Hopwood welcomes new board
HOPWOOD Hall College and University Centre has appointed two highly esteemed new members to its Corporation Board.
Gary Buxton MBE, a Coaching Psychologist with a private practice in Manchester, who established the Young Advisors Charity, has been named Chair Designate and will assume the role of xhair in July 2024.
Gary said: “I’m really thrilled to be joining Hopwood Hall who are outstanding in their field and nationally recognised for making education inclusive. I hope I can combine my experience of working with schools, technical education providers and universities to carry on the good work of Nazir and celebrate all that Hopwood Hall continues to achieve.”
He will succeed current Chair Nazir Afzal, who is stepping down from the post after six years.
In addition, Ben Ward has been appointed as Vice Chair Designate and will take up the role in July 2024.
Ben, who is the Chief Executive Officer for University of Manchester Students’ Union, will succeed current Vice Chair Clive Reid.
The two designates both bring a wealth of experience to the Board at Hopwood, which has campuses in Middleton and Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
The appointments come during a very momentous time for the college after it was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary
Prize. Gary, who was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to the young people of England, and Ben, who is a Trustee of Manchester Literature Festival, were recruited via Peridot Partners. Dan Baxter, Principal Consultant at Peridot, said: “It has been such a pleasure to have supported Julia and the Board at Hopwood Hall College with this recruitment process, funded via the FE Governor Recruitment Service which we deliver on behalf of the Department for Education.
“Gary and Ben are both successful, experienced and respected leaders and they are passionate about making positive impacts in all that they do. With the College already achieving such wonderful outcomes for its students and local communities, I can’t wait to see Hopwood have even more success across the region with the support of Gary and Ben on their Board.
Julia Heap, Principal and CEO of Hopwood Hall College and University Centre, said: “I’m so excited to be welcoming both Gary and Ben to our ambitious Corporation
Board.
“These two appointments both bring an incredible amount of insight, expertise and experience and we’re really looking forward to all the ways in which they will help us build upon the huge momentum we have at Hopwood Hall College.
Nazir Afzal, Outgoing Chair of the Corporation, said: “When I became Chair of Hopwood Hall College we were strangers and now as I leave six years later, it feels like family.
“The college is thriving, winning awards – including the highest honour in education, the Queen’s Anniversary Prize – and developing learners who others may have left behind.
“I am delighted that my successors are committed to continuing the journey to excellence.”
Clive Reid, Outgoing Vice Chair of the Corporation, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement with Hopwood Hall and look forward to watching it on its continued path to distinction under the new Chair and Vice Chair”.