Nice To Meet You…

Mike’s expertise in Further Education is firmly rooted in more than 30 years’ leadership experience in the sector. For the last few years, he has consulted on a wide range of education and training projects for Colleges and Training Providers across the UK. The majority of Mike’s consultancy is dedicated to enhancing the learner experience through improvement in the quality and standard of learning and teaching. In ‘a previous life’ he managed operations in the hospitality and tourism industry for over a decade. Mike spends his spare time in voluntary work and his interests include cycling, rugby, music, cooking, and travel.

Philip Holdsworth joined the Board in early 2022, bringing his significant expertise as a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant to Focus Awards, which includes corporate governance and compliance oversight. Philip is a Partner at Gibbons Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisers based in sunny Workington in Cumbria where he works with a wide variety of clients covering a range of industries, enabling him to extend his extensive business experience. As a general practitioner Philip helps a wide range of businesses and prides himself on providing timely proactive advice to his clients. Outside of work Philip can usually be found taxiing his 3 children, at the gym or walking the dog. He is a valuable addition to Focus Awards’ Board and an excellent source of advice and guidance.

Operations Director (Technical Services) for the Sector Skills Council (SSC) Skills Active for almost 14 years, John previously worked extensively on National Occupational Standards, Apprenticeships and Qualifications across the UK. He was also a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield College for 10 years. John has a strong background in Quality Assurance and still practices as a qualified External Quality Assurer and External Verifier. He is widely respected throughout the industry, reflected in the following unsolicited testimonial from a former colleague: “He is a dedicated and highly conscientious manager with vision plus the determination and skill to make that vision a reality. Through his work with SkillsActive and SPRITO his contribution to standards, qualifications and training in the sport and active leisure sector has been immense. His breadth of knowledge in the area, his network of stakeholders and his ability to manage competing agendas are enviable.”

Steve has a strong background in Compliance and Risk Management. He is currently head of Oxygen Professional Risks, a leading specialist in Liability Insurance for the Psychological Professions. An insurance broker all his working life, Steve has specialised in this field since 1988 when he and a colleague launched an unique insurance facility for members of the British Psychological Society. His foresight and leadership drove rapid service growth, which swiftly fuelled expansion into related professions, including Counselling and Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, HR, Training & Development, Coaching & Mentoring and, more recently, Mediation. Steve has presented numerous workshops and delivered multiple seminars on Risk and Insurance in Counselling at conferences and on training courses throughout the UK. In the late 1990’s he helped establish a national forum to evaluate standards in Primary Care Counselling and Psychotherapy and is a key contributor to the BACP Professional Standards Committee. Steve was Series Consultant and Contributor to a thought-provoking book on counselling in the digital age, Psychotherapy 2.0 Where Psychotherapy and Technology Meet, published by Routledge in April 2014. Adrian M. Rhodes, Vice-President of the European Association for Psychotherapy said of it, “This book will stimulate many, terrify some – and open the minds of all therapists to the opportunities – and dangers – of therapy in the globalised, digitalised world. Love it or loathe it – we are all affected by it already. So let’s join the dance.” A staunch advocate for timely intervention and risk mitigation, Steve remains at the cutting edge of innovation within the sector and is the first port of call for practitioners when issues occasionally slip out of control. He is a trusted mentor, mediator and facilitator should a complaint or a potential claim for compensation arise.s.