Dan Howard

Dan is the Deputy CEO of Springfield Training, an education and training provider based in Yorkshire. Dan is a proactive and dynamic leader, who strives to continuously drive positive change, foster innovation, and contribute to the advancement of education, skills, and employability on a national scale.

With a distinguished career spanning the post-16 education, skills, and employability sector, Dan is a highly motivated and results-oriented senior leader. His extensive experience, gathered from both private and public sectors, encompasses a diverse range of expertise, including careers, employability and skills, adult education, apprenticeships, curriculum design, business growth, organisational workforce development, and Education Technology.

A proven track record defines his leadership journey within education and skills, highlighted by successful stakeholder engagement, business transformation, and change management on a significant scale. Throughout his career, Dan has consistently demonstrated exceptional people management and stakeholder engagement skills, fostering high-performing teams, including subcontracted provisions in various government-funded areas. Notably, his commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion is evident in both his sector engagements and additional responsibilities proudly held.

In the realm of senior leadership, Dan has excelled in driving business growth, formulating, and executing strategies, diversifying income streams, and perpetually enhancing organisational culture and values. His skills encompass extensive strategic leadership, effective governance, board experience, and cross-functional leadership. Dan possesses demonstrable record of guiding organisational transformation and change, coupled with a meticulous approach to planning, organising, and implementing change.

Adept at communication and stakeholder engagement, his reputation in the education and skills sector is unparalleled. In 2019 he won the award for the most inspirational man in apprenticeships.

Results-driven with a logical and methodical approach, Dan brings reliability, high personal standards, and attention to detail to his role here at Springfield Training. His budget management expertise, successful handling of budgets exceeding £20m, and internal auditor accreditation underscore his financial acumen and risk management proficiency.

Externally, Dan actively contributes to other professional organisations, holding key positions such as Chair of the Board at Marshlands School, Fellow of the Institute of Employability Professionals, Board Member of the eAssessment Association, Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and more. This external professional activity reflects his commitment to staying at the forefront of industry developments.

Dan’s journey includes significant contributions to various organisations, such as Assistant Director at Ixion Holdings, where he managed their apprenticeship delivery nationally, and he was the Managing Director at Hull College, where he led a large-scale organisational recovery programme and secured £15.3m of new business for the college group.

Educationally, Dan holds a degree in Business Management and Law, along with a master’s in strategic leadership, and certifications in environmental management, and assessing vocational achievement.