Colin is the founder and Managing Director of SDN. From 1991-2006 he held a progression of senior strategy, planning, research and evaluation roles in the LSC and TEC. Colin specialises in strategy, change, leadership and management, programme management, research and technology. Colin’s work (and that of SDN) has led to close working relationships with government departments, agencies, sector and employer bodies, and providers.

Gerry is an experienced research and development director in the learning and skills sector. He held a number of senior positions and directorships at the TEC and LSC, overseeing research, development, planning and strategy. Gerry specialises in helping organisations realise the benefits of effective collaboration through the use of technology.

Tim is an experienced research and programme manager in the FE and skills sector. From 2010-15, Tim worked for AELP leading their research and managing large-scale programmes to support training providers. With a firm knowledge of government policy, his research has been used to inform policy decisions at the highest level. Tim heads up SDN’s research and leads on communications with sector organisations, stakeholders and the press.

Zoe has worked in the FE and skills sector for over 17 years holding a number of senior positions within ITP’s, most recently as Head of Contracts, Compliance and ATA. Zoe specialises in funding and compliance, with a proven track record of embedding performance management and quality systems. Zoe has successfully developed and managed Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Learning Loans programmes and led on strategic and operational requirements to prepare for the Apprenticeship reforms.

Kelly is an experienced events manager in the FE and skills sector. With a career beginning as an apprentice at the University of Bristol, Kelly then progressed into events management joining AELP in 2011. From 2011-2019, Kelly was instrumental in building and managing the events programme at AELP. Kelly has successfully developed and managed teams to deliver a wide range of events from workshops and training events to large scale and high-profile national conferences. Kelly joined SDN in January 2020 to continue this work to manage and build SDN’s Event Programme.

Mandeep is the Employer Partnership Manager. With over 12 years’ experience working in the training and development sector, he has supported large corporates to SME’s with their skills development projects. Having worked with some of UK’s major training providers in his previous roles, he has a good understanding of government funded training initiatives and how they can be incorporated as part of workforce development strategy.

Chris is a specialist in national 11-18 education policy, quality improvement, leadership development, problem solving and organisational policy development. Chris has a strong track record in the implementation of projects, especially in challenging and politically sensitive environments. Chris has worked closely with sector bodies, employer partnerships and providers, particularly around assessment, innovative approaches to delivery and inspection support.

Louise holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and specialises in leadership and management, lean improvement, employer relationships and quality assurance. Louise worked at director level for Sunderland College and has extensive experience as a consultant for SDN, KPMG, LSIS, AoC, AELP and FISSS, focusing on both FE and HE. Louise is also the co-owner of Mesma Software.

David has 20 years’ experience in FE as a specialist consultant in funding compliance and quality. Having represented some of the leading stakeholders in the sector, including at Director-Level, David’s compliance consultancy Lockhart-Hawkins has supported providers of all scale in developing compliant, effective and efficient evidence systems and policy including leading on apprenticeship reforms and funding risk management.

Brian has 35 years’ experience in the Further Education Sector with over 23 years managing apprenticeship delivery and business development; working in either operational management or directorship roles for colleges. Since 2015 Brian has operated his own management consultancy concentrating on supporting providers with their self-assessment, continuous improvement and subcontract management, writing RoATP bids and generally supporting a small group of regular customers in developing their apprenticeship offer and transitioning to the new standards.

Mandy has a strong track record of managing national and strategically important projects in vocational education and skills, including the successful Higher Apprenticeship programme on behalf of the National Apprenticeship Service. Having worked extensively with government departments, providers in HE/FE, awarding organisations, professional bodies and employers, Mandy has developed effective business and commercial partnerships. Mandy specialises in research, contract management and policy development.

Wendy has been working in the FE sector for almost 30 years. She started her career in a college and has extensive curriculum development experience for a wide range of provision. Wendy has worked on a number of high profile regional and national support projects - from Apprenticeships and higher-level skills, to Traineeships and supporting the unemployed – ensuing provision meets the needs of learners and employers.

