Meet the Staff: Chris

As part of our Meet the Staff series, we sat down with Chris, our Strategic Development Manager at HBTC, and asked him a range of questions about his career journey, his role within the organisation, and what motivates him both in and outside of work.

Chris plays a key role in developing partnerships, supporting business growth, and helping shape the direction of our training offer. Through his work with employers and the wider team, Chris helps ensure our programmes continue to create meaningful opportunities for learners and organisations across the region.

What inspired you to join our team, and what do you enjoy most about working here?
I was drawn to the impact we have on people’s lives. Supporting apprentices and employers across the region and seeing tangible progression – whether that’s a young person starting their career or a manager stepping up into leadership – is incredibly rewarding. What I enjoy most is the pace and variety. No two days are the same, and there’s always an opportunity to improve something.

Can you share a little about your professional background and how it has shaped your role?
Before moving into the training and development sector, my early career was in business development and account management for large global organisations. I then worked as a Detective with Northamptonshire Police between 2006 and 2014. That experience shaped me significantly – it taught me resilience, attention to detail, accountability and the importance of clear communication. Since transitioning into apprenticeships, recruitment and business development, I’ve applied those skills in a commercial context. Over time, my role has evolved to focus more strategically on growth, partnerships and ensuring our offer remains relevant and forward-thinking.

What is your proudest achievement at this organisation so far?
Helping strengthen our employer relationships and expanding our training offer. Seeing repeat business and long-term partnerships develop is something I’m proud of because it shows trust in what we do.

How do you like to unwind after a busy day at work?
Spending time with family, playing golf, coaching grassroots football, or going to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United with my son. Those moments are important and give me perspective beyond work.

What key skills do you bring to your position that benefit our team?
I’m a problem solver and a relationship builder, with a strong commercial mindset. I enjoy generating ideas and then turning them into practical actions. I’m also process-driven and like using data to guide decisions, which helps us stay focused, efficient and forward-looking.

Who has been your biggest mentor or influence in your career, and why?
My biggest influence has been my mum. She started HBTC in 1994 with her business partner. Watching her resilience, work ethic and determination to build something sustainable has shaped the values I hold – accountability, long-term thinking, and not backing away from responsibility. She was driven by a desire to build something that genuinely helped people develop in their careers, start their careers, or change direction entirely.

If you could have any superpower to improve your work life, what would it be and why?
The ability to see five years ahead. It would make strategic planning far easier and remove uncertainty from decision-making.

What is one goal you hope to achieve in the next year while working with us?
To further expand our employer partnerships and strengthen our higher-level leadership and commercial training offer.

How do you stay motivated and inspired in your work?
By setting clear targets and always looking for the next level of improvement. Progress – even incremental – is motivating.

Can you share a fun fact about yourself that your colleagues might not know?
I had a trial at Hull City when I was 14/15 and played a few games for their youth team.

What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t had the chance to yet?
Surfing. It’s something I’ve always thought I’d enjoy, especially after travelling, but I’ve never properly committed to giving it a go.

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?
Thailand – the people, the beaches and the food. I went last year and loved every minute of it, and I’d go back tomorrow if I could.

What’s your favourite book or movie, and what about it resonates with you?
Pulp Fiction. I like the unpredictability of it and the way the different storylines connect. It’s bold, well-written and completely different from most films.

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies that might surprise us?
No real hidden talents. I played a lot of football when I was younger. I still play veterans football now, and I try to play as much golf as I can.

What is your go-to comfort food, and do you have a story behind it?
Rib-eye steak or a Thai green curry. One is a classic and simple done well, the other reminds me of travelling and good times.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
Sir Alex Ferguson, Rory McIlroy and Warren Buffett – a mix of elite leadership, performance, longevity and long-term strategic thinking across sport and business.

What’s the last activity that made you lose track of time?
Playing golf. When I’m out on the course, everything else switches off and time just seems to disappear.

Which season do you enjoy the most, and what do you love about it?
Spring. It feels like a reset – the start of the golf season, lighter evenings, flowers coming back out and a real sense of momentum building again.

If you could learn any skill instantly, what would it be and why?
To play the guitar properly. I’ve tried a few times and never quite stuck with it, but it’s one of those skills I really admire and would love to be able to do well.

What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
Play the long game. Small, consistent decisions compound over time.

Chris’s perspective highlights the importance of building strong relationships, thinking strategically, and always looking for ways to improve. Through his work developing partnerships and supporting the growth of our training programmes, he helps ensure HBTC continues to provide valuable opportunities for employers and learners across the region.