Job Title: Principal and CEO
Organisation: South Devon College

Laurence joined South Devon College as Vice Principal Corporate Services in February 2010, bringing a strong background of strategic leadership and management in the private sector and in education. Beginning his career in banking and finance, Laurence gained significant experience during 17 years in that sector, including as an underwriter of corporate lending to a range of large SMEs and mid-corporates, as an Area Retail Manager, he left the world of banking in 2002 to begin his new career in education.

In 2015 he became Deputy CEO for the College and during the last 10 years he has successfully led professional services at the College, including Business Development, Employer Engagement, Estates & Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Data & Systems, Commercial Services and Catering & Retail. Laurence has also been instrumental in growing and diversifying College income including successful partnership working and project development to secure bids which have also included in excess of £30m of new capital grants.

Some of his notable achievements at South Devon College have included the delivery of the £9m University Centre South Devon; £7m South West Energy Centre, £3m South Devon College Sports Centre; and more recently £17m Hi-Tech and Digital Centre. Laurence was instrumental in the College successfully securing achievement of Investors in People Platinum in 2017.

Laurence was appointed Principal and CEO at South Devon College in September 2019 and also holds positions as a Governor, Director or Member of other Boards.