Experience

Energy & Utility Skills

• United Kingdom
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Policy Manager

  • Sep 2018 - Present

  Delivering a credible, professional policy platform to support the optimisation of investment and return in skills, competencies and productivity in UK infrastructure businesses.



PCI Ltd

• Independent Skills Consultant

  • Jul 2016 - Sep 2018

  Development of UK-China vocational skills business: consultation, negotiation, overseas visits and agreement of Memoranda of Understanding between UK and Chinese providers for the development of UK programmes in ChinaResearch, development and production of Labour Market Intelligence reporting for a high profile Further Education collegeAuthoring of a new construction sector qualificationApprenticeship end-point assessment organisation development: consultation, project planning and application for sector bodies registering as Apprenticeship End Point Assessment OrganisationsCommercialisation of new health care programme development: conversion of a new programme developed by a care charity into a sustainable large scale commercial offerAwarding organisation development: consultation and advice to a number of organisations wishing to become recognised as UK Awarding Organisations



Accredited Skills for Industry

• Managing Director

  • Feb 2012 - Jul 2016

  Comprehensive direction and management of Accredited Skills for Industry (ASFI) - an Ofqual recognised UK Awarding Organisation and the only one in the UK to trade within a large general further education college.Direct responsibility for the maintenance of ASFI’s Ofqual recognition including all aspects of regulatory compliance: reports, planned development, investigations and remedial action.Full responsibility for budget planning and control and all business development opportunities and progress, including overseas markets.Stakeholder relationship management and direction including curriculum staff, clients, external national and international business and government contacts.Responsible and accountable for the design, production, deployment and maintenance of regulated vocational qualifications.Direction and management of the alignment of new qualifications with employer skills needs and prevailing policy (design and funding).Production, approval and execution of strategic, business and marketing plans.Lead ASFI executive board (governing body) member.Established LEP relationship and responsive development activity.Established commercial delivery in China.A range of senior management and governance responsibilities as part of the Walsall College Senior Management Team.



Learning & Skills Council / Skills Funding Agency

• Senior Policy Manager

  • Oct 2008 - Jan 2012

  Direction and management of the budgeted and audited investment of public funds (£10m direct and £100m levered) in economically valuable skills at industrial sector level.Successful procurement, negotiation, realignment, deployment and management of sector investment agreements (with stakeholder protocols and associated contracts) in the manufacturing, materials processing, facilities management, construction and chemical/nuclear industries.Direct contract management of Sector Skills Councils’ (SSCs) employer engagement activities.Direct management of five participating SSCs representing sixty contracts for the delivery of specifically identified qualifications under the pilot.Design and implementation of pilot reporting and review mechanisms and Chair of the formal review group meetings.Detailed business analysis of the projected activity in order to inform MI and financial reporting design.Design and implementation of funding policy reform for the financial support of vocational education in England.Managing relationships with industry representative bodies for qualification reform and redesign.Conflict management and resolution of challenges to funding approval processes.Research and design of the agency’s policy on Low Carbon Skills Investment and Agency representation on the Green Deal Skills group.Commissioning and supporting the provision of detailed performance data.Preparation of project prospectuses, detailed assessment of tenders and analysis of proposals for the Growth & Innovation Fund, Employer Investment Fund and others.Project management: business analysis, design, delivery, performance management, financial audit, review and closure of service support projects.Routinely informing Ministerial submissions and responding to parliamentary correspondence with high priority and short deadlines.



Prospects Services Lt

• Contracts Manager

  • Aug 2001 - Oct 2008

  Prime contractor to the Learning and Skills Council, directly managing 35 sub-contracted organisations across the Black Country for the establishment and delivery of the Next Step adult careers information and advice service.Procurement, tendering, contract design, allocations, monitoring and performance management of 35 disparate sub-contractors including major FE Colleges, private providers and community organisationsLed the successful Ofsted inspection of the service.Managed quarterly and yearly contract reviews, revised profiles and improved performance, established organisational and individual skills needs analyses.Designed and delivered training and CPD for individual advisers and organisations including Equality and Diversity.Led the prime contractor and sub-contractors through successful “Matrix” standard accreditation.Managed individual and collective budgets and designed and implemented performance management information mechanisms.Managed compliance with financial and professional standards.Managed sub-contractor audit including special investigation.Designed and produced client and MI documentation.Managed the procurement of high quality support training.Procured and managed high value external service assessments (mystery shopper).Chaired network meetings, recruited advisers, reported to the company board and the Learning & Skills Council.Made extensive presentations to stakeholders, network managers, other groups, and at national conferences.