Derek Longhurst Email and Phone Number

Voluntary work: Alsager Town Councillor (Independent) since 2013 with extensive experience of Planning Law and issues around Development: Chair of the Town Council's Finance, Policy and Governance Committee.Special Interest in Public Health: member of the Patient Participation Group of Cedars Medical Practice and of the South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group Federation of Patient Groups.Specialist expertise: Higher Education Consultancy

I was appointed Chief Executive of fdf in 2003. Originally funded by government as a three-year project, fdf operated for eight years during which time it successfully developed over 100 work-based degree programmes that recruit more than 5000 employees/students annually. I was also responsible for conceiving of the national accreditation service to support Employer Based Training Accreditation (EBTA). The service has generated more than 70 employer partnerships with universities in the last three years and has delivered accreditation opportunities to over 6000 employees who undertake in-house work-based training.I have nearly 40 years experience of working within higher education in the UK and USA, with 19 years at senior management level. Throughout this time I have maintained a commitment to opening up opportunities in higher education for people who come from socially-disadvantaged families and communities. This has been firmly rooted in my own early experience of being the first member of my family to enter what was then an even more elitist system of higher education than it is now. I have a passionate commitment to a socially-just and fair system of higher education that is open to anyone who has the capacity to benefit.The work that I have undertaken in the strategic leadership of fdf has been informed by collaborative partnerships with employers and their representative bodies and with employees and unionlearn, providing a navigation service to constructive dialogue and sustainable development with universities and colleges providing higher education. The ultimate objective has been to create innovative work-based higher education that can be shaped to meet the needs of employees, adults and those who need to learn through flexible part-time opportunities. In this role I have worked in close collaboration with Ministers of State, a range of government departments, funding and quality agencies.

Developed a national organisation that worked in partnership with employers, universities and colleges to provide high quality work-based higher education

As Dean of School I instituted the development of new programmes in creative arts, media, journalism and theatre. These programmes continue to recruit high numbers of students.As Dean for Academic Collaboration I was responsible for regional partnerships with Further Education Colleges that enhanced opportunities for progression to higher education. I was also responsible for leading and managing the University's Quality Assurance arrangements for its extensive international partnerships.