I teach on apprenticeship鈥憆elated teaching and employer鈥慹ngagement activity (HE), and have worked across higher education, further education and industry for over two decades. My interests include degree apprenticeships and workforce development, curriculum innovation and quality enhancement, employer engagement and industry鈥憀ed education, leadership, management and organisational development.
My career includes academic leadership roles at the University of Oxford, University of Warwick and Aston University, alongside FE leadership as an Associate Director at Birmingham Metropolitan College. Alongside my academic work, I have delivered professional training and consultancy for organisations including Rolls鈥慠oyce and BMW.
This blend of academic leadership, industry practice and professional training informs a highly applied, employer鈥慺ocused approach to teaching and curriculum design. My industry experience enables me to bring real鈥憌orld expectations directly into the classroom. Students benefit from insight into how employers recruit, develop and promote talent, practical examples from engineering, manufacturing and professional services, strong employer networks that support placements, projects and guest speakers, and a curriculum shaped around current and emerging skills needs. My aim is to help students understand not just the theory, but the behaviours, standards and professional mindset that employers look for.
I鈥檓 most inspired by the point where education genuinely changes someone鈥檚 trajectory; when a student gains confidence, finds their professional identity and realises they can operate at a level they didn鈥檛 previously think possible. Seeing learners develop that sense of belonging, especially those coming through vocational or non鈥憈raditional routes, is what drives my work in curriculum design, apprenticeships and student experience. I鈥檓 motivated by creating learning environments that feel relevant, inclusive and connected to real industry practice.
A common misconception is that business and management are purely theoretical subjects. In reality, employers value behaviours, mindset and applied problem鈥憇olving just as much as academic knowledge. Students sometimes assume success comes from memorising models, when in fact it comes from understanding how to use those models in real situations with people, teams, deadlines and organisational pressures. My role is to help students bridge that gap between theory and practice, so they feel confident stepping into the workplace.
I鈥檓 most proud of the impact I鈥檝e had on students and apprentices across my career, from supporting first鈥慻eneration learners to succeed at university, to helping apprentices progress into engineering, leadership and professional roles with major employers. I鈥檓 also proud of the cross鈥憇ector work I鈥檝e led, where I鈥檝e helped shape curriculum, strengthen employer partnerships and improve student retention and progression. The common thread is enabling people to grow, achieve and move into meaningful careers, which is ultimately why I do this work.
I enjoy the energy and ambition that UCB students bring. Many come with strong vocational backgrounds or real鈥憌orld experience, and they鈥檙e hungry to develop their skills and move into meaningful careers. What inspired me to work here is UCB鈥檚 commitment to applied learning and employer engagement 鈥� it鈥檚 a place where education genuinely connects to industry, and where students can see a clear pathway from the classroom to the workplace. Being part of that journey is incredibly rewarding.