Council and Administration

Mark Cooper, Chair

Mark joined the Institute when he was first trained as an Industrial Engineer in 1984, having completed the Diploma at Manchester and became a Fellow in 2011. Since joining the employ of Scott-Grant in 1990 he has been a committed advocate of productivity tools and techniques whilst supporting numerous clients in many sectors with a variety of projects and training. He has worked with numerous clients from SME’s with a handful of employees to multi-site, blue chip organisations, all having a common goal of improving productivity of their resources.

Mark began his career working in the clothing, footwear and home furnishing industries in 1978, starting in a junior management role within the warehouse function before progressing to a role within the IE department of Dorma – CVHF, before joining Scott-Grant, initially as a project Industrial Engineer assigned to a variety of client based projects.

Throughout the years, he has become known by many productivity and management professionals for his commitment to customer service and supporting the careers of those wishing to advance in the field of productivity and lean.

Ken Gamble, Deputy Chair

Ken has been a member of IMS for 25 years and a Fellow for the last 10.

He is passionately interested in Productivity and Performance Improvement. This is evidenced in his career where he has used his experience and understanding in his positions within the retail sector, eventually moving to the DWP.

In his role with Homes England he assessed Corporate Risk and was involved with drafting the Modern Slavery Policy and various Government registers.

As well as being an IMS Fellow he is also a member of RIP (Risk in Government) and WIG (Whitehall Industry Group) as well as having served as a Parish Council Chair.

In his spare time he has also project managed his own self build.

Dr. Andrew Muir, Director

Andrew joined the institute in 1972, became a corporate member in 1976 and was elected to Council in 1990. He served on Council as Deputy Chairman and Treasurer up until he stepped down in 1999 due to a family illness. He is a past winner of the IMS Gold Medal Award and the institute’s award for outstanding service to the membership.

He began his career in 1962 as an engineering apprentice at HM Dockyard Rosyth, and transferred into analytical estimating in 1967. In 1968 he moved into local government work study and had a progressive career with various authorities until he retired in 2002 as lead officer for corporate best value. He now occasionally undertakes consultancy work and plays golf.

Andrew has a DMS, an MBA and was awarded a DBA from the University of Abertay for his research into performance management. He has published numerous papers and received several awards for his academic work including the Napier Medal. He was elected a Fellow of the World Academy of Productivity Science in 1999.

Richard Taylor, Director

Richard has been directly involved in or responsible for productivity for much of his working life.

After higher education in engineering, civil engineering and business he worked in manufacturing and international civil engineering in roles including Work Study Officer, Methods Engineer, Industrial Engineering Manager, Planning Manager and Works Manager. His focus on manufacturing continued in General Manager and Director positions.

Having joined Scott-Grant as Regional Operations Manager, he was appointed Managing Director in 1991 by the PLC, before leading a buyout with colleagues in 1996. He has operational involvement in delivering productivity and performance improvement across all business sectors, working with customers from almost 50 countries. Scott-Grant Ltd is also a long standing productivity trainer providing IMS-approved training across all sectors.

Chris Elkington, Director

Chris joined the Institute in 1971 whilst working at Lindsey County Council in Lincolnshire. He was appointed Deputy Work Study Officer for Glanford Borough Council in 1974 and then joined the Work Study team at Severn-Trent Water Authority. He became a Fellow of the Institute in 1983.

In 1985 he was appointed as Chief Executive of a consortium of local authorities, a position he held until he retired, due to ill-health, in 2011. Following recovery, he undertook a series of commissions including acting as Independent Standards Committee member for two local authorities, investigating complaints against elected members.

He is a Trustee and current Chairman of Head and Neck Cancer UK (HANCUK); and a patient expert on NHS and NICE Head and Neck committees involved in the analysis of the considerations of using new Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer patients.

He is an avid supporter of Lincoln City Football Club, golfer and skier.

Stephen Percival, Director

In 1987 whilst working as an apprentice engineer at an electrical component manufacturer in Stockport, Stephen was offered the position of work study analyst as part of a busy work study department.

Since the practical training at John Evans in Birmingham and subsequent IMS diploma course at Manchester Polytechnic Stephen has held many positions in various companies throughout the UK. Early career roles required the practical application of time study to set standard times, batch production design and warehouse layout.

In the late nineties Stephen was offered a position with John Lewis and the thread of industrial engineering continued, primarily in the Distribution Centres (DCs). Stephen went on to manage teams within John Lewis and be an integral part of new automated DC designs working closely with Knapp. He then joined ASOS where DC efficiency was also key. Stephen was a lead on productivity improvement programmes working with Unipart who managed the online business.

Since his time at ASOS Stephen has been both self-employed and enjoyed leadership positions working for DHL Supply Chain and Sealed Aur. This has included leading on training programmes in lean and Six Sigma throughout Europe. Following a brief time with Unipart consultancy Stephen now has a senior position with Scott-Grant Ltd. and is excited to be able to apply his considerable experience to support the business.

Tracy Cuthbertson, Director

Tracy has a deep-rooted commitment to productivity and operational excellence, joining the Institute in 1992 as a member and advancing to a Council management position in 2024. With a career spanning over three decades, Tracy has held leadership roles in a diverse range of sectors, from industrial engineering and logistics to public sector governance and community-focused projects. Her client-focused approach and expertise in Work study and applying Lean methodologies have driven impactful changes in operational processes and improved client outcomes.

Beginning her career in manufacturing, Tracy developed foundational expertise in process optimisation and continuous improvement, which she has applied in multiple industries. Her background includes significant tenures with firms like Suez R&R UK Ltd, where she led projects that reduced client costs significantly while boosting profitability. Tracy’s strong track record in managing large teams, implementing ISO standards, and overseeing complex H&S initiatives reflects her hands-on, people-centric leadership style.

Beyond her professional roles, Tracy is an active community leader, currently chairing several charitable and educational boards. She founded the WaterWell Foundation CIC, a charitable organisation that has positively impacted over 3,000 community members. In addition, Tracy has been instrumental in enhancing educational standards, holding Headteachers to account and led on initiatives that elevated positive school inspection outcomes.

Her commitment to productivity, safety, and the development of innovative solutions is evident across her work, and she continues to mentor emerging professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in her field.

IMS Administrators

The Cygnul Administration Team consisting of Kirstie, Eleanor, and Rachel took over in October 2021 at the request of the Council. We enjoy working with current and new members with all their queries.