Meet The GFTS Team
Laurence Pearson – Managing Director/Lead IQA
Laurence is an industry professional, with over 26 years experience of glass related occupations and fenestration installation activities, from commercial, new build and the domestic markets.
Laurence started life as an apprentice glass processor and took the opportunities to progress as and when they were presented. Progression into management first brought about Laurence’s involvement with training and development started back in 1999 whilst undertaking the D32 and D33 awards. More recently Laurence refreshed his knowledge of the assessment process and completed the A1 Award.
Laurence undertakes the daily running of the business and is dedicated to delivering an excellent level of customer service, to all clients and candidates.
Delivery Staff
Amir Shah – Glass Industry Assessor/IQA
Over 16 years’ experience in this field and a background of being an apprentice himself.
Responsibilities include delivering and completing Apprenticeships/NVQ commercial glass qualifications on time. Support and guide trainee Assessors/Work based recorders by mentoring and ensuring that their quality of work is not compromised. This is in terms of their delivery of holistic observations, marking knowledge and giving feedback. Ensure that the evidence collected by any the trainee Assessors/Work based recorder is valid, authentic, sufficient, current and reliable. Carrying out Formative and Summative internal verification on e-portfolio and observations on teaching and learning.
Roy Pusey – Glass Industry Assessor/IQA
Roy is a vastly experienced assessor within the glass industry and predominantly covers learners in the North East of the country. A friendly character, he makes learning a breeze for all his learners and delivers the necessary content in a professional and efficient manner. He carries out vital IQA and general quality assurance tasks within the glass industry team and always prioritises the welfare and standard of our apprentices’ learning experience.
Alan Fletcher – Manufacturing Assessor
Duties include; teaching, assessing on standards apprenticeship qualifications. Areas delivered include Storage and Warehousing, Team Leading, PMO and Management to level 5 for age groups 16 to 65. Also responsible for the delivery of ERR, PLTS and functional skills to level 2 in math’s, English and ICT. Working with the quals direct electronic portfolio system. Also supporting distance learning.
Oliver Pearson – Glass Industry Assessor
A valuable member of the team and fully qualified assessor, Oliver has several years of experience in delivering our qualifications. His keen knowledge and approachable attitude allow him to form a rapport with our learners quickly, and drive them to succeed throughout the programme.
Dean Lister – Glass Industry Assessor
Dean’s role at GFTS involves delivering Fenestration Installation training and giving learners a greater knowledge of the Construction and Fenestration Industries. He works alongside senior management to create schemes of work and lesson plans, invigilating and marking CSCS tests, marking completed workbooks before being submitted for internet verification and improving learners employability skills.
Steve Cattell – Engineering & Manufacturing Assessor
Steve has 39 years` experience in mechanical and electrical engineering, covering all aspects of the role from design, manufacture, quality and delivery of the engineering process. He has extensive knowledge in quality, maintenance, health and safety, management and legislation. Steve is also fully conversant with 5C, 5S, CP, CPK, SPC, TPM and lean manufacturing procedures.
Andy Ghader – Glass Industry Assessor
Andy has been an assessor for a number of years and, in fact, was tutored by our very own Roy Pusey when Andy was an apprentice himself. Being through the process himself, Andy empathises with all his learners and is able to help each of them with whatever challenges they may occur whilst on the apprenticeship and whilst at work. He brings a modern and recent point-of-view towards apprenticeship delivery and always goes one step further to maintain a high standard of learning – whatever it is he may have to do to achieve that.
Matt Saunders – Glass Industry Assessor
Matt has been working as a Tutor/Assessor for the last 5 years at GFTS. His responsibilities include assessment planning, progression monitoring and reviews, observing working practice and conducting knowledge sessions (UPK) with learners.Matt is always looking for ways to develop and better himself and acts as a positive mentor, achieving the best outcomes for the learners.
Ollie Clarke – Assessor/Alternate Provision/Functional Skills Tutor
Throughout his life he has attained a broad spectrum of knowledge and skillsets and can assess a variety of different apprenticeships. He has an in-depth understanding of how teaching should be carried out influenced by experience gained from a number of different centres throughout his career.
Ollie also delivers alternate provision, using his knowledge of a variety of vocational subjects.
He is also our dedicated functional skills tutor that can organise specific 1 to 1 sessions and training plans with learners that are particularly struggling with achieving their Maths or English. Having this additional point-of-contact makes learners feel much better supported and he carries out the role excellently and upholds the individual responsibility without flaw.
Neil Richards – Alternate Provision Delivery
Neil has worked in Education for 25 years and has recently joined GFTS from a position of Deputy Headteacher of a local Secondary School. With wide experience as a Pastoral Manager, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Pupil and Staff Wellbeing Lead he will be working hard to maintain the high standards of safeguarding for learners and continue to promote Staff Wellbeing across the business.
Neil will also be working alongside staff in the South West office to continue to develop the ‘Alternate Provision’ on site, that will be offering Vocational Experiences to local pupils. ‘Not all young people are suited to the traditional school curriculum, and we will be offering an insight into a variety of vocational areas and prepare learners for the world of work.’
Support Staff
Samantha Tinker – Quality and Business Development Manager
Providing a clear vision for the company’s ongoing success and development , including Client and Apprenticeship engagement, training and development and providing strategic leadership in consultation with the Directors. Contributing to the continuing quality improvement and policy development of the company.
Accountable for Strategic Business Planning and Management of the assessment and support team, along with overall management of Quality and Performance
Emma Honey – Administration and MIS Assistant
Emma’s role includes assisting the manager of internal systems by ensuring all learner documentation is compliant. Emma assists with advertising apprenticeship vacancies and the administration of all applicants, whilst ensuring all computerised and non-computerised systems are up to date. Alongside her main duties, she also completes general administration duties on and day-to-day basis.
George Tinker – MIS & IT Systems Manager
George ensures that all IT systems within the company and e-portfolios/electronic learning platforms for learners, are running as smoothly as possible, maintaining and modifying resources and technology to improve efficiency, and managing all of the company’s IT services.
Adam Golding – Administrator and Trainee Assessor
Adam Golding is one of our trainee assessors with more than 6 years experience in the training industry as a whole.
Adam monitors our systems and processes, working closely with all members of staff to ensure that all stages of the learner journey are meaningful and effective, and that our learners are fully supported.
As a result of his experience, Adam has a good understanding of a wide variety of fenestration and glazing practices, and will soon be a qualified assessor in his own right.
Jack Pearson – Internal Quality and Administration
Jack provides support for all GFTS staff, including the director, and plays an integral role as a point of contact between our assessment team and the internal office staff. Jack is instrumental in the smooth running of operations at GFTS.
Jackie Sharland / Vikki Jagger / Rachel Schofield – Internal Quality and Administration
Providing support for all GFTS staff, tutors and learners, and responsible for many administration duties in line with requirements of the qualifications we deliver.
