A world of experience and expertise
The senior team at TVET UK has years of experience in the field of vocational education and trade, both in the UK and across the globe.
Matt and Alan, TVET UK’s Directors, take a hands-on approach to their work and spend much of their time travelling the globe tracking down and following up opportunities for TVET UK members. But wherever they are, they’d like to hear from you. So why not get in touch?
Matthew Anderson, TVET UK Director
Matt joined TVET UK at its launch in 2007 and specialises in student recruitment and in-country partnerships. He has led trade missions to new markets for UK vocational education such as Azerbaijan, Oman, Kazakhstan and Korea. He has spoken in support of vocational education and training at conferences and events across the world, and has also been asked to write numerous articles in support of the vocational education agenda.
Matt worked for 11 years in the City & Guilds group in various marketing and business development roles, including Marketing Consultant to the industry sectors and online assessment development. In 2004 Matt joined the international team where he worked as a Development Manager on a range of bespoke vocational products for clients in Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia.
He left City & Guilds in 2006 to work as a freelance marketing and business development consultant specialising in vocational education, working with a number of FE colleges on projects and interim management roles.
To contact Matthew email matthew.anderson@tvetuk.org
Alan McArthur, TVET UK Director
Prior to taking up his appointment of Director for TVET UK in June 2007, Alan worked for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) for six years. His first appointment with UKTI was in July 2001 when he was commissioned to undertake a short term business attachment to the British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur to scope the education and training opportunities for UK plc covering equipment supply, vocational skills training, educational software/hardware/media, consultancy and corporate training.
Following his attachment Alan worked as a Regional International Trade Adviser specialising on Education & Training in the North East of England before taking up the position of International Business Specialist for UKTI’s Education and Skills sector team in London. His role involved liaising with UKTI’s nine regional International Trade Advisers for Education & Skills and with Commercial Officers’ in Embassies and High Commissions world-wide to formulate and implement market entry strategies for the sector.
In June 2008 Alan was invited by the British Embassy in Egypt to scope TVET opportunities. Since then TVET UK has developed a number of partnerships for its members and has worked with the MEA through the Egyptian British Business Council to develop a Framework Agreement with the Industrial Training Council and the Federation of Egyptian Industries which was signed in January 2009.
Alan’s background therefore, is ideally suited to jointly lead this mission and promote the UK offer in Technical and Vocational Education and Training on behalf of TVET UK members and other organisations and assist them to achieve their international business goals and to establish long-term business relationships with international partners.
To contact Alan e-mail: alan.mcarthur@tvetuk.org
Rita Dobson, TVET UK Member Services Manager
Rita has worked in the education sector for more than 10 years and has been working with TVET UK since its formation. Prior to joining us permanently as Membership Services Manager in November 2009 she spent 3 years at Learning and Skills Improvement Service (formerly the Centre for Excellence in Leadership) and 5 years at the Association of Colleges working on international projects. Rita has been involved in many exciting developments in countries such as Iraq, China, Bulgaria, USA, Oman and Kuwait and has also participated in several European-funded projects.
To contact Rita email: rita.dobson@tvetuk.org
