Introducing our Governing Body

Here at the UTC we have two levels of governance within the body with the roles of ‘Members’ and ‘Trustees’ (Governors).  The members are akin to the shareholders of a company.  They are the original subscribers to the Trust’s memorandum of association, and any other individuals permitted under its articles of association and also have the power to appoint and remove Trustees.

The Governing Body is heavily supported by our employer partners from within the local community and industry who provide representatives, called ‘Sponsor Trustees’.  The UTC is also supported by the Manchester Metropolitan University and Cheshire East Council who provide representatives called ‘Co-opted Trustees’.  The other essential representatives are Teacher and Parent Trustees.

The Governing Body also benefits from being divided down into various sub-committees which focus on specific topics, such as Finance and Marketing, and draw upon the wealth of skills and experience existing to support the overall governance of the UTC.

Members

 

Sally Hepton

Governing Body Role: Chair of Members

Employment Role: Director of Government Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility

Employer: Bentley Motors LTD

Profile:

Sally Hepton is Director of Government Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility for Bentley Motors.  Bentley is the world’s leading producer of luxury cars and is based in Crewe. In 2019, Bentley will be celebrating its 100th birthday.

Sally is also a Board Member of the Northern Automotive Alliance and a Regional Council Member of the CBI. Sally has been involved in the UTC since its inception, having helped secure this national investment in the town. In 2016 and just recently in 2018, Sally was recognised by Auto Car as one of the top 100 women in the British car industry.

Prior to joining Bentley, Sally held national and international roles for Shell and Toyota.

Paul Hopper

Governing Body Role: Member

Employment Role: Head of Enterprise Development in the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Employer: Manchester Metropolitan University

Profile:

Paul holds a Chair in Environmental Management and Sustainability and is Head of Enterprise Development in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is responsible for leading business engagement activity across the Faculty and is a champion for degree apprenticeships.

He provides research, training and consultancy services to the aviation industry on stakeholder engagement, noise management & communication, corporate responsibility, sustainability reporting and carbon management and accounting.

Mathew Conway

Governing Body Role: Member

Employment Role: Managing Director/Company Owner

Employer: OSL Global

Profile:

Mathew started his working life as an apprentice in the British Steel Shotton Works aged 15. On completing his apprenticeship and gaining an ONC, HNC and HND Mathew left to further both his academic and professional career by attending Manchester Metropolitan University and obtaining a degree as well as working for various companies around the world. Mathew has worked in most industry sectors (all but Aviation and Marine) having skills obtained from his Apprenticeship and knowledge from his academic studies. With the experienced gained, Mathew co-founded his company OSL in 2006 where it now provides turnkey engineering services to the Rail, utility and energy sectors.

Cllr George Hayes

Governing Body Role: Member

Employment Role: Councillor & Chairman – The Skills & Growth Company

Employer: Cheshire East Council

Profile:

Driven to make a difference, Cllr George Hayes entered local politics at a young age, formerly being Great Britain’s youngest Mayor his hometown of Congleton. He has a professional background working in the areas of both education and communications and undertakes many roles connected to children, schools and families. He has previously been the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families in Cheshire East and is now engaging with the work of the Cheshire Fire Authority as the Children and Young People’s Champion. Cllr Hayes is positive about improving aspiration and outcomes for children and young people across Cheshire and beyond, particularly enjoying opportunities to experience service provision at a grass-roots level. In addition to his work in the children and families field, Cllr Hayes also holds the office of Chairman of The Skills and Growth Company, a wholly owned company of Cheshire East Council.

Cameron Paterson

Governing Body Role: Member

Employment Role: Director of Technical Conformity

Employer: Bentley Motors LTD

Profile:

Cameron is one of the Engineering Directors at Bentley, and is responsible in his current role for the Technical Compliance of all Bentley’s products worldwide.

Born and educated in Dundee, with a BSc (Hons) in Electronics & Electrical Engineering from Edinburgh University, Cameron is now an Automotive Engineer by profession, and has been in the Industry for 34 years, including 17 years with Ford (where he started as a Graduate) and the last 15 at Bentley.

