Our people

Our people are our greatest strength. Enabling skills growth in the science sector for over two decades.

We are welcoming. We speak out. We are enterprising. We care.

Our people are our greatest strength, committed to supporting employers and the bright talented people that work right across the science and technology sector. From our staff and associates delivering a diverse range of skills solutions to our customers and members who use them – it’s our people that make Cogent Skills tick.

Our People
Our Senior Leadership Team
Our Board
SIAS
Associate Trainers
Rachel Roby
Strategic Apprenticeship Lead
"I love being part of a team who are so passionate and engaged in skills. I see my role as…
Lisa Andrews
Head of Operations
Lisa really understands the opportunities, challenges and needs of the sector - putting the needs of our Employer and Provider…
Kate Hutchins
Membership and Events Manager
"I love being a part of something that makes a difference and I’m learning all the time, from the best…
Denise Bentley
HR & Payroll Manager
"I love my job; we have such a great team at Cogent and I am incredibly proud to work here.…
Mark Bolan
Delivery Team Administrator
"Both the people here, and what Cogent does as a company, make me proud to be part of Cogent Skills."
Paul Pendleton
Course Delivery Coordinator
"Everyone can find the perfect job. It’s finding the perfect job with the perfect people. This is what Cogent offers"
Justine Fosh
Group CEO, Cogent Skills
"I am incredibly proud of the difference our people make. We know that some of the greatest challenges we face…
Steve Smith
Managing Director of SIAS
Steve joined SIAS in January 2022 as Managing Director and is responsible for setting and implementing the strategic direction. Steve…
Alex Slater
Head of Operations, Courses & Consultancy
Alex is the Head of Operations for the Consultancy and Courses Business Unit in Darlington overseeing the annual delivery of…
Nick Durrington
Managing Director Cogent Skills Apprenticeship & Graduate Business
Nick leads the Cogent Skills Apprenticeship and Graduate Business Unit and has extensive knowledge of the skills and training arena,…
Roger Thomas
Group Head of Marketing & Communications
As Group Head of Marketing & Communications, Roger leads our marketing function which supports Cogent’s various business units and ensures…
James McIntosh
Managing Director, Apprenticeship Delivery
I am very passionate about personal development, skills, competency, training and apprenticeships.
Jude Knight
Head of Low Carbon Skills
Jude has more than 20 years’ experience of the skills sector, working in both operational and strategic functions at a…
Fay Treloar
Head of Skills
Fay possesses extensive experience in relationship management across academia, industry, local government, the NHS, charity and voluntary sectors.
Nicola Kettley
People and Culture Director
I am passionate about the role of skills, education, and excellent employment practices in social mobility.
Andrew Jones
Head of Research
Andrew joined Cogent Skills in December 2023 as Head of Research, where he leads labour market intelligence, insights, data visualisation…
Justine Fosh
Group CEO, Cogent Skills
"I am incredibly proud of the difference our people make. We know that some of the greatest challenges we face…
Katie Woods-Ruddick
Chief People Officer, px group.
"Katie Woods-Ruddick is Chief People Officer at px Group which provides operations management, engineering services and energy management solutions to…
Steve Elliott
Chief Executive, Chemical Industries Association
"Steve Elliott joined the Chemical Industries Association in 1997, spending four and half years as Head, International Trade with additional…
Nick Gardiner
Chief Operations Officer, BioIndustry Association
"Nick joined the BIA as COO in October 2014, bringing with him extensive industry and not-for-profit management experience. Nick is…
Colin Reed
Chair of NSAN (National Skills Academy for Nuclear)
"Colin has accepted the invitation to join the Cogent Skills Board in association with his role as Chair of NSAN…
Liz Collins
Executive Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer
"Liz has held a number of positions across the pharmaceutical sciences business in scientific leadership and management roles. In early…
Elizabeth de Jong
Chief Executive Officer, UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA)
"Elizabeth de Jong joined as Chief Executive of the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) in April 2022. As CEO, Elizabeth…
Joe Howe
Academic Lead for the Humber Industrial Cluster (University of Lincoln)
He has extensive experience of working interchangeably with industry on major environmental projects and initiatives across the UK and overseas.
Sue Ferns
Senior Deputy General Secretary at Prospect
Sue is a member of the TUC Executive Committee and the General Council’s lead on energy, environment and sustainability
Kate Mingay
Managing Director, Dakram Materials Ltd
Kate Mingay was elected Chair to the Chemical Business Association in 2021. She also is the Managing Director, Dakram Materials…
Samantha Harris
Director of Shareholder and Stakeholder Relations, Nuclear Decommissioning Author
Samantha Harris joined the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) in 2021 where she works in Corporate Affairs, leading a team covering…
David Vineall
Chair of Cogent Skills
"David joined the Cogent Skills board in 2025 and brings a wealth of experience and knowledged with the industry"
Matthew Lay
Head of the EDF Nuclear Skills Alliance, EDF Energy
Matthew has extensive experience working with the sector and within local government.
Steve Smith
Managing Director of SIAS
Steve joined SIAS in January 2022 as Managing Director and is responsible for setting and implementing the strategic direction. Steve…
Lisa Andrews
Head of Operations
Lisa really understands the opportunities, challenges and needs of the sector - putting the needs of our Employer and Provider…
Dan Russell
Head of Quality & Business Improvement
Dan joined SIAS in September 2021 and Head of Quality and Business Improvement and is responsible for maintaining quality standards…
Andrea Webster
Consultant
10 years’ experience as a Human Performance and Competence Management Professional. Expert at developing and implementing human performance and competence…
Ashley Haslett
Trainer Consultant
30+ years as Operational Manager / Director in the high hazard industries Operational responsibility & experience from 5 COMAH Upper…
Roel Van Veen
Trainer
12 years Bluewater Energy Services lead manager HSE for FPSO new builts and large modifications, process engineer and risk assessment…
Brad Eccles
Trainer
20+ years’ experience in the management of low probability high consequence risk areas, mainly in regulated industries such as oil…
Lorraine Braben
Consultant
30+years’ of Human Factors experience within the High hazard industries, managing the risk of human error / failure and limiting…
Michael Wright
Consultant
A Human Factors specialist, with over 30 years’ experience of consultancy, training and research. Experienced within the following sectors: nuclear,…
Clint Devine
Trainer
44 years global experience in a high hazard industry environment starting as an Instrument and Process Control Engineer and including…
Jon Wallis
Trainer
Served various high hazard process industries for nearly two decades and has experience providing operations, maintenance and project delivery solutions…
Steve Highley
Trainer
18 years industrial experience of production and safety management in high performing major hazard fine chemicals manufacturing...
Chris Venn
Trainer
Built and led multi-national Process Safety Management, Loss Prevention/ Technical Safety and Risk Management teams on three continents in Consulting,…
Laurence Hilton
Trainer
Extremely experienced in high-hazard industries and has been responsible for multiple sites. Lead auditor for 20 years, with diverse knowledge…
Learn, grow and reach  your potential

We’re regularly looking for talented people to join us, either directly or as an associate supporting the delivery of skills solutions to customer across our sector. You can view our current opportunities to work for us, or talk to us to find out more about working for Cogent.

Our inclusive culture
We want everyone at Cogent Skills to feel included. Why? Because unique voices and perspectives are vital for our future. And we know that enabling diverse teams to thrive, be creative, and be heard, leads to better business outcomes. That’s why we run various programmes to promote a diverse, inclusive and non-discriminatory culture. But there’s always more to do.

We’re proud that our commitment to our people has been recognised by Investors in People.
Skills to better our world
Supporting and investing in skills for our sector
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