Governance

As Principal and CEO of SMB College Group, Dawn is a dynamic and strong leader with over twenty-five years operating at a senior level within both the further and higher education sectors. Dawn has worked at a senior level in colleges and universities in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire which gives her great insight into the skills needs of the region. She has a track record in delivering significant business improvement through change management, winning hearts and minds of her team (she considers people to be a business’s most important asset), resulting in sustainable financial turnarounds and quality improvement that is transformational for both students and staff. She joined the college in 2018, taking Brooksby Melton College and Stephenson College through a successful merger to create SMB Group on 1st February 2020.

Dawn is passionate about delivering exceptional standards for students, staff and stakeholders and always puts the learner at the heart of all operations and thinking. She has worked tirelessly to cultivate an inclusive atmosphere in which all staff members are valued for their unique individual contributions to the organisation. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, business engagement and strategic leadership, along with spear heading new initiatives to a successful outcome.

Additionally, Dawn is on several Boards contributing to both the education and business sectors to help bridge the gap between these. She is a Director for the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, LANDEX Learning Board (Land-based Colleges), Association of Colleges, Universities Vocational Awards Council plus represents East Midlands AOC region at the climate commission for UK Higher and Further Education.

Dawn often states she is a product of the Further Education sector and believes it transforms lives, stating she is living proof of that.

Matt is a barrister and Director of Enforcement at Ofqual, the qualifications regulator for England. Matt joined the board of Brooksby Melton College in January 2019 and was part of the steering group during the merger with Stephenson College to form the SMB Group. Matt is a member of the Audit Committee. Matt brings experience in regulatory compliance and enforcement and has a detailed knowledge of qualifications regulation, as well as his experience as a leader in the public sector.

Nick is retired after 35 years in further education. His experience has included 19 years with Ofsted, inspecting FE, sixth form, specialist and adult education colleges, work based learning providers and universities. He has also held teaching and senior management positions, as well as advisory and consultative, posts, in different colleges and organisations.

His other interests include history, railways, football, volunteering, speaking Greek and walking with his dog. Nick welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the wellbeing, growth and development of SMB College Group learners, staff and the Corporation.

Nick joined the Board in February 2021 and is a member of the Quality & Standards Committee.

Robert is recently retired from a business career in Agriculture, specifically as a director of a seeds and plant breeding company based in Lincolnshire and currently involved with the management of 2 Rutland charities. 

As a Governor, Robert hopes to use his knowledge and experience to ensure the education from SMB is well suited for careers in the modern agricultural world where sustainability and the environment are so important.

Robert joined the Board in February 2021.  Robert is a member of the Audit Committee.

Jody is an experienced and respected financial services specialist who, over a period of more than 30 years, has advised at board and C-suite level. He has led numerous liquidity events including IPOs, mergers and acquisitions and has played an intrinsic part in the development of several well-known businesses and a wide range of UK SMEs and mid-sized companies.

Jody is financially astute and commercially minded and built a career based on a deep level of trust across an extensive contact base within financial services, family business', professional advisers, sport and individuals.

Away from the office Jody spends as much time as possible with his wife and family, often in or near water, surfing (trying!) in N. Cornwall, walking the dogs or just switching off. Jody is a keen sportsman and has played hockey for Barnes, the HAC and latterly Spencer HC. He has coached both rugby (Rosslyn Park RFC) and cricket (Spencer CC) at junior levels and watched lots of rugby (Bath fan since school/current sponsors of the Tigers). Jody and his family live in Leicestershire.

Andy has worked at SMB College Group since September 2016, starting out as a lecturer and quickly progressing to Section Manager for Sport and Uniformed Public Services. Andy has worked as a top coach, mentor and sports therapist in the professional football industry as well as having run his own business working with some of the top sporting organisations in the country, until his move into Education. He is passionate about inspiring students to achieve their potential and using his skills as a mentor, coach and great communicator to help them get there.

He believes in life-long learning, having achieved a BSc in Sports and Exercise Therapy, his PGCE, qualifications in lean management, equality and diversity and now studying a Level 7 Apprenticeship in Senior Leadership at De Montfort University.

Andy joined the Board in December 2021 and is a member of the Finance & Resources Committee.

