Prior to retirement Mark worked in economic and skills development for 30+ years in both the UK and overseas. Having seen NOCN operate and worked with them over a 7-year period, he took the opportunity to apply to become a Trustee as it was clear the Group were in it to make a difference to individuals and businesses.

For 16 years Mark ran one of the largest Chambers of Commerce in the UK (Sussex). The Chamber delivered membership services, economic development services and critically worked with colleges and private sector providers to deliver work-based training. He took the apprenticeship certification system for England, Scotland and Wales digital and supported the English Government as they transitioned to the new assessment-based system.

For two years until the end of 2022, Mark led Tempo Time Credits. A charity that provides a Time Credit for an hour of volunteering. These can be used at gym sessions, swimming pools, for days out and many other activities. They are aimed at re-engaging people into society, with volunteering as the first step.

Mark has also been fortunate enough to work overseas: advising the Guangdong region of China in developing their apprenticeship system, advising the Sri Lankan government on their vocational policy and supporting the establishment of management and vocational colleges in Kazakhstan and eastern Poland in the 1990s.

Mark has lived by these words throughout his career, and they have never been truer. “People are our future. The development of our local economies is dependent on the attributes and skills of our current and future workforce. Investing in them (like a physical asset) will increasingly differentiate economic and social progress.”