Meet the Team
Get to know our wonderful team & feel free to get in touch
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Managing Director
John Pitchforth
John has worked in automotive apprenticeship training since 1986, he has been the CEO of a number of Training Providers and started the ‘Heritage Skills Academy’ in response to a widening skills gap within the restoration sector. Working closely with engineering restoration specialists from the vehicle, aviation, marine and steam world, he has helped lead the development of the new ‘Heritage Engineering Apprenticeship Standard’ and to secure the funding to ensure high quality training the team have successfully developed and are delivering a training programme tailored to the requirements of this specialist industry.
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Operations Director
Janice Pitchforth
Janice joined the HSA team in January 2018 and brings 20 years of organisational experience to the company. Operating from our Head Office at Bicester Heritage, her role includes employer engagement, recruitment and administration. Acting as the primary contact with employers and apprentices, Janice ensures that all operational aspects of the business are handled quickly and effectively.
General Manager
Georgie Mann
I started working in the apprenticeship training world over 25 years ago and have had the privilege of watching countless young people develop into skilled professionals. My proudest achievement was transforming Skillnet into a thriving business whilst earning Centre of Vocational Excellence status - one of the first in the UK. Working in the motor industry apprenticeship sector taught me that the best training programmes are built around real relationships between employers, apprentices, and passionate trainers. I've also founded and scaled other successful businesses, but nothing excites me more than Heritage Skills Academy's unique mission. There's something truly special about preserving the craftsmanship and engineering skills that built our automotive heritage, whilst giving the next generation the tools they need to keep these traditions alive. I believe the magic happens when we combine time-honoured techniques with modern training methods - that's where real learning takes place.
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Coachbuilding and Trim Director
Andy Kelly
Andrew has been employed within the Vehicle Body Repair Industry/ Education for over 30 years and has had experience of a main dealer apprenticeship and training throughout his career. He is an experienced college lecturer, having worked in inner London and beyond. Andrew is a keen car enthusiast and enjoys maintaining, showcasing and attending track days with his classic Beetle race car, which he custom built with students. He is a former scout leader and community volunteer. Andrew's passion for classic car restoration is clear to see and he is an advocate for combining modern technology with traditional craftsmanship.
Operations Manager
Kyra Hill
Kyra has brought a wealth of knowledge to Heritage Skills Academy due to working in excess of 10 years within the classic sector and with a leading restoration company based near Bicester. Part of her previous job role was to manage two apprentices. Realising the importance of retaining the skill sets, Kyra changed job roles in June 2022 and is now the Operations Manager and works closely with Janice Pitchforth. Her job role is now to build strong links with employers, apprentices and assist with the recruitment process. There is never a dull day at Heritage Skills Academy and Kyra has become a vital team member.
Lead Development Coach
Tony Long
Tony having left school at sixteen and completed his Motor Vehicle Technician Apprenticeship while working at a Volvo main dealer, he then continued to work within the retail sector with Porsche Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Mercedes Benz. While at Mercedes Benz he got the opportunity to work with the apprentices guiding them with skills he felt they were lacking and from this he moved on to working for manufacture's Apprenticeship Programs, VW Group, Mercedes-Benz; and then on to support apprentices within the Independent sector across the South of England , coaching and mentoring them to gain all the skills they required to achieve their individual qualifications. “I feel that with all the experience I have gained with working with motor vehicle apprentices for the last 18 years, I’m in a position to step up to the standards of the Heritage Skills Academy and coach this unique group of apprentices successfully”.
Development Coach
Rob Lewis
Rob has a passion for all things engineering with a special interest in Vintage & Classic cars. He served an engineering apprenticeship at British Leyland Longbridge where he gained his love of old Austin’s and now races a 1928 Heavy 12/4 Special which he built in his home workshop alongside his 73 Wolseley Six, Rob has built or restored many vintage vehicles over the years including close copies of T35 & T59 Bugatti’s. Robs other passion is passing on his wide knowledge to apprentices having taught general engineering for 10 years and was also Centre Lead for most of that time before joining HSA. Rob is proud to have served on the committee of The Austin Ex-Apprentices Association for over 30 years. Rob said “We need to pass on these skills to the next generations before they are lost forever, so this is my dream job”
Development Coach
Mick Ward
Mick has a passion for all things mechanical with a special interest in Classic cars. He served a full 23-year career in the British Army, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) gaining the rank of Warrant Officer class 1, the highest non-commissioned rank. During his career he has served in various countries and war zones around the world and has worked on a vast amount of equipment ensuring that they were all kept roadworthy and available for the users at all times. He currently owns a 1972 MGB roadster which he is continuing to restore in his spare time. Mick’s passion is passing on his skills both verbally and practically that he has learnt throughout his mechanical career to the younger generation before the skills fade away forever. Mick stated, “taking on the role as a Development Coach (DC) is a dream come true which ticks all his boxes”.
Coachbuilding Tutor & Programme Co-ordinator
Grace Roaf
Grace started going to car events with her dad from a young age and got involved with UK Drag Racing teams as a teenager and is now a crew chief for a Plymouth Superbird which races at Santa Pod Raceway. She was part of her school team who built a plane and got to fly it, and this really helped her enthusiasm for Engineering along with winning 3 awards at her school’s Design and Technology exhibition for her A Level projects. Employed at G&A Fabrications from 2016 to 2022 repairing and restoring historic race and road cars she also graded Distinction* in every unit of her Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship at Brooklands College. Grace joined HSA to pass on her skills specialising in fabrication, welding and traditional methods to hopefully encourage more people into the industry she is so passionate about preserving and expanding.
