“Having spent my entire career in further education, committed to the mission of enabling opportunity through education, I feel privileged to be a part of Skills & Education Group as Interim Chief Executive and I look forward to leading them into their next phase. Skills and Education Group has been widening participation through learning for over 100 years and I'm proud to be part of an organisation whose values align so well with my own.”
Yultan Mellor
Interim Chief Executive
Yultan Mellor brings a wealth of experience to her role as Interim CEO at Skills and Education Group. She has dedicated 30 years to the further education sector and, as a Trustee and Chair of Access to Higher Education within the Group, understands our mission and values.
Yultan’s responsibilities include:
- Passionate about enabling opportunities through education, Yultan prioritises people and collaborative working. Her extensive leadership experience at the highest levels within the education sector equips her to guide the organisation through this transformative period.
- Collaborating with the Board of Trustees, senior leadership team, and staff to develop and begin to implement our future direction and plans.
- Providing stable leadership and ensuring continuity of operations to prepare the organisation for a smooth transition to a permanent CEO.
Yultan believes that “Together, we can achieve more.”
Denise Kriens
Interim Director of HR and Designated Safeguarding Lead
"I'm delighted to be a part of the Senior Management Team working with Kaye, Solman, Denise, and Yultan and look forward to working with Product Development, EPA, Access to HE, Compliance & Regulation and Security & Protective Services to drive Skills & Education Group forward."
Jane Cunningham
Interim Director of Quality, Assessment & Regulation
As a learner, lecturer, faculty manager, and quality lead, I have been deeply invested in further education for over thirty-five years. I have seen firsthand the vital role that the sector plays in helping learners make a life and a living. To my role at SEG, I will bring commitment, integrity, and determination.
Jane brings a wealth of experience to her role as Interim Qualifications, Assessment and Regulation Director.
Jane’s responsibilities include:
- Developing and maintaining the product strategy to ensure our qualifications are created at the highest level and responsive to the evolving needs of our centres and students across our brands
- Developing and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders
- Leading on rigorous quality assurance processes and systems to ensure our centres and, in turn, we comply with all regulatory authorities requirements
- Guiding, monitoring and achieving progress on the implementation of the strategic plan
Knowing that Skills and Education Group wants to improve lives through education and skills development, Jane is passionate about working with her teams to provide relevant and high-quality qualifications that enable individual learners to reach their potential.
“Education and skills can be a life changer, regardless of a person’s stage of life. I can support career changes, widen skill sets, grow confidence, and impact families and communities for the better. It’s the best!”
Kaye Jackson
Director of Business Growth and Engagement
Kaye is committed to growing customer relationships and supporting our customers as they work to improve the life chances in the communities they serve.
If a jigsaw puzzle is missing a piece, you want Kaye on the case. She loves the trust that comes from growing customer relationships, and listening and really getting to the bottom of what people are trying to achieve. For her, no two days are ever the same, and there is certainly no time to get bored as she works to solve the puzzle that is the further education and skills sector.
Kaye is responsible for:
- Leading the work of our knowledgeable and solution-focused Relationship Management team, ensuring clear points of contact for all customers across Skills and Education Group
- Establishing relationships with key stakeholders and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the skills landscape on a regional and national level
- Identifying new business opportunities across Skills and Education Group and effectively managing pipelines
- Providing excellent customer service, and serving as a source of information and a critical friend when needed
- Working with the Brand Manager and wider communications team to ensure products and services are effectively marketed and communicated
Knowing that Skills and Education Group has a true desire to improve the life chances of communities, Kaye and her team work hard to make sure they support our customers in making this a reality. She finds no better feeling than when customers share the same passion as her, and their faces light up when they realise she has just found the solution they hadn’t thought of.
"Creating business impact thrives on the collaboration between pounds, people, and place – where financial resources, human potential, and local context align to drive sustainable growth and innovation."
Solman Nouman
Director of Finance & Operations
Solman is a senior leader with over 15 years of extensive experience in the third sector, including the past 8 years specialising in the cultural and education sectors. He holds a first-class honours degree in BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance from Nottingham Trent University and initially trained as a management accountant in the manufacturing industry. Fun fact: ask him about traffic signs and 3-part number plates!
Solman is known for his fast-paced, yet detail-oriented and collaborative approach to leadership. He embraces the Kaizen philosophy, consistently driving ‘good change’ through incremental improvements and empowering those around him to achieve their full potential.
Outside of work, Solman enjoys spending time with his son, exploring railway heritage museums. They share a love for miniature steam trains, ice cream, and chips.
As Director of Finance and Operations, Solman is responsible for:
- Leading the finance and operations strategy
- Overseeing financial planning, budgeting, and reporting processes
- Managing financial resources effectively
- Ensuring compliance with all relevant financial regulations and internal controls
- Collaborating with senior leadership to support the overall vision and mission of the organisation
- Developing and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including board members, partners, and funders
- Mentoring and developing staff
"I enjoy working for an organisation who strives to support their staff and learners to achieve, no matter what point they have started from, and to progress on their chosen journey in life and work. I would like to use my success to support the progression of others."
