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Our Leadership Team
Gareth Fallows, Founder
In 2008, Gareth, from Stoke-on-Trent, founded Acorn Training, now a large apprenticeships, skills, justice and employability provider. Gareth felt it was important for Acorn Training to be a safe and inclusive space for all communities, thus creating inclusive opportunities and breaking down engagement and motivational barriers. Gareth is passionate about equality in all factors and uses his own experiences to be well placed to fully understand the journey of LGBTQ+ individuals whilst continuing to understand and help other communities.
Sophia Franzen, Group Chief Operating Officer
In her role as Group Chief Operating Officer, Sophia ensures that the business is performance driven, with strong and robust core values to reflect the vision of Acorn Training. Together with the Leadership Team, Sophia works hard to ensure that quality is at the heart of the organisation; delivering the best possible support to individuals and communities. Since joining Acorn Training in 2011, Sophia has helped to achieve rapid growth, diversification and innovation whilst still putting learners at the heart of everything we do.
Niki Freeman, Assistant Director of Employability & Justice
Niki is responsible for Acorn Training’s Justice and Employability delivery; she is passionate about supporting those most disadvantaged into employment and training. She is highly driven to contribute to improving all aspects of Equality and Diversity, recognising that E&D is more than just gender, race and ethnicity; it also includes people of different ages, sexuality, religions, physical and learning abilities, education levels and economic equality.
Siobhan Clegg, Assistant Group Director of Governance
Siobhan started with Acorn training in 2014 as a Business Manager and has since worked on employability contracts, audit, taking the lead on ISO and Matrix accreditation. She's passionate about helping those in challenging sectors learn new skills, making a difference in their communities, and enjoys coaching her team for success, facilitating change, and striving for continuous improvement.
Craig McNaughton, Assistant Director of Skills
Before joining Acorn Training in 2022 as Quality and Curriculum Manager, Craig held roles such as Head of Education & Learning Support. Craig has progressed to Head of Quality and Curriculum and now the Assistant Director of Skills.
Craig is passionate about providing the team with the conditions to be successful. He is passionate about seeing our learners achieve, and also passionate about doing a good job and making Acorn a great place to work and learn.
Craig is passionate about providing the team with the conditions to be successful. He is passionate about seeing our learners achieve, and also passionate about doing a good job and making Acorn a great place to work and learn.
