A Strategic Network of Sector Specialists

Bringing together senior leaders to solve complex educational challenges.

The KWP.
Building Meaningful Skills Sector Partnerships Together

Building Meaningful Skills Sector Partnerships Together

At The KWP, we believe that "none of us is as good as all of us." Our business alliance brings together an exceptional network of highly experienced leaders, consultants, and sector specialists, from former College Principals and HR directors to financial strategists and policing experts.

By combining our deep individual expertise into one unified alliance, we provide public organisations, colleges, and skills providers with multidisciplinary support tailored precisely to their needs.

Our Alliance

Our Alliance

The KWP Ltd

Tailored Thinking

CIPD Winner HR Consultancy of the Year 2020

Striving to be a force of good in the world of work.

Tailored Thinking

CIPD Winner HR Consultancy of the Year 2020

Striving to be a force of good in the world of work.

We support organisations to reach their highest levels of potential, bringing the best out of their staff, through education and the design and delivery of key activities and core strategy.

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Rob Baker

Rob is a specialist in bringing positive psychology to life within organisations. He is the founder and Chief Positive Deviant of Tailored

Rob Baker

Founder & Chief Positive Deviant

I’m at my best when working with people to thrive, particularly at work. To deliver performance when it matters. Finding meaning, engagement and happiness in what we do. My speciality is to encourage job crafting within workplaces.

I have been exploring these topics all my life through: my hands-on work with executives, managers and their teams as an HR leader; my study and research in the fields of positive psychology, behavioural and wellbeing science; and as a former international athlete and coach.

In different roles I have commissioned, delivered and designed organisational wide transformation initiatives and understand the importance of embedding change which goes beyond structures and is supported by sustained behaviour change.

I am a chartered fellow of both the CIPD and the Australian HR Institute, and have a first class Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Melbourne.

Rob loves running, watching movies and hanging out with his family.

You can connect with Rob on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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Fusion Project Management

In 2006 Fusion Project Management was established in response to a growing demand for estates related

Fusion Project Management

In 2006 Fusion Project Management was established in response to a growing demand for estates-related advice for the Further Education sector.

Now as part of 3BM Group, Fusion is a multi-disciplinary property consultancy covering strategic management (estates strategies and capital funding advice), construction project management, capital cost advice as well as architecture and master planning.

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Stuart Markham

Founding Director Stuart has over 20 years’ experience of delivering strategic and construction project management services to the Further

Stuart Markham – BSc (Hons) MAPM

Joint Managing Director

Stuart originally studied for a BSc in Construction Business Management, subsequently becoming a member of the Association of Project Management. He is now a Director of Project Management and has 20 years’ experience of acting as strategic and construction project manager.

Stuart’s approach is to immerse himself in each commission, taking ownership and responsibility, securing long term client relationships that put the client at the centre of the service, working with some clients for the whole of his career.

Stuart has been responsible for the implementation of an extensive portfolio of new build and refurbishment construction projects ranging in value up to £100M. A particular specialism is providing advice to public sector client’s and helping them define and deliver complex estates strategies which often focus on maximising the value of capital assets and investment and securing capital funding.

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EDD Brown

Edd has over 20 years experience working in Further Education and Skills. Initially starting as a Lecturer in Sport and Public Services

EDD Brown

Edd has over 20 years experience working in Further Education and Skills. Initially starting as a Lecturer in Sport and Public Services, he has held roles at middle and senior leadership including Director of Quality and Vice Principal Curriculum and Quality. Edd brings a wealth of experience in curriculum, leadership and specialises in quality improvement and teaching and learning activities. As well as working in colleges, Edd has worked nationally supporting colleges, training providers and local authorities to improve the quality of provision and he is also an Ofsted Inspector.

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The KWP Ltd

Rhys Spence

Having worked as a management consultant for top tier consulting firms, Rhys has a strong track record and over 20 years of experience

Rhys Spence

Having worked as a management consultant for top-tier consulting firms, Rhys has a strong track record and over 20 years of experience working across the post-16 Education & Skills sector. He supports providers in transforming their businesses and improving their performance management. Key areas of expertise include project management; Strategic reviews and development; Business and curriculum planning; business process reviews and business analytics. His recent projects include working with several LSIPs to map the post-16 education curriculum offer. He is the founder of an EdTech startup that provides business insights to the FE sector through an online benchmarking tool.

