Governors make a valuable contribution to the success of the College. Governors contribute their collective skills and experience to the governing body in a non-executive capacity on an unpaid basis. Their role is to determine the direction and strategy of the College, to be accountable for the proper use of the public funds entrusted to it and to oversee the quality of all it does. Governors are appointed to one of a number of categories: external members who have the necessary skills to ensure the Corporation carries out the functions under article 3 of the Articles of Government, staff and student members. The Principal is also a governor. The governing body does not manage the College or organise its day-to-day affairs, which is the job of the Principal, who is appointed by the governing body.

Corporation Documentation

(agendas and minutes from Governance meetings)

Members of the Corporation

Ken Lea (Chair)

Governor since 1989, Chair of the Corporation since 2000, Chair of the Search Committee, Chair of the Campus Development Committee and a member of the Finance and Remuneration committees.

Ken is a business consultant with extensive experience in production engineering and business management. He was formerly a director of Rolls-Royce/Bentley Motor Cars in Crewe.

Vic Harris (Vice-Chair)

Governor since 1997, Vice-chair of the Corporation since 2000, Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Search and Campus Development Committees.

Vic is now retired from paid employment, having spent most of his career in a variety of senior HR roles. His three grown-up children are all former South Cheshire College A-Level students.

Peter Swift

Principal and Chief Executive, member of the Campus Development, Finance, Organisational Development, Quality and Standards and Search Committees

Peter was appointed as Principal at South Cheshire College in 2009.

John Bache

Governor appointed 1 August 2008, Chair of the Organisation Development Committee and a member of the Finance Committee

John has been a consultant in accident and emergency medicine at Leighton Hospital, Crewe, since 1983. He has been a magistrate since 1989.

Claire Blanchard

Governor since 1st August 2007 and a member of the Quality and Standards, Remuneration and Audit Committees

Claire is Head of Marketing Tourism and Events Management at the University of Chester and has extensive experience in both further and higher education. She is a Quality Assurance Agency reviewer and her research interest is HE in FE. Claire is also a Parish Councillor.

Julia Dowell

Staff Governor nominated by support staff since 2003 and a member of the Quality and Standards Committee

Julia is the College's Deputy Director of Finance and Administration.

Francis Ellison

Governor appointed 1 August 2008, Chair of the Quality and Standards Committee and a member of the Finance Committee

Francis is a Project Leader in Engineering for Bentley Motors Limited, he has 30 years of experience in the automotive industry and attended South Cheshire College prior to completing a BEng Degree at University. He has also been Assistant Manager for local youth football team for the past 10 years.

Thomas Howard

Student governor appointed on 3 December 2009 and a member of the Quality and Standards Committee

Thomas is a full time student at South Cheshire College studying A and AS level. He has wide ranging interests both academically and personally.

Linda Izan

Staff Governor as from 1 August 2009 nominated by teaching staff. Linda is a member of the Finance Committee

Linda is Head of Faculty for Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Hair Beauty and Holistic Therapies.

Ronald Jones

Governor appointed January 2008, member of the Organisational Development and Audit Committees

Ron is a qualified accountant formerly employed by Remploy Limited as a Property Manager. He has extensive experience relating to: persons with disabilities; engineering and skills based learning; retail and small business needs; just in time manufacturing processes; change management; building project planning and management.

Uwe Koch

Governor appointed 1 August 2009 and a member of the Finance Committee

Uwe is Director of IT for Bentley Motors Limited

Kate Newbould

Governor appointed on 3 December 2009 and a member of the Organisational Development Committee

Kate is an employee of the LifeStyle Services Group.

David Roddis

Student governor appointed on 3 December 2009 and a member of the Quality and Standards Committee

David is a student at South Cheshire College enrolled on the Access to Higher Education course

Margaret Simon

Governor since 2002 and a member of the Campus Development and Remuneration Committees

Margaret is a member of Crewe East Council and represents Rope Division which takes in Wistaston, Willaston, Shavington and Rope parishes. She is mayor of Cheshire East for 2009/10. She is also a member of Cheshire Fire Authority and the Chairman of Governors at Shavington High School.

Prof Tim Wheeler

Governor since 2002

Tim is Vice-chancellor and Principal of The University of Chester.

Diane Wright

Governor appointed in January 2010 and a member of the Organisational Development and Finance committees

Diane is Head of Business and Management at MMU’s Cheshire campus. She also has over 20 years experience of marketing in the private sector.

Simon Yates

Governor since 1999 and a member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees

Simon is Executive Director of The Beaumont Hospital and The Beardmore Hospital (part of the BMI Healthcare Group).