CVQO - Key Persons
Originally from Leamington Spa, and having completed a Degree in Economics at Coventry, Adrian has spent most of his adult life living in Wokingham and working in the South East. He started his career in office products and microfilm services and progressed into Document & Records Management. He has had a number of functions in these industries including equipment service, production and finance.
During the last 15 years he has been managing the operations and finance teams in two document management/scanning bureau companies. Adrian joined CVQO in November 2020 and is busy building up his knowledge of the Learner Support Services processes.
Adrian enjoys spending his leisure time with his family and improving his home, and enjoys outdoor hobbies including skiing, kayaking and long walks.
Andrew joined the Scouts and then continued to become a Scout Leader. He was commissioned as an Officer with the Air Training Corps from 1991 to 2019, where he was a Squadron and Wing VQ Officer.
He has worked in many education roles since 2000, and joined CVQO as a Young Leader Award instructor in 2017 before taking his current position of Lead Teaching and Learning Manager.
Andrew lives in Poulton-Le-Fylde in Lancashire with his family. His spare time is spent with his MX5 or out clay target shooting.
At 13 Andy joined the Army Cadet Force, and after 5 years as a cadet became an adult volunteer. During the 1980s he was serving with the Territorial Army whilst also volunteering with the ACF. Andy's current role within the ACF is Commandant of Cheshire Army Cadet Force.
After a 25 year career in the manufacturing sector dealing with many Blue Chip companies, Andy spent some time managing a five star holiday park in North Wales but moved back to Cheshire when his granddaughter was born.
He joined CVQO in 2013 as the North West Hub Co-ordinator for the Schools Partnership Programme, and is now the Senior Business Development Manager for NI, Scotland, Wales and North & Central England.
Andy and his team are responsible for client relationships with CVQOs partner organisations in the management of vocational qualifications ranging from BTEC Level 1 to City and Guilds Level 7 qualifications, but primarily CVQO's Level 2 BTEC in Teamwork and Personal Development (TPD).
Chris was born and went to school in Southampton and then studied History at Newcastle University (BA Hons) in the ‘80's and took his PGSE at the University of Swansea, completing his teaching qualification in a school Port Talbot, which was followed by working for PGL in the Ardeche, France.
He was a member of the senior team in secondary education for a number of years and in all completed over 20 years running pastoral care and teaching History and PE, amongst many other subjects! During his teaching career he took a well-earned year out backpacking around the world.
Chris joined CVQO after a few years working with 6 th formers running volunteer projects (Millennium volunteers) for Lincolnshire County Council and initially became a Schools Project instructor.
Chris loves travelling, walking his chocolate Labrador and following the ups and downs of Southampton FC.
David spent many years working in the private sector and comes from a design and marketing background, later transferring to a career in vocational training, particularly developing training programmes for young people facing challenging issues - he says "I was bitten by the training bug!" He supported his learners to progress to apprenticeship opportunities and later spent the last 10 years supporting the development of these programmes on a freelance basis.
David has joined CVQO to support the team to achieve the organisation's goal to improve the learner journey. When not at work you will find David sailing, and mostly repairing, his boat Cookies.
Fiona started her voluntary role within the Scouts, moving to the Sea Cadets in 2020. She is the Area Staff Officer, for Vocational Qualifications in Northern Area and is the Training Officer within her unit at Dunbar.
Prior to joining CVQO she worked as a HLTA, gaining lots of teaching experience, in a Berwick Middle School for over 10 years. Before this she worked with young people in after school clubs and youth groups since leaving school.
Originally from Berwick upon Tweed she now has settled down in Eyemouth with her husband and enjoys eating out with friends and having weekends away in her spare time.
Graham joined CVQO in 2012 on the ILM programme and added City & Guilds to his role shortly after, becoming City & Guilds Manager in 2022.
Graham graduated from Cambridge University and a career in teaching followed in England and Kenya that spanned 30 years in the independent sector. His career in education included a variety of roles from head of science to senior boarding housemaster and director of IT. Throughout his career Graham actively supported the CCF and Duke of Edinburgh Award which has seen him lead many successful expeditions to Kenya, Iceland and Madagascar. Further to this, Graham enjoyed many years in Scouting and is also keenly involved in other community volunteer work in Cumbria.
