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The People 1st Team

The People 1st team is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company.

The following lists each of the departments within People 1st, along with specific job roles. To contact a member of the People 1st team, please call 01895 817000


Executive Team

Brian WisdomBrian Wisdom - Chief Executive

Brian Wisdom has been chief executive officer of People 1st since November 2004.

He is responsible for promoting the company's work at the heart of the skills agenda in the UK. This includes representing the sector and its needs to Government, its agencies and learning providers.

Brian is also a non-executive director on the board of the National Skills Academy for Hospitality and has extensive industrial experience in the sector, having previously held senior roles at Grand Metropolitan, Whitbread and Six Continents PLC (now Mitchells and Butlers).

Brian is also closely involved in a number of bodies working towards a successful 2012 for the tourism industry.

Read full biography


Simon TarrSimon Tarr - Chief Operating Officer

Simon joined People 1st in July 2005 and is company secretary. He is responsible for all support related functions of the business and the company's information systems.

Simon has extensive experience working with large blue chip organisations including De Beers, Sports.com KPMG and Alamo Rent a Car.


David McHattieDavid McHattie - Chief Executive, National Skills Academy for Hospitality

David joined People 1st in May 2005 as chief operating officer. He is now responsible for leading the development of the National Skills Academy for Hospitality.

David began at Bass Plc (now Mitchells & Butler) as a management trainee and has held senior operations roles at Fuller Smith & Turner PLC and The Restaurant Group.


Chief Executive's Office

  • Phil Raynsford - Strategic Development Director
  • Sally Russell - Executive Assistant


Finance & Administration Team

Finance:

  • Sabira Kanji - Director of Finance
  • Yusuf Ahmed - Management Accountant
  • Maureen Webster - Payroll/ Accounts Assistant
  • Yvonne Plock - Accounts Assistant

IT:

  • Steven Gajek - IT/ Network Administrator

Human Resources:

  • Roisin Boyer - HR Executive

Administration:

  • Jenny Bech - Office Manager
  • Lucy Plock - Administration Assistant
  • Lorraine Birrell - Administration Assistant (Scotland)


Research & Policy Team

  • Martin-Christian Kent - Research and Policy Director
  • Douglas Gyte - Tourism Skills Policy Manager
  • Dan Power - Ethnic Chef Project Manager

Diplomas:

  • John Humphreys - Travel and Tourism Diploma Manager
  • Heather Taylor - Hospitality Diploma Manager
  • Stephanie Jolly - Hospitality Diploma Project Officer

Apprenticeships and National Occupational Standards (NOS):

  • Preetkiran Sumal - Apprenticeship Manager
  • Jackie Webster - Apprenticeship Manager (Secondment)
  • Sophia Nicola - Project Manager
  • Marc Weissenberger - NOS Standards Developer
  • Jean Meehan - Research and Policy Co-ordinator

Sector Qualifications Strategy and Development:

  • Ruth Miller - Sector Qualifications Manager
  • Gyles Haverty - Project Manager (Qualifications)
  • Carl Hodgson - Project Manager (Qualifications)
  • Angela Yahaya - Project Manager (Qualifications Development)
  • Kat Thayer - Project Manager (Qualifications Development)

Research:

  • Caroline Perkins - Head of Research
  • Karen Roberts - Research Manager
  • Alastair Galbraith - Researcher (Labour Market)
  • Melissa Dinic - Researcher

Nations:

  • Roisin McKee - Head of Northern Ireland
  • Trudy Patterson - Project Officer (Northern Ireland)
  • David Allen - Head of Scotland
  • Kate Slater - Scotland Policy Manager
  • Bryan Roderick - Head of Wales


Business Solutions

  • Sharon Glancy - Business Solutions Director
  • Stephan John - Head of Corporate Qualifications
  • Gary Hodgkisson - Commercial and Product Development
  • Chris Jefferies - Train to Gain Compact Manager

Engagement:

  • Gerry Brown - Head of Business Solutions
  • Caroline Ferry - Business Solutions Manager
  • Linda Roberts - Business Solutions Manager
  • Ruth Mills - Business Operations Manager
  • Karen Couzens - Head of English Regions

Stonebow:

  • Annabel Thomson - Stonebow Operations Manager
  • Eleanor Cooper - Stonebow Co-ordinator


Communications and Marketing

  • Lesley Potter - Communications Director
  • Oksana Higglesden - Communications Manager
  • Gareth Groarke - Marketing Manager
  • Aldona Limani - Marketing Executive
  • Lara Wisdom - Communications Executive
  • Amanda Cooper - CRM Database Administrator (maternity leave)
  • Luke Palmer - CRM Database Administrator (maternity cover)


UKSP

  • Simone Roche - Head of UKSP Development and Delivery
  • Emily McDonald - UKSP Project Manager
  • Joanne Parker - UKSP Project Manager


National Skills Academy For Hospitality

  • Lindsay Campbell - Operations Director
  • John Chapman - Programme Director (South West)
  • Mark Maltby - Programme Director (West Midlands)
  • Stephen Mannock - Programme Director 0North West)
  • David Pepper - Programme Director (East Midlands)
  • Gemma Watts - Programme Director (London)