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The People 1st Team

Executive Board

Brian WisdomBrian Wisdom - Chief Executive Officer

Brian Wisdom joined People 1st as Chief Executive Office in 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 to Government and learning providers, helping to address current and future skills issues to increase business productivity and individuals' employability.

Brian has extensive experience working in the HLTT sector having held senior roles at Harvester Restaurants, Whitbread and Thresher.

David McHattieDavid McHattie - Chief Operating Officer

David joined People 1st in May 2005. He is responsible for leading the company's operations and the development of the UKSP tool.

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.

Simon TarrSimon Tarr - Finance Director

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 organizations including De Beers, Sports.com KPMG and Alamo Rent a Car.

  • Aldona Limani - Executive Assistant
  • Sally Russell - Executive Assistant

Finance & Project Team

Sabira KanjiSabira Kanji - Financial Controller

Sabira joined People 1st in November 2006. She is responsible for the Finance Team and ensuring that the business is properly supported at all levels.

Sabira has fulfilled financial director and chief operating officer roles in both private and NHS organisations for 15 years, and is a fellow member of the Chartered institute of Management Accountants. She is also responsible as a non-executive finance director of the Sector Skills Council of Scotland (SSAScot)

  • Maureen Webster - Payroll/ Accounts Assistant
  • Yvonne Plock - Accounts Assistant
  • Carolyn Sheppard - Accounts Administrator
  • Joanne Parker - Contract Manager
  • Helen Glen - LDA Contract Manager
  • Karen Couzens - Project Executive

Marketing & PR

Edward DaviesEdward Davies - Marketing Director

Edward joined People 1st in May 2007. He leads the company's marketing function and is responsible for the company's consumer marketing campaigns and overall communications.

Edward has extensive experience in fmcg and brand marketing across UK and Europe and most recently worked on communications campaigns with Government departments including the Home Office, GCHQ and DCLG.

  • Lucia Hansen - Head of International Competitions & Events
  • Lara Wisdom - Communications Executive
  • Orla Brady - Marketing and Events Executive

Research & Policy

Martin-Christian KentMartin-Christian Kent - Research & Policy Director

Martin joined People 1st in 2004. He oversees the team that identifies the current and future skills and labour needs of the sector, as well as those managing the qualifications reform programme.

Martin has over ten years labour market experience and has an Msc in Organisational Behaviour from Birkbeck College, London. His major interest is organisational level research.

  • Stephan John - Head of Vocational Policy
  • Jeff Carter - Policy Manager
  • Kate Slater - Scotland Policy Manager
  • John Humphreys - Wales Policy Manager
  • Preetkiran Sumal - Apprenticeship Manager
  • Breda Leyne - Sector Qualifications Manager
  • Ruth Miller - Standards & Qualifications Project Manager
  • Sophia Nicola - Project Manager
  • Annette Cooper - Project Manager
  • Richard Poole - Project Manager
  • Caroline Perkins - Head of Research
  • Karen Roberts - Research Manager
  • Alastair Galbraith - Labour Market Researcher
  • Melissa Dinic - Researcher
  • Jill Lynch - Research & Policy Administration Officer

UK Skills Development

Lindsay CampbellLindsay Campbell - UK Skills Development Director

Lindsay has worked with People 1st since 2002. He oversees the work of the Skills Development team across the UK and leads on a number of National initiatives.

Prior to joining People 1st, Lindsay was regional manager of England's Northwest tourism Skills Network. He was previously a lecturer in tourism at UCLAN and Lancaster and Morecambe College, and has also worked as a freelance trainer for the British Institute of Innkeeping and Paul Heathcotes school of Excellence.

  • John Chapman - Head of Nations
  • Gerry Brown - Head of English Regions
  • Roisin McKee - Head of Northern Ireland
  • David Allen - Head of Scotland
  • Bryan Roderick - Head of Wales

National Skills Academy

Phil RaynsfordPhil Raynsford - Development Director

Phil joined the Hospitality Training Foundation, People 1st's predecessor organisation, in 1995. In his current role he is developing a national network of employers and providers recognised for delivery excellent training to the hospitality industry.

Phil has previously worked in a variety of roles for People 1st, eventually becoming Policy and Strategic Programmes Director in 2004. He holds a BA (Hon) in Business Studies and the Post Graduate Diploma of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Commercial & Product Development

  • Gary Hodgkisson - Commercial & Product Development
  • Simone Roche - UKSP Customer Relationship Manager

Stonebow

  • Sharon Glancy - Head of People and Business Solutions
  • Annabel Thomson - Client Relationship Manager
  • Aida Hajderi - Client Relationship Executive

Human Resources

  • Beverley Mayle - Interim HR Consultant

Information Technology

  • Steven Gajek - IT Administrator

Administration

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