Arit is the Founder and Director of DiVA Apprenticeships. Her clients include some of the UK's well-known entertainment brands. She has a proven track record of employer and partner engagement, project management, and the conception and execution of workforce development programmes that increase employee retention, diversity and business performance. Arit holds a Masters in Executive Leadership Development and Mentoring. As a Leadership Development & Business coach, she works with women returners, CEOs, Founders, those looking to change careers or move into senior-level roles. She holds a second Masters in Film and TV Producing.

Paul has been appointed as an Education Advisor to the DfE each year for the last seven years. This is in addition to his wider consultancy work within the education and training sector, which includes many of the UK's leading awarding organisations and IfATE. Paul works on a wide range of policy, research, evaluation and quality assurance initiatives, most recently focussed on the development of the new T-Level qualifications.

Karen has more than 20 years of knowledge, skills and management experience in FE. She has developed and managed apprenticeships from all relevant angles; as an employer, training provider, consultant, policy and senior manager for the Skills Funding Agency. Karen works with employers, training providers and colleges and is passionate about driving quality, progression and business growth. She meets challenges and demands head on and works with a positive and pragmatic approach to make things happen.

Following a career in the public sector, Breda has been engaged in FE and skills since 2001. She has worked with several sector skills councils, and public sector bodies promoting workforce development through standards and qualifications. Breda has worked extensively with providers engaged in delivery of Apprenticeships and has supported the development and implementation of Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standards.

Carole has been working in the FE sector for over 20 years. She has a strong track record in quality standards and supporting organisations to improve. As part of this, she has extensive experience of Ofsted inspections and has managed a number of large-scale projects. Carole is also the co-owner of Mesma (self-assessment and improvement software).

Simon has worked in people development for almost the whole of his career. As an independent consultant he joined the team which developed quality standards for work-based learning and setup the first inspectorate, now part of Ofsted. He has led international education and training research and now dedicates his time to helping organisations gain as much benefit as possible from the new apprenticeship levy, aligning it with their wider skills and people strategies. He is also a graduate of Oxford University.

Barry has a long-track record in the technical, vocational and apprenticeships sector. He specialises in end-point assessment (and assessment more broadly), qualifications, quality and evaluation. Barry has supported many of the trailblazer employer groups to develop standards / assessment plans and has helped set up one of the first Apprentice Assessment Organisations to start conducting end-point assessment.

Alison has 25 years’ experience in Management and Leadership Development working in both the Private and Public Sectors. She has developed and implemented numerous support programmes in areas such as developing apprenticeship strategy, employer engagement, building high performing teams, resilience and wellbeing, time and energy management and effective communication. She is an experienced executive coach, facilitator and qualified to deliver Insights Discovery profiling to underpin personal and team development.

Anna has been working in the FE and skills sector for 20 years in TEC’s, Chamber of Commerce, LSC and SFA. Anna has a proven track record for developing and implementing skills funding policies including co-investment approaches, Adult Education Budget and Advanced Learner Loans. Now freelance, Anna works closely with providers, employers and Government on a range of projects including organisational development, Apprenticeship reform and Loans.

Emily is Founder and Managing Director of Evoko. She holds Masters in Work Based Learning and has over 20 years’ experience in delivery, assessment and management across the skills education, training and apprenticeships sector drawn from a range of roles within Universities, Colleges and training providers.  She works extensively across the sector and has a strong track record in supporting organisations to develop and refine their offer. 

Erica Farmer, Founder and Director of Welcome Two and Co-Founder and Business Director of Quantum Rise Talent Group, has over 20 years of designing and delivering learning and development programmes in both large and small organisations. Erica has a depth of experience with apprenticeships and funded learning, including a unique and specialist mix of experience having been both a levy decision maker and a provider lead, chairing the customer service trailblazer and sitting on various apprenticeship provider boards.

Hayley Bird is the Co-Founder and Delivery Director of Quantum Rise Talent Group and has 10 years in employability and corporate learning and development. Hayley has been a lead virtual facilitator for various virtual faculties and now supports the Quantum Rise Associate Delivery Partner team to deliver programmes and sessions.