Basingstoke College of Technology principal Anthony Bravo is to become chief executive of the Bradford College Group.

Mr Bravo, previously principal of Crossways Academy and director of development (vice principal) for City and Islington College for almost six years and five years, respectively, is expected to take up the new post from September.

He said: “I am truly energised by this exciting opportunity.

“I will build on the strengths of the Bradford College Group and bring a level of vitality and visibility that will ensure that the Group continues on its successful journey, ensuring enhanced economic and social impact in the region.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle College Group (NCG) deputy principal since 2011 Robin Ghurbhurun  will be the new principal of Richmond upon Thames College from August.

“My first priority is to consolidate and grow the considerable strengths of the college while working with the staff to deliver outstanding quality and new provision,” he said.

“I am looking forward to establishing Richmond upon Thames College as a college for careers with an outstanding reputation for services to learners and employers.

“Our college will be synonymous with being a great place to learn, to work and to do business with.”

Mr Ghurbhurun started his FE career at Weald College (now Harrow College) in 1994 as a lecturer in computing. He left in 1997 for East Surrey College and then Carshalton College in 2000.

He joined Lewisham College in 2003 before moving to City College Norwich in 2007 as director of innovation. He joined Newcastle College as deputy principal 2011.

He said: “I leave NCG, Newcastle College, with a spring in my step.

“It has been a tremendous privilege to work with such dedicated staff, their contribution to the overall impact on students is truly remarkable.

“Professionally, NCG has challenged me to think differently, think big and to be ambitious for our learners.

“The relentless focus on detail, rigour and responsiveness to stakeholders ensures that we do things right and do the right things for our learners.

“The achievement that provides me with greatest satisfaction is the stewardship of the college during a significant period of transition in leadership and management along with tackling external challenges while throughout maintaining a strong financial base and improving the quality of provision.”

 

The curtain is to come down on a 38-year education career with the retirement of Solihull College principal Brenda Sheils.

She joined the Midland college as deputy principal in 2000 and three years later became its principal.

Ms Sheils had begun her teaching career at a Cambridgeshire comprehensive school in 1975 and since then worked in schools, community education and colleges in Devon, Cheshire and Gloucestershire.

“I am so very proud of the excellent contribution the college has made over the years to the economic development and social well-being of Solihull, Birmingham and the wider region,” she said.

“The college has recently achieved the Investors in People Gold Award which recognises the strong values, ambitions and commitment to achieving excellence by everyone who works or studies with us.”

Her retirement comes the same year as she was honoured with an OBE for services to FE.

“It was an absolute privilege to be awarded the OBE. It was also a very big surprise,” said Ms Sheils.

“I was presented with the award by the Prince of Wales, who warmly congratulated me and was particularly interested in the Prince’s Trust scheme at the college.

“It was a personal honour but it also reflects so well on the hard work and success of the staff and students at the college.

“Although it was not planned this way, going to Buckingham Palace and collecting the OBE has been wonderfully timed with my departure. I am pleased that I am leaving the college in such a great position.

“The college has a very strong reputation.”

Her replacement has been announced as current North East Worcestershire College principal of four years John Callaghan. He was previously deputy principal at Derby College for six years having started his career as a software specialist with Birmingham City Council, before working at the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and for RSM Tenon & KPMG, as well as having senior posts at Tamworth & Lichfield College.

Mr Callaghan is expected to stand down in June to take over the reins at Solihull College.

“I will miss it, I’ve put a lot of my heart and soul in here so there’s an emotional attachment there as well,” he said.

“Over the last few years there’s
been a very significant upturn in our fortunes in terms of finance and quality and it’s the staff that have done that not me, they have supported me and allowed me to lead them to create an improved college and I am certain that will continue.”

 

An executive at coach firm National Express is to become principal and chief executive at Birmingham Metropolitan College.

Andrew Cleaves, currently managing director of the transport group’s international division having previously run its Birmingham-based UK Coach business, will take up the FE post in May.

He previously spent 12 years in senior roles at Tube Lines, managing the public private partnership with Transport for London for infrastructure and maintenance of the London Underground.

“As the UK economy continues to recover we have to provide young people with the necessary skills for them to be successful,” said Mr Cleaves.

