Ben Neild is Assistant Director of the Marchmont Observatory and manages the development of SLIM. Ben has been working in the field of workforce development and lifelong learning since 1991 and is also an experienced project developer and manager. He has experience within the private sector and as a provider of training.

b.neild@exeter.ac.uk

Andrew Dean's responsibilities include:
• virtual communications through networks, discussions and on-line conferencing
• dissemination, including design & production of materials, presentations, writing/producing electronic newsletters
• managing events and conferences
Andy is an experienced events manager. He also has nearly 10 years experience in managing research projects. He has experience managing sub-contractors and multi-partner projects and acted as an internal auditor for ISO 9001.

a.dean@exeter.ac.uk

Jo Pye has over 20 years' experience of electronic information services. She has researched and reported on technology based training projects in Europe, the UK and the South West since the mid 1990s. For Marchmont, Jo designs and leads large scale evaluations of the impact of online learning on adult learners and trainers and contributes to a range of studies in the UK and EU. For SLIM Jo plays a major role in learning themes, for which she reviews national and regional resources and evidence to inform regional policy development.

j.pye@exeter.ac.uk

Jo Cursley is involved in action research with Marchmont Observatory. She has a particular interest in developing ways in which adults can be encouraged to upskill sufficiently to get back into employment, and has worked on ways of encouraging employability skills through the Arts. She is also involved in piloting a Learner Support Award, developed through the School of Education by Dr Morgan, .across several schools and colleges. Her considerable experience in Further Education both at Senior Management Level and working closely with students and before that, in schools, with hard to reach students has informed her present work.

At present she is continuing work with the Learner Support Award and working at a pilot in a prison researching the use of music in developing learners' employability and personal effectiveness skills. 

j.m.cursley@exeter.ac.uk

Kevin joined SLIM in 2006 to assist in administering European-funded research projects. He has a background in scientific project management and is an experienced IT professional.

Kevin is competent in a range of computer programmes, including Microsoft and Adobe suites, and statistical packages such as MapInfo and SPSS.

Kevin is now responsible for data visualisation (both online and in publications), the general maintenance of both SLIM and Marchmont's database driven websites. He also provides research support.

kevin.aggett@exeter.ac.uk

Gillian is responsible for developing and contributing to the research activity of both SLIM and the Marchmont Observatory. She is also responsible for supporting and managing research projects for the South West Regional Skills Partnership Research Forum. Prior to joining Marchmont, Gillian worked in the field of Management Development as an academic researcher and manager of multi-consortia projects designing, developing and delivering learning initiatives for entrepreneurs.

g.alexander@exeter.ac.uk

Hilary specialises in programme evaluation, strategy development and policy research and is SLIM's lead researcher on age and employability issues. Current projects include an examination of economic disadvantage in the South West ("Moving to Inclusion"), providing best practice research and programme evaluation for the ESF ITM "Ageless at Work" project and contributing to a European project on "Flexicurity". She also provides research support to the RESP Age Management Standing Group and the European Equality Monitoring Group, contributes to SLIM publications and events and responds to helpdesk queries. Hilary joined SLIM in 2006 to lead the research and evaluation function on the SWOOP EQUAL project following previous research and evaluation roles at the South West Observatory Core Unit, Prism Research Ltd and Somerset Training and Enterprise Council.

hilary.j.stevens@exeter.ac.uk

Lee has a background in the field of Accountancy havinig spent most of his time working between a number small/medium sized Accountancy practices. Lee also spent a brief spell within Industry. At present Lee works as a part time finance officer for an Exeter charity. Lee joined the team in May 2008, working part time with his main role being the preparation of all the necessary grant claims to the external funders.

l.d.bingham@exeter.ac.uk