Meet the Board

As Chairman and founder of Educ8 Training Group, Colin has created a culture that attracts and retains the best staff.

Colin is a serial entrepreneur having previously developed and sold a residential care company to a VCT group that resulted in the creation of Educ8.

He is a firm believer in creating environments for success, enabling others to reach their true potential. He’s also a strategic leader and thinker whose commitment to developing a values-driven ethos and culture is fundamental to his success.

Colin’s commitment to people who share his vision has been reflected through the achievement of various prestigious accolades. These include Investors in People (Platinum) and Educ8 being listed as a 3-star Times Top 100 Best Small Company to Work For, as well as more recently achieving No.1 Best Mid-Sized Company to Work For in the UK.

Grant is CEO of Educ8 Training Group and has more than 20 years’ high-level experience in the work-based learning sector. He is a respected industry leader and a regular contributor to education-focussed features in the media.

Grant has an MBA and is a qualified management professional. He has worked alongside Colin Tucker (Chairman) to successfully grow Educ8 Group into a multi-million pound business and the largest independent training provider in Wales.

With a values-first ethos, Grant has a passion for lifelong learning and recognises the importance of developing staff and helping them reach their full potential. As part of his commitment to people, Grant was instrumental in implementing an Employee Ownership Trust scheme for Educ8 Group.

Grant also plays an active role on a number of influential boards across the country, including Cardiff Capital Regional Employment and Skills, and the National Training Federation for Wales.

As Chief Finance Officer, Steven is responsible for finance and human resources at a strategic level.

Steven has substantial experience in successful business management at CFO/CEO level gained from over 30 years in a variety of highly competitive, commercially driven sectors. This has included technology and telecommunications, automotive lean manufacturing, construction, and professional sport.

His experience has been gained at C-level in business models ranging from large, quoted US multinational corporations to high-growth entrepreneurial owner-managed SMEs and in business transformation strategies, acquisitions, mergers and trade exits.

As Managing Director, Jude has full responsibility for the direction of the company’s operations to ensure it achieves its objectives effectively and efficiently.

An experienced senior manager, Jude has a proven track record of operational and strategic success forged over many years in the education sector where she has specialised in apprenticeships and work-based learning. This includes achieving consistently excellent success rates and creating strong employer engagement relations.

Having worked extensively with FE colleges and independent training providers in England, Jude has invaluable knowledge of the sector. This experience – including as Head of Quality for a specialised provider where her key responsibility was achieving and maintaining an Ofsted Grade 1 for over eight years – means Jude has a deep understanding of the industry and its key players.

Jude has also completed an MBA in strategic leadership at Exeter University.

As Marketing and Communications Director for Educ8 Training Group, James is responsible for developing its multiple brands – raising awareness of the Group’s services and the overarching benefits of lifelong learning, alongside driving learner and business engagement.

MBA qualified and a CIM professional, James has a strong background in strategic international marketing. With more than 20 years’ experience, James has delivered successful campaigns and digital marketing initiatives and efficiencies across a variety of sectors. These span technology and multi-national media companies to, more recently, several years spent as Marketing Director of an established cancer charity.

Keen to continue working with people-focussed organisations, James joined the Educ8 Group to support its dedication to helping individuals and businesses maximise their potential. James is an unusual combination of being a data-driven professional with a passion for down-to-earth messaging that puts people and their needs first.