He has worked all over the world in a variety of technical, project management and strategy roles, and until last year had been Bentley’s Director of Vehicle Engineering for 4 years.

In his new role, Cameron is responsible for the final testing and certification of all Bentley products to ensure that they comply with worldwide legislation.  Post “Diesel-Gate”, and in a new world of fast changing legislation, coupled with a revolution in the industry towards ever greater electrification, digitalisation and autonomous driving, this is both a critical and fascinating role.

A passionate advocate of the urgent need to improve STEM performance across all fields of education in the UK, and thus to help nurture and grow the next generation of young Engineers that the country so badly needs, Cameron has been active in supporting a wide number of initiatives over the years.  He has served as a governor at both a Primary School (in Essex) and more recently completed 5 years on the Board of a well known local Cheshire Academy. He is a Chartered Engineering and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), the largest of all the professional Engineering bodies.

Cameron also completed 15 years of part time military service as an officer with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), and this, together with a love of tinkering with old Land Rovers, has kept him very grounded in the need to both understand, and practice, the solid basic Engineering skills – one of the key roles of the UTC!  Cameron is now very proud to serve as a Member for the UTC, and joined the team in 2017.

Trustees

Professor Neil Fowler

Governing Body Role: Chair of Trustees

Employment Role: Dean of Student

Employer: University of Salford

Profile:

Professor Neil Fowler was Head of Exercise and Sport Science and Associate Dean Learning Teaching and Quality Enhancement at Manchester Metropolitan University in Cheshire until March 2017 when he moved to the University of Salford to take up his current role as Dean of Student. Throughout his academic career Neil has taken a leading role in shaping student experience and quality enhancement and has a passion for ensuring all students have the opportunity to achieve their own personal outstanding. A focus he brings to his role as Trustee at the UTC.  Neil is a resident of Sandbach and parent to four children educated in local schools. Neil is a life-long athlete and still competes, albeit somewhat more slowly these days, in his chosen sport of athletics as well as working as a volunteer coach with Crewe and Nantwich Athletics Club. Neil has also held a governance role with the Mid-Cheshire Foundation Hospitals Trust as the MMU link governor until leaving the University in 2017. Neil has been involved with the UTC since the time of the initial application to start the school and Chaired the Pre-opening Steering Group through the approval process, taking on the role of Chair of the Governing Body when the School was formerly established.

Dr Mark Marsh

Governing Body Role: Vice Chair of Trustees

Employment Role: Head of Aftersales Product and Launch Management

Employer: Bentley Motors LTD

Profile:

Passionate about learning, Mark is honoured to be involved with the Crewe Engineering and Design UTC, helping in a small way to ensure that the pipeline of Engineering talent is secured for a very bright future. Mark has a PhD in Materials Engineering and a degree in Mechanical Design, Materials and Manufacturing. He started his career with British Steel and joined Bentley Motors in 2000 as the Senior Metallurgist. Since then Mark has held a number of positions across the company, including the Quality Project Leader for the Bentley Continental family and senior positions in Product Planning and Strategy. Mark has had responsibility for optimising the whole product development process, developing platform sharing and managing the initial definition of new products. In his current role Mark is responsible to ensure that the global Aftersales network is ready to support the launch of new cars and is involved with connectivity, electrification and digitalisation.

Dr Georgina Harris 

Governing Body Role: Trustees

Profile:

David Terry

Governing Body Role: Principal

Employment Role: Principal

Employer: Crewe Engineering and Design UTC

Profile: 

David has been a Senior Leader in five secondary schools in the North West over the last 25 years – including Headship and Academy Principalship since 2003.

He has established a passion and expertise in developing the quality of teaching and learning in schools and building leadership capacity through innovative approaches to staff training, CPD and ITT.  His achievements were recognised in 2009 when he was awarded a National Teaching Award as Headteacher of the Year – the first Academy Principal in the UK to receive this honour. In the same year, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) recognised this unique achievement with their own Academy Principal of the Year award.

