About 5C Consulting

As the founder and lead consultant at 5C Consulting, Simon is a personable, energetic and versatile operator with significant business winning and contract delivery experience in defence sales and support. Previous roles as a Business Development Director at Elbit Systems UK and senior BD management roles in both Drumgrange and BAE Systems summarise a 14 Year grounding in the Defence Industry prior to starting 5C.

Building on a 17 Year career as an Army Officer (Royal Engineers) with an established record in equipment programme management within the UK Ministry of Defence and operational service on the front line, he ensures 5C delivers first class delivery across the consulting, digital twinning and product delivery strands. His military Subject Matter Expertise sees him continue to work within the Army’s Land Warfare Centre where his military engineering, infrastructure and manoeuvre support expertise are used in the delivery of Force Optimisation and Experimentation work and training support as part of the Army’s Urban Centre. His Army career also afforded him a Masters Degree in Defence Technology.

Supported by Issi and their 3 children, in his down time, he likes nothing better than to be playing Cricket or entertain at his beloved Lords Cricket ground. His golf is improving slowly through his membership of FORE Business. He is a MAMIL.

As the 5C Consulting Operations and Programme Manager, Ryan brings with him a wealth of experience from the Education and Blue Light sectors in Project and Change Management. A career that started as a Tin Smith apprentice at Morgan Motor Company, Ryan was exposed to valuable manufacturing processes and Engineering practices from an early age. He moved to the FE Education Sector to pass on these Engineering skills to the next generation of apprentices. This developed into Project Management work and alongside this, he achieved a 1st Class Honors degree in Business, Strategy and Management as well as Prince2, APM PMQ and APMG Change Management Practitioner qualifications.

Ryan joined us from the Counter Terrorism Police South East (CTPSE) as their Business Change Project Manager, successfully implementing both national and regional projects helping to keep UK residents safe. Ryan now brings Operations management into his skills portfolio as he oversees the launch of the 5C Product hub and the move of the business to a wider sales remit alongside the core consulting, digital twinning & infrastructure programme delivery.

At home, Ryan is well supported by Alison, who is currently training as a Learning Disabilities Nurse. Their 2 children are currently at primary school. Ryan is into running, cycling and football. Another MAMIL, he has been a village Parish Councillor for the past 8 years.

As the 5C Office Manager, Kelly brings a wealth of experience with nearly 20 years of working as an Executive Assistant (EA) and Personal Assistant (PA) at C-Suite and Director level, spanning various industries including financial services, media, and horseracing! Her career has seen her supporting small businesses to FTSE 100 companies, showcasing her versatility and expertise. In the summer of 2021, Kelly established her own business. Since then, she has been offering freelance business support, either on an ongoing basis or for specific short-term projects. This experience has honed her skills in adaptability and delivering high-quality support tailored to the needs of her clients.

Kelly supports Simon and Ryan with all administrative aspects of the business, keeping projects on track and freeing up their time to focus on core business tasks.

Kelly lives in the Cotswolds where her two children attend the local village primary school. Kelly enjoys walking, reading and going to the gym.

Steve is the business Strategic Growth & Marketing Specialist for the UK & Overseas Markets outside of the military. As one of our Non-Veterans, Steve brings a wider security and technology perspective to the team. He has been involved in the technology lifecycle supply industry for 20+ years. Data security is at the core of everything he works on and is still invested in cyber security, as well as procurement and strategic partnerships across the technology industry.

His contacts include C level executives at major system integrators, value added resellers and tech distribution here in the UK and abroad with contacts in the ME region, US, and Canada. He is a keen mountain man after living in Chamonix for 5 years and is passionate for the environment.

Guy ‘Norm’ Bates is an associate consultant for 5C’s who has an extensive background in Joint Fires, ISTAR/ISR, Capability Development and Training Delivery. Formally of the Rifles Regiment, Guy progressed to become a senior Air Land Integration advisor within 3 Commando Brigade where he spent the latter 6 years of his highly operationally driven military career.

Following a medical discharge due to hearing loss, Guy was quickly offered a position in the Middle East to support specialist military formations in the UAE where he spent 7 years as a Close Air Support/ISTAR Training and Capability Development SME, concurrently earning his Masters degree in Intelligence and Security.

On his return to the UK, Guy has worked in the Defence Sector initially developing simulators for the MoD and subsequent T3 training delivery, and later as Sales and Business Development Manager in Tactical IT and Communications. He is now the Managing Director of his own company Fulcrum Defence Services, offering consultancy services and the design and manufacture of niche, high quality carriage solutions focussing on end user operability. Guy is proud to be supporting 5C’s in their expansion and offers the team his extensive knowledge and experience in military operations and Business Development services. A dedicated family man settled in South Wales Guy fills what spare time he has in the hills and mountains with his beloved dog Ruben.

Kevin is the business Digital Twinning and Extended Reality (XR) Technical Lead and a Business Development Specialist within the digital twin and VR, AR, AI and CV domains.

Kevin is another veteran, having spent 22 years in the Royal Air Force as an Aircraft Engineer. He brings much of this technical expertise to the field of digital twinning, where he has been influential in building the 3D capture, modelling and ‘Digital Twinning as a Service’ element of the 5C portfolio and he was instrumental in the first big contract award for this side of the business.

Kevin also runs his own business Concept XR and in his spare time is an ambassador for FORE Business and a Whiskey Brand Ambassador for a leading Whiskey Distillery.

As one of the Directors at 5C Consulting, Issi uses her legal background as a trained Solicitor to good effect in the delivery of her role as Company Secretary and Legal Advisor (LEGAD).

Isabel qualified as a Solicitor in 2000, initially working for city firm. A 17-year career as a litigation specialist working across a number of companies and business areas from Commercial Property Law to Head and Brain Injuries. She has supported the business on a part time basis since its formation in early 2020. Taking 2 career breaks in supported of their 3 children, Issi likes running and fitness classes.