Simon Cotton Email & Phone Number

Bicester, GB

Gaydon, England, United Kingdom

Programme Manager responsible for delivering transformational change across the JLR Creative organisation.

HQ Air Cmd, RAF High Wycombe

• Led the pan-Service Training Policy Department with responsibility for all initial Officer and Aviator training within the RAF.
• Reviewed senior-level training governance mechanism to re-align with revised organisational structure of the RAF. Enhanced safety of training, distilled clear roles and responsibilities for Steering Groups and drove.
• Directed a cross-cutting team, delivering direction, policy guidance and advice across multiple domains; initial training, professional development and physical training.

HQ Air Cmd, RAF High Wycombe

• Senior member of newly formed strategic training innovation team, establishing beyond the horizon training technology capabilities to generate future battle-winning capabilities across the RAF.
• Created a mind map of pan-RAF training innovation lines of effort to cohere application of resources and communicate future direction for the RAF executive.
• Pro-actively engaged with industry to understand which external training innovation developments could also add value for the RAF.
• Established the first RAF training innovation working group to cross-cut all Gps and Cmds; with intent to abolish stove-pipes and drive research conducted of behalf of the MOD by Defence Laboratories into the business.
• Led the production of an RAF Innovation Presentation focused upon the application of immersive technologies within the training domain. Presentation was delivered as part of the international training symposium, IT2EC.

Kyiv, Ukraine

• Acted as the inaugural Royal Air Force representative for the training and development of the Ukraine Air Force.
• Established the operational and training development function for the Ukraine Air Force as part of the UK operation in Ukraine.
• Performed as the principle liaison officer between the in-country UK HQ and the central HQ for the Ukraine Armed Forces.
• Produced the inaugural training plan for the Ukraine Air Force, aligning budgetary resources with UK organisation’s ability to deliver operationally relevant training.
• Visited key military academic institutions to identify strategically important training requirements and subsequently plan delivery. Primary areas for training development such as operational planning and Air Defence.

RAF Brize Norton

• Business Transformation Programme Manager for a HM Forces organisation, delivering training and operational support to elite professionals.
• Led a team of over 180 people and completed a strategic re-alignment of the entire organisation; enhanced training supervision, improved safety and expedited a 10% increase in management output at nil cost.
• Ensured the highly successful delivery of in excess of 30 UK and overseas complex projects.
• Transformed organisational planning processes with a concomitant 50% reduction in workload.
• Re-invigorated the submission of quarterly management reports; added value by providing enhanced risk analysis and exception reports to the Senior Management Board.

RAF High Wycombe

• Principle programme controls officer for a £360M programme delivering airborne data gathering capability.
• Conceptualised all programme definition activities; established a comprehensive mandate, undertook pro-active risk management activity, developed a Level 0 Schedule, initiated a Responsibility Assignment Matrix and.
• Completed all preparation in advance of a Gateway Level 0 Strategic Assessment by the Office of Government Commerce – achieved an exemplary result.
• Orchestrated all professional development activity for the department; planned and delivered 3 separate training days for a cross-department team of over 40 people.
• Implemented flexible working practices; re-designed the departmental floor-plate, obtained funding for the required equipment and managed the install to deliver remote working options and increased productivity by 20%.

RAFC Cranwell

• Led a multi-disciplinary team of 10 people charged with creating compelling national marketing products for the Royal Air Force.
• Managed £12M marketing budget, successfully modifying the annual communications plan to respond to in-year recruiting shortages.
• Shaped an innovative outreach programme, targeting national and regional events to meet challenging recruiting targets.
• Astutely project managed the delivery of a cutting-edge £1M augmented reality recruitment tool.

Various

• Attached to a specialist UK organisation in order to deliver elite level operational output.
• Led training delivery teams throughout the globe, working in a high-pressure, high-tempo environment.
• Created a new operations management system for overseas locations that streamlined processes and increased efficiency by 20%.
• Deployed at 48 hours notice to direct a specialist team in an overseas operation that was instigated by the Cabinet Office.

RAF Brize Norton

• Prioritised and managed the procurement of Defence’s airborne equipment, with funded expenditure of over £10M per annum.
• Conducted extensive stakeholder engagement and rigorous management of 20 concurrent projects, delivering 80% within performance, cost and time parameters.
• Revolutionised capability delivery process for new equipment during a test-bed project (circa £3M budget), ensuring that all enablers were synchronised, with delivery confidence being increased as a result.

Hercules Force HQ, RAF Lyneham

• Delivered business support functions to high-readiness military units.
• Drove forward an overseas training review that instigated enhanced training opportunities for personnel deploying on operations; reduced risk and increased effectiveness at nil cost.
• Produced an innovative concept and subsequently compiled a Business Case that obtained funding to replace obsolete legacy IT infrastructure and associated applications that were being used to manage training throughout.

Merville Barracks, Colchester

• Training Manager within the head office of a military organisation, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer.
• Co-ordinated a global annual training programme for 7000 people.
• Directed planning for bespoke overseas training serials designed to enhance sharing of best practice between the UK and other partner countries.

RAF Brize Norton

• Section leader responsible for delivering specialised training packages to personnel in support of strategic Defence capabilities.
• Successfully completed 87% of all courses during a time of significant resource limitations.
• Project managed the re-location of a 4-week training package from the UK to Europe in order to capitalise on preferential environmental conditions – improved pass rate by 50%.

RAF Halton

• Manager of physical training facilities for over 2000 personnel; including a swimming pool, 3 gymnasiums and extensive outdoor facilities.
• Led a team of over 30 personnel and had responsibility for managing equipment budgets and personal development training budgets (total £1M).
• Project managed the establishment of a new gymnasium in order to bring a more attractive facility to market; delivered in 12 months, within budget and on time.
• Devised an innovative summer activity programme for all local children, including sports, forest activities and a broad range of recreational events.

RAFC Cranwell

Completed Initial Officer Training for the RAF prior to entering productive service.

Strategic Innovation Programme

Level 7 Strategic Management And Leadership

Post Graduate Certificate In Education, Physical Education Teaching And Coaching, Pgce

Pg Cert, Management, Pg Cert

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Physical Education And Sports Science, Bsc 2:1 (Hons)