CVQO Chief Executive Guy Horridge was born into a military family. After a relatively traditional …
John has recently retired after 24 years as a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. During this time he was the global leader of their M&A Integration and Separation business and latterly was the COO of their UK Deals business. He spent 6 years as an elected member of their Supervisory Board and for 3 of those years he was the Deputy Chairman of the Board.
Since retirement he is focused on building a small portfolio of non-executive roles in the charitable sector. In addition to being the Treasurer and a Trustee of CVQO, he is also an independent alumni member of the Risk and Audit Committee for Jesus College, Oxford.
John graduated with a Mathematics degree from Jesus College, Oxford and then joined Price Waterhouse, where he qualified as an accountant. In addition to being in the CCF at school, he spent 20 years in the Territorial Army as a Royal Artillery officer. John is a keen runner, cyclist, skier, golfer and mountain person.
Job Titles:
- Business Advisor
- Chairman
- Manager
- Trustee
Keith Baldwin is an experienced manager and business advisor with strong financial skills, excellent technological awareness and strategic thinking capability.
His record of achievements at board level is based on twenty years as a partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers which includes considerable experience of analysing complex issues and making impartial assessments.
Keith's subsequent experience includes work as an independent business advisor, interim manager, Non-Executive Director, and charity trustee.
Keith's knowledge includes management roles with responsibility for HR and personal development, business strategy, business management, operations management, project and programme management as well as risk and quality management. He has worked extensively with government bodies, private sector organisations and the charitable sector in the UK and internationally.
Kerry joined the Army Cadet Force as a cadet at the age of 14, then became an adult instructor in 1997. She currently runs a successful Detachment within Dorset ACF
Kerry's main areas of interest within the ACF are Shooting, Skill at Arms, Expedition Training and Navigation.
Kerry took part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and completed her Gold Expedition in Finland following the Russian Bear Trail, raising money for The Royal Star & Garter Home in Richmond. The enjoyment Kerry got out of taking part in the Scheme has made her a very enthusiastic person who encourages all her cadets to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
She joined CVQO in November 2013 as an instructor on the CVQO Schools Partnership Project in the Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire areas.
Job Titles:
- in 2013 As a Schools Partnership Project Instructor
Kevin joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16 in 1976 as a Seaman Operator.
He served for 32 years holding various education and training positions before retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 2012. After leaving the Royal Navy Kevin became the Performance Boxing Coach at City Academy, Bristol.
Kevin joined CVQO in 2013 as a Schools Partnership Project Instructor, then Educational Advisor for Level 3 Sport and a Curriculum Support Assistant before embarking on his new role as Curriculum Manager for BTEC Level 1 and BTEC Level 2 Fire and Rescue Service in November 2020.
Kevin's main hobbies include coaching amateur boxers of all ages, being a Level 4 England Boxing Advanced Coach and representing England as a coach on more than 16 occasions. He is also an England Boxing Coach Educator and an England Boxing Talent Pathway Coach.
Lou joined Cheshire ACF in January 2006 as an instructor. She currently holds the rank of Major and is Officer Commanding Messines Company…
Lou joined Cheshire ACF in January 2006 as an instructor and is now the County Training Officer.
Her work background includes several years as an Outdoor Education instructor, various management roles in the Local Authority and Leisure industry, but in more recent years prior to becoming the North West Regional Manager, she was a training adviser and assessor delivering apprenticeships and NVQs in Management and Professional Services.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Trustee of the Royal London Society for the Blind
- Visiting Professor at University College London
Martin Doel is a Visiting Professor at University College London (Institute of Education) and Associate Director of the Institute's Centre for Post-14 Education and Work. He was previously the Institute's first Professor of Leadership in Further Education and Skills from April 2016 until 2019, after having previously been the Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC) from 2008.
Prior to this Martin served for 28 years in the Royal Air Force where his final appointment was as Director of Training and Education for all three Armed Services, working in the Ministry of Defence, the largest employer of apprentices in the UK.
He was appointed OBE in 1998 for his work in support of operations in the Balkans and for his contribution to Anglo-German relations and CBE in the 2016 New Year Honours for his contribution to education.
