Martin Grayston - Centre Manager & Bricklaying Instructor
Martin is a fully qualified bricklayer, who has many years experience working in the construction industry and has progressed onto management, and is currently Manager of the Centre. Qualifications relevant to post include – NEBOSHH (distinction), Risk Assessment level 2, IOSH Managing Safety (Distinction) ILAM Certificate in Management (Distinction), PTTLS Level 4, A1 Assessors Award Level 4, City & Guilds (Brickwork technology and site practice) and fully qualified First Aider.
Rob Ayles - Carpentry & Joinery Instructor
Rob has more than 18 years teaching experience in Carpentry, Joinery and Plumbing having previously taught modern apprentices at BNFL and at Preston College in construction. Qualifications include City & Guilds 9294 workplace Assessor award, City & guilds D32-33. Assessor award, D34 internal verifier award, IOSH managing safety, PTLLS, and First Aid at work. He also holds a CITB Level 3 in carpentry & Joinery, and level 2 plumbing. He has been at the centre for almost 2 years and in that time completed several short courses including inspiring young people.
Neil Crook - Painting & Decorating Instructor
Neil - is a fully qualified Painter & decorator who run his own business for over 20 years and progressed into teaching in 2009. Qualifications include City & guilds in P&D, PTTLS level 4, First Aid at work, and has recently achieved the A1 assessor’s award. Short courses include ‘Inspiring & Involving Young people, NLP training and De-escalation techniques.
Pete Wignall - Technician & Brickwork/Joinery Instructor
Peter is a fully qualified engineering craftsman with many years experience working at Preston College. Qualifications include – City & Guilds Mechanical Engineering (Distinction), Risk Assessment level 2, PTTLS level 4, IOSH Managing safety, CSE woodwork grade 1, and First Aid at work. Peter also acts as Centre manager in the absence of Martin. He has brought a diversity to the centre in terms of training offered, which is particularly successful with LLDD young people.
Mark Roberts - Assistant Technician and Trainee Instructor
Mark was recently appointed through Future Jobs fund, who has worked for us voluntarily and is experienced in Joinery. He has recently passed his PTTLS teaching qualification and his A1 Assessors Award. Mark has been teaching small groups of children with disabilities and works in the community with Gift 92.
Mark Bench - Plastering Instructor
Mark is fully qualified in plastering and has many years experience teaching in a Vocational training environment. Mark works for Preston vocational Centre on a part time basis where he has a wealth of knowledge and is highly skilled in the above trades.
Carol White - Admin Assistant/Examinations Officer
Carol has many years experience and is fully qualified in all aspects of administration including the Royal Society of Arts Examinations Board Typewriting (Distinction), Practical data processing, word processing (Distinction), GCSE English A, Internet Technology.
The Board of Directors
Preston Vocational Centre is a charity which has a highly professional, experienced and dedicated Board of Trustees, all of whom are active in supporting the Centre and its trading subsidiary. Preston Vocational Centre.
Board of Directors include:
Malcolm Clarke (Chair and Vice President of North and West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce)
Gillian Beeley (Vice Chair), previously Chief Executive of Lancashire Education Business Partnership
Roger Harling (Finance and previously Co. Sec Training 2000)
Julie Bather (Head of Larches House Referral School)
Jackie Hughes (Previously Vice principal, Preston College)
Mick Lovett (Head of Environmental Services, Preston City Council)
Councillor Anthony Gornall (Preston City Council)
Tim Forrest (Director of HT Forrest)
The Board is fully engaged with the Centre, and provides a small Executive team to support the Centre staff and to progress all aspects of the business as it strives to become a nationally recognised centre of excellence.