On going to university my initial idea was to enter teaching and my first degree was in Chemistry with Maths as a second subject. I then obtained one of the first Ph.D s awarded by Exeter University for work in Physical Chemistry. There followed a period of work in a Government Research Laboratory where I trained as a Scientific Intelligence Officer as part of the National Service requirements.

Although still interested in teaching I decided on getting industry experience and joined ICI Fibres who were developing polyester fibre for the textile and clothing industry. This involved working with those industries in the UK and overseas and lead to being headhunted by one of the UKs largest textile and clothing groups in the days when that still existed. Working from head office as a troubleshooter in a highly entrepreneurial company I spent much of the time running factories. This led perhaps inevitably to the retail industry and I became Buying Controller for a large clothing retail group which involved more overseas work as the production of those goods moved out of the UK.

I had not forgotten teaching and had already worked as an External Examiner therefore having obtained a PGCE I joined South Bank University (then Polytechnic). Here I began two important interests, the development of degrees and helping students as part of widening participation programmes and for this I set up the first Access course to a degree programme.

With my background I joined London College of Fashion part of the University of the Arts (then London Institute) and set up their first degree programme. I was the appointed Head of one of the other colleges, Distributive Trades (now part of College of Communication), here there was more degree development all with CNAA.

I took the opportunity when the Institute became a university to take early retirement but it did not last. After setting up small companies with friends including in health and safety training I was approached to work as a consultant for a private college in the UK running courses for overseas students. This led in 2012 to working with LSST to obtain their first university partnership  and then from 2016 with FSB.  I have thus been part of the development of FSB from just HND Business to degree programmes in a range subjects including at Level 7 and now applying for its own degree awarding powers.