Our people are our strength. At Aspire Education Academy, a dedicated group of educators, support professionals, and engagement specialists work together to help adult learners achieve their goals. Get to know the team who support our learners every step of the way.
Our leadership team brings extensive experience in adult education, workforce development, and strategic partnerships. With a shared commitment to high-quality teaching, learner success, and community impact, they guide Aspire’s mission to expand funded training opportunities across England.
Meet the Team
Matt Taylor
Head of Operations, Quality Assurance & Engagement
Matt Taylor is Head of Operations, Quality Assurance and Engagement at Aspire Education Academy and has been part of the organisation for over 12 years. As a member of the Senior Management Team and Aspire’s Ofsted nominee, he has driven the organisation’s year-on-year growth, helping establish it as a leading nationwide provider of adult education.
In his role, Matt ensures a high-quality learning experience for all learners. He oversees the Quality Assurance Team, supporting all areas of provision and continuously driving improvement.
A key part of his work involves engaging directly with learners, listening to their experiences, and understanding how courses support employability and progression into further education or positive career destinations.
Ryan Baldwin
Ryan Baldwin has been a member of Aspire Education Academy’s Senior Leadership Team for over 12 years. During this period, he has led and supported the delivery of multiple funding streams, including Apprenticeships, Advanced Learner Loans (24+), and Adult Education provision.
In his current role, Ryan manages Aspire’s direct contracts with Liverpool City Region and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), alongside a wide range of subcontracts nationwide. He also leads the organisation’s procurement strategy and works closely with senior leaders and directors to deliver performance and growth plans throughout the academic year.
Additionally, Ryan supports Aspire’s MIS and Quality teams to ensure the delivery of compliant, high-quality training across all provision.
Head of Contracts and Procurement
Sarah Lewis-Holder
Sarah Lewis-Holder is Head of HR, People & Culture at Aspire Education Academy. An ambitious and creative HR professional, she supports key business decision-making in collaboration with the Senior Management Team.
Sarah develops and oversees Aspire’s HR strategy, assesses ongoing risk and impact, and ensures processes and procedures are followed across the organisation. She is passionate about working with people and is known for recognising individuals’ strengths and supporting them in resolving challenges with practical, workable solutions.
Within HR, Sarah oversees the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, interview and selection, staff retention, learning and development, disciplinary and grievance processes, talent management, and succession planning, playing a vital role in supporting staff throughout their Aspire journeys.
Head of HR, People & Culture
Join the Aspire Team
At Aspire Education Academy, our people are central to everything we do. We are always looking for passionate, skilled, and motivated individuals who share our commitment to delivering high-quality, inclusive education and supporting adult learners to succeed.
Working with Aspire means becoming part of a supportive and collaborative environment where professional development is encouraged, ideas are valued, and learner outcomes are at the heart of every decision.
Be part of a growing, nationwide education and training provider
Work in a learner-focused, values-driven organisation
Opportunities for professional development and progression
Collaborative and supportive team culture
The chance to make a real impact on adult learners’ lives
Why Work With Aspire?
Opportunities With Aspire
We regularly recruit for roles across:
Teaching and tutoring
Learner engagement and support
Quality assurance and compliance
Operations and administration
Marketing and partnerships
Mark Blackburn
Mark Blackburn is the Operations Manager at Aspire Education Academy and has been with the organisation for seven years. During this time, he has supported Aspire’s growth and development as a training provider, adapting operations to meet the evolving needs of the business and its learners.
In his role, Mark is responsible for the smooth delivery of Aspire’s Education Support Programmes and for ensuring tutors consistently meet the organisation’s performance and quality standards. He works closely with the Quality Department to identify areas for development and to coordinate training sessions, ensuring Aspire’s bespoke courses are delivered to the highest possible standard.
Mark is passionate about creating fun, engaging learning experiences and encourages tutors to share examples of best practice and innovative activities across programmes. He values the dedication of the tutors he manages, who consistently go above and beyond to support learners’ individual needs and achieve positive outcomes.
Operations ManagerCarl Brierley
Carl Brierley is the MIS and Compliance Manager at Aspire Education Academy. He leads the MIS team, which plays a vital role in ensuring all learner enrolments are accurate, compliant, and meet the eligibility requirements for funded programmes.
The MIS team is responsible for checking that learners meet funding criteria, including confirming postcode eligibility and requesting the appropriate evidence, such as proof of identification, residency status, share codes for education, benefits documentation, or payslips for those in employment. They also review prior learning and issue BKSB English and maths initial assessments as part of the enrolment process.
Once learners have completed their initial assessments, the MIS team finalises enrolment and assigns learners to their chosen programme. The team sends confirmation emails inviting learners to attend an awareness session, followed by login details for Microsoft Teams and OneFile, along with qualification information and tutor contact details.
After learners complete their learning journey, Carl and the MIS team process completions and liaise with awarding bodies to claim certificates.
MIS and Compliance ManagerMarketing and Engagement LeadEmma Moriarty
Emma is the Marketing and Engagement Lead at Aspire Education Academy. In her role, she is responsible for managing all aspects of marketing, including the Aspire website, social media platforms, and wider digital communications.
Alongside marketing, Emma leads the Learner Engagement Team, supporting learners from initial enrolment through to employment or progression onto further programmes. As part of the learner journey, she oversees the delivery of employment sessions, professional guest visits, and additional engagement activities designed to support learner confidence and career progression.
Emma is passionate about creating meaningful learner experiences and takes pride in being part of Aspire’s continued growth and development as a nationwide training provider.
Meet More of the Aspire Team
Interested in learning more about the people behind Aspire Education Academy? Head over to our Instagram page, where we regularly share Staff Spotlights and behind-the-scenes content, giving you a closer look at the wider Aspire team.
Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with our latest staff features and updates:
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