Meet the People
Powering Our Success
Get to know the talented individuals who make our company thrive.
At ABS Solutions, we understand that our people are the heart and soul of our business. They are the driving force behind our innovation, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence. That's why we go above and beyond to foster a supportive, inclusive, and rewarding work environment where every team member feels valued, appreciated, and empowered to reach their full potential. We believe that when our people thrive, our business thrives, and this philosophy is reflected in our comprehensive benefits package, ongoing professional development opportunities, and company culture that celebrates collaboration, diversity, and individual achievement.
Phil Preston
Senior Partner and Managing Director
Here from day dot, Phillip is our Senior Partner and Managing Director at ABS. With years of industry experience in commercial contracts, previously working for large UK-based support service suppliers, Phillip has a wealth of knowledge in a vast range of sectors. Throughout his years of work, it was the realisation of cost-cutting exercise that led Phillip to believe there was room in the market for a commercial solutions provider to offer interim support for large-scale projects.
Today, he heads up operations at ABS, now an ever-evolving company, committed to delivering customer-focused solutions and professional project management. Phillip is hardworking and honest, and proud to lead a team of qualified and skilled individuals who each contribute to the trusted reputation of ABS’ commercial solutions. From commercial contracts and audits, through to recruitment and dispute resolution, Phillip’s extensive expertise elevates the professionalism and delivery of all work carried out by the team at ABS.
Matt Seeley
Recruitment Director
Highly accomplished with a proven track record of connecting good people with great business, Matt is an experienced professional, responsible for recruitment at ABS.
Matt demonstrates knowledge and expertise in specialist industry recruitment and over the years, has worked with some of the UK’s leading commercial recruitment companies.
Having previously owned his own recruitment agency, Matt’s portfolio showcases his ability to work on large national scale projects, seeking out skilled individuals and senior level staff for both permanent and temporary roles. Today, Matt recruits both internally for ABS, regularly sourcing talent to fill roles in quantity surveying and commercial project management, whilst also handling the recruitment requests for Tier 1 and Tier 2 clients. Matt is a trusted and efficient key player in our recruitment efforts at ABS.
Liz Rosling
Streetworks & Training Director
Our Streetworks and Training Director, Liz Rosling, heads up our Streetworks department at ABS. With over 16 years’ experience in Streetworks; working with Highway Authorities, Statutory Undertakers, contractors and sub-contractors, Liz has a strong and professional background in the management of all aspects of Streetworks legislation.
At ABS, we take pride in the people behind our company and Liz is one of our most trusted leading professionals, and a firm favourite amongst clients who regularly rely on our services. Liz has a proven track-record in handling process management with efficiency in reducing charges and vastly improving Streetworks performance in all areas. With confidence and proficiency, she has developed and supported on many Streetworks Systems, and continues to train Staff at a City & Guilds level on the correct legislative procedures under Streetworks.
Rob Hallewell
Finance Director
Rob is an experienced finance professional with an extensive background spanning 24 years within the finance and commercial industry. Throughout the various roles and stages of his career, Rob has worked across a vast variety of sectors including private practice, manufacturing and infrastructure support service.
Rob has been with ABS for many years and his impeccable attention to detail sees him responsible for overseeing all operations within the company’s financial department. With a substantial background in financial modelling, commercial audit, cash management, alongside CVR and Cost to complete review and construction, Rob is a trusted professional with skillsets and industry knowledge second to none.
Barbara Donald
Business Support Director
Experienced, professional and positively motivated; our Business Support Director, Barbara, is a much valued member of the ABS team. Degree-qualified, with an extensive background in delivering customer-focused solutions, Barbara demonstrates a real commitment to understanding customer requirement, confidently facilitating interim support and project professionals to maximise business performance.
Barbara has worked within the industry for many years and has been a loyal and trusted employee of ABS since the company’s initial founding days.
Today, she supports the business with a vast range of functional and technical duties, with adept capabilities in both human resource and finance. From managing customer relationships to ensuring the day-to-day business of ABS is a smooth-running operation, Barbara is a true driving force behind our established success.
Phil Owen
Operational Solution Director
Professional, trusted and reliable; Phil has an impressive 24 years of experience, operating across a number of utility sectors. An adept and qualified Operational Manager, Phil currently supports the business by overseeing the day-to-day responsibilities of our Operational Projects. Over the many years of his specialist career, Phil has developed strong background through working across the full spectrum of utilities, including Telecoms, Clean Water, R&M, Clean Water Metering, Waste-Water and Vegetation Management.
Additionally, Phil has worked and operated at Senior level roles within some of the largest infrastructure service providers, with a solid and accomplished background in contracting. Today, he is a valued team player at ABS and brings a significant contribution to some of the company’s largest contracts and projects.
Kate Jones
Head of Finance
Kate is an experienced finance professional with a background spanning 21 years. During this time Kate worked predominantly with in the private practice – working alongside many SMEs in various sectors completing year end accounts processes required.
Kate overseas the management of the finance team – ensuring the company’s financial details are kept up to date. Kate has a strong background within accounts, from the incorporation of Limited companies to the preparation of accounts to a statutory position.
Laura Fay – Hughes
Head of Talent Acquisition
Laura-Fay joined ABS in December 2022 and is our Head Of Talent Acquisition. She has vast amount of experience working within organisations across multiple sites and she thrives when working on high volume and fast recruitment campaigns. Having worked within recruitment for 18 years she has had exposure to a lot and recruited for many sectors including, IT, Defence Engineering, Finance and Accounting, Retail, Sales and Marketing just to name a few. She loves coming into a business that has ambitious growth plans and where she can put her own stamp on things and set up a strong Internal Recruitment Function. She also brings with her passion for people and supporting peoples career development which she is able to implement daily into her role.
Craig Howard
Commercial Director
Craig is an experienced Commercial professional with over 28 years’ experience across Utilities, Highways Maintenance and Civil Engineering, Environmental, M&E and Facilities Maintenance.
Craig has a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from York University and has previously undertaken Senior Commercial roles at Enterprise, Amey, Ringway and Ipsum.
With a strong contractual background and vast experience operating different forms of contracts with varying different commercial mechanisms, Craig has extensive strategic and operational experience leading commercial teams, driving business process and managing commercial risk across the business.
Craig is responsible for leading and delivering against ABS’s organic growth objectives and ensuring that the Commercial sector deliver a “best in class” service to all of our customers