Nikki Collier Director of Business Development, Stanmore College Start date: January 2026 Previous Job: Interim Head of Apprenticeship Performance, Capel Manor College Interesting fact: Nikki loves driving old VW vans and is at her happiest behind the wheel of her “battered old caddy” singing along to Bob Marley’s ‘Is this Love’ Robert West Associate Director – Impact and Influence, Education and Training Foundation Start date: January 2026 Previous Job: Head of Education and Skills, CBI Interesting fact: Rob began his education career as an actor-teacher with the Inner London Education Authority at the Cockpit Arts Workshop, the first purpose-built youth arts workshop and theatre Paul Smith Area Director – Yorkshire and the Humber, Association of Colleges Start date: January 2026 Previous Job: Head of Quality, Standards and Statuses, Education and Training Foundation Interesting fact: With a love of sports and the outdoors, Paul once completed a 100km charity-trek around North Yorkshire in under 24 hours