Jeremy Cartwright

Role: Chair

Start of Service: 8th September 2017

Jeremy is Chair of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and a member of the Transformation, Finance & Resources Committee and the Governance Committee. He is currently Chairman, Trustee and Rider of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood-bikes, as well as an international freelance consultant & interim manager. Prior to this, he was Supply Chain Director and HR Development Director for PZ Cussons PLC and has spent many years leading & developing overseas operations in Asia & Africa.

A consistent theme throughout Jeremy’s career has been a people centred approach to change and a desire to be at the forefront of the change. He has extensive experience in project and change management and enjoys helping others succeed through coaching and mentoring. Jeremy has an MBA in Business Administration from Leeds Metropolitan University, a BSc (Hons) Biochemistry from Birmingham University and an NVQ in Coaching and Assessing from the Open University.

Lisa Capper

Role: Principal & CEO

Start of Service: 25th January 2022

Lisa is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and Principal & CEO of the College. She is also a member of the Curriculum, Quality & Standards Committee, the Transformation, Finance & Resources Committee, the Governance Committee and the Capital Projects Committee.

Lisa leaves Nacro, the national social justice and education charity, to join Stoke on Trent College as the CEO and Principal from 25^th January. Lisa has overseen the turnaround of Nacro’s national Education and Skills Provision from a low base to Ofsted Good in 2019. This includes a national network of Further Education Centres, Totton College, a High Needs Unit and several education contracts for secure youth justice and prison education. 

She has pioneered the work of Nacro Education creating a respected brand and voice on issues relating to disadvantaged young people such as the Learn Without Limits campaign, second chance learning, a national youth voice Knife Crime report and parliamentary roundtables on alternative provision. She was the Chair of the National Safeguarding Board and led Service User/Learner Voice for the Charity. Prior to joining Nacro, she was Vice Principal Schools of an Ofsted good FE college for four years and Executive Director of a successful Academies Trust.

Lisa was previously a senior civil servant in Further Education in both the Department for Education and Department for Business for over 10 years, leading on adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills for Life initiative, founding the commission on adult vocational education, and the prestigious Worldskills London 2011 for which she won the Permanent Secretary’s award. She is an Independent Governor of De Montfort University and until recently the Chair of the National Deaf Children’s Society. 

Lisa was brought up in Northwich, Cheshire and her first vocational role was aged fourteen where she set up play-schemes on the estate where she lived. She believes that everyone should have the opportunity to progress regardless of background or where they live.

In January 2021 she was awarded the MBE for Services to Young people.

Sue Blake

Start of Service 12th September 2019

Sue is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation, a member of the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee and a member of the Capital Projects Committee.

Sue has worked in the education, learning and skills sector for over 30 years. Prior to becoming a freelance consultant and project manager, Sue worked in various senior management roles at local and national level for the former Learning and Skills Council and was also the West Midlands Regional Development Manager working on strategic quality improvement at Learning & Skills Improvement Service.

Sue is a qualified and experienced project manager with substantial experience in quality improvement and partnership working. As a trained coach and mentor Sue has worked with several individuals and organisations going through organisational change and transition.

In 2013, working with the Association of Colleges, Sue established a Quality, Improvement & Innovation network in the West Midlands working with leadership teams, to support quality improvement, sharing of effective practice and facilitate peer-to-peer networking & development.

Sue works for the Education and Training Foundation as the Area Relationship and Development Lead for the West Midlands, supporting colleges, providers and schools to prepare and deliver the new T Level qualifications.

Sue holds an ILM level 5 Coaching and Mentoring in Management certificate and is a Riding for the Disabled Group Coach/Instructor and volunteer for Wyre Forest Riders in Stourport.

Tom Nadin

Start of Service: 21st May 2021

Tom is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation, as well as a member of the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee and Audit Committee.

Tom is currently the Head of Business Services and Projects at Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and has worked at the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce since 2012. He is a member of the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Skills Advisory Panel, a Board member of Staffordshire Partnership for Employment and Skills and a member of the Staffordshire Careers Hub Steering Group.