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Caryn Stewart

Caryn has over 25 years of experience working within the Education & Skills and third sectors. Most notable roles include Chief 

Caryn Stewart

Caryn has over 25 years of experience working within the Education & Skills and third sectors. Most notable roles include Chief Operating Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Executive Director of Business Information Services. She holds a Master’s in Law (Intellectual Property and Information Technology), is an EDSAFE AI fellow, an AI and Digital Policy Research Fellow (CAIDP), a member of the Centre for Action Research Network, and provides consultancy and advisory work on Strategy development, Digital governance (including AI governance), and Educational Technology (EdTech) implementation planning. Additionally, she conducts research projects focused on the societal impact of regulation, technology, and education. She is currently running a participatory action research project,“Governing AI in the UK’s FE & Skills Sector: Addressing Inequalities.”

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Jerome Wittersheim

Jerome has over 20 years of experience working across various FE providers as a Director of MIS & Planning and within a consulting

Jerome Wittersheim

Jerome has over 20 years of experience working across various FE providers as a Director of MIS & Planning and within a consulting capacity. He is a data analytics specialist who set up and runs Hexagon Data Services which provides innovative software and data solutions, including intuitive data visualization tools, across a range of public and private sector companies. He has a particular skillset in developing business-driven BI & AI solutions. He holds an MBA and is a Certified Power BI & Azure Data Cloud expert. Jerome has also led several AI-driven projects for clients looking to improve their operational performance.

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Neil Thomas

Neil has almost 25 years’ experience in the further education sector, with over 10 years in senior leadership roles including his most recent

Neil Thomas

Neil has almost 25 years’ experience in the further education sector, with over 10 years in senior leadership roles including his most recent role as Chief Executive & Principal at Dudley College of Technology. His career began in engineering, where he worked in the manufacturing sector for a number of years. But after discovering a passion for training others in industry he made the decision to move into the education sector, starting in a teaching role. Since then Neil has held a number of positions in both the curriculum delivery and professional services functions of further education eventually working his way up to Chief Executive. Neil has a particular talent for performance improvement and finding innovative solutions to challenges, probably linked to his engineering days. He also has considerable experience in delivering large capital projects and leading collaborative solutions to meet local challenges, including the development of a Multi Academy Trust and Institute of Technology. He is a strong believer in the power of collaboration and all elements of the education sector working together for the benefit of our communities.

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Warren McKeown

Recently retired from Thames Valley police after serving over 30 years of police service in many different roles, primarily front line policing

Warren McKeown

Recently retired from Thames Valley police after serving over 30 years of police service in many different roles, primarily front-line policing. Warren was a police inspector for over 13 years leading teams in front-line response, neighbourhood policing and the busiest custody suite in Thames Valley police. Warren worked with the Counter Terrorism team for many years as the force lead for custody and PACE compliance. For Warren's final year of service was seconded to the violence reduction unit leading Home Office projects to reduce violence in young people. Warren has received formal recognition for many aspects of his strong leadership and high-performance. Warren has a vast amount of experience and knowledge of dealing with conflict, drugs, alcohol, and violence.

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Roberts Disbury-Mockett

Robs is a Director of RGD CTS LTD, a company that provides Consulting, Training and Technical Services across a range of areas.

Roberts Disbury-Mockett

Robs is a Director of RGD CTS LTD, a company that provides Consulting, Training and Technical Services across a range of areas.

With over 20 years of experience in leadership, management, teaching, project management, and education systems, Robs has a proven track record of driving operational excellence and delivering impactful results. As a specialist in on-site technology and cloud-based systems, he has led teams in the development and implementation of innovative solutions that drive business growth and enhance customer experiences.

Throughout his career, he has managed a variety of support departments, including IT, Learning Technology, MIS, Exams, and Admissions, and has consistently delivered improvements in service levels and operational efficiencies. He is highly proficient in technical design and implementation, with a particular expertise in network design, Cybersecurity, databases, system migration / integration, and upgrading. He is also experienced in a range of cloud technologies, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Azure.

