Key Staff and Teaching Coordinators at BBSI

BBSI employs some 50-60 staff, academic tutors, administrative staff, a quality manager and a student services officer

BBSI is a British Council accredited and NQA ISO 9001 certified English Language School, Business College and Summer School. As a vocational training institution, BBSI is acclaimed for its quality management systems and is widely accredited by numerous national, international and professional awarding bodies. BBSI employs some 50-60 staff, comprising academic tutors, administrative staff, a quality manager and a student services officer. Key staff at BBSI include:

Shane Wilkinson

Managing Director

Shane graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1975, with an honours degree in Modern Languages. He entered the English language teaching profession, living and working mainly for International House and the British Council in the Far East, North Africa, Spain and England. In 1983 he graduated from Reading University with a Masters degree in Applied Linguistics. Throughout his career he has performed many roles including teacher trainer, director of studies, centre director and marketing director. He founded BBSI in 1992, in order to create an academically credible specialised English language teaching centre, and had worked ever since to ensure that the School remains true to its founding principles and ethos.

As Principal and Managing Director of BBSI, Shane is a director and a partner in the Company. His responsibilities include overseeing the running of the College, and for both establishing and maintaining BBSI´s quality management, academic ethos, style and culture as a quality and highly-accredited training institution. Shane is responsible for non-corporate business development and related business strategy. He is also responsible for maintaining and developing BBSI’s network of overseas representatives and partners, and ensuring that they are continually notified of developments at the School.

Ian Gault

Executive Director

Ian was formally a senior officer in the Royal Air Force, having completed 30 years´ service as a military aviator in both the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force, with extensive experience as a commando helicopter pilot; senior air traffic control officer; Ministry of Defence staff officer, at Headquarters National Air Traffic Services; and latterly as a tutor at the Royal Air Force Staff College. Ian also has experience as an industrialist, performing management roles in both production and logistics´ capacities. His vocational experiences have included extensive training in a variety of capacities at various levels and in many different fields, and World-wide travel in a wide range of challenging appointments related to military and government service, management, aviation, training services and international business development.

As Executive Director of BBSI, Ian is a director and partner in the Company. His responsibilities include the effective management of all promotional and presentational aspects of the Company, including marketing strategy and business development; overseeing the Company´s operational management function and management procedures; directing the Company´s administration function, quality systems and management information systems; and overseeing the development, design and direction of all professional, vocational and specialised training at BBSI. Ian also serves as consultant to and point of liaison for our many international clients in professional and specialised training fields.

Lourdes Saunders

Finance Director

As Finance Director of BBSI, Lourdes is a director and partner in the Company. Her responsibilities include the effective management of all commercial and financial aspects of the Company. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the administration and commercial functions. Lourdes also liaises with clients and students on a daily basis, and assists students in establishing their financial affairs in the UK when necessary.

Elaine Spark

Administration Manager

Elaine graduated from Uxbridge Technical College in 1986 with a LCCI PSC (Private Secretary´s Certificate). The Certificate incorporated secretarial and business studies with shorthand in French and English and typing and business studies in French, English and Spanish. In 2007, Elaine completed a City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Adult Leaner Support. She had previously worked as a Senior Editor in London and from 1997 to 2004, Elaine worked as the Shore Excursions Manager for P & O Princess Cruises, where she travelled the world with the sole responsibility of running the onboard tour office, serving between 1000 and 2000 passengers. From 2004, Elaine worked as a Sales Negotiator and was then promoted to Senior Sales Administrator in Southampton. Elaine joined BBSI in June 2007.

As the BBSI Administration Manager, Elaine is a member of the Senior Management Team, and her role is central in the context of providing quality of service to students at the College. Her responsibilities include overseeing and supervising the day-to-day work of the administrative team in their respective responsibilities and ensuring that her team works efficiently, whilst ensuring that the highest standards of quality are maintained at all times. Elaine also oversees the coordination and effective implementation of Company marketing strategy and the effective ongoing promotion of all Company products and services. Elaine has also undertaken the role of maintaining the Company computer database of both client and student records.

Claire Butler

PA to the Executive Director

Claire graduated from Kingston Maurward College in 2000 with an RSA Diploma in Administrative and Secretarial Procedures. The Diploma incorporated Business Administration, Administrative Procedures, Stages II and III RSA Diplomas in Text Processing, IBTII, RSA II shorthand transcription and NVQ Level III in Health & Safety. Claire has previous experience of working as a Personal Assistant at director level and previously worked in private accountancy and within the education sector. Since 2001, Claire has also acquired qualifications in Internal Auditing Techniques, Fire Safety in the Workplace, First Aid, and FrontPage and Dreamweaver IT training to Advanced level.

Claire joined BBSI in 2001. As Personal Assistant to the Executive Director, Ian Gault, Claire is a member of the BBSI Senior Management Team and her role is central in the context of the overall provision of quality and service to Company clients at executive level. Her responsibilities include assisting and acting as confidential secretary to Ian in all aspects of his operational, administrative and commercial functions within the Company. Moreover, in Ian´s absence, Claire coordinates all the administrative aspects of professional training within the College. Claire is also the BBSI Quality Manager, Fire Officer, Maintenance Manager, Health & Safety Officer and Security Officer.