Tom is a Staffordshire born, experienced Project Manager who has delivered on numerous public sector and private sector funded projects. Tom was instrumental in the successful bid for the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub, the bid for a Staffordshire Careers Hub and positioning Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce as the region’s leading Gateway for the Government’s Kickstart Scheme. Tom also has a BA in Politics from the University of Sheffield.

David Rogers

Start of Service: 25 February 2020

David is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and Chair of the Audit Committee.

David qualified as a Chartered Accountant with what was then Price Waterhouse, specialising in insolvency and corporate recovery. After 18 years, he operated independently, being appointed non-executive chairman of a range of businesses. More recent assignments were in the rail industry and in offshore windfarm construction.

David later became involved in the public sector, helping Stoke and Staffordshire local authorities develop longer term strategic plans and leading on the regeneration of Burslem. About 7 years ago, David joined the Board of Combined Healthcare, the NHS trust which is responsible for mental health services across North Staffordshire.

For the last six years he has chaired the trust, during which time its CQC rating has improved from Requires Improvement to Outstanding. He is a regular executive reviewer on CQC inspections of leaderships across the NHS.

David holds a first-class honours degree in engineering and is an active trustee of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

Hannah Molloy

Start of Service 20th May 2022

Hannah is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and a member of the Audit Committee. 

Hannah is currently Global Head of Customer Success at Huler Limited, responsible for all customer accounts, partnerships, customer service and experience including global brands and leadership of a team of account managers. Hannah has over 16 years of leadership and management experience with a strong emphasis on development, strategy and business principles. Hannah has also worked for the Donna Louise Hospice as the Head of People and Community Engagement and Compliance Manager. 

Hannah is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management and has a Masters in Employment Law from Staffordshire University.

Julie Brereton

Start of Service 20th May 2022

Julie is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and a member of the Transformation, Finance & Resources Committee.

Julie is currently a Multi-Site Retail Operations Manager for Wrights Food Group responsible for control, leadership and management and full profit and loss of 15 retail stores, 7 catering vans in and around Staffordshire and food retail units for distribution centres outside the area.

Julie has demonstrable experience of creative, practical, proactive, and reactive approaches to leadership and is highly skilled in Operations and day to day business activity. She is experienced in project management from initial concept to completion, coaching, sales and people management.

Julie has been responsible for growth and identifying new locations for retail expansion over the last 6 years. She is proactive in new product development in new food products and a large amount of experience in merchandising.

Julie has always set high standards in Customer Service and is extremely employee focused, with an interest in employment Law. She has a breadth of commercial experience in the retail and food sectors. Julie recognises risk area’s and staying within budget via cost analysis and is confident in the implement of change. She has vast experience of liaising and good relationship building with external stakeholders. Julie is always open minded for new ideas and opportunities for change improvement.

Julie was previously a student at Stoke on Trent College where she completed a BTEC in Business Studies. Julie also has a CIPD Level 5 in Human Resources from Staffordshire University.

Stephen Sawbridge

Start of Service 12 May 2017

Steve Sawbridge is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation Board, as well as Chair of the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. Steve has a 32 year career in further education and has worked in teaching and management roles in colleges; as a freelance consultant working with colleges on a number of further education improvement initiatives including leadership and governance; and on further education policy and strategy at the former Learning and Skills Council.

From 2007 to 2017, Steve was the West Midlands Regional Director for the Association of Colleges responsible for promoting, representing and supporting the 35 member colleges in the region. As a member AoC’s senior management team, Steve contributed nationally to AoC’s policy work on quality, funding and, more recently, on skills devolution.

From 2013 to 2017, Steve was a board member and trustee at Crescent Purchasing Limited, the principal purchasing organisation for Further Education colleges, and from 2007 to 2011 was a board member at the West Midlands Regional Observatory.  He has also been an elected staff governor at a Further Education college in the West Midlands.

