Simon Bartley
Chief Executive, UK Skills
Simon is Chief Executive of UK Skills and of WorldSkills London 2011Ltd.
UK Skills is a not for profit organisation which champions skills and learning for work through competitions and awards. Established in 1990 it has the prime purpose of raising skills levels in the UK through skills competitions and managing the UK Team which competes in the WorldSkills and EuroSkills Competitions. UK Skills was at the heart of the successful bid to bring WorldSkills to London in 2011. UK Skills also manages the annual National Training Awards, WorldSkills UK Competitions and other skills related events.
Simon was educated at Durham University where in 1979 he graduated with a BSc in Engineering Science and Management and in 1985 with a MSc in Management Science.
He is a Chartered and a European Engineer, a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, a Member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and a Fellow of the City & Guilds of London Institute.
He is a Director of WorldSkills International and of ESPO (the European Skills Promotion Organisation). In addition he is a Member of the Skills Commission, the Apprentice Ambassadors’ Network and a Member of The Council of The City & Guilds of London Institute. He is Chair of the BSI SME Engagement Committee and a Member of the BSI Policy & Strategy Committee. He currently Chairs the 14 – 19 Diploma Development Partnership Steering Group for Construction and the Build Environment. He is a non-Executive Director of the Centre for Enterprise.
Simon is the immediate past Chair of SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the Building Services Engineering Sector, and a past Chair of the CBI’s Small and Medium Enterprise Council. He is a past Member of the Small Business Council and the CBI’s Education Committee.
He is a recent Chairman of Governors at Malmesbury Primary School in Tower Hamlets and the long standing Chair of Providence Row – a Charity for the Homeless in the East End of London. He is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers, one of the 107 City of London Livery Companies, a Member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers and a Member of the Guild of Educators.
His particular interests are Vocational Education, especially in Small and Start-up Businesses. His hobbies are sailing and skiing, carriage driving, opera and London.