Notably, he has led successful mergers that integrated IT and associated systems, resulting in streamlined processes and cost savings.

As a qualified practitioner of GDPR, he has demonstrated expertise in ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. With experience serving as a Data Protection Officer, he has successfully led the introduction and implementation of GDPR as a core principle in various institutions, promoting a culture of data protection and privacy.

Overall, his broad expertise and achievements make him a valuable asset to any organization seeking a results-driven leader with a proven track record of success.

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Julie Shah

Julie has spent over 30 years in HR and in this time has worked for several large organisations, including over 8 years with Thames

Julie Shah

Julie has spent over 30 years in HR and in this time has worked for several large organisations, including over 8 years with Thames Valley Police as the HR lead for the Bracknell and subsequently the Slough Police Area.

Julie has held senior roles in FE colleges between 2005-2019, successfully leading HR departments with significant change management experience including mergers and TUPE.

She previously worked with Kate and Graham in delivering East Berkshire College's first merger with Strode’s 6th Form College. Following the merger, Julie played a key role in negotiating new terms and conditions with staff and unions within the newly formed The Windsor Forest Colleges Group.

During her time within FE, Julie worked in partnership with other Colleges, successfully managing the HR Department of a local college in the absence of a HR Director over a number of months in addition to her substantive role.

Julie chaired the Association of Colleges South East (AOSEC) network meetings of HR professionals, representing members at the Association of Colleges (AoC) national HR network, contributing to the development of policies and practices, sharing information and developments in the sector.

More recently, Julie has once again supported The Windsor Forest Colleges Group in working towards the merger with Berkshire College of Agriculture, planned for August 2022.

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Jayne Dickinson

Jayne has over twenty years’ successful experience in the FE sector starting out as a part time lecturer and moving rapidly up to CEO

Jayne Dickinson

Jayne has over twenty years’ successful experience in the FE sector starting out as a part time lecturer and moving rapidly up to CEO of the Orbital South Colleges group, having undertaken a variety of senior leadership roles along the way. Jayne has an MA in FE sector management as well as holding a range of teaching qualifications. She has served as an examiner for the Cambridge and OCN boards as well as having experience as an external peer reviewer.

During her time as Principal/CEO at East Surrey College, Jayne led the College to two ‘Good’ inspections with many areas of ‘Outstanding’ practice noted. Jayne led on the successful merger with John Ruskin College in Selsdon, Croydon, overseeing the transformation of the curriculum at John Ruskin as well as several new estates/capital build projects and the growth of the Group’s reputation as a trusted, collaborative partner. As CEO, under her leadership, East Surrey College and Orbital South Colleges maintained ‘Outstanding’ financial health category over many years, including in the first years of merger.

Prior to working in the FE sector, Jayne held a senior hospital management post before moving to Surrey and into a commercial marketing role. She has also run a successful franchise business.

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Emma Forrest-Leigh

Emma Forrest-Leigh is a highly accomplished and experienced leader across the education sector.

Emma Forrest-Leigh

Emma Forrest-Leigh is a highly accomplished and experienced leader across the education sector. 

With over 25 years of experience in education, Emma has garnered a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Her accolades, including awards from the AoC (Association of Colleges) and a Queen's Award in 2022, highlight her significant contributions to the field.

One of Emma's key strengths is her ability to mentor and lead teams to achieve exceptional results. Her success in achieving some of the very highest retention and achievement rates in the UK demonstrates her proficiency in this area. Her skills extend beyond traditional educational roles; she is also a change maker who excels in performance management and innovation. This capability positions her to positively influence college culture and drive improvements in student and staff satisfaction.

Emma's diverse skill set includes not only curriculum and quality management but notably also extends to specialist areas including Turing/Erasmus overseas mobility projects, college interior design, signage aligned to the education framework (Fundamental British Values, Consent etc.) social media, video content creation, and particularly exceptional events management. 

Emma is available for consultancy work, on site or hybrid, for large or small projects. 

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Coming Soon

The KWP Ltd

Coming Soon

Join Our Alliance for <span class="dsp-block">Collaborative Impact</span>

Join Our Alliance for Collaborative Impact

Interested in partnering with our network of sector leaders, consultants, and specialists? Get in touch today to explore how we can collaborate and make a difference together.