April 2008: Lisa Richardson Clocks up 20 Years!

Back in April 1988 Lisa Hall, as she was then, joined Michael Ranken Services which at the time comprised Michael Ranken, Lindsay Hill, Susan Ellis and Lisa herself. Just the four of them.
It was a small firm operating in Union Street, Luton with two rooms at the far end of a converted engineering works. Michael had moved his lab there a few years before to continue the work he was doing for Spar (UK) and one or two other, smaller clients.

Lisa still remembers her first week, she was allowed to measure Spar biscuits and count sheets of Spar toilet roll!

I remember Lisa from those very early days because I joined the team not long after, in September of the same year. I remember her then, as she is now, as a bubbly person, great fun to have in the lab but at the same time extremely conscientious about the work she was doing and always thinking about the good of the firm.

Over the intervening years Michael Ranken Services became Micron Laboratories and then Micron2 and Lisa has been present throughout. When the lab was sold in 2001 we had over 30 staff: some growth from the original 4.
During that time Lisa had set up our Microbiological department and became its manager, achieving UKAS accreditation for it shortly after we moved to its final home in Ramridge Rd, Luton.

Today Lisa is our Consultancy Manager, spending most of her time looking after specifications, labels and doing taste panel work for Spar. She also helps with similar work for The National Trust, Mediterranean Growers and occasionally the Co-op. All speak equally highly of her. As a busy mum she works from home as is able to fit this exacting work in around the equally exacting demands of two growing children!

She says "During my 20 years at Micron I have enjoyed myself in my work, no two days have ever been the same. I have made very good long standing friendships with current & previous staff and clients. I have learnt so many skills, from testing to tasting anything! - and lots more in-between. Micron is an amazing company to work for & has a number of staff with long service, even the staff that have left - come back eventually!"

To express their gratitude at such long and dedicated service, Spar recently presented her with these flowers.

October 2007: David Prior: 10 years with Micron2

It was with the greatest pleasure that we celebrated 10 years service from David last October. It seems like only yesterday that I first met David after he had written to me offering his services as an auditor, with all his experience as a senior EHO. In addition to his obvious qualifications and experience, David was such a likeable person that we immediately hit it off and I was very pleased then when he came on board as a part timer. However he very quickly demonstrated that both his character and his commitment were a great asset to us and soon he was working as a full time Micron2 employee.

David is now General (& Technical) Manager of all our Auditing work and has been a crucial part in making Micron2 what it is today.

Thanks for everything David.

Ron Kill