Regional law firm Ashfords, which has an office in Bristol, has launched a service to give top-level advice on safety, food, environment and trading standards.
The regulatory consultancy will support clients by aiming to achieve significant cost savings, bolster their brand and improve efficiencies. It will set up and enhance their policies to ensure that their businesses are not only compliant, but operate with efficiency. 
The regulatory consultancy will be jointly headed by Ashfords’ Bristol-based business risk and regulation partner Richard Voke, pictured, and health, safety, environment and quality (HSEQ ) director Robert Belton, who joined the firm in May after working for Sainsbury’s for 17 years, most recently as policy and regulatory manager HSEQ.
Also in the team is Ellen Morgan, who has joined Ashfords’ Bristol office after spending 11 years at B&Q as risk manager responsible for its trading standards, health and safety and fire matters.
The three will be supported by more than 30 specialist consultants based across the UK.
The new business venture will provide a wide range of services including:
• The implementation of management systems for food safety, health and safety, environment, fire and trading standards
• Liaison and representation with regulators on a proactive and reactive basis.
• Accident reporting, investigation leadership and future accident avoidance.
• Fire engineering, training, auditing and risk assessment.
• Emergency planning and crisis management including food poisoning incidents, product safety recalls and serious injuries.
Ashfords partner and joint CEO Mark Jury said: “We are delighted to welcome Robert and Ellen and to launch the regulatory consultancy which sees us continuing to broaden and strengthen our service offering.
“We listen to our clients and this is a direct response to client appetite for a comprehensive set of services that can be delivered more cost effectively and seamlessly from a single provider. This is the first of a number of areas where we will be expanding into new services and products that complement the core legal disciplines at which we already excel.”
