Status
Married to Sarah with two children and two stepdaughters and a wonderful granddaughter – Mia Rose
Career Highlight
Setting up 3aaa Apprenticeships, been a hell of a journey so far!
Other roles
Chair of Spencer Academy Trust
Ambition
For 3aaa Apprenticeships to be the best it can be and personally to lose 2 stone!
Motto
It’s not the taking part, it’s the winning that’s important!
About your role at 3aaa
I am the Group CEO of 3aaa with responsibility with our senior management team for the overall direction of the business. I spend lots of my time talking to clients, reviewing the market place and the emerging policy trends, positioning the business to respond to these challenges and supporting our clients and indeed Apprentices across our whole network of training centres.
I prefer to be out of the office and make as much time to achieve this as possible. We have a strong management team and board of directors who support the direction of the business and my key role is to ensure we deliver consistent high quality solutions to meet all our client needs, whatever their size.
Your Background Prior to 3aaa and
How My Role Adds Value to our Partnering Clients
I left School and was an Apprentice at 16 – becoming a qualified accountant at 21 working in Local Government with a large County Council. I enjoyed every minute of it.
I then spent 2 years in the Civil Service with the Audit Commission and joined KPMG in 1990, becoming an equity partner in 1996 and leading their education practice in both the UK and Europe, eventually taking over control of the Business Service line of business of the firm.
2002 was a light bulb moment for me and I left the firm and joined a small training provide in the North East. Summer of 2003, I led a management buy out and sold it successfully in 2005 when I retired albeit briefly. The respite lead me to loose my marbles so to speak and buy a Football Club which I and 4 others took to the Premier League in less than 12 months – to be sold to an American Consortium shortly after.
2008 saw the launch of 3aaa with Di, who I had known for over 10 years and we are proud to have built a successful business with a passion for quality and delivering life changing opportunities for people of all ages.
What are your interests outside of work?
Cars! and spending time with my wife and children and Granddaughter – yes I know I am too young to be a Granddad but it is very enjoyable.
When I have a little more time, my wife and I want to start building a new home from scratch – we have the land but need the time and space to enjoy the experience.
I have also taken on the role of Chairman of a medium sized Multi Academy Trust with 12 Schools – responsible for 11,000 pupils is an interesting diversion but I am enjoying the role of a non – executive director and the responsibilities that go with it!
I adore going for walks in the countryside and finishing with a nice craft beer in a country pub. Travelling to new places and learning about new things is exciting too but my greatest joy is spending time with family and friends just enjoying life and having fun.
3 words that best describe you:
- Ambitious
- Driven
- Focussed