Since retiring from AoC in June 2017 Steve continues to be actively involved in further education providing consultancy services on quality improvement and strategy to colleges and other organisations across the country. Steve has an MA in Education Management from the University of Wolverhampton and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

David Boughey

Role: Vice Chair

Start of Service 8th September 2017

David is Vice Chair of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and Chair of the Transformation, Finance and Resources Committee.

He is currently Managing Director of KMF Precision Engineering and, prior to this, he was Chairman of MGS Precision, which operates across a range of demanding markets including automotive, motorsport, aerospace, nuclear energy, military and industrial power. He was previously Director at Abnormal Load Engineering and Managing Director at Howden Compressors Limited.

David is a very experienced Group Managing Director who has succeeded in a number of senior business role within equipment manufacturing, energy industries and service sectors. In all the businesses David has led, he has established successful, graduate and apprentice schemes.

David is very active within Stoke Rugby Club holding a number of appointments including Mini and Junior Chairman, as well as recently being responsible for Sponsorship and serving on the Finance Committee.

David holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Production Engineering from Leeds Metropolitan University, a Diploma in Management Studies from North Staffordshire University and a Fellowship in Manufacturing Management from Cranfield University.

Kevin Hetherington

Start of Service 29th June 2022

Kevin is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and a member of the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee

Kevin is currently Deputy Vice Chancellor at Staffordshire University which includes oversight of delivery of all higher education; responsibility for International Strategy including international student recruitment, partnerships and research collaborations and local civic responsibility for Staffordshire University engagement with businesses, enterprise zone activity, deputy for the Vice Chancellor on the board for the LEP and development of local partnerships. Kevin was previously Pro Vice Chancellor Research and Academic Strategy at The Open University.

Kevin has a BA (Hons) First Class in Geography and Sociology from the University of Leeds and a PhD from the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University. He is also a Professor of Cultural Geography.

Sally Garratt

Start of Service 9th November 2022

Sally is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee. She is also the College’s Safeguarding Link Governor.

Sally is currently CEO at the Petty Pool Trust, a charity delivering education programmes for young people who are neurodiverse to support them into employment and lead independent lives. Prior to her role at the Petty Pool Trust, Sally was the Director of Operations for the LTE Group where she had 17 years delivering education contracts for learners in secure settings. Sally is an experienced strategic leader in organisation development and change with a focus on quality improvement and colleague engagement, she also has experience in developing business plans, solutions for curriculum design and delivery to support employer and sector need. Sally is also an Executive Coach working with leaders to develop their teams.

Sally holds a BSC (Hons) in Health and Social Care, is a qualified teacher, Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Lead and has a post graduate diploma in Health Promotion and Education from the University of Liverpool.

Sibgha Amin

Independent Governor

Start of Service: 5 November 2019

Sibgha is an Independent Governor and Student Ambassador at Stoke on Trent College. Sibgha was a student at the College and completed her Health and Social Care course in May; she was Student of the Year 2019, which led onto the role as Student Ambassador. She is looking forward to starting University in 2020 to study Psychology with Counselling, where she will have gained some experience from working with current students, and supporting them emotionally.

She has been involved with the Home Office and attended meetings with members of the community, home office members and members of the government; to discuss problems and solutions related to islamophobia, radicalisation and far right, as there has been an increase within these areas. She has also become a spokesperson for young people on the Stoke-On-Trent City Council Prevent Board, where she shared best practice and influenced future policy to ensure young people’s safety.

As a student, she got involved with fundraising, community cohesion, peer mentoring, student council and taking part and leading enrichment activities. This has helped her realise her potential, and from that she aspires to become a counsellor in the future and be able to open and manage her own counselling firm.

Thomas Foster

Student Governor

Start of Service: 1st August 2022

Tom is a Student Governor and member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation. Tom is currently studying a Level 3 Diploma for Entry to the Uniformed Services. As a Student Governor, Tom attends meetings with Staff Governors and discusses issues and ways to help the College now and in the future from a student viewpoint. Tom also attends monthly student representative / student voice meetings.