“To do this, we will strengthen our links with businesses across the region both large and small, stakeholders and local authorities.

“Under my leadership I am determined that the team at the college will bring all these aspects together to provide a compelling mix, that will see our students succeed in an ever-changing world.”

The college, which has around 50,000 students on 20 campuses and centres of excellence in the Greater Birmingham area, was formed in August 2009 through the merger of Matthew Boulton College and Sutton Coldfield College.

Mr Cleaves succeeds Dame Christine Braddock DBE who, after 17 years as principal, is retiring this year.

She is a past president of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, a CBI council member for the last decade, a member of the Local Enterprise Partnership (Lep) board and former deputy chair of Midland Heart Housing Association.

“The governors, and everyone involved in the recruitment process which began last autumn, identified knowledge of the business community gained at a senior

level and the ability to build partnerships as critical requirements for my replacement,” she said.

“Employability is at the heart of everything we do, and engaging with employers to discover their requirements for now and into the future is central to our strategy.

“When I first met Andrew, you could see he really bought into the partnership approach, and that being able to have a positive impact on the lives of tens of thousands of students was very appealing to him.

“He really did tick every box we had on our list of potential attributes, and he has a very ‘can do’ mind set, which sits very well with everyone he has met.”

 

A permanent principal is to replace Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College interim boss Dr Elaine McMahon CBE.

Garry Phillips , currently principal at New College Telford, takes over from July.

“It is an exciting time for the college and the sector and I am looking forward to working with colleagues and stakeholders in the community, particularly as the college is known for being innovative, responsive, student-centered and highly supportive of students to achieve their ambitions,” he said.

Dr McMahon, a former principal of Hull College, Harlow College and Salford College, and an ex-157 Group chair, was given the interim post in January following the retirement of former principal Paula Whittle at the end of last year.

Mr Phillips has worked in FE for 20 years at five colleges in both rural and inner city locations. He is also a member of the Education and Training Foundation’s expert panel for leadership, management and governance and on the Association of Colleges’ 14 to 19 portfolio group.

“I am passionate about ensuring that students of all backgrounds have sufficient and appropriate access to education, training and skills, and to give the local and national pupil/student population the tools to effectively contribute to their commerce and community,” he said.

And in the North East, Derwentside College is under the new leadership of Karen Redhead.

She has taken over the reins following the retirement of Albert Croney after eight years at the helm.

Ms Redhead held a number of senior roles over the last 20 years before being appointed as the college’s director of curriculum and quality and deputy principal in 2010.

Karen said: “The college has an excellent and well-deserved reputation for getting people into good jobs and for helping

employers to up-skill their workforces.

“We have developed some key strategic partnerships that were judged to be outstanding by Ofsted in our most recent inspection.

“I am looking forward to working with the senior team and our strategic partners to build on the many successes achieved to date and to realise our ambitious and forward-thinking plans for the future.”

 

Lancashire’s Myerscough College has appointed Steve Rigby as its new corporation chair.

He succeeded Ian Higginbotham, who stepped down at the end of last year after four years at the helm.

Mr Rigby’s background is in public service and he spent 34 years as a senior manager, having qualified as a teacher.

He said: ‘’I am very pleased to have been given the opportunity to chair the corporation and contribute with my colleagues to the management of Myerscough

College.

“With the varied experience in education and business that the governors have, we hope our collective background will help set the strategic priorities for the college.

‘’My wife also works in FE and one of my daughters is lecturing at Leeds University so I appreciate the challenging job of teaching, together with the various support roles within the college and recognise the privilege of assisting young people.

‘’The college governors are currently reviewing how the board and committees operate to make sure we consolidate the reputation of Myerscough and assist the hard-working staff. To this end, I feel we need to improve our formal links with staff and students and look forward to determining how this can be done.

“We need to make sure that we are well positioned to respond quickly to [future] changes to funding mechanisms and shifting priorities so that our students receive the very best education and training.’’

Melanie Radford has also been officially appointed as principal of the new UTC Cambridge, which is due to open in September.

Ms Radford, who has already been acting principal for four months, will lead the specialist science college for 14 to 19-year-olds.

She is a former scientist who worked in blood transfusion services in Australia, and has worked in education and training for 20 years in both the UK and the United States.