Gill Casey

Director of Studies

Gill graduated from Manchester University in 1978, with an honours´ degree in Education. After some years in state education, and setting up work experience programmes, she entered the English-language teaching profession, and went on to take the Diploma in English Language Teaching. Gill worked in Milan for a number of years, both as Director of Studies, and as Centre Manager. Consequently her work included teacher training, and support, and consulting with a wide range of organisations, including blue chip companies regarding their training requirements. Her experience includes training in various areas of management and business development. Gill has been a Cambridge ESOL examiner for many years.

As Director of Studies, Gill is a member of the BBSI Senior Management Team and is responsible for overall management of the Academic Department and for the implementation of all those BBSI academic quality systems that specifically relate to the tutorial and learning processes. Her responsibilities include the recruitment, induction and ongoing management and development of effective tutorial staff; lesson observation, for the purposes of quality control and standardisation of training; and student academic counselling. Gill meets new students on arrival, and continually monitors their progress to ensure they meet their training objectives, and optimise their learning experience in the UK.

Marian Hesketh

Assistant Director of Studies (ELT)

Marian achieved a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in French and Philosophy from Sheffield University. She commenced employment at BBSI in January 2001. Marian is well-travelled, familiar with many different cultures and has 6 years´ experience in the Travel & Tourism industry. Marian was recently appointed Assistant Director of Studies (ELT) at BBSI, following a 4-year period as the Academic Coordinator, English Language Training, and having formally served as both a tutor and senior tutor at BBSI. Marian attained her Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language in 2007.

As the ADOS (ELT), Marian manages all aspects of English-language training at BBSI. She oversees the performance of the academic tutors within her remit and is responsible to the DOS for the course structure, design and quality control of BBSI English-language courses and their associated teaching resources. Marian takes a keen interest in her students and counsels them regarding their respective academic performance, aspirations and wellbeing. She is also responsible for the induction of new BBSI tutors, for organising and overseeing the extensive and ongoing Training & Development programme for all our academic staff, and assisting with academic reporting and standardisation. Marian also has a teaching commitment, which enables her to keep abreast of new teaching methodologies and resources.

Joan Rose

Assistant Director of Studies (ST)

Joan Rose graduated from Northumbria University with a combined studies degree in Business Studies and Engineering in 1981. This was followed by a career in Sales Office Management, followed by relocationto Switzerlandto work in a training role with the United Nations in Geneva, where Joan achieved her CELTA qualification. Returning to the UK in 1999, Joan was employed in a training role fora major oil company and then specialised in teaching English in the contexts of hospitality, tourism and business. Joan achieved her Diploma in ELT in 2008, at which point she joined BBSI.

Julie Hugo

Student Services Officer

Julie attended Bournemouth College and qualified as a Bi-Lingual Secretary in 1969. Her first position was working within the Travel Department of a local English Language School for 2 years. In 1974, however, after relocating to London for 3 years, Julie worked as a PA for the Chairman and Deputy Managing Director of a well-renowned British Advertising Agency, prior to travelling to South Africa to serve as Assistant to the Export Manager of a large clothing manufacturer in Cape Town. On her return to the UK in 1989, Julie returned to the training environment and has specialised for some 18 years in overseeing the needs of students in respect of travel arrangements, accommodation and welfare. In 1996, Julie acquired the ARELS Welfare Officer´s Certificate and the First Aid at Work qualification.

As Student Services Officer at BBSI, Julie oversees all aspects of student accommodation and maintains a vast portfolio of quality local host families. Her task involves the quality control of host-family accommodation, student domestic welfare, and student airport transfer arrangements. Julie also inducts new arrivals to BBSI to ensure a smooth and efficient settling-in process, and she advises students regarding visa and immigration matters. Julie also serves as the ´emergency contact´ for BBSI students in the event of any travel or welfare difficulties, or in the event of emergency situations.

Maureen Ffitch

School Placement Counsellor

Maureen graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Engineering honours' degree in Software Engineering for Real Time Systems. She joined a high-tech company in Cambridge working as a Design Engineer and in Technical Support before pursuing a career in Management for International Companies with subsidies throughout the world. In 2007 Maureen completed her qualification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (CTEFL) and joined BBSI in November 2007 to work as an academic tutor, taking on additional responsibilities for the BBSI Library in July 2008. Maureen accepted the role of School Placement Counsellor in June 2010.

As School Placement Counsellor, Maureen is responsible for assisting and advising students throughout the UK university application process. She provides BBSI students with advice and information concerning UK universities, UK university courses and their entry requirements, and she also guides students through the UK university-application process. Throughout that process, Maureen keeps students fully informed of the status of their respective applications by means of regular meetings. Maureen also liaises with universities on behalf of BBSI students and arranges university visits so that students can make an informed choice in respect of their future study programmes.