Simon Tanner
Associate Director
Simon draws on over 20 years of unparalleled practical hands-on experience of Early Years, Schools and Post 16 skills and training research, evaluation and policy development work for FOCUS Central London Training and Enterprise Council (TEC), the London Central Learning and Skills Council, and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
Throughout his social research career, he has developed wide-ranging experience of, and expertise in, policy and delivery issues related to work with children and young people, vulnerable groups, physical inactivity, with schools and the voluntary and community sector. His understanding of the challenges faced by delivery agents seeking to tackle exclusion, disadvantage, involving service users, and develop effective services is highly developed from practical experience of the issues faced by agencies delivering these kinds of services. He has worked with central and local government, charities and foundations, the private sector, and the voluntary and community sector.
He has conducted face-to-face interviews and focus groups with school staff, children and young people, businesses, employer organisations, FE colleges, training agencies, service users, to business and senior public sector managers.
He has also conducted a range of case study work in primary and secondary schools and other community settings, interviewing school staff and pupils about aspirations, attendance patterns, and comments on service provision and quality.
Simon is a keen runner having completed 11 marathons raising over £3000 for charity and written a 'long running' blog about his experiences. In the summer he is a moderate cricketer and hard working club secretary for his local cricket club for over 15 years having played for them for over 25 years. He enjoys walking, cooking and an eclectic music taste.