Governance

About Bolton College

 Bolton College plays a vital role in the lives of learners, businesses and communities across Bolton and beyond.  At Bolton College, we are proud of our inclusive, supportive and ambitious culture – one that places learners at the heart of everything we do.

Our Strategic Plan sets out a clear direction for the years ahead.  It is shaped by the voices of our staff, learners and partners, and reflects our commitment to becoming a truly future-ready college.  That means embedding digital innovation into every aspect of teaching and learning, prioritising environmental sustainability across our campuses and preparing our learners for a fast-changing world of work.

We are investing in new facilties, strengthening partnerships with employers and developing a currciculum that not only meets today’s demands, but anticipates tomorrow’s opportunities with Bolton College being a forward-thinking, values-led place to learn and grow.

Our eight strategic priorities are to:

1. Elevate our reputation
2. Develop a responsive curriculum
3. Deliver exceptional learning experiences
4. Celebrate and reward our people
5. Build a community of shared purpose
6. Drive a greener future
7. Maximise digital technology
8. Secure financial sustainability

Our values (‘IACE’) are the foundation of our culture, the principles that guide our actions and the standards by which we measure success.  They shape how we work together, how we serve our community and how we build for the future.

• INCLUSIVE (I)
• ASPIRATIONAL (A)
• COLLABORATIVE (C)
• EXCELLENCE (E)

About the role

Governors come from a wide range of backgrounds and work as a team, alongside the Principal, in setting the strategic direction of the College and providing strategic leadership support to ensure that there is a clear vision for the future which is central to the success of the College.  Governors play an important ambassadorial role with communities and employers, ensuring that we effectively meet the needs of our key stakeholders.  They also play a critical role in ensuring and assuring the quality of teaching, learning and assessment as well as ensuring the College’s overall financial health is strong. By becoming a Governor at Bolton College, you will be joining a high-performing Board and thriving College, who are on a journey to greater success and financial stability.  This is your opportunity to steer provision and opportunities which benefit the students, the local community and employers directly, now and in the future.    

DOWNLOAD THE ROLE DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

Benefits of being a Governor

Current Vacancies

We are currently looking for diverse, committed and enthusiastic governors to help shape the future of our College and those that we serve.

We are particularly interested in recruiting governors with skills and experience in:

• Audit and Risk Management
• Teaching, learning and assessment in the FE sector
• Finance in the FE sector
• Legal and regulatory compliance

We want our Board to be representative of the community that we serve and would particularly welcome applications from people of different ages and backgrounds with varied experience and skills.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM

Governor Selection Procedure 

All applicants are considered by the Search and Governance Committee of the Board against the person specification.  Applicants are invited to attend an informal interview with members of the Committee and recommendations for appointment are then made to the Board.

When considering appointments, the Committee will use the findings of the latest skills audit of members of the Board to identify any skills gap.  In the event that the number of suitable candidates exceeds the number of vacancies, a waiting list will be set up.   Persons on the waiting list may be co-opted onto one of the advisory Committees of the Board to gain experience pending their appointment as a full member of the Board.

Further Information

If you require additional information or would like an information discussion about the role, please contact Deborah Bradburn, Clerk to the Board, email deborah.bradburn@boltoncc.ac.uk

Attachments

Click the links below to download the Governor job description and application form below, along with a copy of the Articles of Association and Code of Conduct:

• Governor Job Description 
• Governor Application Form (doc)
• Governor Application Form (pdf)
• Articles of Association
• Code of Conduct
• Student Nomination Form October 2025
• Student Governor Role Description October 2025

Board Members

Dr Andrew Roberts – Chair of the Board

Andrew is Managing Director of Avoira Ltd, a locally based technology company, and a past pupil of the college (1976-78). As a former City & Guilds student, Andrew received a Highly Commended Certificate in May 2011 at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace for outstanding contribution to Telecommunications from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as part of the annual Prince Philip Medal awards. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the University of Bolton in 2018 for his outstanding contribution to education, he has over 30 years’ experience of primary, college and university governance. Andrew is also a Governor of the University of Bolton and Vice Chair of QUEST a Multi Academy Trust which is part of the University of Bolton Group. In 2019 he became an Honorary Doctor of Science at Salford University.

