Simon Beer is the new Principal at the Adult College of Barking and Dagenham.

Simon was previously Head of Service at Haringey Learns. He is a member of the HOLEX National Policy forum, where he leads on localism and is also a Steering Group member of the Lifelong learning London Central partnership, where he leads on Influencing and Positioning. Simon sits on the Central London Forward (CLF) Employment and Skills Board and is a member of the ETF funded FE Innovation Committee.

Prior to joining Haringey, Simon was Programme Manager for Governance at the Education and Training Foundation. From September 2011 to early 2014 he worked for the Local Government Association as Senior Policy Advisor on employment and skills. From 2005, he worked as Programme Manager at NIACE.

In 2001, he joined the Workers Education Association where he was Regional Director for London. Before that, he worked at West London College, managing courses in the creative industries sector.

He has published widely on lifelong learning and skills - on creative industries learning, public service reform, community learning curriculum reform, lifelong learning, and the public value of Further Education.

On his appointment, Simon said: “The College is a fantastic resource for local people, with a great story to tell. It is important for it not to become a ‘well-kept secret’, but an asset residents are proud of and have a stake in. The cost of living crisis has hit the borough hard and makes it more crucial than ever for residents to increase their earning power. The college has helped residents through austerity, Covid and now we will do the same during this unprecedented squeeze on people’s living standards.”

Cllr Sade Bright, Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills & Aspiration, welcomes Simon and says: “We are delighted to have Simon on board, and I am personally excited by his plans for the Adult College, the borough and its residents.

“I am looking forward to Simon and his team working with our partners, including other further education providers and businesses to offer support and open up even more opportunities for our residents to be able to train and enter rewarding careers.”

The Adult College offers a wide range of courses for personal development, work and leisure. Interested residents can get in touch to find out about the courses available by email at Adultcollegebookings@lbbd.gov.uk or telephone 020 8270 4722.