miles on trail and mountain terrain. In addition to running, Alex competes in CrossFit, enjoys paddle boarding and hikes the Lake District fells with her dogs.
Brenda Clulee 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.
Dr Amol Deshmukh is an expert in robotics and AI and has published more than 50 scientific publications. He has worked on several European Union projects in academia and has developed and deployed social robots successfully in real-world environments. He pioneered human-robot interaction research in developing countries and his work has been highlighted by global media organisations.
Amol joined FIS360 in 2022, where he works on various programmes, including Game Changers, identifying and communicating innovation challenge opportunities. He manages feasibility and proof of concept projects being conducted by research organisations and companies developing new technologies to address challenges in the nuclear Industry. In his leisure time he likes to spend his time travelling, taking photographs, hiking and playing sports.
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.
