Board of Corporation
Nelson and Colne College Corporation is the legal entity for the three Colleges forming the Nelson and Colne College Group: Nelson and Colne College, Accrington and Rossendale College and Lancashire Adult Learning.
Members of the Board of Corporation are drawn from business, professional, public sector and community backgrounds. They bring a range of skills, expertise and experience to the boardroom. The Board of Corporation also includes the Principal, two staff governors and two student Governors. The Board works as a team to determine the strategy and future direction of the College Group, and its responsibilities are to:
- Determine and periodically review the educational character and mission of the College Group and oversee its activities
- Approve the College Group’s quality strategy
- Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the College Group and the Corporation and to safeguard assets
- Approve the annual estimates of income and expenditure
- Appoint senior postholders and determine a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all staff
We have an active Board of Corporation who play a key role in the ongoing development and direction of our College Group. Board members have adopted the Nolan’s seven principles of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership) in carrying out these responsibilities.
Nelson and Colne College Group is committed to open and transparent governance. Enquiries are welcome to Debbie Corcoran, Director of Governance on 01282 440204 or to debbie.corcoran@nelsongroup.ac.uk
Nelson and Colne College Corporation was established under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and the College is an exempt charity for the purposes of Part 3 of the Charities Act 2011.
The College Group is administered under the Instrument and Articles of Government which are Statutory Instruments made under the Act and which set out the rules for the constitution and operation of the Corporation.
Download our Corporation Structure here.
Stephen Barnes
Chairman
As well as being Chair of the Nelson and Colne College Group, Stephen is also the Chair and North West member of the AOC Governors’ Council, and a member of the AOC Board.
Amanda Melton CBE
College Principal and CEO
Amanda was recently awarded a CBE for her service to education and skills. Amanda has been Principal of Nelson and Colne College, including Lancashire Adult Learning, since joining in 2012 – and became Principal of the merged College in November 2018.
Phil Wilkinson
Corporation Vice Chairman
Phil is CEO of Ascentis, an awarding organisation for educational qualifications for Further Education (FE) colleges, training providers, schools and employers.
David Whatley
David is a Group Chief Internal Auditor for GIAA – the executive agency of HM Treasury (HMT) established in 2015 to improve the quality of internal audit provided to central Government.
Nadeem Rashid
Nadeem is the senior partner at Marsdens Solicitors, based in Nelson – and a former student here at Nelson and Colne College.
Jane Cleaver
Jane is Managing Director of Concept4 – a successful creative marketing and digital agency; and Printoff – digital, litho and web print operation, based in Nelson.
Emma Schofield
Emma is Deputy Director of Human Resources (HR) and Organisation Development at the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Mike Phelan
Mike has over 30 years of experience in senior leadership and curriculum development in Further Education (FE) Colleges in the North West, prior to his retirement in 2015.
Rob Pheasey
Rob is Chief Executive of Marsden Building Society, Lancashire’s leading independent society with over 40,000 members and £472m assets.
Tim Webber MBE
Tim is Chairman and Managing Director of Barnfield Construction Ltd – the Pendle based contractors, developers and investors. The company employs over 250 people, operates on more than 30 sites nationwide and has a turnover of £70 million.
Stephanie Bridgeman
Stephanie is a business owner, with over 15 years’ experience in media analytics, and has worked with hundreds of well-known national and international organisations to advise on brand strength and reputation in the media.
Julie Turner
Julie has over 25 years of experience in further, higher and secondary education – including as Deputy Headteacher at the Hollins School in Accrington, and as a Further Education and Higher Education lecturer and programme leader.
Liz Sedgley
Liz is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants in England and Wales. For the last 20 years Liz has run a successful management consultancy.
Neil Hart
As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Burnley Football Club, Neil is the senior leader responsible for the Premier League club’s finances, supporter engagement, commercial opportunities, staff and facilities.
Zulfi Khan
A previous A level student of Nelson and Colne College, Zulfi is a qualified Solicitor of England and Wales, and after being a salaried Partner in an East Lancashire law firm, moved on to establish a successful and growing practice in Bury.
Will Cook
Staff Governor
Will is the Public Relations Officer for the Nelson and Colne College Group.
Tom Gee
Staff Governor
Tom is Curriculum Leader for English and Maths at Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL).
Debbie Corcoran
Director of Governance
Debbie is the governance professional supporting the Board of Corporation, and is also a non-executive Director in the NHS.
Pauline Hagen OBE
Co-opted Member of Quality and Curriculum Committee
Pauline’s extensive experience in education and skills led to her being awarded an OBE for services to education in 2016.
Dean Langton
Co-opted Member of Audit Committee
Dean is Chief Executive of Pendle Borough Council, and has a career of over 27 years in local Government.
Amer Ansar
Co-opted Committee member of the Audit Committee
A previous student of Nelson and Colne College, Amer is an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) and Assistant Tax Manager at KPMG.
Read more…
Usman Muhammad
Student Governor
Usman is the President of the College’s Student Hub. An A level student here at Nelson and Colne College, he is studying A level Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics – and looking to progress and study medicine after College at University.












