Tom is a Cambridge University engineering graduate. He started his career at ICI on Teesside and spent 5 years as a chartered mechanical engineer, project manager and manufacturing consultant. He then joined London-based Gemini Consulting, leading organisational change projects for 4 years in industry, telecoms and retail for multinational companies.

In 2002 he trained to be a teacher and worked at an outstanding school in London as Head of Design and Technology. He moved home to the North East in 2005 and developed his teaching and leadership career in Northumberland before taking up the role as Principal of University Technology College South Durham in 2015.

With a background as an engineer, business consultant and school leader, the opportunity to lead the UTC combines all of his professional interests and his passion for the development of young people and supporting businesses in the North East. The UTC opened in 2016, was graded Good by Ofsted in 2019 and is now oversubscribed. Students engage in an academic, technical and workplace education, ensuring that they are career and life ready.