Meet the techSkills team
Julian is the CEO of techUK, the leading technology trade association that aims to realise the positive outcomes that digital technology can achieve for people, society, the economy and the planet.
Julian led the transformation of techUK from its predecessor Intellect in 2014, putting an increased focus on the growth and jobs the technology industry offers in a global economy. He has since led its impressive expansion driving forward the tech agenda in key areas such as skills, innovation, business success and public sector transformation. He leads techUK’s 90-strong team representing a thousand British based tech companies, comprising global and national champions and 600 SMEs. In 2020, techUK joined forces with TechSkills, the employer-led organisation that aims to improve the flow of talent into the digital workforce and open up access for all to high value tech jobs.
Margaret leads on offering development, external communications and business planning for TechSkills. Her earlier career was in IBM in software, global new ventures and new markets development.
Sarah is responsible for client services delivery and managing projects. She has many years experience in large scale programme management, skills development projects, and stakeholder relationship management.
Community Manager
Puisy is responsible for supporting delivery of Tech Industry Gold programmes and for building and supporting our TIG community to ensure both Employers and Learning Providers benefit from being part it.
Puisy has worked as an assessor and skills coach, as well as in quality assurance and employer engagement. She holds a BSc Hons in Computer Science and joins TechSkills with extensive experience of apprenticeships, coaching and stakeholder management.
Head of Corporate Sales and Partnerships
Dave has a passion for technology and education. He is responsible for growing the adoption of Tech Industry Gold accreditation in professional training programmes throughout the UK, as well as building our network of tech companies and ensuring that employers gain maximum value from their relationships with TechSkills.
Prior to joining TechSkills, Dave spent over a decade working for various software companies in business development roles, specialising in higher education across northern Europe.
Olivia is responsible for managing our student experience delivery and credentials rollout. She graduated from the University of Reading with a degree in Consumer Behaviour and Marketing.
Head of Academic Sales and Partnerships
Kate is responsible for all academic sales and partnerships for degrees and apprenticeships. Prior to this role Kate spent 11 years in academic publishing establishing connections with HEI’s across most of the
UK and Ireland. Kate has a passion for further and higher education and believes there is an educational pathway out there for everyone, its just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.
Offerings Manager
Ian is responsible for developing new offerings, encompassing feasibility assessment, process design and documentation, also leading on partnership work with parent company techUK. Prior to joining TechSkills Ian has extensive experience across a range of senior educational and learning development roles, most recently working in the esports and gaming sector.
Hilary brings over 10 years’ experience of Marketing in the Higher Education sector. She is responsible for ensuring that all TechSkills programmes are communicated to a wide audience, in order that as many people as possible can take advantage of them and access a career in the Tech industry.Prior to TechSkills, Hilary worked in the academic publishing industry for over a decade and so understands the challenges of Higher Education and the need to create pathways to education and employment that are accessible to all.
Business Support Manager
Claire is responsible for streamlining and maintaining all aspects of our business management processes to enable the team to operate effectively and efficiently. She has many years’ experience in project managing academic-industry collaboration frameworks, and in implementing workflow management solutions throughout organisations in the higher education and industry sectors.
Accreditation Specialist Network
Accreditation Specialist, TechSkills
Until 2018, Oscar was a senior lecturer in the Alliance Manchester Business School. He has extensive experience in programme and curriculum design. Together with TechSkills, he helped design the BSc IT Management for Business (ITMB) which launched in 2007. He was the ITMB programme director for 5 years between 2008-2013. He held programme directorships for the BSc Computing and Geography and the MSc Business Analytics and Operational Management, also at Manchester. He always put great emphasis on getting employers involved, both in curriculum development and in delivery, which resulted in near 100% student satisfaction and employability for all these programmes.
Robin is Course Director for Computer Science and Digital Apprenticeships at Staffordshire University having worked in Higher Education for 20+ years as a Lecturer, Manager and Technology Professional. He has demonstrable experience in building strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders in the UK and Overseas. He believes in providing effective information, advice and guidance to help learners identify and achieve their full potential. He has extensive experience of course design, development, validation, delivery and assessment across STEM subject areas in higher education.
Dr Antonios Kaniadakis is a Reader in the Department of Computer Science, Brunel University London, where he leads the Digital and Technology Solutions Specialism Master’s degree apprenticeship programme. Antonios has been involved with TechSkills since 2014 and is quite experienced with the design, delivery and accreditation of both the Tech Industry Gold degrees and degree apprenticeships of all levels. He is a trained Ofsted Inspector and passionate about helping providers offer education and training of excellent quality in line with industry needs.
Kevin has recently retired from his post as Associate Head of the Department of Computer Science and Creative Technologies at UWE, Bristol, where he was responsible for business liaison and partnerships. During his 38 years as a university academic, Kevin developed, led, taught on and examined a wide variety of courses, including BSc, MSc, MBA and Degree Apprenticeship programmes, and designed, led and delivered many professional training programmes for public and private sector organisations. He has also acted as an external examiner for eight degree programmes in five UK universities and provided consultancy to public sector organisations and blue-chip companies.
