FLEXIBLE SUPPORT, TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY
InspirED Associates provides a range of services to support organisations across the education and
not-for-profit sectors.
ABOUT US
Melanie Sproston - Director
Melanie is a senior leader with a wealth of strategic and operational expertise and a passion for providing high quality educational and social opportunities for all. She is an experienced consultant, leader and professional development specialist with a track record of working with high-profile clients across public, private and not-for-profit sectors. This includes many government agencies, delivering major transformation programmes and professional services such as teacher recruitment and retention, training and development, coaching and mentoring, strategic consultancy and project management. She has significant knowledge of UK and international education systems and extensive experience of the UK not-for-profit sector. In her spare time, Melanie runs a community hub and chairs the board of trustees of a multi-academy trust.
Julia Richards - Director
Julia has over 25 years’ experience of working across the entire education landscape, with a specific interest and expertise in the Further Education (FE) sector. Prior to becoming co-Director at InspirED Associates, she held senior positions in a number of large, global professional services organisations and also set up her own successful consultancy company. Julia has also worked within the education sector, including at Director level in a large FE College and for a Learning Trust. As a consultant, Julia has overseen the delivery of a wide range of large, complex projects, and provided extensive support to leadership teams and practitioners in school and FE settings, including coaching senior leaders. Julia also has a personal interest, and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and is a Patron of the National Centre for Diversity.
Anne Hayward - SEND Specialist
Anne is a national and international expert with 30+ years’ experience in the field of special educational needs and disability (SEND). She is a highly respected consultant with a proven track record of working with schools, colleges, local authorities, central government and the voluntary sector at local, regional, national and international levels. Anne is particularly skilled in supporting the transformation of schools, settings and services to implement new and innovative ways of working which ensure improved outcomes for children and young people, whilst providing best value, effective provision. She involves all stakeholders in the process, building internal capacity so that individuals and organisations become confident and self-sufficient to drive continuous improvement.
Daniel Levy - Associate
Daniel’s strategic advisory career spans 15 years working in consulting, the education sector and the legal profession. His experience as a teacher covers the whole student life-cycle, from primary through to secondary, FE, higher education and adult education. In the third sector, he has built several educational charities, led international teams, and created leadership development programmes in Europe, North America and Africa.
Combining his expertise as a corporate lawyer with his experience as a seasoned educator, Daniel brings his clients unparalleled insight and professional expertise. He believes deeply in the power of education to change the world and is passionate about helping clients actualise potential in their organisation.
Alan White - Associate
Alan has worked in education for 17 years, first for The University of Manchester and then for NCUK, a company founded by a consortium of universities. At NCUK, he held several director-level roles across university admissions, strategy and corporate services, working with 17 university partners and a network of international education providers.
Whilst the knowledge and experience he has is predominantly within higher education (in particular admissions, recruitment, widening participation and international activities), he has also worked with wider ranging organisations in education, charities and the private sector. Alan loves helping organisations to solve problems and enjoys aspects of business that many don’t – he’s at his happiest with a pile of data to analyse and a report to write!
Bob Rose - Further Education (FE) Lead
Bob has extensive leadership and management experience, in providing specialist support and strategic direction to Further Education (FE) organisations. He predominantly covers the curriculum areas of, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) incorporating Construction and Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Bob supports FE providers to offer their learners' provision which is quality-focused, forward thinking study programmes, that are innovative, and offer real progression routes. With the introduction of T level programmes and transition years to level 3, Bob is both experienced and up-to-date, and therefore able to future proof curriculum provision from both delivery and funding perspectives and provide key knowledge to support organisational processes and procedures.
Andrea Atkinson - Leadership Adviser
Andrea has more than thirty years’ experience in education, as a highly successful Project Manager, Director of Student Needs, EBD School Head Teacher, Executive Director for Inclusion and Associate Education Director for a UK MAT, and as part of the Education Directorate Team for an International Network of Schools.
Based on a solid foundation of successful educational practice in the UK, Andrea has continued to work extensively in schools and with education providers in Sweden, North America and the Middle East. Most recently she has been collaborating with colleagues at the University of Bolton/International Centre for Education Enhancement to design and deliver a Masters course in the Leadership of Inclusive Practice in schools.
Maria Semak - FE Policy Adviser
Maria is a highly skilled and effective senior leader with over 25 years experience in Further Education. She has worked with local, regional and national organisations, colleges, private training providers, the Education and Training Foundation and in the private sector with large companies including KPMG. Maria has earned the respect and confidence of numerous partners and agencies and has built a reputation for thoughtful and proactive engagement with people, challenges and opportunities and for a comprehensive understanding of both policy and practical issues. She is adept at seeing situations from a range of perspectives and finding or brokering solutions.
Maria has led many complex projects which have enabled organisational improvement. Her positivity, purpose, drive and influence are focused on delivering financial sustainability and success for learners.