PROFILE
TEES UP !
Name
: Grant Glendinning Age : 51 Born : Hartlepool Lives : Carlisle
Organisation & Job titles : chief executive and group principal , Education Training Collective
When I was at school , I wanted to be … A marine biologist . I ’ m not sure I really understood what that entailed though , but as a teenager I was in the Middle East for a time where my father was working and loved diving in the Red Sea . In the end I didn ’ t make the right A level choices . When we look at the crisis we have in the world ’ s oceans now , it ’ s pretty clear what the role is now though .
The best business decision I ever made was … I think it might be this – coming to lead the Education Training Collective . I have a fantastic team , and a group in a strong position . It ’ s a great platform to build upon . The values , tone of voice and potential really struck me when I learned about the organisation , and it ’ s proven to be exactly what I ’ d hoped .
The worst business decision I ever made was … Well , I believe firmly that mistakes help us gain knowledge . As Richard Branson said , ‘ you don ’ t learn to walk by following rules , you learn by doing , and falling over ’. Because business and leadership are ultimately all about people , we make mistakes all the time . It ’ s hard to pinpoint a significant one that ’ s prevented growth or held achievement back – but rest assured , just like all of us , I ’ m not infallible !
The best part of my job is … Quite literally , transforming people ’ s lives . That ’ s the great privilege about working in further education . Every day , however difficult , I make sure I remember that every decision I make or idea we take forward is about trying to improve the life chances of young people , or those retraining or returning to education . We ’ re also working to drive productivity and address employers ’ skills challenges in the Tees Valley at the same time . You ’ re involved in something undeniably good and positive – I ’ m very lucky .
The biggest downside of my working life is … Further education is so crucial to levelling up , improving productivity , social mobility and even the transition to net zero but from a state perspective it simply has not had the proper investment it should have over the last decade . This has led to a huge decline in adult participation in training , and real recruitment challenges . Goalposts are changed quickly in the sector , and regulation sometimes feels not to be in the best interest of learners .
If I could change one thing to help my organisation it would be … Liberating the Apprenticeship Levy so that it can be used flexibly , for wider training needs . This would really turbo-charge colleges ’ ability to meet businesses ’ needs in our region .
Four words to describe me are … I ’ d say ‘ hard-working ’ and ‘ clear-thinking ’. Others have said ‘ collaborative ’ and ‘ strategic ’.
My business mantra is … Make ‘ Can do ’ your self-talk . If you believe it can be done , you create the conditions you need to perform well .
My greatest achievement is … Leading high-performing teams in successful colleges , growing learner participation and continually improving quality .
The advice I ’ d give to business start-ups is … Firstly , build a strong team : surround yourself with people who complement your skills and bring unique perspectives and strengths to the table . A great team will make all the difference to your success . And secondly , never stop thinking about your customers or clients because they are what your success depends on .
54 | Tees Business