David has served as an Academy Principal Leadership Consultant for SSAT, helping to mentor and develop newly appointed Principals across the country. As a National College accredited School Improvement Partner he has extensive experience of supporting a range of institutions, often in very challenging circumstances, to promote raising achievement.

In his wider commitment to STEM and community development David holds three Fellowships – Royal Society of Arts, University of Birmingham and the National Teaching Awards which recognise his national contribution to partnerships and social investment. As an experienced Headteacher David’s commitment to the UTC demonstrates key leadership skills and dedication to providing first class educational opportunities for young people.

Chloë Gray

Governing Body Role: Sponsor Trustee

Employment Role: Digital Strategy & IT Architecture Manager

Employer: Bentley Motors LTD

Profile:

Chloë has worked at Bentley since 1999 when she joined the Graduate Training Programme.  Having studied Human Resource Management at University and prior to that, a BTEC in Business & Finance, she is an advocate of clear and diverse education options and career opportunities to suit the individual.  She believes that we are all engineered differently, and that the UTC offers an essential set of choices and opportunities. Chloë enjoys supporting and mentoring young people within education and in their early careers.  She has previously held various voluntary roles within the Girlguiding organisation, from being a Brownie, Guide and Senior Section Leader, and a District Commissioner.  In her time at Bentley, she has seen and been part of a great deal of change – from skills, roles, methods and technologies utilised and developed.  She is an experienced Senior IT Manager and Enterprise Architect and being a member of the IT Leadership team her focus is upon the Digitalisation & Innovation framework (both digital skills, tools and technologies); IT Strategy & Transformation Management; and IT Architecture.

Julian Cobley 

Governing Body Role: Co-opted Trustee

Employment Role: Managing Director

Employer: Skills and Growth Company

Profile:

Julian has followed a successful career in technology and economic growth working for multinational corporations in the private sector, where he has developed his knowledge and experience. Looking for a fresh challenge in 2007 he joined the public sector.  At Cheshire East Council he has held roles as the Head of ICT Business Development, Business Manager – Place and most recently Head of Investment where he was responsible for regeneration, inward investment, strategic housing, economic growth, major projects and skills. In 2015, he led on the development of a wholly owned company, The Skills & Growth Company, to deliver economic growth and skills services and in 2016 went on to lead the business. As Managing Director of the Skills & Growth Company Julian champions’ economic prosperity, centred around three strategic objectives; creating the conditions for growth, supporting businesses to thrive and preparing of the economy of the future. Julian is passionate about developing valued relationships with its customers and delivering quality services to support their growth. With a focus on major corporates and high growth SMEs he is helping create jobs and investment to boost productivity and stimulate the local economy.

Larnia Ryder 

Governing Body Role: Sponsor Trustee

Employment Role: Tenders and Frameworks Manager, Employer Engagement Communications

Employer: OSL Global

Profile:

OSL Global is a multidisciplinary engineering company that provides transport, energy, technical and project delivery support to clients in the UK and internationally. With an academic background in Psychology, English and Marketing and with vast experience in safeguarding and education, my current role is Tenders and Frameworks Manager. This includes marketing, employer engagement communications and corporate social responsibility.

Steve Corfield 

Governing Body Role: Sponsor Trustee

Employment Role: Managing Director

Employer: James Walker

Profile:

Polly Booker

Governing Body Role: Staff Trustee

Employment Role: Teacher

Employer: Crewe Engineering and Design UTC

Profile:

Polly has worked at the UTC since it’s inception in 2016. After 23 years in industry and 13 years of teaching, she is still excited to be at Crewe and to work with the learners, staff and employer partners of the UTC. Specialising in her ‘Home’ subject of Mechatronics, she has also taught general and mechanical engineering.

Louise Frost

Governing Body Role: Parent Trustee

 

Dan Whittaker 

Governing Body Role: Sponsor Trustee

Employment Role: Director of Electrical & Electronics

Employer: Bentley Motors LTD

Katie Poole

Governing Body Role: Sponsor Trustee

Employment Role: HR Manager

Employer: Arriva Train Care