Bolton Consultancy Ltd

About Us

Sue Bolton

Sue graduated from Bradford University with a degree in Colour Chemistry and Colour Technology and experience at IWS, doing research into shrink resist wool and at Hoechst in the paints technical services laboratories.   Starting as a "hands on" laboratory technologist in the Marks and Spencer Textile Laboratory, She gained substantial experience in a number of roles across retailer technical management - including areas such as product performance, customer complaints and problem resolution, textile testing and test method development, quality assurance standards and systems, laboratory design, training, and competence management.   Her last role prior to establishing Bolton Consultancy Ltd in 2005, was Product Standards and Safety Manager for all non-food products.

In Bolton Consultancy Ltd, Sue has provided wide ranging technical, compliance and promotional claims consultancy, and delivered extensive training in standards and regulations.  She has undertaken many assignments as a specialist in children’s clothing safety, but also in areas ranging from interim product technologist support for household textiles and lighting, to advising developers of new and novel products, and as an expert witness in product liability cases.

For nearly 30 years Sue has been an active member of BSI, CEN and ISO technical committees, developing standards for textiles. Her interests include safety, chemical testing, flammability, colour fastness and care labeling.   Current and recent roles include:

Sue is a Chartered Colourist and a Fellow of the Society of Dyers and Colourists; with involvement in the society stretching back to service as secretary of the Bradford Student Section, she served as chairman of the Society's Technical Co-ordination Committee and as a trustee of the society for periods up to 2013. Sue was elected Honorary Secretary of the Society 2013 - 2018, and President for 2019-20.   She was awarded the SDC's silver medal for services to the colouration industry in 1992 and the SDC's Gold Medal in 2010.

Sue is also a Member of the Textile Institute, the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) and the British Standards Society.


Dave Bolton

Dave's experience ranges from the project management and marketing of a wide range of technical services and consultancy; through business development, quality and commercial management of proposals and consultancy reports, and the design, specification and development of training materials; to business and HR process analysis, software, website and database development: and includes product safety risk assessment and involvement in a British Standards committee for healthcare devices.

Dave graduated from Bradford University with a degree in Archaeological Sciences and took a Masters in Computing, with specialisations in Embedded Microprocessors and Simulation.

After several years in the Heritage sector doing Archaeological Geophysics he became an Associate of the Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) in 1983.   Joining GEC Avionics as a Software Engineer on a training simulator he moved from technical development work through Project Management, Business Management and customer facing roles culminating in Business Development Manager for GEC Marconi Software Systems, before leaving to follow an MBA programme.

Gaining his MBA Dave joined the Process Engineering and Transportation Safety risk management specialists, Trident Consultants Ltd - to develop their proposals and tendering processes and became Director of Marketing.   Leaving Trident, Dave became an independent consultant supporting a number of IT companies with new products and strategic development prior to joining Rail Training International - the UK training and support subsidiary of CORYS TESS - as General Manager and Company Secretary.   After heading up RTI for four years Dave left to support Sue in Bolton Consultancy Ltd.

In Bolton Consultancy Ltd, along with routine management matters, Dave undertakes research into global compliance requirements, development of client's compliance procedures and manuals, and undertakes detailed risk assessments of specific products.

Dave continues to support the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists; serving as Secretary for the London Area Group (2016-22) and as a board member and Hon Treasurer (2018-24).