Martin is a Trustee of the Royal London Society for the Blind and the Independent Member of the Institute for Apprenticeships' Audit and Risk, and Remuneration Committees. In the past two years he has acted as Interim Chair of two Further Education Colleges at the request of the Department of Education, as well as serving on several advisory boards in the FE Sector.
He is also a Life-Vice President of the RAF Football Association and a qualified FA Coach.
Melanie was born in Liverpool and after 5 years at university graduated with an MA in Criminal Justice.
After working for Cheshire Police in a number of different roles straight after university she worked as a youth worker in the voluntary sector before finally finding her vocation in education. Melanie has worked in the FE sector, predominantly teaching Public Services but also Pre-uniformed services for over 9 years. She joined CVQO in September 2018 initially as a Teaching, Learning and Development Manager and is now a Curriculum Manager responsible for the BTEC L2 TPD qualification.
Melanie is involved with her local Air Cadet unit (having joined at the age of 13 and never left!) and is part of Merseyside Wing ‘Road Marching team', training cadets to complete the famous Nijmegen 100 mile 4 day challenge! In terms of hobbies, Melanie enjoys going to the gym and spending time with friends and family.
Michelle joined the Sea Cadets in 1982 as a cadet and then as a volunteer, and continued to rise through the ranks to gain Lieutenant Commander on the Merit Promotion board in 2009. She has had various roles as a volunteer including Commanding Officer at Nottingham Unit, District Officer, Area Staff Officer BTEC, Area Training Officer, Area Staff Officer Staff Development and Headquarters Staff Officer BTEC for the whole of the UK. She has also been an ambassador for the International Exchange Programme travelling to various countries including Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sweden and USA. Michelle fundraises regularly for the Sea Cadets and the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, and is also a mentor for the Prince's Trust supporting young people to help transform their lives.
Before joining CVQO, Michelle spent 26 years at Boots Company head office in Nottingham as a Personal Assistant in the Business Development and Strategy Team. Her hobbies include decorative ropework, paddleboarding, collecting plastic ducks, cruising on the Norfolk Broads and travelling overseas - especially to Malta.
In October 2020 Michelle was awarded the Military MBE in the HM Queen's Birthday Honours list for Services to the Sea Cadets and fundraising. She has also completed nearly all the awards that CVQO offer including City Guilds Level 7, ILM L3, ILM L5 and BTEC L3 Education and Training!
Michèle Parry graduated from Newcastle upon Tyne University with a BA with Honours in Modern Languages. Following her love of languages and travel she then spent 7 years abroad living in France, Sweden, Germany and then eventually Australia.
Once back on terra firma, Michèle spent two years at Surrey University studying for a Masters in Translation and worked as a freelance translator for over a decade whilst bringing up a young family. She joined CVQO in 2007 and was promoted first to a new role within CVQO, Quality Control Manager, and is now the Deputy Chief Executive. During this time Michèle completed a 2-year Masters in Management.
Michèle's interests are playing the piano, pilates, swimming and languages. Over the last few years she has taught German at a local FE college and piano to adults and children in her spare time.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager ( North
Miranda has worked for CVQO for the past seven years initially working on CVQO's Schools Partnership Project …
Miranda has worked for Cadet Vocational College for the past seven years initially working on Cadet Vocational College's Schools Partnership Project, and more recently as the Business Development Manager for London, Home Counties and East Anglia. She is a very active volunteer with the Army Cadet Force and she is currently one of the Deputy Commandants for Beds and Herts ACF.
Mitch lived life until 1989 in Germany moving to Retford in Nottinghamshire where she has stayed since joining the Army Cadet Force as an adult instructor in the summer of 1989. After 28 years she is still a member of Nottinghamshire ACF having held many ranks and currently serves as a Deputy Commandant (Military Training).
In 1998 Mitch started on her further education teaching career working at the local college with a break in the middle teaching staff members in the NHS. Mitch has lectured in many topics: public services, outdoor education, health and social care and more recently for the past 10 years mathematics.
Mitch is married to Patrick and they have a black four-legged member of the family called Mils. Any spare time she finds is generally exploring the countryside with Mils. Mitch started with CVQO in January 2018 as a regional manager for the east region but for the past 15 years through her ACF career she has had many cadets achieving the CVQO-led public services qualification.
