ABOUT ME
I never thought I'd become an accountant...
As I neared the end of my Law and Human Resource Management degree, a careers adviser suggested I became an accountant.
I walked out of the room in disgust. After all, I thought, why would anybody want to be a bean-counter?
After graduating in 1996, I managed a project for New Look to assess the performance of its new shops across Europe. I really enjoyed gathering information about the business and analysing it to direct the company's future strategy.
It took me a year to realise that the work I was enjoying so much was actually accountancy.
In 1998, I joined the John Lewis Partnership Finance Graduate Training Scheme, during which time I worked on new stores in Southampton and Solihull. I also qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
After five happy years with the Partnership, I relocated to Bristol and became Managing Director of The Treatment Network, a small but rapidly growing medical rehabilitation provider. This led to a role with AXA managing the finances of large-scale IT projects.
Although I enjoyed being a business leader, I became increasingly aware of a desire to teach. In 2006, I took the life-changing decision to move into professional education and joined BPP. (continued below)
I enjoy two aspects of my work in particular:
- Unpacking complicated concepts to make them more accessible and relevant to learners.
- Using the latest technology and educational theory to enhance the learning experience.
"David has a great energy level, is well researched and uses facts and examples well."Learner feedback Sep 2019
A passion for teaching...
As a tutor at BPP, I quickly built up a diverse portfolio of courses in business strategy and management, financial management, management accounting and law.
It wasn't long before I was invited to become a Subject Matter Expert. Alongside my teaching, I created content used in BPP's classrooms globally. My materials generated excellent pass rates, and I was invited twice to CIMA's Head Office to advise students how to turn a particularly challenging paper 'from a stumbling block to a stepping stone'.
Over the years, I took on more strategic roles, managed a team of 30 Subject Matter Experts and delivered projects that used technology to revolutionise the educational experience. I also became a member of the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) and was appointed Interim Managing Director of BPP Learning Media.
Although I enjoyed my time at BPP, I became aware that my managerial roles were taking me away from the teaching work I found so fulfilling.
In January 2018, I left BPP and set up Adept Training. I relish the opportunities I now have to engage with a variety of learners, whether preparing them for exams or enhancing their careers through continuing professional development. I'm even glimpsing life 'on the other side' as I'm now an examiner for two institute exams!
It is my hope that you and I will have an opportunity to work together to explore and meet your training needs.
