ALPHI Management Group

The Association of Learning Providers Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (ALPHI) is managed by Aspire Learning and Development.

 The Aspire Learning role is to support the Association of Learning Providers for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in all areas of its operation in order to create a self-developing, self-managing network. This involves:

• liaison with members;
• promoting the network;
• representing the network;
• project management for specific priority developments;
• data collection and analysis; and
• management of the network communication.

Aspire are part of the Management Group which is supported by:

• Bob Hiskey,  Peta Limited – Chair
• David Thomas, Totton College – Vice Chair
• Richard Heighington, SETA Limited - Treasurer

Bob Hiskey
Director and Chief Executive Officer, PETA Limited

Bob was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of PETA Limited in September 1997.  He started his career as an apprentice in engineering and subsequently progressed into manufacturing management where he developed an interest in skills training and people development. 

He joined PETA as a Training Adviser in 1975 and since then has held a variety of positions within the Company.  He has been instrumental in growing the business from humble beginnings of three staff to an organisation now employing seventy six, operating from seven sites and an annual turnover of 3.8 million.

Bob is an experienced director of training with particular skills in leadership, people management, team building and change management.  His strategic, analytical and problem-solving skills equip him strongly to visualise the bigger picture, identify quickly the cause of problems, and find good solutions.

David Thomas
Assistant Principal, Totton College

David joined Totton College as Assistant Principal, Skills in January 2007.

David has 20 years of leadership and management experience in the Further Education arena working in colleges in the East of England, rural Mid Wales and Edinburgh, Scotland before joining Totton College.

As Head of Commercial/International Development at Edinburgh’s Telford College David was Operations Manager for a £1m turnover learning and development company, led the college’s International operations in China, North America, United Arab Emirates and managed £1m Local Enterprise Company (LSC equivalent) contracts.

Since arriving at Totton David has helped the college build on its excellent reputation for ‘Employer Responsive’ work.  The college has won Train to Gain, Apprenticeship and E2E contracts with the local LSC and is proud to be the first 6th Form College in the country to achieve Action for Business status.

Richard Heighington

Chief Executive, Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA) Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation providing courses in engineering and working with local companies to train electrical, mechanical and construction engineering apprentices.   Previously spent 25 years in industry with ICI, Plessey, Siemens and as MD of a subsidiary company of the TÜV Suddeutschland Group with operations in Germany, USA and SE Asia.

Regional Events

Skills Funding Agency Updates

Skills Funding Agency - Update - Issue 14
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Skills Funding Agency - Update - Issue 13
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Skills Funding Agency - Update - Issue 12
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