Lord Baker (Life President)
Kenneth Baker is a former MP and Cabinet Minister. As Education Secretary, he introduced the National Curriculum, testing, City Technology Colleges, and grant-maintained schools, as well as freeing polytechnics to become universities. Together with Lord Dearing, he founded the Baker Dearing Educational Trust in 2009.
Stephen Phipson CBE (Chairman)
Stephen Phipson brings a wealth of experience from his extensive background in industry and government. He currently serves as chief executive of manufacturers’ trade organisation Make UK and previously held senior roles within the Home Office, the Department for International Trade, and industry-leading private sector companies.
Nishy Lall
Nishy Lall, Sky’s Group Head of Youth and Social Impact, is an award-winning changemaker whose initiatives have empowered over 500,000 young people globally through media, tech, fashion, and grassroots community programmes.
Mike Wright
Mike Wright is a former Executive Director of Jaguar Land Rover, retiring in 2016 after making a significant contribution to doubling JLR’s scale since 2008. He acts as an advisor to FTSE- and North American-listed businesses, sports, arts and government-related organisations.
Lia Nici
Lia Nici has spent most of her career working in the television production, media training and education sectors. She was the Member of Parliament for her home town of Great Grimsby and now brings all of her skills and knowledge together as a freelance business consultant.
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is Chairman of CSB Logistics, a company he founded over 30 years ago. He is an active participant in the business community in South East London, having twice served as President of the region’s Chamber of Commerce. Clive is Chair of The Leigh UTC in Dartford.
Jim Wade
Jim Wade was Principal of the JCB Academy, the first UTC, in Staffordshire. During his time at the JCB Academy, the UTC was consistently judged ‘good’ by Ofsted, and developed the model of employer engagement which has been adopted across the UTC programme.
Yvonne Mason OBE
Yvonne Mason is a businesswoman and charity founder, with over 37 years’ experience in marine, shipping, and logistics. A founding member of UTC Norfolk, she now chairs its Industry Partner Group.
Oswin Baker
Oswin Baker is a podcaster, youth charity chair and social researcher with over 30 years in the business. As a trustee, he will bring a communications and youth perspective to the board.
Purminder Gandhu
Purminder Gandhu is the founder of KAURWAVE, a broadcast technology consultancy. Purminder spent over 30 years at the BBC and was part of an award-winning team that worked on the coronation. She is committed to mentoring, widening access to the creative and tech sectors, and championing DEI.
Paul Birt
Paul Birt, a HR and training professional, is a founding trustee and Chair of Lincoln UTC. With a 40-year career spanning the manufacturing sectors of computing, semiconductors, gas turbines and energy systems, he was most recently Head of People and Organisation with Siemens Smart Infrastructure in UK and Ireland.