Carole Bishop Email and Phone Number

I head up a large and diverse department that includes teams responsible for vocational scheme (qualification) and standards development, assessments, quality assurance and compliance, design and development of training courses that help with the induction, training and up-skilling of individuals in the sector as well as EUSR, a register of skills, training, qualifications and authorisations. I am responsible for maximising operational efficiency of performance and setting and delivering the portfolio strategy.

Responsible for maximising revenue and income opportunities through whole life cycle product management, on and off-line marketing, sales, fundraising, grants & tenders as well as identifying and partnering with the right third parties. Each year over 140,000 people visit one of our 19 centres located across the UK - as a learner on an outdoor classroom course to support GCSE/AS/A-level curriculum, as an adult on a leisure learning course, as a teacher on a professional development course or even as a family on holiday.

AQA are one of the UKs largest and most respected awarding organisations and education charity. As part of their diversification strategy, my role was to launch AQA into the TVET vocational sector; to scope and define the strategy; to devise the business plan and deliver a ROI. Some of my responsibilities included:- Defining, developing and implementing the strategy for AQA- Profit and Loss ownership - developing and managing - Identifying and developing the right strategic relationships and partnerships- Recruiting and leading a multi-function team of experts- Developing and implementing complex multi-channel strategies to give a healthy ROI - reputational as well as financial- Member of the Joint Council for Qualifications Vocational Policy Group, the DfE AO Liaison Board, the SFA Liaison Board, UVAC AO Forum- Responses and policy positioning on consultations and reviews- Providing advice and guidance to other AQA colleagues on matters relating to technical and vocational education and learning- Being the 'face' for AQA in the technical and vocational education sector

I launched Lifetime Awarding into the vocational and work-based education market, including devising the corporate strategy and translating this into a business plan, regulatory compliance, qualification development, quality assurance, operations/systems, branding, website, collaborative agreements, third party endorsements. I was also Responsible Officer and a member of the Governing Body. I had full P & L responsibility; built a high performance team and lead them to over-achieve some pretty challenging targets; built a broad and market driven product portfolio; recruited and lead a dynamic and successful multi function team.

Responsible for driving new business acquisition in the vocational education and work-based learning sectors:- developing strategic alliances, partnerships and MOU with third parties and customers. - developing and implementing complex multi channel sales strategies (t/o c. £20m)- lead negotiations on all commercial opportunities and major contracts (pipeline c. £1m to £2m)- identifying and managing business risk - sales and marketing leadership - national, remote, field based, tele-sales, third party- developing the team, including devising a training and development programme, coaching and mentoring- developing meaningful KPIs- developing a pricing strategy. - developing a customer contact strategy- gaining buy in from internal and external stakeholders

OCR are one of the three main awarding bodies in the UK with academic, vocational and work-based qualifications. Turnover c. £120m per annum. As Head of Sales I was responsible for ensuring we hit our sales targets and specifically:- Sales & marketing leadership- Developing the proposition- Developing new sales channels and routes to market- Management of multi function teams including field based sales people, change management, sales planning, tele-sales, data analysis- Interim responsibility for marketing team, annual budget c. £1mk - Sales forecasting and budgeting - turnover c£121m- Data management strategy- Re-structuring and change programme- Differential PricingOur customer included schools, sixth forms, FE, Training Providers, Employers (blue chip multi-nationals through to SMEs).There were (and still are) many challenges facing the education sector, including changes in the curriculum, new qualifications, new funding regimes, new accountabilities to name but a few. This ensured the role was extremely challenging, but revenue targets were achieved each and every year.

Various business development roles - - Development, implementation & ongoing management of national business development programmes- Sales and marketing strategies- Training and Development of third party staff- High stakes negotiation and influencing- Devise and implement national Broker sales strategy- Devise and implement national Public Sector sales strategy- Development and roll-out of After Sales Charter- Speaking at public and high profile industry forums and conferences- Monitoring and benchmarking performance- Devise and implement corporate hospitality programme

Development of a new product in a new sector for a national distribution and logistics company:- Full market review - including supply and demand analysis, market and competitor profiling, pricing analysis and setting, trend analysis, risks/barrier to entry- Development of relationships with top ten banks- Ensure operation capability in complex, high stakes, high security environment- Prior to Sector Head - Field Sales Manager with 5 direct reports