25 Years of Guardtech: Compliance Manager Chris McGinn Q&A

You’re now Compliance Manager at the Guardtech Group – can you explain the journey that took you to this role?

Chris says: “I started out at Guardtech as a Validation Engineer, working hands-on with the qualification and delivery of cleanroom projects. From there, I stepped into the Service Manager role, which gave me a wider perspective – especially on how our clients operate day-to-day after the build is complete, and how important ongoing compliance really is. That experience naturally led me into project compliance, and now in my role as Compliance Manager, I support projects right from the early design stages through to final validation. It’s been a fast-paced, rewarding journey – and one that’s given me a real understanding of how everything connects across a project.”

Why is compliance so critical for the work we do?

Chris says: “Compliance isn’t just a tick-box exercise – it’s absolutely essential. The sectors we work in are highly regulated for a reason. Our clients are making products that can impact patient safety, public health, or high-value manufacturing. So it’s our job to make sure their facilities meet the strictest GMP and ISO standards – and that everything is documented and qualified properly. Getting it right gives our clients peace of mind and protects the integrity of their operations. That’s what makes our work meaningful.”

You’re one of the longest-serving employees here – what have been the most significant changes you’ve seen during your time at the company?

Chris says: “The growth has been really impressive. When I joined, we were a smaller, close-knit team working on fewer – but still very demanding – projects. Since then, Guardtech has expanded into a multi-division group delivering some of the most industry-leading cleanroom facilities out there. But what I admire most is that the business has never lost its roots. We’ve kept that same focus on quality, doing right by the client, and maintaining the genuine family feel we started with. Whether we were a team of ten or a growing company of several dozen, those values have stayed constant – and they still shape how we work today.”

What has been your all-time favourite project – and why?

Chris says: “Swisstronics in Switzerland is definitely up there. It was one of my first projects as Compliance Manager and also one of my first international jobs with Guardtech. The client was fantastic to work with – open, collaborative, and really committed to quality. We worked through a really solid qualification pack from DQ through to OQ, and being involved in that level of detail across borders was a great experience. Switzerland was also an incredible place to work. The combination of a great team, a great project and a great setting made it a standout moment in my career.”

What’s your proudest moment in the past 25 years of business – and what do you think is the Guardtech Group’s greatest achievement?

Chris says: “For me personally, I’m proud of how much I’ve grown here. I’ve developed my knowledge across the whole cleanroom lifecycle – from design and build to compliance and qualification – and it’s been really rewarding to play a part in shaping how we deliver that across the business. As for the company, the biggest achievement is the way we’ve scaled up. We’ve grown into something really special – delivering high-end, technically complex projects with a brilliant team of people. Watching that journey unfold and knowing I’ve contributed to it means a lot.”

How do you see things panning out for the Guardtech Group – and, more importantly, what are you hoping to see?

Chris says: “The future’s exciting. Demand for controlled environments is only growing, and Guardtech is in a great position to lead the way – whether through traditional cleanroom builds or modular innovations like Isopod and Cleancube. We’ve built a reputation for quality and agility, and I think that puts us in a strong place to keep pushing forward. From a compliance perspective, I want us to keep setting the bar higher. It’s not just about getting through audits or meeting the bare minimum – it’s about building compliance into every stage of our process and making it part of our identity. I want us to be seen as the gold standard – not just for the quality of our builds, but for the trust, care and attention to detail we bring to every project.”

For more information on the Guardtech Group, visit www.guardtechgroup.com, call 0330 113 0303 or email sales@guardtech.com.