Gary joined NOCN Group in February to support the skills charity’s global growth through strategic partnership building with training centres in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and beyond.

Gary brings more than 20 years’ experience in vocational education, assessment, quality assurance and industry engagement. As someone who began his career ‘on the tools’, he is particularly passionate about supporting young people to overcome barriers to obtain meaningful work.

His focus is on expanding construction qualifications from Level 2 through Level 7, driving the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) scheme internationally, promoting job card schemes, and embedding ESOL provision alongside vocational training.

He said: “I love working internationally. It’s about understanding different countries and cultures and seeing where we can add value. Working in India is different to working in the Malaysia; working in Saudi Arabia is different to working in India. The UK is at the forefront of training so we can bring it all together.

“But skills travel. Workers move between countries, particularly across the Gulf and South Asia. If we connect the dots properly, we can create an ecosystem where qualifications, safety standards and language skills align across borders.

“A lot of awarding organisations will just stay in their lane and won’t adapt to changing circumstances. But the world is changing rapidly and I’m proud to be at NOCN Group where we look at the industry, listen to employers and ask what they need to move forwards. We’re good at identifying gaps in the market.”

Having started his career on site, Gary understands first-hand the journey from the tools to strategic leadership and keeps that practical perspective at the heart of his work.

As part of this work, Gary is travelling to Bangladesh and Delhi, India, to meet with training providers, employers and industry leaders to explore new partnerships across construction, renewable energy and workforce development.

He said: “Today marks the start of an exciting international journey as I travel to Bangladesh and Delhi, India, to explore new opportunities within construction, renewable energy, and workforce development. These visits are focused on building strong international partnerships, connecting with industry leaders, and creating pathways that support skills training, employment, and long-term career opportunities.

During my time in Bangladesh, I will be meeting with organisations and potential partners who share a vision for developing practical training and improving access to opportunities for local communities. The aim is to support growth within the construction and energy sectors while helping people gain the skills needed for sustainable careers.

My visit to Delhi, India, will focus on strengthening relationships with training providers, businesses, and industry professionals within the rapidly growing infrastructure and renewable energy markets. These discussions are part of a wider commitment to building global partnerships that support both UK and international workforce demands.

This trip represents another important step in expanding my work globally, while continuing to create opportunities that positively impact individuals, communities, and industries through education, skills, and employment.”

This summer, Gary is travelling to Saudi Arabia alongside Hercules, one of NOCN Group’s established training providers, to support the launch of the first CPCS training centres in the Kingdom.

Demand for high quality training, assessment and workforce verification is a priority for Saudi Arabia as they progress the Saudi Vision 2030 and Saudization agenda in a bid to diversify employment beyond the oil and gas economy and increase the number of Saudi nationals employed in the private sector.

He added: “It’s an exciting time, with some really exciting initiatives going on. We are going to be looking at some major infrastructure projects out there and see how we can support the government to achieve their goals.

“Saudi Arabia is under the microscope of the world, with the boxing, Formula One and other events going out there now. They have got a big push to establish themselves in the market and be one of the training hubs of the world. And we want to do our bit to support that.”

After his visit to Saudi Arabia, Gary will be visiting NOCN Group teams working in Bahrain, Malaysia and India to see other exciting projects and meet our network of partners working in those countries.

Gary said: “It’s all really exciting. In my opinion, we really are the market leader.

“We have a lot of projects happening in different countries, but all trying to achieve the same thing. Each country may be working on its own initiatives but ultimately, they are part of the and language skills align across borders.

Each country may be working on its own initiatives but ultimately, they are part of the same global workforce cycle. I want to help connect the dots. International growth only works when it is built on trust, consistency and genuine collaboration across borders.

“When qualifications, safety standards and language skills align, employers gain confidence in workforce competence and governments see stronger economic returns.

“Right from working on small training contracts and in teaching roles, I have loved helping people get into employment. Internationally, that impact can be huge.”