Dan joined PM Training in 1996, setting up the first gardening team and developing the Homeworks property management service, which now boasts more than 60 teams. Since then, Dan has worked in a number of roles across the business, including Director of Homeworks, and most recently Director of Training Operations, before being appointed Executive Director of PM Training in April 2020 and overseeing the company rebrand to Achieve Training in April 2021.
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Dan has a real passion for the area and in particular the development and education of its young people. He is proud to have played a part in the growth and success of Achieve Training, which was set up by his father Sean Canavan in 1982.
Liz joined Achieve Training as Chair in September 2021. At that time she was completing her office as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Staffordshire University where she served for 6 years completing 35 years in Higher Education. Liz grew up near Stafford, attended college in Stoke-on-Trent and her first teaching job was at Longton High School in 1983. With a passion for education, Liz is a member of 5 Academy Trusts; co-Chair of the Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area; and is a Governor of 2 Universities. Liz was awarded a CBE in 2019 for her services to Higher Education and became a Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire in 2020.
Elizabeth has been a Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Councillor for over 12 years, holding many key positions including Council Leader and Deputy Mayor. Elizabeth has over 20 years experience in the finance industry, where she held senior HR roles, and was a Director of the RBS Pension Fund. She is now a Lay Judiciary at the West Midlands Employment Tribunals. Elizabeth also has a lifetime of leading roles in the voluntary sector and is the Coordinator of the North Staffordshire Independent Custody Visitors.
Mohammed Ramzan is an experienced further education leader who has extensive senior leadership experience of transformational change in organisations and has held principal and Chief Executive roles in two Further Education Colleges. He is a committed and dedicated senior leader who is goal orientated and sets the highest of expectations of himself and the teams that he works with.
A Board level experienced strategist and educationalist. Excellent communication skills and proven experience in leading change and developing successful stakeholder relationships. He has delivered workshops at national conferences and has extensive experience in aligning mission, values and organizational culture to improve quality of education. Possessing a passion for leading, inspiring, and motivating teams to maximise organisational performance.
Maqsood has 15 years of experience of developing and delivering policies and programmes on behalf of ministers, board members and chief executives. Currently Maqsood is the Cohort Director for Nye Bevan Programme and Strategic Senior Manager for Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Devolution Partnership (HSCP) Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs). Maqsood is responsible for the Mental Health, Dementia, Diabetes and CVD SCNs including three cross cutting responsibilities: public engagement, advancing equalities and tackling health inequalities.
Barry recently retired from a local housing association as the Director of Business Development and Director of Arch services. Barry has over 28 years of experience in housing and regeneration in North Staffs and supporting vulnerable people across the area. For his previous organisation he has been actively involved in developing and delivering strategies, along with the delivery of major housing developments and regeneration projects. Barry has also been involved in bringing other organisations into the group, and merging their operations with the parent. He has chaired a number of influential groups throughout his career including a school governing body. He is currently mentoring a small business and supporting its growth strategy.
Born in Stoke-on-Trent and a graduate of Staffordshire University, Sarah has over 18 years’ experience in corporate learning and development and in higher education. In addition to her wealth of experience in employer engagement and work-based learning, Sarah is an expert in higher and degree apprenticeships. She works with the Department for Education, lobbying on degree apprenticeship policy. She is a guest editor and reviewer for UVAC’s Journal of HE, Skills and Work-based learning. Committed to lifelong educational development, Sarah is also Chair of Trustees of a 14-18 high school in the Staffordshire Moorlands and Staff representative on the University’s Board of Governors.
David is a retired Chartered Accountant, having spent over 37 years in practice gaining wide experience of accounting for and auditing of social housing providers and credit unions with a firm specialising in providing audit and financial consultancy services to the not-for-profit and charity sectors. He has particular interests in risk management and governance in regulated sectors, and has previously been Vice-Chairman of a local stock transfer housing association.
Registered office: Achieve Training (Staffordshire) Limited, Kingsley, The Brampton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 0QW. Registered in England and Wales No. 01620399 VAT No. 927 405227