
About Us
The Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS) is a UKAS-accredited conformity assessment body, comprised of auditors, certification specialists, and data protection experts. We independently test and certify online and offline systems that check age and identity, such as passport scanners, biometric technology, and age verification software.
Our mission is to protect children from the harm associated with access to age-restricted products, content and services. Safeguarding young people has significant benefits for not just children themselves, but for the community as a whole – so it’s crucial that companies comply with the age restrictions put in place by the government.
We offer a range of services for businesses that need to check identity and age, including Test Purchasing, Age Check Assurance, ID Check Assurance, Age Appropriate Design Certification and GDPR Certification. All our schemes are UKAS-accredited, so you can be sure our audit and certification processes are thorough and effective. They're the ideal way to safeguard young people and ensure your business complies with laws and regulations.
Our Age Appropriate Design Certification Scheme is the first UK GDPR-approved scheme of its kind. Our specialist data consultants have created a robust certification scheme to audit your systems, ensuring they collect, process, and protect children’s data in compliance with the AADC. Our certification will prove to your clients that you take Age Appropriate Design seriously; that your system is compliant, accurate, and suitable for children.
We’ve worked with customers all over the world in a wealth of sectors, bringing our expertise to retailers, age check providers, gambling companies, entertainment providers and more. Find out how we can help your company safeguard young people and stay compliant.
Head Office Team
Test Purchase Crew
Number of Visits Completed
Over
2021
We launched Age Appropriate Design Certification Scheme, the first ICO approved criteria for The ICO Children's Code meaning we can provide UK GDPR approved certification to businesses in scope of AADC. At the same time our GDPR certification for Age and ID check providers also received approval.
2021
We were granted UKAS accredited status as a Conformity Assessment Body, demonstrating our technical competence and the quality of work we deliver for clients
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.


Katharine Walters
Our Head of Policy and Regulation


Katharine Walters

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


Tina Henderson
Head of Operations


Tina Henderson

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.


Abigail Kitchen
Our Business Development Assistant, Abigail is responsible for booking appointments with new and existing clients to speak with the Business Development Managers, keeping social media accounts up to date and helping out with contract administration.


Abigail Kitchen
Our Business Development Assistant, Abigail is responsible for booking appointments with new and existing clients to speak with the Business Development Managers, keeping social media accounts up to date and helping out with contract administration.
Abigail has worked in a lot of bars and clubs around Manchester and Brighton, then became an IST (In Store Trainer) for “the beautiful drinks company” teaching staff how to set up and run a bar smoothly, which gave her insight of retail compliance with underage sales. During her spare time, she likes to listen to music and read a lot of books

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.


Harry Evans
Certification Officer


Harry Evans
Before joining ACCS in January 2022 Harry spent over six years at the Information Commissioner’s Office, first in their complaints management team and latterly as part of their audit team. Over this time, he has developed his knowledge and experience of assessing DPA 18 and UKGDPR compliance. Harry has joined ACCS as a Certification Officer where he will lead on GDPR compliance audits.

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.


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.


Caroline McGahan
Our Data Solutions Specialist, Caroline manages smooth, effective and efficient provision of our data systems and software solutions.


Caroline McGahan
Caroline has worked in Customer Service / Sales and Training for the last 19 years and joined the company back in 2014. Caroline worked as our onsite monitoring certification coordinator until 2021. This last year Caroline took on the role of the Data Solutions Specialist, she now liaises with all members of staff and external contractors to ensure we have the best systems in place to support the business and our clients. She has extensive knowledge of our system architecture allowing her to plan and deploy effective solutions.


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.

Clare Parker
Certification Administration Assistant


Clare Parker
Clare joined ACCS in January 2022 as an Audit Administration Assistant. She has over 14 years administrative experience within varied backgrounds ranging from Charity, Law, Conveyancing, Inspection Engineering and Facilities Management. Clare previously carried out UKAS audits and feels these transferable skills can be helpful in organizing the Auditing team here within the company.

Amy Carden
Our Administration Assistant, Amy, works across our business to support our team of test purchasers to ensure that orders are completed and our customers remain completely satisfied.


Amy Carden


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.


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


Keenan Hughes
Our in-house Software Developer, Keenan graduated from the Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class Honours Degree in Computer Science in 2018.


Keenan Hughes
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