He is also a Trustee of a Young Persons charity. Andrew loves to encourage and champion local businesses and is Chair of Bury Business Leaders Group and local Bury President of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Andrew is the Chair of the Board, the Search and Governance Committee and the Resources Committee

Andrew Fawcett - Vice Chairman of the Board

Andrew is the Executive Director of the Greater Manchester Provider Network which represents the interests of over a hundred colleges and Skills Providers.  Prior to this he held senior positions in the Skills Funding Agency and the Learning and Skills Council.

Andrew is committed to improving the skills and employment system in Greater Manchester and having worked alongside the College for several years, welcomes the opportunity to work as a Governor – something which he has done for the majority of his working life.

Andrew recognises the vital contribution which colleges make to both the lives of individuals in terms of the communities they serve, and to the employers they support.  He feels that as a Governor he can support the College to make an even greater impact through support and challenge.

Andrew is the Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee.

Link Governor: 16 – 19 Programmes / T-Levels

Liam Sloan

Liam was appointed as Principal and Chief Executive of the College on 1 January 2025, bringing over 25 years of experience in educational leadership, driven by a deep passion for fostering positive change. His journey in education began as a Business Lecturer at Doncaster College & University Centre, where he laid the groundwork for a distinguished career dedicated to enhancing student outcomes and institutional success. Through strategic leadership and collaboration, Liam has built a reputation for delivering outstanding results at all levels of the education sector.

Originally from Dumfries, Scotland, Liam has held senior leadership positions both in the UK and internationally. Most recently, he served as Provost at Federation University Australia, where he spearheaded transformative projects aimed at improving student experiences and strengthening community engagement. Prior to this, he played a pivotal role in the success of institutions such as Barnsley College, New College Nottingham, and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in New Zealand, where his strategic vision contributed to institutional growth and enhanced learner achievements.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Liam has demonstrated exceptional dedication and discipline in his personal pursuits. He has represented Scotland in badminton and England in dressage, exemplifying his commitment to excellence both within and outside the education sector.

Liam shares an ambitious vision and an unwavering commitment to transforming lives through education. His energy, expertise, and innovative approach promise to be a driving force in the College’s continued success.

He is a member of the Resources Committee, Standards and Quality Committee and Search and Governance Committee

Dr Sue Lomax 

Sue was a student at Bolton College where she subsequently taught and led the implementation of NVQs across the College. She owned and ran her own business for 28 years. She was a senior manager at Bolton and Bury TEC with responsibility for youth and adultc training. Moving to Manchester TEC, Sue implemented a standards and new quality monitoring procedure, which was aligned to the new Training Standards Council inspection framework. In 2001 Sue joined the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council as an area manager with responsibility for all post-16 activities and procurement.

Sue has extensive experience in Work Based Learning, Further Education, Schools, Regeneration and Economic Development, Apprenticeships, Area Inspections, Foundation Learning City Strategies, Local Authority Agreements and Sub Regional Governance.

Sue is the Chair of the Standards and Quality Committee.

Link Governor : Safeguarding / Apprenticeships

Kate Flood 

Kate is the former Chief Commercial Officer for Hill Biscuits Ltd with commercial responsibility for a £24m premier biscuit manufacturer servicing retail, wholesale and the foodservice sectors.

Working with the College, Kate has established a keen interest in the development of young people and their preparedness for working life.  She believes that she can bring a positive contribution to the College Board in helping shape the agendas and provide a pragmatic employers’ perspective on the strategic plans of the College.

Kate is a member of the Resources Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Link Governor: Health and Safety

Dr Tony Unsworth 

Tony Unsworth is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and worked in the accountancy profession for over 11 years.  He held senior financial positions in the engineering/manufacturing industry before moving into the Higher Education sector in 2001.  Tony has worked at the University of Bolton for over 10 years and is currently the Assistant Vice Chancellor (Resources).

Tony is a member of the Resources Committee.  

Link Governor:  Finance 

Deborah Bradburn

Deborah Bradburn is the Clerk to the Board and she supports and advises the Board in relation to its role, responsibilities and remit.

