College Chair of Governors to chair AoC Governors’ Council

Simon Perryman, our Chair of Governors, has been appointed as the Chair of the Governors’ Council for the Association of Colleges (AoC)!

Simon joined Barnsley College as their Chair of the Board of Governors in October 2015. He runs his own business providing advice to overseas governments on skills policy and delivery. He is also a College National Leader of Governance working alongside the FE Commissioner. He retired in 2015 from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills where he was the Executive Director based at their office in Wath-upon-Dearne. His role was to lead the operational and industrial investment work of the Commission.

Simon previously worked at the Sector Skills Development Agency and, before that, held a number of jobs in government relating to skills, small business and regional development. This included the creation of Business Link and, more recently, Sector Skills Councils. He has also worked at the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber based in Leeds.

Simon said: “It is an absolute privilege to lead a great College that is making such a difference to the town and its community by transforming lives. It is a fantastic honour and privilege to be appointed Chair of the AoC Governors’ Council and to join their Board, helping to shape the direction and the future of our industry and our member organisations, who each play a vital part in their communities, in developing the economy, and in advancing cultural capital, locally and beyond.”

Kirsti Lord, Deputy Chief Executive – Member Services at the AoC, commented on behalf of the AoC Governors Council: “The Governors’ Council are delighted to welcome Simon as their newly elected chair. We look forward to working with him to inform and influence the policy agenda for college governance during his term, we would also like to thank our outgoing chair Stephen Barnes for his excellent work over the last two years.”

The AoC is the national voice for Further Education, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England. The AoC are a not-for-profit membership organisation established in 1996 by colleges, for colleges. Members make up almost 95% of the sector – transforming 2.2 million lives each year.