Governance

Rolls Royce, UK Emerging Talent Delivery Manager

Chair of Governors

I served my Apprenticeship at a SME in Derby as a CNC machinist before joining NEI as an Engineering Skills instructor. This role involved delivering Machining and Fitting skills training in the first year to numerous Apprentices from the local SME’s in Derby/Derbyshire and managing their Apprentice training programmes once they had returned to their employers. I transferred to Rolls Royce training centre at the LDC in Derby in September 2003, continuing in the same role before progressing to Team Leader and recently manager of the Engineering Skills Team. I am now responsible for the first-year delivery for all RR Apprentices across the UK which requires lots of contact with Colleges and Training Providers.  In 2011 I was responsible for securing the funding and programme as well as managing the build of the Apprentice Academy.

For the past six years I have been working on the new Derby UTC based on Pride Park in Derby. This has required me to sit on both the Curriculum and Building Steering Groups. I have been asked to be a Trustee Director of the UTC, a role which I have accepted with great pride.

My main hobby (some would say obsession) outside of work is Golf as well socialising with family and friends. I am a member of Makeover Golf Course in Derby where I play twice a week in competitive golf competions as well as playing in open competitions throughout Derbyshire. I also have a keen interest most other mainstream sports. 

UTC Derby Pride Park

Principal

East Midlands Chamber of Commerce

Governor

Educated in South Africa, Pieter moved to the UK in 1997, started in recruitment in 1999, later founding his own business which he sold to an international recruitment company in 2006 when he moved into further education. Pieter has held senior positions with some of the biggest names in apprenticeship provision in the UK. 

Pieter has been with the East Midlands Chamber since 2014 where he is responsible for leading and developing the Chamber’s commitment to enhancing East Midlands businesses and communities, the Chamber is continuing its drive to bring education and business closer together to reduce the skills gap and help ensure a prosperous future.

University of Derby, Senior Lecturer

Governor

Since 2010 I have worked in the Further Education and Skills (FES) Sector. I started as a learning mentor, where my role was to support learners to overcome any barriers to learning they may have. This role is still at the core of my beliefs and values as an educator. What really drives me is to provide individuals with the support they need to succeed. Following my time in this role, I became a Course Leader for English, Maths and ICT (EM&I) within the same department, and shortly afterwards, Advanced Practitioner for E&M across college. Through these experiences in FES, I discovered that my passion is finding the best teaching and learning approaches to reach hard to reach learners and to see them succeed as a result.

I was then promoted to Subject Leader in E&M, a role which included leading the Course Leaders for EM&I across the college, providing training on subject specific pedagogy for English teachers and developing vocational teams in relation to contextualisation. It was in this role that I began my journey into the world of research. I made connections with people who offered me freelance roles outside of the college and I was given the opportunity to write a qualification on ‘Promoting English and Maths in Further Education’, designed to create collaborative relationships between English, maths and vocational teachers.

Following this, I left the college and began working as a freelance trainer. Here, I met various consultants who recruited me to be a part of their team to deliver initiatives for the Education and Training Foundation (ETF). I mentored staff across four different colleges who engaged in the Outstanding Teaching Learning and Assessment action research projects in 2019, at the same time as completing my own Research Methods unit on the Level 7 Diploma, where I was planning an action research project on professional development for excellent teachers who were working in Advanced Practitioner roles.

At this point, I had a break from my education. I was CPD and Learning Manager (Head of Teaching and Learning and Initial Teacher Training) at a landbased college and pregnant with my second child. It was during my maternity leave that I was successful in an application for Post 14 FE and Skills Lecturer at the University of Derby (UoD). I was also working with a consultancy company on creating Train the Trainer resources for Action Research Leads in 21 colleges across the country, as part of the Centre for Excellence in Maths (CfEM) programme. In addition to these roles, for the past two years I have been Governor at a Primary school, External Examiner at two universities (PGCE and MA Education courses) and Editor for ‘The Use of English’ an English Association journal. I write articles and blogs, and have published a series of podcasts on English specialist subject pedagogy.

Since starting my role at UoD I have engaged in research opportunities which are available to me. These include the ITE Research Day last term and I have also joined the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Cluster at the university.

Derby College Group, Deputy Chief Executive

Governor

Heather has worked in further education for over twenty years and during that time has gained a broad knowledge of the sector, as well as gaining some experience of working in the secondary school sector.

Heather is currently Deputy Chief Executive of Derby College Group, a large general further education college serving around 20,000 students each year. 

