Michael Frearson Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, Gb

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

I am open to interesting research, development and evaluation opportunities in active travel, training and skills:* November 2023 - July 2024, Associate with Transport for Quality of Life updating the Pedestrian Pound report for Living Streets

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

I trained as a National Standard Instructor in 2011 and as a National Standard Instructor Trainer in 2013, and gained the new 1st4Sport Level 2 Award in Instructing Cycle Training in August 2024. Alongside thousands of other cycle instructors throughout England, I deliver road cycle training to build rider competence, consistency and confidence for more enjoyable active travel.

London, England, United Kingdom

IFF Research is an independent social and market research agency that has been helping organisations make better-informed decisions since 1965. I was approached to lead IFF research and evaluation projects in the learning and skills sector. Unfortunately a health condition prevented me from continuing in this role.

London, England, United Kingdom

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) delivers a £33 million per-year programme of professional development for the further education workforce. I was appointed to lead the ETF research and evaluation team and transform how this government-funded charity evaluates its impact on sector improvement. I designed a new evaluation strategy based on HM Treasury guidance, introduced logic modelling to programme design and development, delivered the first ETF impact and public benefit reports (for 2019-20), and oversaw the delivery of over 20 commissioned research and evaluation projects worth £1.3 million and covering more than 60 ETF programme strands. This commissioning role offered valuable insights into some of the challenges government-funded charities face when developing theories of change, allocating resources and providing infrastructure needed for strategy implementation, and actioning evaluation recommendations to improve programme quality and impact.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

The Bikeability Trust currently administers the Department for Transport's £25 million per-year national cycle training programme delivered in schools throughout England. I co-founded this national charity in 2017, and recruited and led the team working with grant-recipient local authorities and registered Bikeability providers and instructors to transform Bikeability funding, development, operations, and quality assurance systems. I drafted the current the National Standard for Cycle Training (2018), the Bikeability and Bikeability Plus Delivery Guides (2019), the Bikeability award certificates and booklets (2019), and the Bikeability Adult and Bikeability Family courses (2020). I established a new local authority grant allocation system (2018-20), built an evidence-based external quality assurance system (2018) and introduced Ofqual-regulated instructor qualifications (2019) to improve training quality, impact and value for money. I designed the Cycle Savvy Driving cycle training pilot for driving instructors commissioned by the Department for Transport (2018-2020), and I advised Transport for London on the creation their online cycle skills course and Cycling Scotland and Sustrans Northern Ireland on the development of their National Standard cycle training programmes.

London, United Kingdom

I returned to SQW in 2015 to lead projects assessing the economic value and impact of cycling, training and skills for local enterprise partnerships, housing associations, local authorities, central government departments and charities. Projects included assessing the economic impact of rural walking and cycling trails, estimating the economic value of the UK bicycle industry, and designing the Department for Transport's Bikeability impact evaluation that encouraged the UK government to offer cycle training to every child in England.

Cambridge

The Association of Bikeability Schemes (TABS) was the trade association for 320 registered Bikeability provider organisations in England. Following election to the board, I encouraged TABS members to demonstrate how their work helps more children cycle more safely, more often. I also promoted the benefits of Bikeability in four short films.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

RAND Europe is part of the RAND Corporation, an independent not-for-profit research institute whose mission is to help improve policy and decision making through research and analysis. I was recruited to lead the development of RAND Europe's work on education and skills. I also contributed research on higher education in the UK and Europe.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Outspoken are a successful independent provider of Bikeability cycle training and instructor training. I delivered both, and helped develop their approach to quality improvement by introducing an instructor peer mentoring scheme and collecting training impact data for Cambridgeshire County Council.

Slough, United Kingdom

The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) is the leading independent provider of research insights in education. I delivered business development interim management for the Research Department, reporting to the NFER senior leadership team. I also contributed research on the impact of Bikeability on children's ability to perceive hazards and respond to hazards while cycling.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

SQW is a leading independent provider of research, analysis and advice in economic and social development. I directed SQW’s national work on children, young people, employment and skills, including evaluations of the government's £235 million Play Pathfinders programme and £25 million Find Your Talent programme (links below). My clients included regional development agencies, devolved administrations, central government departments, national public agencies, and further and higher education funding councils.

London, United Kingdom

The Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) was a publicly-funded body supporting the development of further education in England. I managed LSDA's research programme on workforce development, quality improvement, international comparisons, and impact evaluation. Together with the British Council, I helped establish the UNESCO-UNEVOC national centre in the UK.

Sheffield, United Kingdom

The Higher Education Staff Development Agency (HESDA) was an agency of Universities UK, the collective advocacy organisation for the higher education sector. I led HESDA's work on labour market analysis, workforce development planning and National Occupational Standards development, in partnership with UK further and higher education agencies.

London, United Kingdom

Based in the Centre for Higher Education Access Development, I led the external accreditation and delivery of the University's lecturer training programme, managed National Vocational Qualification assessment centres for support staff, and contributed to departmental preparations for Quality Assurance Agency quality audits.

Leeds, United Kingdom

Based in the School of Continuing Education, I managed the mainstreaming and expansion of an innovative programme for accrediting higher-level learning in the workplace, in partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Training and Enterprise Council.

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Euclid is an arts, culture and creative industries consultancy operating in the UK and across Europe. I developed National Occupational Standards and vocational qualifications, and contributed to research projects for UK central government departments and the European Commission.

England And Australia

I taught British and European history to mature students and vocational learners as well as more traditional school leavers in Australia and England.

Phd, History

Thesis title: 'English corantos of the 1620s'. British Council Commonwealth Scholarship.

Level 2 Award In Instructing Cycle Training, Cycle Training

Home Mechanic Plus, Cycle Maintenance

Postgraduate Diploma, Human Resource Management

Professional Certificate, Management

Ba Hons Research (1St Class), History

Higher School Certificate