Andrea Pellicott
Head of Compliance and Regulation
“It’s great to see the sheer joy of learner achievement and how the values of Skills and Education Group contribute to this. It’s why we do our jobs each day.”
Elaine Barker
Head of Centre Support
When you work with Elaine, you’re barking up the right tree. Putting the customer at the centre of everything that she does, Elaine is committed to delivering excellent service by ensuring that our Centre Support team always knows exactly what they’re doing and why, the team’s goals and service standards, and how the team is progressing with each.
Elaine’s role includes:
- Ensuring smooth and effective day-to-day Centre Support team operations
- Keeping processes current, effective and understood by all that use them
- Aligning tasks and activities with the overall vision of the Group
- Maintaining awareness amongst colleagues about the need to comply with regulatory responsibilities
- Developing and continually improving the Centre Support team’s excellent customer service
- Planning, supporting and encouraging the personal development and growth of the Centre Support team
Valuing transparency and forthright discussion, Elaine encourages everyone on her team to contribute to advancing its goals and to make suggestions to change or improve processes where needed. She knows that the world of education is ever-changing and strives to keep her team one step ahead, providing excellence in service to our customers and high-quality education opportunities to learners.
Melody Coomes
Head of Relationships and Membership
Melody is passionate about building strong relationships and creating opportunities for our centres and members to thrive. She loves seeing people connect, grow and feel supported as part of a community striving to improve skills and education. Finding solutions that make a real difference to our centres, members and stakeholders is her favourite part of the job role.
Melody is responsible for:
- Leading the work of our Relationship Management, Membership and CPD teams ensuring customer needs are met
- Building and maintaining relationships with members, centres, stakeholders and partners across SEG
- Identifying opportunities for growth, partnerships and funding to strengthen SEG’s work and impact
- Overseeing our professional development programme ensuring it meets the highest standards and supports lifelong learning
Steph Reeves
Head of Business Growth and Marketing
Steph brings a wealth of experience in leading high performing teams, developing strategic marketing initiatives and driving sustainable growth in the education and skills sectors. Having worked across both Awarding Organisations and Providers, she possesses a comprehensive understanding of the industry
Steph’s responsibilities include:
- Leading the Business Growth and Marketing team
- Developing and implementing growth strategies
- Campaign co-ordination and brand alignment
- Nurturing stakeholder and partner relationships
Steph is committed to delivering impact through structured momentum whilst laying the foundations for scalable growth to support all those we work with.
Lindsey Male
Head of Product Development
Lindsey Male brings a wealth of experience to her role as Head of Product Development at Skills and Education Group. With over 25 years in the education sector, she is dedicated to shaping high-quality qualifications that meet industry needs and regulatory standards.
Lindsey’s responsibilities include:
- Leading the strategic development and implementation of regulated qualifications.
- Ensuring compliance with awarding body and regulatory requirements.
- Overseeing product development and quality assurance processes.
- Collaborating with stakeholders to create impactful learning experiences.
Lindsey is committed to advancing excellence in education, with a strong focus on innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement. Her leadership enables her to steer the organisation’s product development strategy while upholding the highest standards in qualification delivery.
Why use Skills and Education Group Access?
Skills and Education Group Access is an Access Validating Agency (AVA),
licensed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), to validate and quality
assure Access to HE Diplomas.
Partnering with Access to HE Providers, we help to create:
Opportunity:
Our Diplomas open doors, empowering students to excel in Higher Education and beyond.
Growth:
Students work with life-changing teachers and curricula, gaining the confidence and experience to realise their academic goals.
Change:
By supporting adult students in their education journey, we’re ensuring that they have the tools to transition into new and fulfilling careers.
Working Together
We know the power of all.
Our partnerships aren’t just with our membership, they’re with each other. Because we know that inclusion and collaboration are key to creating opportunities for everyone.
Meet our team!
Leadership Team
Yultan Mellor
Interim Chief Executive
Denise Kriens
Interim Director of HR and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Jane Cunningham
Interim Director of Quality, Assessment & Regulation
Kaye Jackson
Director of Business Growth and Engagement
Solman Nouman
Director of Finance & Operations
Andrea Pellicott
Head of Compliance and Regulation
Elaine Barker
Head of Centre Support
Melody Coomes
Head of Relationships and Membership
Steph Reeves
Head of Business Growth and Marketing
Lindsey Male
Head of Product Development
Board of Trustees
Gill Scott
Chair of Skills and Education Group Access
Phil Bloor
Trustee
Randeep Sami
Trustee
Gill Scott
Chair of Skills and Education Group Access
Phil Bloor
Trustee
Randeep Sami
Trustee