Four new board members add value to Nelson and Colne College Group

Four new members have joined Nelson and Colne College Group’s Board of Corporation, bringing additional professional strength and strategic skills to the growing operation.

After a successful recruitment process, the quartet of Neil Hart,  have been appointed, and they bring to the college group’s governance a wealth of experience, skills and expertise from a range of industry sectors.

Nelson and Colne College Group – which incorporates Nelson and Colne College, Accrington and Rossendale College and Lancashire Adult Learning – is one of the highest performing college groups nationally across a range of academic measures, and offers exceptional skills, vocational and occupational training, as well as sixth form and adult community provision across East Lancashire and beyond.

The four new board members join others drawn from a variety of industries and backgrounds, as well as staff and student governors.

As chief executive officer of Burnley Football Club, Neil Hart is the senior leader responsible for the Premier League club’s finances, supporter engagement, commercial opportunities, staff and facilities. 

Previously head of Burnley Football in the Community (BFCitC) – a key partner and supporter of the College Group – Neil knows the college group organisation and was instrumental in developing a strong and close partnership work between BFitC and the College. This includes established programmes such as the flagship Shadow Youth Team for talented players aged 16-18, plus more recent developments including Apprenticeships, traineeships and employability courses for adult learners.

Liz Sedgley is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants in England and Wales. For the last 20 years Liz has run a successful management consultancy providing accountancy and strategic finance support to public sector organisations and businesses in sectors as diverse as construction, chemical sales, communications and web-based retail.

Currently a non-executive director and the deputy chair of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Liz was also previously a non-executive director and the audit chair of East Lancashire Hospitals Trust.

Zulfi Khan is a previous A Level student of Nelson and Colne College, and a qualified solicitor of England and Wales. He is a partner of Ten Legal, an established, successful and growing practice in Bury. 

Zulfi has also maintained strong links with his local community in Pendle, and is a volunteer for Whitefield Youth Association, a local charity based in Nelson, engaging with young people aged between three and 15, to transform young lives through social action – improving young people’s life chances and opportunities.

Completing the quartet is Julie Turner, who also has ties to the college group as her children were educated at Nelson and Colne College. Professionally, Julie has over 25 years’ experience in education – including as Deputy Headteacher at the Hollins School in Accrington, and as a Further Education and Higher Education lecturer and programme leader.

As a freelance educational consultant, she specialises in leadership, school development, improving teaching and learning, professional development and literacy – mainly working with schools to improve standards and opportunities for their young people, as well as being an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Tutor at the University of Manchester. 

Chairman of the Board of Corporation at Nelson and Colne College Group, Stephen Barnes, said: “I am thrilled with our four new appointments and I would like to welcome Neil, Liz, Zulfi and Julie to the Board of Corporation. Between them, they have an extremely strong skillset and a real depth of experience and will add immense value to our strategic decision making. 

“Our Board of Corporation is steadfast in its commitment to improving the lives of people through the highest quality education, and that has never been more important than now in the challenging period of time that we all find ourselves in.

“We look forward to working together to continue to deliver the highest quality  provision that meets and adapts to national and local skills priorities as they emerge, as well as continuing to support economic prosperity across our local communities and Lancashire.”

The Board of Corporation is made up of members from business, professional, public sector and community backgrounds. College governors have adopted the Nolan’s seven principles of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership) in carrying out their responsibilities.

For further information about governance at Nelson and Colne College Group, please visit www.nelsongroup.ac.uk