Deborah has over 10 years’ experience as a legal compliance advisor. She has a degree in Law and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

Dr Gill Smallwood MBE

Gill is the Chief Executive of Fortalice, a Bolton based charity that provides frontline community services including Refuge accommodation for victims of domestic abuse. Having worked in education for 28 years, Gill  changed her career in 2011 to help give something back to the community by working in the voluntary sector. 

Gill is one of the founding Directors of 1Point (a gateway to talking therapies), she is also a Director of Bolton Together (children and young people’s consortium) and of the period poverty charity, Fresh as a Daisy.  Gill continues to work in a range of voluntary roles including being a Governor in primary education and is a member of the Police Independent Advisory Panel and Scrutiny Group.

In 2021, Gill received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton for her outstanding contribution to Women and Children and was also awarded an MBE for her longstanding work locally, both in the community and with Fortalice. 

Gill is a member of the Standards and Quality Committee

Link governor: Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Dr Julian Coleman

Julian has worked at the University of Bolton for over 20 years.  Having trained as a civil engineering and systems engineer and worked in the engineering sector, Julian joined the Manufacturing Group of the University of Warwick and worked there for 6 years during which time he began his PhD.  He worked closely with companies from the automotive and aerospace sector delivering collaborative research, teaching and CPD provision.

Julian also worked for the University of Liverpool on a two-year postdoctoral research project with industry partners from the automotive sector.  Since joining the University of Bolton in 2003 he has taught supply chain management and undertaken various management roles including leading the Off Campus Division as Dean and is now Assistant Vice Chancellor for Knowledge Exchange.

Julian is a member of the Audit Committee

Debra Woodruff

Debra is an experienced and skilled senior leader within colleges and independent training providers on skills policy implementation, curriculum design, delivery models and quality improvement.  Debra has over 35 years of experience in the education and training sector and is currently an education and training consultant having previously been Deputy Chief Executive of a vocational training organisation and Deputy Principal of a college.    

Debra is a member of the Standards and Quality Committee

Abdul Karimi

Abdul is a dedicated student governor who studies ESOL and consistently demonstrates commitment, responsibility and leadership. As a Vision Ambassador, he proudly represents the College, promoting its values and ensuring that the student voice is heard. In his role as a Wellbeing Ambassador, he actively supports a positive and inclusive environment, encouraging students to look after their mental health and wellbeing. Abdul also serves as the Student Representative for ESOL, acting as a strong link between ESOL learners and staff and advocating for the needs and perspectives of his peers. Abdul is driven by a desire to help others, create meaningful change and be a positive influence on those around him.

Abdul is a member of the Standards and Quality Committee.

Muhammad Sher

Muhammad is a second-year Engineering student who is passionate about representing student voices and helping improve the College experience for all learners. Muhammad is committed to ensuring students feel heard, supported and involved in important decisions that affect their education. With effective communication skills and a positive attitude Muhammad aims to build better connections between students and staff. He is particularly interested in student wellbeing, improving learning facilities and creating more opportunities for student engagement.  Muhammad believes every student deserves equal support and opportunities to succeed and as a student governor, he looks forward to working with the Board to make meaningful and positive changes across the College community.

Steven Rammond

Steve is a member of the careers team at Bolton College. He holds a BA (Hons) in English from Lancaster University and is currently reading a Master of Education degree at the University of Greater   Manchester, where he is researching statutory funding arrangements for learners with SEND within Further Education. He is a qualified Advanced Practitioner.

After a decade working in the telecoms industry for two FTSE 100 companies, Steve transitioned into the lifelong learning sector in 2012, where he held teaching and leadership roles for seven years. He has worked in Further Education since 2020 in a range of professional support roles, and joined Bolton College in July 2023.

Steve is a proud Boltonian and is devoted to ensuring learners have the best experience and opportunities the college can provide, and regularly advocates for students from disadvantaged groups.

Steve is a member of the Standards and Quality Committee.

Tom Martin

Tom Martin is Assistant Principal and the EDI Champion Leader at Bolton College. Tom has worked in Further Education for over 10 years in a number of positions from lecturer, Advanced Practitioner, English Co-Coordinator and Curriculum Leader. Tom has always believed that through education we can improve the quality of our learners’ lives and that engaging and innovative teaching, learning and assessment can inspire our learners to reach heights they themselves didn’t envision.

Tom is a member of the Standards and Quality Committee.