Heather is accountable for the Group’s academic and technical education which is delivered across four campuses and community venues.   

Heather also leads the Group’s corporate services functions of Finance, Management Information, Human Resources, Marketing, IT and Property.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Wider Workforce Development Manager

Governor

I am the Apprenticeships and Vocational Development Lead at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB), with a passion for developing people and proud to be driving a ‘Grow Our Own’ ethos across health and social care careers.  

As a senior leader at UHDB and professional coach, I provide professional leadership development across all professions and subjects encouraging health, wellbeing and time to think for learners and teams to help maximise their full potential.

I feel extremely privileged being a representative on the UTCs Governing Body and hope to complement the Board as the UTC continues to provide great opportunities to young people across our communities.

In my own time I have two children that keep me on my toes, whilst renovating our home – often challenging yet extremely rewarding.

Toyota UK,

Governor

Originally from Lancashire, I moved to Derby in 2005 when I studied at the University of Derby.

I joined Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) as a Graduate Trainee in 2009 after completing a 12-month placement in their Recruitment team as part of my undergraduate degree. I have worked in many areas of HR at Toyota, including Benefits Administration, Employee Relations both in projects and as a generalist, Recruitment and Technical Skills Development. I am currently the Section Manager responsible for the Employee Relations Planning team.

Outside of work, I volunteer with Girlguiding and run a Guide and Ranger unit in Chellaston. From 2018-2023 I spent 5 years as an Assistant County Commissioner for Girlguiding Derbyshire County.

I enjoy keeping active and have a young family who I adore spending time with.

NHS Joined Up Care Derbyshire, Wider Workforce Manager

Governor

I am a workforce development professional with extensive experience across Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS) and Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (DHCFT), specialising in apprenticeships, inclusive workforce development, and widening participation.

Since 2018, I have led and supported the development of apprenticeship programmes across the two NHS organisations, embedding a culture of continuous learning and improving engagement and progression opportunities. I also support accessible education and employment initiatives.

My professional strengths include workforce development, effective communication, and the ability to build strong relationships across organisations. I bring experience in teaching, listening, and providing high-quality advice and guidance, alongside mentoring individuals to develop confidence and achieve their goals. I am committed to supporting learners and staff to overcome barriers and reach their full potential.

Through collaborative partnership working, I have contributed to system-wide workforce initiatives and developed strong links between employers and education providers. I am keen to bring my skills, experience, and passion for inclusive education to a college governing role.

Princes Group, Head of Operational Performance Transformation

Parent Governor

I am an Operations leader who has worked in an Operational Excellence and Lean Manufacturing environment for the past 30 years across various sectors in the manufacturing and service industries.

I developed my skills, knowledge and capability in Lean / Operational Excellence in the motor manufacturing industry within production and engineering for Toyota Motor Manufacturing (12yrs) & BMW Group (4 yrs).

I then spent fifteen years passing on this knowledge and experience as a Senior Performance Improvement Consultant with a variety of international clients in automotive, rail, shipbuilding, aerospace, security printing and FMCG.

For the past four years I have been working for Princes Food Group as Head of Operational Performance & Business Transformation covering 11 manufacturing sites globally

These experiences have provided me with a solid background for leading operational excellence through the entire value chain focusing on people and process capability in production, engineering and service environments.

Loates Business Solutions, Human Resources Consultant

Parent Governor

I would like the opportunity to bring my skills, knowledge, experience, insight of SEND, and my own career in HR and compliance, to the governing body of UTC Derby.

I would love to be part of the foundation of the school that offers a pathway and a life plan to build future engineers and healthcare professionals. My son attends this school due to the link with industry, a foundation that I see as requiring strengthening in many aspects of education, from my observations of raising children and career.

My son commenced his studies with UTC Derby in year 9 last September, with a keen aspiration to become a Nuclear Engineer. Over the years, he has led me on an inspirational journey of learning through his love of science, maths, electronics, and 3D printing, and has been fortunate to access opportunities we came across on Derby UTC’s social media. I work part-time for a local HR Consultancy in Derby, working closely with local businesses across a range of industries, including clients in health, engineering and education, with HR compliance, complex situations, and organisational change at the forefront of my day-to-day responsibilities.

I hold CIPD and ILM Level 5 professional attainment and support as a leader at my local Scouts group each week, which gives me the opportunity to understand some of the trials and tribulations of being a young person in 2026.

I would welcome the opportunity to put across parents’ views and help shape UTC Derby.  

UTC Derby Pride Park, Careers Lead

Staff Governor