Olga has been a Trustee and Deputy Chairperson for CVQO since March 2007, and is the Board lead and Chair for the Safeguarding, Education and Remuneration Committees.
She has 30 years' experience working within the work-based learning environment; as an educational specialist, managing, designing and developing apprenticeships, traineeships, skills academy and AEB programmes across a variety of subject sector areas; working with multi clients, large levy employers, training providers, colleges and community organisations.
Olga has vast experience in leading organisations, managing change and achieving a positive outcome to build and develop successful training organisations. Her key competencies are:
Extremely experienced, operating at governance level within a number of organisations delivering government funded training
Chairperson and Councillor of Burnaston Parish Council
Placed training companies into "good and outstanding provision" (as defined by Ofsted) by successfully achieving Good or Outstanding inspection results
Ability to develop new apprenticeships and bespoke training programmes
SFEDI Assessor working with Princes Trust as a Business Advisors
Chartered Management Institute End Point Assessor delivering up to level 7
Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Educators
Head Judge for two years and a member of the team that launched the BAME Apprenticeship awards initiative
Current Ofsted Inspector inspecting against the Education Inspection Framework.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Air Vice - Marshal
- Trustee of the Parachute Regiment
Ranald Munro was called to the English and Welsh Bar at Grays Inn in 1986. He has had 37 years in-house legal and commercial experience, having worked in a number of multi-national organisations, in a diverse range of industries.
His legal career has seen him perform senior roles in renowned companies. He currently has a portfolio of interests including advising Cirencester Friendly Society on Governance and Company Secretarial matters. He was General Counsel for Lombard International Assurance. Prior to joining Lombard International Assurance, he was Chief Legal Officer of SCOR Global P&C.
Earlier in his career, Ranald acted as a Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, Senior Legal Adviser at International Computers Ltd, Group Legal Adviser and Company Secretary at L'Oréal (UK) Limited and European General Counsel, Company Secretary and Head of External Affairs at Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE.
Ranald is an Air Vice-Marshal in the RAF Reserve appointed in 2019 to the role of Commandant General Royal Auxiliary Air Force and Chief of Staff Reserves, the RAF's Senior Reserve appointment. Prior to his appointment, he was a Parachute Regiment Major General in the Army Reserve and served as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets), a tri-service appointment - Defence's Senior Reserve appointment. Prior to that he served as Deputy Commander Land Forces in the rank of Major General, then the Army's Senior Reserve appointment.
He was awarded his Territorial Decoration (TD) in 1999. He was awarded the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal in 2009 and Clasps in 2014 and 2019 and was awarded his CBE in 2014. In 2023 he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Ranald is a Trustee of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Charity, an Elder of The Parachute Regiment, former Honorary Colonel 4 PARA, Honorary Colonel of Bristol University Officers Training Corps, until recently Regimental Colonel of The London Scottish, Chairman of Trustees of The London Scottish, Chairman of the Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadet Association (GL RFCA), a member of the Surrey Committee of the South East RFCA and an Honorary Colonel of South East Sector of the Army Cadet Force.
He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), an ambassador for the Defence Medical Welfare Services, a Freeman of the City of London, Lieutenant of the City of London, and is a Vice President (past Chairman) of The Caledonian Club in Belgravia. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London in January 2019.
He is married to Louise with two children at University, and his main recreational interests are golf, tennis and flying and has recently taken up free fall parachuting!
Richard joined CVQO in 2010 having previously been a Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) in the Army, serving in The Band of The Life Guards, and at the Royal Military School of Music.
He joined CVQO as an Operations Manager to oversee Level 2 & 3 Music BTEC. In 2015, he became the CVQO Southern Area Manager, until moving to his current role in 2021. He is responsible for client relationships with CVQOs partner organisations, involving management and training of Adult Volunteers and Civilian Staff in the delivery of vocational qualifications ranging from BTEC Level 1 to City and Guilds Level 7 qualifications, but primarily CVQO's Level 2 BTEC in Teamwork and Personal Development (TPD).
Richard lives in Kent and is married with two children. He is a keen horseman and skier. Since joining CVQO, Richard continues to perform as a clarinettist and conductor with the Royal Yeomanry Band in the Army Reserve. He is also a Trustee for the Regimental Association.
