STAFF BIOGS
Roger Lynch
Roger Lynch is founder and chief executive of both Robust Training and Ruskin Private Hire, its parent company. Roger's interest in accessible transport followed a crippling achilles injury, which ended his career as a champion athlete. He set out to raise standards in the industry, winning a major award doing so. The same insistence on the highest quality led him to start Robust Training when other providers failed to attain his demands. Now a leading figure in the passenger transport and training industries, consulted by government and industry bodies, Roger continues to strive for ever higher standards. He was declared Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2008 Black Business Awards.
Jonathan Hunt
Jonathan is a special adviser, dealing with corporate communications, media relations and strategic matters on a consultancy basis. A financial journalist by trade, he held positions on the Observer, the Financial Times, Today and the Daily Mail among other publications. Gained knowledge of the training industry as editor and communications adviser at the former TEC national council. Has acted as consultant and speechwriter for a number of leading companies, government departments and professional practices.
Kevin Taylor
Kevin leads on relations with external organisations, including partnerships, leasing and contracts. He has wide experience of working within the Welfare to Work agenda, with specialist knowledge of Department of Work & Pensions commissioning and procurement strategies. While working within the external relations field for the DWP he was tasked with forming partnerships with strategic and private sector partners to adopt and take forward Jobcentre Plus objectives. This included extensive work with LSC; LDA and Local Authorities.
Hugh Depeiza
Hugh comes from a military background and is the proud holder of a GSM (General Service Medal) and UN Peace Keeping Medal. Hugh has a wide experience within the transport field since leaving the army. He has a long history of driving instruction, PCVs, LGVs and has worked at several garages, both as a driving instructor and a driving quality monitor. He is Robust Training's chief tutor and was chief driving instructor and vehicle despatcher at Ruskin Private Hire, where he was responsible for upholding driving standards.
Paul Owens
Paul is Robust Training's Centre Manager. Paul career started as a training officer in the RAF where he was pivotal concerning the introduction of NVQ qualifications into the transport section. Paul experience is centred on developing high quality management and delivery structures for large transport companies and training organisations. Paul developed the training delivery systems, both NVQ and BTEC, for Arriva Southern Counties. As well as holding assessor, Internal Verifier and International CPC qualifications Paul is a CIPD associate member and affiliate Member of the Institute for Learning.
Samantha Hanmer
Samantha is a sector consultant concentrating on maintaining high delivery standards within the NVQ work based learning arena. Samantha has wide experience working for National award bodies as a trainer and assessor while offering specialist support as an external verifier, moderator and approvals auditor to education centres. Her main areas of competence are transport and logistics, health and social care and all aspects within the security industry.
Sharonlee Edwards
Sharonlee is Robust Training's Lead IV. Sharonlee has been involved in formulating qualifications across the transport sector with particular emphasis on the Private Hire and PCV areas. Sharonlee was responsible for the delivery of Pre-employment training for various London bus companies devising vocational courses and theory test practices. As well as holding A1and V1 qualifications Sharonlee is a qualified PCV instructor.
