

About Us
The Age Check Certification Scheme is an independent 3rd party certification scheme for providers of age restricted goods, content or services. We test that age check systems work. The scheme can be utilised to provide full conformity assessment in accordance with all aspects of age restricted sales. Our scheme, backed by the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, have developed an award-winning Android & iOS App, deployed to 18/19 year old test purchasers throughout all of the UK postcode areas – enabling us to offer a fully configurable test purchasing service for our clients.
We've built a state-of-the-art Age Check Test Studio where we can scientifically examine age check systems and equipment in different environments and using hundreds of presentation attack instruments to ensure that all appropriate anti-spoofing controls are in place. We've also developed a specialist Age Appropriate Design and GDPR Certification Scheme designed specifically for those providing age restricted goods, content and services.
Head Office Team
Test Purchase Crew
Number of Visits Completed
Over
2020
We opened our Age Check Testing Studio enabling us to examine all types of age check systems, equipment, devices and ID cards.
2019
We secured investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to help us grow a worldwide certification team and bring high tech jobs and growth to the North
2018
We launched the beta version of our state-of-the-art test purchasing app on the Android and iOS app stores. This app enables our test purchasers to manage their day-to-day activity in a geocoded secure and live process.
2017
We gained our accreditation as a Highfield Qualifications Awarding Centre as we switched from EdExcel, providing new training opportunities, new workbooks and improved services for our learners
2014
We started our first major partnership programme of activity aiming to reduce the number of legitimate retailers that were at risk of selling tobacco to children
2011
We kicked the whole thing off...

Tony Allen
Our Founder and Chief Executive is an expert in age restricted sales, law and practice over 25 years.


Tony Allen
Tony is a Chartered Trading Standards Practitioner with over 25 years of experience in age restricted sales, law and practice. He is Co-Chair of the UK Government's Expert Panel on Age Restrictions and Vice-Chair of Digital Policy Alliance Internet Safety and Policy Group.
He is author of the Law of Age Restricted Sales in England and Wales, now in its 2nd Edition. He is an approved trainer for Highfield Qualifications.


Nick Bate
Our Non-Executive Chairman has a background in advanced information technology across the Data, Communications, Software and Financial Services sectors.


Nick Bate
An experienced Investor, Chairman and NED of a portfolio of listed, private equity-backed and private organisations across the Data, Communications, Software and Financial Services sectors - helping to plan and deliver growth agendas. During the past 12 years my companies have generated exit proceeds of over £330m.
Specialties: My specialty focus has been in the IT software sector over the past 25 years, having also previously held financial lead roles within the manufacturing sector.


John Cassin
Our Senior Certification Officer leads our team of audit, testing and certification specialists.


John Cassin
As our Senior Certification Officer, John has 22 years experience working in trading standards and has been with us for over 10 years. He now leads our team of Certification Officers and uses his extensive knowledge of age restricted sales law, enforcement, test purchasing and auditing to ensure the smooth, effective and efficient audit and certification of our clients.


Danielle Bradbury
Our Company Secretary and Finance Manager is responsible for the smooth running of our head office and providing business support to our whole team.


Danielle Bradbury


Caroline McGahan
Our Onsite Monitoring Coordinator, Caroline is responsible for managing our team of test purchasers and auditors, managing our state-of-the-art app and our e-cert management system.


Caroline McGahan


Darren Hughen
One of our Certification Officers, Darren leads audits, certification visits and is particularly involved in helping our new clients onboard with us.


Darren Hughen
Darren joined our team in June 2019 and brings with him a wealth of Trading Standards experience where he successfully worked on a number of complex and large scale investigations. Darren also has an abundance of experience in working with children both as a Primary School PE teacher and also in a voluntary capacity as an FA qualified coach. His experience and professionalism in both these differing backgrounds drives his enthusiasm in promoting a healthy bright future for the wellbeing of children and young people of the world.


Isavella Chrysanthou
Our Data Scientist, Isavella ensures that our customers all receive clear, accurate and timely insights to their results, also ensuring robust scientific approaches to our testing protocols


Isavella Chrysanthou
Isavella Chrysanthou is a data scientist born and raised in Cyprus. From a young age, she has been fascinated with technology, including software engineering and gaming, which lead her to study computer science. While studying computer science she developed an interest in data mining, and so she decided to apply for master’s in data science. During her time in ACCS company, she has been able to apply her skills in data mining to uncover interesting information such as using data from visits that test people carry out and visualising them.


Maria Luiza Gabardo
Our Digital Marketing Executive, Maria Luiza (Malu) is responsible for our corporate communications, website, social media and artwork


Maria Luiza Gabardo
Maria Luiza is a proactive professional with over five years of experience in Digital Marketing and Communications in different countries around the world, including Latin America. Malu joined the team in 2020 seeking to reach new levels of visibility and engagement on Social Media platforms and achievement of stakeholders loyalty. Enthusiastic, ambitious and hard-working, with a creative approach to new challenges and an in-depth knowledge of the arts, she has a genuine passion for the creative industry and its audiences.