Rob graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Natural Sciences and then joined Price Waterhouse working in London and Barcelona and where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.
He subsequently held a variety of senior finance roles in media organisations and more recently as Finance Director at a leading international vocational training provider which he left in 2019 to join CVQO.
Outside work Rob is likely to be found on a long distance swim or enjoying a rugby match.
Job Titles:
- Roberta Turkington Retired from Full Time Work in 2019 Having Worked in Education for 38 Years
- Roberta Turkington Retired from Full Time Work in 2019 Having Worked in Education for 38 Years / Regional Manager ( Northern Ireland )
Roberta Turkington retired from full time work in 2019 having worked in education for 38 years…
Roberta has had a long standing interest in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award; as a Gold Award holder she got involved in delivering DofE at the school where she worked, and through that interest then joined the Army Cadet Force. In 2010 Roberta was awarded an MBE for services to DofE in Northern Ireland.
Roberta has held a number of ACF posts from Detachment Commander to Deputy Commandant and is currently the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Advisor for the ACF in Northern Ireland and a VQO.
Roberta has been VQO in her Battalion for four years and has seen the benefits that vocational qualifications can give young people, which is why when she retired she was excited to join CVQO in 2020 on a part-time basis.
In her spare time she enjoys walking, canoeing, entertaining, baking and gardening.
Sheryl graduated from Leeds Trinity University with a single honours in Sport and Exercise Science, where she further developed an interest in Health, Fitness and Wellbeing.
She has worked in education for over 10 years, working in a vast array of educational settings before finding her talent in supporting young people to develop their character and personal attributes.
Simon Denny was raised in Essex and educated at Brentwood School.
He joined the Army in 1976. After officer training at RMA Sandhurst he joined the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and served in Germany and Northern Ireland before completing a degree at Exeter University. He later served with the Royal Army Educational Corps and completed a MA at Warwick University (part time) before leaving the Army in 1986.
After six years in industry, in 1992 he went to Nene College of Higher Education, which subsequently became the University of Northampton. In 2006 Simon was awarded the University's Court Award for services to local enterprise. He became Professor of Entrepreneurship in 2007. In 2010 he was granted The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion. His final role at the University was as Executive Dean: Research, Impact and Enterprise, giving him responsibility for devising and implementing the University's research and enterprise strategy. He retired from the University in late 2018.
Simon is a director of a social enterprise providing accredited educational programmes to people working in the supply chain sector. He also works as an independent researcher specialising in the identification of the economic and social impacts of formal and informal activities and programmes. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Educators, where he acts as military liaison officer and leads the special interest group in military education.
Simon's hobbies include birdwatching, fishing and shooting. He is a supporter of RAF Music Services and other service charities. His son is currently a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF Regiment and his daughter is a lawyer in a City of London firm.
After qualifying with the NCTJ, Steve started his career in the media working for regional and national newspapers, magazines and in radio before moving into PR, specialising in media relations and crisis management for large consumer-facing companies and also running his own media training business. Later he developed strategic marketing and communications for a leading healthcare charity and latterly, 12 years ago, he joined CVQO.
He is a former cadet and also spent 25 years training CFAVs in media relations and PR. He still works as an occasional freelance broadcaster, linked to his passions of food, music and motorsport.
Stuart has been a cadet, regular and reserve soldier, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, and served 25 years as an MOD civil servant. For the last 10 years he has been the Principle Staff Officer for cadets in HQ South West, engaging with both the ACF & CCF. Prior to this he worked in Defence Internal Audit.
Stuart originates from Camberley, Surrey and was educated at Farnborough College of Technology followed by Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham.
Tracey was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire and has ten years' experience of running her own business, eighteen years' experience working in further education and seven years' experience working within the charity sector.
Tracey's significant role within further education was Schools Manager where she was responsible for the vocational learning of all 14-16 year old learners. She joined the charity sector in 2014 and has taken on various roles including Area Manager, Business Development Manager, Quality and Training Manager and Assistant Director of Corporate Partnerships.
Tracey joined CVQO in 2018 as Stakeholder Relationship Manager and is currently Head of Stakeholder Relations.