Tutor
Mark Briggs
Mark started as an apprentice in the motor trade working for a dealerships on Ferrari, Porsche and later Vauxhall cars. Then decided to move to plant equipment were diagnosing and repairing equipment on site required an engineering approach. After becoming service manager, he decided to have a fresh challenge teaching apprentices in his local college. Later moving onto powered access operator training and issuing licences. He has a special interest in electrical and hydraulic engineering and is passionate about Rootes group cars of which he has owned several over the years.
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Tutor
Paul Winsor
Paul has worked in a wide range of companies in the motor trade either running my own businesses or training students and apprentices. He started off as an HGV apprentice with a truck importer during which time he restored his own Triumph Stag. He worked briefly in a small family run garage before starting my own business with a friend. As with a lot of small businesses there were no wages, but he did get a Brand-new Ford Capri 2.8 special as a company car. During this time, Paul took his first stint at lecturing at Wycombe College. He moved more and more into restoring classic and sports cars and featured in Autocar with a fully restored MGA. Paul also worked in a main dealer and this evolved into starting another business specialising in SAABs. An opportunity arose to manage an Injection Moulding company manufacturing parts for the car industry. During this time, Paul trained as a Paintless Dent Removal technician and left the company to follow this path setting up a business he still runs on a part time basis. 13 years ago Paul started to lecturer Motor Vehicle Technology in FE colleges in West London and continue this to this day. He joined Heritage Skills Academy in April 2019.
Tutor
Matt Salt
Matt has worked exclusively in the motor trade, for independent garages and specialists, gaining a wide range of knowledge and skills in older vehicles and modern classics. He has carried out military service, in a variety of theatres and later as a service engineer and restoration technician. Matt has been teaching Motor Vehicle Studies in Further Education Colleges across the south of England for the last 20 years and has a wealth of teaching experience for students of all ages and abilities, delivering bespoke learning for individuals. He has a real passion for teaching the restoration of old vehicles, cars and motorcycles. Matt says” I enjoy showing our students what they can achieve especially with heritage vehicles, it’s a privilege to work with them”.
Master Coachmaker Auto-Historica
Mark Taylor
Coming soon
Tutor + Short Course Tutor
Richard Lefevre
Coming Soon
Technician
Tim Norwood
Coming soon
Tbc
Gary
Coming soon
Development Coach and Recruitment Consultant
Rikki Pankhurst
Rikki Pankhurst is a British entrepreneur and the founder of Pankhurst Cycles, a specialist bike shop located in Reading, England. With a passion for cycling and a commitment to quality service, he has built a reputation for expertise in road, 0ff road and track, as well as a curated collection of vintage bikes from the golden era of cycling. His shop has gained recognition in the UK cycling community, including being featured in Cycling Weekly's coverage of Britain's Best Bike Mechanic finalists. Having grown up in the dickie seats of a Triumph Roadster 1800, and in the sidings of preserved steam railways, Rikki has a lifelong passion for heritage engineering across many different fields, but it is the time spent on the rally fields that have had the biggest influence, leading to a new career within the industry, and the continued preservation of "Nell" the Morris Minor.
Volunteer Technician
James Hutcheson
I am the former Managing Director of Finance for Aldi Stores for the UK & Ireland and worked for the Company for nearly 25 years. A key area of responsibility for me was recruitment and training. I worked closely with the team who developed and launched Aldi's very successful apprenticeship programme. In my role I was fortunate to be involved in Apprentice recruitment, oversee their training, attend their graduations and subsequently promote some of them to salaried management roles. It was one of the areas that I really enjoyed and I am delighted to have this opportunity to work with the high calibre and enthusiastic apprentices at HSA.
In addition to my professional interest in supporting apprenticeship schemes, the role with HSA also appealed to me as I have always had a keen interest in cars. From an early age I used to accompany my Dad to his Mitsubishi dealership, valeting cars, helping out in the showroom, manning the petrol pumps, delivering parts, transporting vehicles.... however, the workshop was the one area that I had very little exposure to and as a result my electrical and mechanical knowledge is surprisingly limited. This means that the volunteer role with HSA is a win win for me. Not only do I get to support Tim and the team at Bicester with the apprenticeship programme, but I have also been able to significantly develop my mechanical skills. I have already gained invaluable knowledge and insight from Tim and the Tutors, their passion, ownership and knowledge is quite exceptional. Delighted to be part of the team!
Apprenticeship Administrator
Michaela Miller
Kaela has spent the majority of her career working in the automotive sector or in education both in business management and teaching. She joined HSA in early 2023 supporting the team and apprentices throughout their journey with administration support and more recently with their End Point Assessments. Kaela says ‘I feel very privileged to be working with such a great team and have the opportunity of watching the apprentices thrive and develop with their support’.
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Recruitment Administrator
Jess Richardson
Coming soon
Freelance Marketing Support
Emily Pitchforth
Emily is onboard part time to assist with marketing admin and support. Her background is working at a variety of different startups in Sales and Marketing roles.
Get In Touch:
Tel: 01438 718224
Mail: recruitment@heritageskillsacademy.co.uk
Opening Hours:
Monday: 9:00-17:30
Tuesday: 9:00-17:30
Wednesday: 9:00-17:30
Thursday: 9:00-17:30
Friday: 9:00-17:30
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Bicester Heritage Site:
Heritage Skills Academy, Unit 90,
Bicester Heritage, Launton Road,
Bicester, OX26 5HA
Brooklands Museum Site:
Heritage Skills Academy, The Flight Shed, Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Road,
Weybridge, KT13 0SL