Born in 1964, Andrew started his career in Local Government where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.  He then spent seven years with KPMG working with Colleges and Universities before becoming the lead Finance person in a College in 2003.  Since then he has had leading roles in several Colleges and a University as Director of Finance, Deputy Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Finance).  He also represented the East Midlands College Finance Directors as part of the National Finance Directors Group.  In 2012, he established his own company to provide consultancy to the Education sector.  Andrew retired in 2022 and now enjoys playing table tennis and golf.

Jackie Hargis has most recently been self-employed and worked within the further education sector covering projects such as a review of policies and procedures, mentoring middle and senior managers and curriculum and quality development.

Within further education colleges, Jackie held a variety of senior management roles, as well as having been a partnership manager in the LSC and as a senior policy manager in the Skills Funding Agency. Currently Jackie volunteers as a panel member for school appeals.

Steve qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in 1997 and since then has a variety of senior financial roles across financial services, distribution and logistics, and retail.  He is currently the Financial Controller of Selfridges.

Steve believes passionately in the positive transformational experience that education can bring to learners’ lives, and he has previously been a Governor of East Riding College in Yorkshire.  He joined the Board of Governors in October 2023 and is a member of the Remuneration Committee, Governance & Search Committee and is Chair of the Audit Committee. 

Simon is a qualified chartered accountant with more than 30 years of industry experience in senior financial leadership positions. He is currently Finance Director for an engineering business based in North East Lincolnshire.

Simon became a Governor in November 2023, certain that his financial acumen can assist the College and eager to contribute to the education and employment outcomes offered by the College sector. Simon is on the Finance and Resources Committee and the Link Governor for Sport and Uniformed Public Services.

Simon lives close to Nottingham and outside of work enjoys family time and a variety of sports, especially football and cricket.

Mark is currently Deputy Chief Operating Officer at City, University of London, and has considerable experience of leadership within the academic sector, specifically in Higher Education. Mark has extensive knowledge of student support and wellbeing and is Link Governor for Safeguarding at SMB College Group.

A passionate believer in education and the positive, transformative, effect that educational opportunity can have on young people’s lives, Mark joined the Board of Governors in 2023 and is looking forward to supporting the Leadership and staff of SMB College Group to ensure the best possible outcomes for all of our students.

Kelvin is a qualified Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in the health sector. Since becoming certified, he has held several senior finance positions and currently serves as the Group Head of Financial Management at University Hospitals of Leicester. Additionally, Kelvin has interests in property and social care.

Kelvin is deeply committed to equal opportunities and is passionate about creating a positive impact for SMB College, its staff, and students. Having joined the Board of Governors in 2023, he is eager to contribute to the college's improvement and enhance the experiences of its students.

Richard qualified as an accountant (FCCA) at the global accounting, corporate finance and consultancy firm, KPMG. Whilst working in the private sector he earned a reputation for the clarity and professionalism of his audit and advisory work, particularly in the education sector. Richard has held senior roles in a range of Further Education settings with responsibility for diverse portfolios including, Management Information Systems, Data, Estates, Information Technology and Finance. His tenacity, pragmatism, attention to detail and deep understanding of the Further Education Sector, including all support and curriculum areas, along with excellent people management skills, have led to significant improvements in financial performance, delivery of complex projects and business efficiency in a number of colleges. 

Outside of work Richard likes nothing better than spending time with his son or a round or two of golf!

James started at Brooksby Melton College as Head of Sport in 2017, after previously being Head of HE Sport at Heart of Worcestershire College. James led Land Based and Sport faculty through merger, before progressing into an executive role at the SMB College Group, taking on further responsibility across the college in the key areas of Quality Improvement and Student Experience and Services. James also leads on the Leicester Tigers partnership that continues to bring success and growth. James enjoys keeping fit, playing and watching sport and exploring new countries in his spare time. He is currently adding to his Sociology of Health MSc through studying an MBA part time, which he hopes to finish in April 23.

Jon’s commercial background is in broadcast engineering and post production. He has nearly 20 years’ experience in the Further Education sector, with over 12 years in management positions. Jon has worked from the east coast to the east midlands at colleges and training providers. His areas of expertise include, curriculum development, partnership stakeholder engagement and resilience management leading to successful outcomes.