Bob Coates is currently acting Managing Director of City & Guilds Awarding Body

Bob Coates joined City & Guilds as Director of Sales & Marketing in the summer of 1997, becoming Director of Sales & Customer Relations in March 2002, and then moving to the role of Director, Group Corporate Development & Strategy in May 2004. Most recently he has taken on the role of Group Director, People & Strategy, in 2006. In addition he is a director of City & Guilds International Ltd (formerly Sir Isaac Pitman Ltd), City & Guilds S Asia Pvt Ltd, and until November 2004, a founding board member of ILM.

Having previously been responsible for UK sales, international business development, and improving customer service, his current focus is on corporate change and progression across the City & Guilds group. In addition to holding Board responsibility for HR, Learning & Development, and Business Improvement, key responsibilities are changing the culture to be more responsive to customer demand and technological innovation and implementing the next 5 year strategic plan.

Bob’s experience covers both commerce and education, giving him a solid understanding of professional education requirements combined with a practical approach to business enterprise. After school, Bob worked in an electrical shop where he gained valuable trade skills in both customer service and the maintenance of white goods & TV equipment. After four year’s training at St Mark & St John’s College, Plymouth he commenced his career in education teaching Physics and as Head of Computer Assisted Learning in a large comprehensive school in Cambridge.

Whilst still in his twenties, he was appointed as Deputy Director of the government’s Microelectronics Education Programme responsible for curriculum development. He then switched from education into commerce and became General Manager for Business Development at Acorn Computers Ltd.  As well as leading several sales teams, during this period he gained considerable International experience and a close understanding of technological innovation and manufacturing processes.

Whilst working as an independent consultant, Bob was commissioned to oversee the merger between London Exams and BTEC eventually forming the Edexcel Foundation where he was appointed Director of Projects & Corporate Planning. From there he moved to City & Guilds.

Bob is a lively lecturer with a broad portfolio of conferences, seminars and publications including a physics text book. He is also is a trustee of Upkeep (a small charity dedicated to training & developing skills amongst those who restore and maintain old buildings) and the chairman of the Ely Cathedral Marketing Advisory Group.