We work closely with our experts to ensure we continuously provide our clients with the best and most up to date information, advice and support.

Vincent Thomas - Management Expert

Director - Barclays Asia Pacific Strategic Alliances Learning & Development Team

Vincent Thomas began his career in education spending 18 years teaching in Lancashire, Leicestershire and Kent culminating in being Principal of the Abbey School Faversham.
 
From education he moved in to management consultancy specialising in the fields of Management Development, Organisational Development and Change Management. Working with an international client base he conducted assignments in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Japan and the USA.
 
Prior to joining Barclays Vincent was head of Organisational Development and Change for BP Oil and head of Career Management for the senior international cadre at the BP Group.
 
He joined Barclays Capital (BZW) as Director of Learning and Development in December 1994 and moved to BGI as Director of Organisational Effectiveness in April 2003. Vincent joined Barclays Wealth in September 2005 as the Director for Leadership, Learning and Development.

In September 2007, he accepted a new role at Barclays Capital and is currently Director of the Asia Pacific Strategic Alliances Learning & Development Team. 

He is a graduate of Liverpool and Leicester universities and holds a BA in Social Studies and an M.Ed.

Peter Hurst - Management Expert

Peter has many years experience within a blue chip environment, leading teams and successfully managing significant change projects.  He injects a commercial perspective into all of his work as a result of previous expertise developed in corporate finance.
The last 15 years of his career have been dedicated to learning and development and consultancy.  His leadership skills in his last corporate L&D role were recognised with a significant award from the Department of Employment and Education. Peter is also a qualified coach and NLP practitioner.
He is MD of OnTrack International, working globally within a number of industries, including banking, automotive and telecommunications.  He has a natural facilitative and enquiring style, which generates high levels of understanding, empathy and trust.  Along with healthy challenge, this generates success for clients and great feedback for Peter.

Annie Mitchell - Head Psychologist

Annie trained as an educational psychologist in 1997 and has worked for three London Education Authorities in a range of nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. She held positions of responsibility working with pre-school children, supporting schools with managing children and adolescents with behavioural difficulties, and supporting children in public care. She was also a senior educational psychologist for two years before leaving in 2004 to work in private practice.  Annie has worked for Lyn Fry Associates for 5 years and was appointed Head Psychologist in November 2007.

Claire Csoka ACA - Financial Advisor

Qualified FSA registered Independent Financial Adviser and Securities Representative.  Qualified Chartered Accountant.  BA (Hons) Degree in Economics from Nottingham University.

Member of Chartered Institute of Accountants in England and Wales.  Member of Portsmouth and South East Hants Chamber of Commerce.  Worked as an auditor at Arthur Andersen in London prior to establishing and managing a high street branch of Edward Jones Stockbrokers on Holwell Hill, St Albans, Herts.
Co-founder of Accudo Investments Ltd
Children: Grace 2
Interests: swimming, travelling, reading and walking

Helen Tubby - nursery manager and pre-school expert
Jo Pearson - childminder and pre-school expert

Helen
Helen brings 6 years of experience in early years education and has enjoyed every minute of it! In 2005 she achieved a grade A for her diploma in pre-school practice, which she quickly put to good use in her role as leader with a local group. Prior to having her family Helen enjoyed a long and successful career in retail management with Next & Habitat. Helen had long dreamt of owning her own nursery and feels passionate about providing the highest quality of care and education for the children.

Jo
Jo’s background was originally in nursing, which she found very fulfilling. In 1997 she gave birth to her daughter Beth and changed her career to child minding, which she has enjoyed now for 12 years. Beth was followed by two gorgeous boys Teddy in 1999 and Robert in 2002! Jo has gone on to study child development and child counselling. In February 2009 Jo enrolled on her level 3 qualification course and plans to go on and complete her degree next year.