Nelson and Colne College Group welcomes new Principal and CEO

Nelson and Colne College Group (NCCG) are delighted to welcome Lisa O’Loughlin to the helm, as Principal and CEO. Joining the College Group from The Manchester College and LTE Group, Lisa brings a wealth of experience across the Further Education Sector and will ensure that Nelson and Colne College Group continues to be at the forefront of high-quality education across the country.

Upon starting her new role Lisa says:

“I am delighted to be here at Nelson and Colne College Group and cannot wait to get started on ensuring that the only Outstanding College in Lancashire continues to go from strength to strength. Following on from the great work that the team have done prior to my joining I intend to work with our excellent teaching and support teams to further strengthen the high-quality academic education available to young people and adults across the region. I will also work with cross-college teams to extend the aspirational career routes available to all through further developing technical education and employer partnerships and really highlight why Nelson and Colne College, Accrington and Rossendale College and Lancashire Adult learning are truly the very best places to be to secure your future, whatever that may be.”

Lisa’s experience includes developing a college strategy and operational plan to increase learner achievement by more than 10% as well as increasing learner satisfaction. She has also guided the college to deliver an ambitious and award-winning curriculum strategy and undertaken significant campus redevelopment. The curriculum strategy, centred around employer co-creation, saw students achieve ambitious career goals, in organisations like Wilmott Dixon, Lloyds Bank and The Fox Corporation as well as ensuring students wanting to go to University secured places at Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities., Alongside her role at The Manchester College Lisa worked closely with Greater Manchester Combined Authority supporting the development of the regional skills strategy in her role as Chair of Greater Manchester College’s Group. It is expertise like this that will be at the heart of all developments that lay ahead for Nelson and Colne College Group.

Having previously worked in East Lancashire, as Deputy Principal of Blackburn College between 2007 and 2013, Lisa is no stranger to the area and is dedicated to ensuring that all learners, at all levels and all ages, are able to access only the very best skills and experience throughout their education.

One of Lisa’s immediate goals is to undertake a strategic review, which will rely upon meaningful discussions with local employers, school leaders and key partners to understand their own goals and ambitions and where NCCG can work alongside them to help achieve these, alongside student, parent and staff interactions.

Chair of Governors for Nelson and Colne College Group, Phil Wilkinson, says of Lisa’s arrival:

“I am delighted that Lisa has now joined us as Principal and CEO of Nelson and Colne College Group and am supremely confident that she is the perfect individual to help shape our outstanding organisation through our next phase, further strengthening our college group and extending the reach of our extraordinary education experience across East Lancashire and beyond.”