Anthias Consulting Celebrates 15 Years Sharing Knowledge & Expertise in Analytical Science

In June 2020, Anthias Consulting celebrates 15 years sharing knowledge and expertise in analytical science worldwide.

Director and Senior Consultant Dr Diane Turner founded the company in 2005 to support laboratory analysts with independent advice, teaching them the knowledge and skills to improve their methods and results.

By working with both the analysts using the instrumentation and the instrument manufacturers, Anthias provides unbiased knowledge and expertise with the aim of 'Bridging the Gap' and enabling analysts to get the most from their analytical systems.

The first scheduled training course to be launched by the company was the Complete GC & GC-MS covering all the practical theory of gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The course, which teaches analysts how to understand each part of the instrumentation and each step of analysis was, and continues to be, very popular, attracting delegates from around the world. This was followed by Hands-on and Comprehensive courses, offering the opportunity to combine the essential theory with practice using the instruments. The range of laboratory-focused courses was further expanded to include advanced sample introduction and sample preparation techniques.

From this well-established training programme, Anthias increasingly received enquiries for their high-quality training courses to cover other analytical techniques. As a result, Anthias has expanded its range of courses significantly in recent years; adding Metabolomics and Chemometrics in 2016, Liquid Chromatography (HPLC, LC-MS) in 2017, Spectroscopy (ICP-OES, ICP-MS) in 2019 and Surface Analysis, Thermal Analysis and Physical & Structural Properties of Molecules in 2020.

The team of consultants has grown to match the increasing range of analytical techniques covered, bringing in-house specialist knowledge and experience to provide a strong practical focus to the training courses. Consultants also offer their expertise through method development, application support, troubleshooting and data analysis.

Anthias has developed a varied client base that includes multi-national corporations, small independent laboratories and academic institutions spanning a range of industries; from food analysis, fragrance, forensics, healthcare, environment and petrochemicals through to agriculture and archaeology – highlighting the significance of analytical science.

Through their consultancy services, Anthias has worked on a variety of applications in government laboratories, industry and research worldwide; from the analysis of contaminants present in UK rivers to testing the safety of drinking water in Kuwait.

The majority of Anthias training courses are approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development, highlighting the high standard of the course content, Anthias was one of the first companies to achieve this.

Anthias' international reach has grown year on year, with consultants travelling extensively to deliver training and consultancy to clients across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and delegates from all over the world regularly attending Anthias courses in the UK.

Anthias Consulting are proud of their partnership with the School of Physical Sciences at The Open University, which provides the main training facility for Anthias practical-based courses. The laboratory is at the cutting edge of research and offers an unrivalled suite of analytical instrumentation spanning multiple disciplines and techniques. To date, Anthias has held over 175 training courses at The Open University.

In recent months, in light of travel restrictions, Anthias has quickly adapted to meet analysts' changing needs by launching virtual classroom courses which have successfully run with great feedback. Through the skills and experience of their trainers, Anthias were able to create a seamless transition to online training, matching the fully interactive experience and focused support that delegates enjoy with face-to-face courses. This has enabled analysts to keep their professional development on track at a time when many are working from home. In addition, consultants have been providing consultancy services remotely, through face-to-face live video, telephone and email support.

The Anthias team will be taking time out to enjoy a virtual celebration of this significant milestone!

Dr Diane Turner, Founder and Director said "I am extremely proud of this significant anniversary and its achievements, both personal and of the whole team past and present who have contributed to reaching this milestone. This current period has been challenging but also rewarding in how quickly our team have adapted with the launch of our online courses, enabling us to continue supporting analysts with their professional development at such a critical time. We would like to thank our valued customers, partners and colleagues for their continued support."

Highlights for the company over the past fifteen years have included:

  • In 2008, Founder Diane Turner was selected as one of three finalists in the Enterprising Women Awards in the category of Innovator/SET (Science, Engineering and Technology).
  • One of the first courses launched in 2007, the Complete GC & GC-MS, was approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry for Continuing Professional Development in 2009.
  • In 2011, 'hands-on' courses were added to the offering in response to delegates' feedback for courses that combine theory with practice.
  • Having provided consultancy services since 2006 and held scheduled courses at The Open University in Milton Keynes since 2007, in 2012 Anthias created a more formal partnership with the then Applied Science and Technology Group (now School of Physical Sciences) providing delegates with access to an unrivalled suite of analytical instrumentation in modern laboratories.
  • In 2012, Anthias worked with the Environment Agency to evaluate the potential of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GCxGC) for the analysis of contaminants present in UK rivers.
  • In June 2014, Anthias ran their first scheduled course in the Middle East, hosted by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi National Rehabilitation Centre in UAE.
  • In 2014, Anthias were among the first companies to have their courses approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development under their new training course approval scheme.
  • In 2014, Founder and Director Diane Turner and former Anthias trainer and consultant Dr Imran Janmohamed, were invited to give a presentation in the Royal Society of Chemistry Theatre at the highly regarded Lab Innovations show. Diane has also presented at Lab Innovations in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
  • In January 2015, Anthias developed methods to test the safety of drinking water in the Middle East.
  • In May 2015, a whitepaper is published on use of hydrogen generators for the analysis of pesticides by GC-ECD.
  • In September 2015, through a project by Recycling Organisation for Research Opportunities (RORO), Anthias consultants Dr Diane Turner and former Anthias consultant Dr Imran Janmohamed worked with The Open University and other organisations to configure and send a Gas Chromatograph Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) to the National University of Mongolia for air pollution analysis.
  • In October 2015, Anthias welcomed Richard Stokes BSc MSc CCHEM FRSC to the team as trainer and consultant, bringing over 20 years' experience in GC-MS and other analytical methodologies largely gained from work within food and environmental contract laboratories.
  • In November 2015, Anthias received certification from WEConnect International in Europe, a non-profit organisation which certifies women owned businesses and connects them with corporations and the public sector who have a demand for diverse and innovative suppliers.
  • In August 2016, Anthias welcomed specialist Dr Simon Thain of TL Science to the Anthias team of consultants to expand Anthias’ range of training courses and consultancy in metabolomics and chemometrics
  • Anthias Consulting is very proud to be a part of an ambitious partnership working with the Royal Society of Chemistry and GSK to increase the analytical chemistry skills across Africa. Anthias developed training material for the programme and in November 2016, former Anthias consultant Dr Imran Janmohamed facilitated at the first GC-MS training course at the University of Lagos in Nigeria. In September 2017, Anthias Consultant Dr Giles Edwards delivered the first training course in liquid chromatography to delegates in Nairobi, Kenya and this course was written by Anthias Consulting. In November 2017, Dr Imran Janmohamed delivered a further GC-MS workshop in Nigeria and In July 2018, Dr Giles Edwards trained scientists at an LC-MS workshop in Kenya.
  • In November 2016, Dr Diane Turner was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, in recognition of her work in the chemical sciences.
  • In March 2017, Anthias won 'Best International Gas Chromatography Training Consultants - UK' in the Global Health & Pharma Magazine 2017 Biotechnology Awards.
  • In July 2017, Anthias expanded their training and consultancy offering to include Liquid Chromatography and welcomed Dr Giles Edwards MChem PhD MRSC, bringing vast experience within the fields of mass spectrometry and the separation sciences.
  • In October 2018, Anthias consultant Richard Stokes was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, in recognition of his work in the chemical sciences.
  • In March 2019, Dr Diane Turner was selected to present four Short Courses at Pittcon, the world’s leading annual conference and exhibition on laboratory science. Dr Diane Turner and Richard Stokes returned to Pittcon in 2020 to deliver further training as part of the Short Courses programme.
  • In July 2019, Dr Diane Turner was elected to serve as President of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Analytical Division Council from July 2020, becoming only the third woman to hold the post since 1875.
  • In July 2019, Anthias joined the Community for Analytical Measurement Science (CAMS), an institute for chemical and bio-analytical measurement science in the UK and Ireland, which provides a focal point for the analytical community to connect and access world-class education and training, research and innovation.
  • Dr Diane Turner and former Anthias Trainer and Consultant Dr Imran Janmohamed worked with fellow experts from academic and industry settings to co-author a book, as a practical reference guide for analysts at all experience levels. 'Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: How Do I Get the Best Results?' was published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in November 2019.
  • In January 2020, Dr Diane Turner, University of Warwick Alumna, was invited to speak at the post-graduate graduation ceremony at University of Warwick’s Faculty of Sciences.
  • In response to the global situation with COVID-19, Anthias launched their Virtual Classroom training courses in March 2020.