WIREDGOV

Three of the region's leading business figures are using their years of collective experience to help drive one of the North East's largest educational organisations forward.

North East based awarding body NCFE, has appointed three new board members to add a wealth of experience to their organisation as they navigate uncertain times inthe education sector – Michael Robinson, Rachel Turnbull and Greg Austin.

Michael Robinson, born and bred in the North East, is currently Group Legal Director and Company Secretary at the Sage Group PLC, and for 15 years worked for one of the largest law firms in the UK. Michael brings with him a strong legal background and has been involved in a number of mergers and strategic acquisitions throughout his career.

Rachel Turnbull played a key role in delivering the £360m New Tyne Crossing from 2007 and has since been made Chief Executive of TT2, holding full responsibility for the project’s investment and company operations.

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Rachel holds a number of non-exec roles within the region and is actively involved with the CBI, NECC and local business forums.Rachel will apply her knowledge and business experience to help maximise the financial strategy for NCFE.

Greg Austin comes to NCFE with over 20 years’ experience in HR. Greg is currently HR Director for the Sodexo Healthcare UK Division with a key focus on employee engagement and prior to that operated as HR Director at G4S, for the Government and Outsourcing Services Division.

A Sunday Times Top 100 company, NCFE invests heavily in its people with employee relations sitting at the heart of its business model. Greg’s experience will help NCFE to make further improvements in this area, ensuring that it continues to attract the best quality staff, developing a better understanding of its colleagues and customers.

Chief Executive for NCFE, David Grailey, said: “We’re extremely pleased to welcome our new members to the Board. They have outstanding experience in each of their specialisms and I am very confident that they will help NCFE continue along its robust growth and development plan over the next few years.

“In light of recent funding cuts and policy changes, the coming year will be yet another challenging one for the education sector, so it has never been more important for businesses such as NCFE to have the right people on board. We specifically recruited for key business figures from the region who will clearly add value to enable us to drive NCFE forward.”

For more information from NCFE, visit www.ncfe.org.uk or call 0191 239 8000.

Notes to editors:

About NCFE

• NCFE is one of the UK’s leading awarding bodies, developing and implementing vocational and academic qualifications in a range of subjects.
• NCFE works with 2000 colleges, schools and training providers to offer over 300 qualifications on the QCF and NQF in a range of subject areas. 
• NCFE works closely with colleges, training providers, schools and employers throughout the UK to develop specific and relevant qualifications which focus on the needs of the learners and employees.
• NCFE is also a registered educational charity and a company limited by guarantee. Our charitable aim is 'to promote and advance the education and training of young persons and adults'.