The UTC, which will teach biomedical and environmental science and technology, is sponsored by Cambridge Regional College and Cambridge University Health Partners.

She said: “Cambridge is a world class centre of innovation and learning. It is fitting and necessary that UTC Cambridge will utilise this excellence to inspire future leaders in medical and environmental science.”

The 670-student UTC’s learning programme has been developed with employers such as Wellcome Sanger Trust, Napp Pharmaceuticals and the Medical Research Council who will deliver a series of real-world Challenge Projects.

 

New appointments to the board of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) have been announced.

In the category for providers with up to 5,000 learners, the newly-elected members were Hawk Training managing director Terry Barnett  and WS Training head of vocational learning Simon Page.

John Hyde, executive chairman of HIT Training, was also re-elected as a member of the 12-strong board for providers with more than 5,000 learners.

Meanwhile, Debbie Gardiner , chief executive of Qube Learning, and Dean James, chief executive of Ingeus UK, were co-opted as additional board members

Martin Dunford OBE, AELP chair and Skills Training UK chief executive, said: “These new appointments ensure that AELP’s members are well-served by a board which has deep and wide experience across the skills and employment services sector.

“Providers are facing major challenges as well as opportunities as the government introduces a series of reforms to improve the nation’s skills and reduce unemployment.

“I have every confidence that the board will help maintain AELP as the leading representative voice which will protect the interests of employers, learners and providers.

“It should not be forgotten that our board members include major employers in their own right whose opinion will carry significant weight.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Jo North, of In Touch Care, who is leaving the board after 12 years’ invaluable service. Jo’s credibility nationally is well established as health, social care and childcare champion for AELP.

“Her role has brought her into contact with ministers and senior departmental and agency officials and we are hugely grateful for her contribution both as an influencer of policy to help support the career prospects of young people and as an innovative provider.”

Stewart Segal, AELP chief executive, said: “My congratulations to the new members of the board.

“We are implementing a new business plan to take AELP forward and I am delighted that we have a board which can provide valuable strategic direction to help realise the opportunities which undoubtedly exist for our members. I look forward very much to working with the board and AELP’s team to achieve our objectives over the next 12 months.”

The 17-year chief executive of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) is to step down at the end of the month.

Jane Scott Paul OBE  has announced her retirement after 27 years with the company, leaving on March 28.

She joined AAT as assistant secretary (education) in 1987 and a decade later became its chief executive.

Ms Scott Paul will be replaced as chief executive by Mark Farrar, who previously led the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board).

She said: “Leading AAT has been a privilege and a pleasure. AAT changes people’s lives and helps them achieve their full potential. The organization I joined
with a staff of 37 and 40,000 members has grown to a staff of over 200 and a membership of 125,000.

“I am proud of what AAT has achieved over that time and of the fantastic people I leave behind. I am pleased to be handing on to my successor an organisation in good shape and have every confidence that Mark Farrar will take it to new heights.”

Mr Farrar said: “I have big shoes to fill. Under Jane’s leadership, AAT has grown considerably and is renowned and respected throughout the profession.

“I look forward to building on the tremendous work that Jane has done and being part of the AAT team.”

It comes with the principal of Walsall Adult & Community College (WACC) having also announced plans to leave her role after more than four years with the organisation.

Maria Gilling will take up her new post as principal at West Lancashire College, in Skelmersdale, this month.

West Lancashire College is a member of NCG (formerly Newcastle College Group) and, as well as leading the college, she will take up a position as an executive member of the NCG executive board.

Ms Gilling was appointed by Walsall Council as the first principal at WACC in September 2009 following the amalgamation of The College of Continuing Education and Walsall Community College.

Under her leadership WACC was rated by Ofsted outstanding in January last year.

She was previously vice principal at Calderdale College, in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Ms Gilling said: “I have truly loved working with governors, colleagues, partners and learners to develop WACC. I have learned so much from them.

“Although I will really miss Walsall, I am delighted to be taking on a new challenge at West Lancashire College which is an excellent college, providing such important services to the people, communities and the businesses in the area.”

Jev Bhalla, former deputy principal at Walsall College, is to act as interim principal of WACC until a permanent appointment is made.