Sir Julian Young
Chair of the Board
Air Marshal (Retired) Sir Julian Young KBE CB FREng is SQEP’s Chair of the Board. Sir Julian joined SQEP following a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force (RAF), which culminated in him holding the roles of Director General Air at Defence Equipment & Support and the RAF’s Chief Engineer for 4½ years.
Sir Julian is a keen advocate for enhancing the engineering profession, graduate and technician education and more effective project delivery. He was the President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 2021-22, and has chaired several related committees. Drawing on this wealth of knowledge and expertise, he is committed to developing SQEP’s future business plans and enhancing its underpinning professional talent.
Paul Mayo
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
A former Royal Air Force Engineering Officer, Paul has specialised in complex systems safety for more than 20 years and has held board-level positions, with overall responsibility for technical governance, assurance and competence, since 2010.
Paul founded SQEP in 2014, with the single aim of providing uniquely capable expertise, to the delivery of capability and protection, for those who put themselves in harm’s way on the front line.
Paul has a Bachelors Degree in Aeromechanical Systems Engineering from Cranfield University and a Masters Degree in Safety Critical Systems Engineering from the University of York. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Safety and Reliability Society.
In addition to his work at SQEP, Paul is the Wiltshire County Chairman for the Royal British Legion, providing support to 47 branches across the County and he worked as a Volunteer Vaccinator during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been a previous Chairman of the Safety and Reliability Society and a Foundation Governor for 2 primary schools. He enjoys learning new skills, giving back and supporting others.
Jim Mateer
System Safety Director
Jim is SQEP’s Systems Safety Director and a former Royal Air Force Engineering Officer with a background in the hazardous fast jet and weapons environment.
His Masters Degree in Safety Critical Systems Engineering culminated with his presenting research into the classification and assessment of Safety Related Information Systems. For over 15 years he has specialised in safety and airworthiness engineering, management and independent audit and evaluation, within a number of diverse domains including fixed and rotary wing aviation, weapons, ISTAR, autonomy, protective clothing, hydrogen fuel cells, armoured vehicles and software.
During his time with a global electronics manufacturer, Jim specialised in product and functional safety, compliance to EU legislation and CE Marking. Recently Jim provided Independent Safety Auditing services for the UK Ministry of Defence’s suite of future armoured fighting vehicles and has been supporting a global aviation manufacturer to improve its management of airworthiness.
Jim is also adept at the construction and delivery of safety training courses, providing courses on functional safety, risk identification and assessment, safety management, and specialist risk management training.
Ross Richards
Airworthiness and Certification Director
Ross is SQEP’s Airworthiness and Certification Director. Ross’ extensive experience is a culmination of 23 years of service with the RAF as a Senior AeroSystems Engineering Officer and as a senior engineer and programme manager in the Defence Industry.
Within the RAF Ross gained considerable front line experience which was focused on delivering operational capability to every corner of the World. The pinnacle of Ross’ service career, saw him promoted to Group Captain and accepting the role, within DE&S, as the Type Airworthiness Authority and Platform Delivery Team Leader for the Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopter. During this time he not only supported the heavily committed operational fleet but also delivered, into service, additional capability through major modifications to the in-service fleet as well as delivering new build aircraft to expand the fleet.
Ross has a wealth of experience and expertise of establishing, managing and sustaining airworthiness of military aircraft. After leaving the RAF, Ross was Chief Engineer and then Programme Director for a UK-based aerospace and defence engineering and manufacturing company, which is a subsidiary of a global defence contractor. This role broadened his knowledge and experience working across the Air and Land domains.
Sarah Mayo
Finance Director
Sarah is a Management Accountant with previous experience working in banking, accountancy practices and for W H Smith. She has more than 15 years’ experience with Sage accounting software and experience of operating as a freelancer supporting a number of local businesses in and around her hometown.
Sarah lies at the heart of SQEP having been part of its formation in 2014, setting up and running the accountancy side of the business, ensuring that it was scalable from start-up to present size. Sarah has played a pivotal role in moving the business from wholly associate based to mainly employee based, handling the implementation of salary payments, pensions and all the other employee benefits.
The spouse of a former serviceman, Sarah understands first-hand the unique pressures felt by the Armed Forces community and, therefore, by many who work at SQEP. Consequently she fully recognises SQEP’s mission, to support the delivery of capability and protection to the front line.
Outside of work, Sarah organises her local Poppy Appeal. Since taking over in 2009, she has counted, weighed and banked almost £200,000.00 (mainly in small change!) for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
Gez Ellis
Business Manager
Gez Ellis is SQEP’s Business Manager. He brings with him a wealth of experience gained from 40 years of RAF service, working on multiple aircraft types including Wessex, Gazelle, Puma, Chinook, Merlin, C130 and Islander. From joining as an apprentice, Gez worked his way up the ranks and finished his career as a Specialist Engineer. Whilst serving, Gez made the most of opportunities to travel and has worked with the US Air Force and NATO in various locations around the world.
When Gez is not busy running operations at SQEP HQ, he takes great pleasure in both riding and restoring motorbikes. His current steed is a Harley Davidson brought back from the USA and he is in the process of restoring a BMW.
Nick Howard
Business Operations Director
Nick is SQEP’s Director of Business Operations. He spent over 28 years in the Royal Air Force as a Senior Communications Electronics Engineer Officer with tours including: front line support to fast jets, Satellite Communications, Air Defence and Deployable Communications and IT.
He has worked extensively in joint environments both in the UK and on operational deployments abroad as well as several key tours in defence procurement both as an MoD equipment sponsor and senior requirements team leader. Since leaving the RAF in 2015, Nick has worked as a Management Consultant before moving into Business Development where he ran the key account for Defence Digital, helping to secure significant contracts.
He then moved onto the Defence Intelligence sector, again helping to secure large contracts within Defence Digital.
Drawing on his military and private sector experience, coupled with an MBA Nick provides both strategic planning and practical support to the SQEP board as well as being the company business capture lead.
Jonny Priest
Commercial Director
Jonny is a former Royal Air Force Officer who spent his 23-year military career operating in and leading teams on the front line of operations around the world. Working in national and international bodies under stressful military conditions sparked his interest in how to build and manage high performing teams that can adapt to ever changing circumstances.
Having left the military in 2012 Jonny has spent ten years working in companies at Board level. Filling business operational roles, he has a passion for small to medium size businesses that provide the services the customer really needs while providing the employee base with a fulfilling working environment that allows them to grow personally alongside the company they work in.
Jonny has a reputation for problem solving and enjoys working with customers to find bespoke innovative and affordable solutions that can be scaled to meet their individual needs. He has joined SQEP at a time of great opportunity keen to help the company grow and enhance its superb brand to an even wider customer base, while maintaining the focus on the culture, values and ethos of the company for its employees.
Gillie Wooldridge
Office Manager
Gillie is SQEP’s Office Manager and the lead for PR, marketing, internal processes and quality management as well as supporting the leadership team in the day to day administration of the company.
Gillie has a background in army aviation engineering, having served 14 years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. During this time she worked on Gazelle, Lynx and Apache aircraft. Upon leaving the services she sojourned away from engineering and defence, retraining instead as an Occupational Therapist, before taking a career break to concentrate on her young family full time. Now back within the defence engineering fold she is passionate about ensuring that the core values that set SQEP apart: being Human-centred, Ethical, and Honourable, remain firmly at the heart of the company as it grows.
In her spare(?!) time, Gillie is a Scout leader and also enjoys open water swimming, trail running and mountain biking.