The eTrade Advisory Group
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The eTrade Advisory Group Team

Our expert team are here to guide you in achieving your objectives

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Clive Brady

Managing Partner

Clive is an experienced Indirect Tax professional with a demonstrated history of working in the logistics and supply chain industry.

Specialising in the taxes of VAT, Customs and Excise, Clive has a proven track record of providing sound technical guidance within the Customs and Excise arena and on all HMRC related matters.  Clive has also lead many companies through the HMRC Customs and Excise Special Procedures applications from start to finish. 

Clive is experienced in delivering Customs and Excise regimes awareness training and obtaining AEO accredited status and re-accreditation.  

Clive is the current Chairman of The BWA, appointed in July 2018.

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Mark Rowbotham
MA FCILT

Senior Partner

Mark is an Independent Consultant, Trainer and writer in Customs and Excise issues, and has spent a considerable length of time working in both the Government, Commercial and Academic sectors. He deals primarily with Compliance, Control and Procedural issues in Customs, Excise and VAT.

He was originally an Officer in HM Customs & Excise, dealing with Import and Export Controls over Maritime Freight traffic into and out of UK Ports, and became an independent consultant and trainer in the late 1990s. His experience in HMC&E covered extensive Excise controls, dealing with export and import consignments of whisky, liqueurs, beer and tobacco.  

Mark has written extensively on the subjects of Customs, Excise, International Supply Chain and Marine Compliance issues for a wide variety of International Trade and Logistics publications and journals.  Mark is in the process of publishing a book on freeports and free zones.  He also advises several Chambers of Commerce on Customs and International Trade issues, frequently delivering advice, Training Courses and Seminars on these subjects.

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Simon Phelps

IT Partner

Simon manages the IT side of The eTrade Advisory Group, and is a an experienced software developer and solutions architect.  He likes to put technology to work for the best effect, especially with automation and resource efficiency.

Simon started his career at Logica and CGI, where he has undertaken software development and support roles.  Over the years, he’s been involved with many projects and worked closely with clients such as Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the MET Office, Department for International Development (DfID) and the Ministry of Defence.

Simon has since been working more independently, and producing software solutions under his own companies.  He has been responsible the creation of software in use by some of the UKs leading insurance and financial institutions, such as Axa, Gallagher, and also by local government.

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Graham Sheen
MILT MInstAM

Partner and Company Secretary

Graham is the Bonded Warehousekeepers Association (BWA) Company Secretary. A role that he has held since May 2019.

His BWA role is to facilitate the day-to-day running of The BWA’s events, webinars, meetings, online presence, member recruitment, retention and relationship building with HMRC, IoE and NBCC.

Graham also constructed one unit for the BWA’s new L3 Excise qualification.

Graham has a strong background within the logistics and warehousing profession, and is very well connected within the warehousing and supply chain sectors. He has worked for The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport for the past 10 years, holding roles in warehouse, supply chain, benchmarking and business development.

Graham’s previous experience includes work with Her Majesty’s Prison Service (via The Ministry of Justice) and The Chartered Management Institute.

Graham is also an award winning artist specialising in cutting edge mixed media pieces.

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Catherine Thomson

Senior Consultant

Catherine is an Independent Consultant on Customs and Excise issues.

She worked for HMRC for 24 years covering VAT, International trade and Excise over this period but latterly specialised in Compliance and control of Excise businesses dealing in alcohol. 

While at HMRC Catherine delivered training to other HMRC officers both in the UK and overseas.

Catherine then worked for Whyte & Mackay for 17 years as Customs & Excise Manager responsible for compliance of 5 distilleries, bottling facilities and warehouses.

She has been a member of the BWA committee for 13 years serving as Chairman in 2012-14 and has also been a member of the SWA Customs committee.

She has completed the Institute of Taxation Excise legal and Technical training exam with HMRC and also BIFA BTEC Intermediate Award in Customs Export and Import Procedures.

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Andrew Watts

Consultant

Andrew joined HMRC in 1986 after 8 years in the Merchant Navy as a navigating Officer. He has had a broad experience in Customs including VAT, Investigation, Training Manager, and latterly in the Computer Audit Unit auditing International Trade computer systems.

In 1998 he left HMRC to join e-customs and help develop the e-customs software system. This became a sophisticated web-based product covering all aspects of electronic customs processes. His roles included specifying software requirements;; testing; customer support and sale of the software to an ever increasing  set of customers. In 2015 e-customs was acquired by Descartes.

In 2023 he made the decision to retire from Descartes, to develop an independent Consultancy role targeted at training and software awareness for Excise and Customs traders. His strengths are in the EMCS, Export, and Import declaration requirements, and particularly his knowledge of the e-customs software.

In his free time Andrew can be found on his bike in the New Forest or out sailing in his wooden Solo dinghy.