Sidra Rashid Bhatti

Student Governor

Start of Service: 9th November 2022

Sidra is a Student Governor and member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation. Sidra is currently studying a Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice (Graphics and Photography Year 1).

As a Student Governor, Sidra attends meetings with Staff Governors and discusses issues and ways to help the College now and in the future from a student viewpoint. Sidra also attends monthly student representative / student voice meetings.

Harrison Sajad

Student Governor

Start of Service: 9th November 2022

Harrison is a Student Governor and member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation. Harrison is currently studying a Level 1 Diploma in Barbering.

As a Student Governor, Harrison attends meetings with Staff Governors and discusses issues and ways to help the College now and in the future from a student viewpoint. Harrison also attends monthly student representative / student voice meetings.

Lyndsey Cherry

Academic Staff Governor

Start of Service: 20th January 2022

Lyndsey is Academic Staff Governor for the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and a member of the Curriculum, Quality & Standards Committee.

Lyndsey is Head of Learning for Services to People, specialising in early childhood, education and health and social care. She oversees the day to day running of the Services to People department and quality assures the teaching, learning and assessment within the department. Prior to this, she was a Child Studies Lecturer at the College, as well as a Teaching Assistant at local Primary/Infant schools. Lyndsey has a passion for student support and the development of young people’s social and emotional learning.

Lyndsey has a BA (hons) in Childhood Studies from Manchester Met University, as well as a Diploma in Teaching in Lifelong Learning.

David Hopley

Staff Governor

Start of Service 23 October 2015

Dave is Executive Director of Student and Digital Services at the College; Responsible for the strategic direction and effective delivery of the following services: Student services (including administration & reception, student admissions and pastoral support, careers & guidance, tutorial coordination, enrichment & student voice); Digital services, IT infrastructure & support; and the College Nursery. 

Dave is the named College Lead for Careers and Mental Health and a Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing the safeguarding of students.

Dave holds a Batchelor of Science Degree (Bsc) in Computer Studies, a Post Graduate Level 5 Diploma in Management and a Post Graduate Level 7 Award in Careers Leadership. Dave is a Chartered Manager (CMgr) and Member of the Chartered Institute of Managers (MCMI), and a Member of The National Association for Managers of Student Services (NAMSS).

Rob Fisher

Start of Service: 1^st October 2018

Rob is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation, Chair of the Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. Rob is a fully CIPD qualified Human Resources professional with a first class Business Management degree. He is currently Managing Director at Strategi Solutions Group Ltd and is experienced in a wide range of sectors but with particular experience within the Manufacturing and Transport sectors.

Prior to his Director role at Strategi Solutions Group Ltd, Rob was the HR Business Partner at Ornua Nutrition Ingredients and Group HR Manager at Steelite International Plc. Rob has a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, as well as a BA (Hons) Business Management from Staffordshire University.

Jo Mountney

Start of Service: 1^st October 2018

Jo is a member of the Stoke on Trent College Corporation and the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee.

Jo is currently HR Director for both Alton Towers Resort and Warwick Castle, as well as being the People Partner to the Managing Director of Merlin’s Resort Theme Park division. She has worked at a senior level within the Merlin Entertainments Group for over 15 years. Jo is passionate about enabling individuals to fulfil their full potential, and creating an environment which engages people and enables them to flourish. Jo, and the HR team at the Resort, love the part they play in helping people into work and giving them skills that will take them through life. Jo has a CIPD Level 7 qualification from Staffordshire University, as well as a HND in Hospitality, Catering and Institutional Management from the University of Wales.

Julie Bridges

Clerk to the Corporation

Start of Service 12th December 2022

Jules is the Clerk to the Corporation at Stoke on Trent College. She has worked in the FE sector for 10 years now but has a career in governance roles in charity, further education and multi academy trust settings spanning over 20 years. Her role at the College is to support the Board of Governors and provide independent advice and guidance.

She is also the Company Secretary for Stoke on Trent Limited and Education Business Services (Stoke) Ltd.

Jules is also the Head of Governance at the College of West Anglia.