Rebecca Burgess
One of our Customer Care & Fulfilment Assistants, Becky works across our business support team to ensure that orders are completed and our customers remain completely satisfied


Rebecca Burgess
Rebecca joined Age Check in 2020, after deciding to return to work from raising her four children and completing her degree. She has had over nine years investing in her children at home whilst on the side carrying out Mystery Shopping assignments. The company’s values and what we strive to achieve is one of the reasons she accepted the job. With having children it is important to her to protect the future generation, so working for a company where her work is valuable and worthwhile is crucial.

Victoria Gale
One of our Certification Officers, Victoria works particularly on our Partner Programmes for test purchasing and compliance audit activity over longer term projects


Victoria Gale
Victoria worked in Trading Standards from 2006 until 2014 at Cheshire West and Chester Council and Vale of Glamorgan Council respectively. She dealt with all aspects of Trading Standards including the enforcement of underage sales legislation, with a specific remit for all tobacco related matter. She started working for ACCS in 2014 and part of her remit as a Certification Officer is to conduct audits of retail premises where she helps and supports retailers to ensure compliance with underage sales legislation.

Nicola Elkin
One of our Certification Officers, Nicola leads on our audit, testing and certification activity in Asia & Australasia regions and our work engaging with governments around the world.


Nicola Elkin
Nicola has over fourteen years experience in Age Restricted Sales, Law and Investigations. She obtained a Degree in Consumer Protection Law at Manchester University and learnt her craft in local government working in Trading Standards. Working her way through the ranks, she ultimately lead a team of officers in the Commercial Conduct team and was Lead Officer for Underage Sales. Her passion for travel led her to Australia where she heads the Asia and Australasian office for ACCS.


Cristina Durigu
Our Data Protection Certification Officer, Cristina works ensuring a minimal data footprint, protecting the integrity of the data systems and ensuring the robustness of the algorithms and engines used to provide age check results.


Cristina Durigu
Previously, Cristina worked as a Information Security Risk Assessor in IBM with more than 10 years experience in Data Security and Privacy techniques, framework, processes and procedures. She also worked in Procter and Gamble as a Process Manager for Travel expense accounting team. Among her previous roles, she was also a Customer Data Quality Specialist and a Stock exchange listing advisor for a big public company in Romania.
She considers that processes can be improved, and that building strong relationships is the best way to succeed in life and in career. She is passionate about digital transformation and ways to automate different tasks and job-related activities.


Obi Udanoh
Our Business Development Manager is responsible for customer acquisition, improving and growing the business, by fostering and developing relationships with customers, suppliers and other partners.


Obi Udanoh
Having lived in four different countries, Obi Udanoh brings an understanding of global cultures to his role as Business Development Manager.
He has worked across various sectors; from clients in natural resources to companies securing contracts to deliver remanufactured and recycled products in the West African region.
At ACCS, He is responsible for customer acquisition, accounts management and developing our commercial opportunities. He enjoys networking and building relationships which provide solutions that help clients improve their businesses and succeed.”


Kevin Darby
Our Business Development Manager for the Licensed Retail and Hospitality Sector, Kevin has spent the last 19 years in sales and business development.


Kevin Darby
Kevin Darby was brought up in Pubs then served in the Army as a Military Policeman. He also was an officer in Greater Manchester Police. This has given him great insight into the importance of compliance and enforcement in this sector. During his spare time, he walks with his dog and try to play golf.


Rhianne Kiddle
Our Project Administration Assistant, Rhianne, is responsible for carrying out administrative duties by collecting data, sorting, filing and sending out project files to the right personnel, workers, and stakeholders.


Rhianne Kiddle


Lola Fittes
Our Audit Administration Assistant, Lola, works mainly on Test Purchasing projects, getting the jobs done, report drafting, e-cert and Umbraco.


Lola Fittes
Lola graduated from Birkbeck College with a BA in Management with Japanese in 2018. Her first job on the career ladder was administration in the finance sector. Starting at ACCS in August, has given her greater insight into the importance of administrative duties. She focuses on the deployment and tracking of premise visits and producing reports for our clients on their compliance with current legislation. Lola has worked with young people, both as a tutor and mentor. The work we do here at ACCS has allowed her to ensure the protection of young people.

Our Values

Leadership
Having the courage to shape the world we operate in for the good of children and young people

Competence
Being brilliant at what we do and a font of knowledge about age check laws and best practice

Integrity
Acting honestly, impartially and inspiring the confidence of others

Inclusivity
Fostering a safe space where people can thrive and develop to be their very best