Our Team

Lifetime operates with a diverse team of over 750 people all working together to improve the skills and knowledge of over 20,000 learners a year.

From administrators and central support staff to our business development and course advisor teams. From marketing and client support to tutors, regional trainers and quality assurance. A variety of roles, but all with one common goal and a passion for what we do.

Our Board of Directors:

Simon Withey - Chairman

Simon has substantial experience of the training and skills sector having been the Managing Director of Flagship Training Limited (the company set up to be the official training partner of the Royal Navy) for six years, and the Managing Director of VT Group’s Education & Skills business (now Babcock Education and Training following acquisition in 2010) for five years.

After 35 years of executive management roles in a number of sectors Simon has now developed a portfolio of non-executive chairman positions. His chairman roles in addition to Lifetime are at the world's leading safety and survival company Survitec Group, and at the UK's leading business winning and complex project delivery services business Harmonic.

Alex Khan - Chief Executive Officer

Alex Khan has worked in the training sector since 1999 and prior to his appointment as CEO of Lifetime, he was Managing Director of Babcock International Groups’ education and training business giving him a wealth of experience of the vocational training and Apprenticeship market across a wide range of different sectors.

He has an excellent understanding of Apprenticeship funding and delivery within Lifetime’s core sectors - fitness, hospitality and care – along with a wide range of other sectors including defence, energy, emergency services and education. 

Peter Mitchell - Chief Financial Officer

Peter joined Lifetime in November 2009 bringing with him an extensive experience within high growth service sector business having previously worked at workplace services provider PHS Group and dental care business James Hull Associates. Over his career Peter has overseen a significant number of corporate transactions, including the execution of large scale acquisition strategies and inward private equity investments. Whilst maintaining a core responsibility over the finance function, Peter also oversees the wider support functions of IT, HR and Quality administration within Lifetime. A ‘Big 4’ qualified chartered accountant, Peter holds a BSc (Econ) in Banking and Finance and an MSc in International Economics, both from Cardiff University Business School.

Adrian Yurkwich

Adrian is a long-standing Partner with leading European specialist investor Silverfleet Capital, which has backed Lifetime since October 2016.

With responsibility for Silverfleet's investment activities in the business & financial services sectors, Adrian is currently a Non-Executive Director of Lifetime Training and AGR, and was recently on the board of Aesica Pharmaceuticals, an investment he led to a successful exit in 2014.

Adrian started his career with Price Waterhouse and has a breadth of experience in private equity, having worked at UBS Capital, Phoenix Equity Partners, and 3i before joining Silverfleet in 2005 to support the successful growth strategies of a number of portfolio companies.

Adrian is a Chartered Accountant and has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Bristol.

Our Directors

Sean Cosgrove - Chief Commercial Officer

Sean joined Lifetime in July 2016 as Head of Commercial Operations and has led the Commercial training function through continued growth as well as a significant transformational operational change programme.

Prior to Lifetime, Sean held the role of Chief Operating Officer at the Australian Institute of Fitness where he helped commercialise the organisation, building the sales and marketing competence and delivering commercial innovation through the diversification to the service portfolio.

Carl Cornish - Chief Operating Officer

Carl joined lifetime in 2019 as Chief Operating Officer having previously worked for M&S as Head of Commercial Operations. He brings with him over 20 years’ experience of working in the leisure, hospitality and retail industries, where his vast understanding of operational effectiveness will be hugely beneficial to both Lifetime and client partners.

Having been a customer and advocate of apprenticeships for many years, he is well positioned to oversee and deliver a great client and learner experience.

Marie Vickery - Head of Business Development, Marketing, and Partnership Launch

Marie joined Lifetime in December 2011, following 10 years in Private Sector insurance and medical companies, specialising in customer service.

Lifetime brought Marie on board to grow the client base across all sectors. Marie’s outstanding success in achieving this, along with her relentless and infectious positive energy has helped her progress from Business Development Manager, to now running the Business Development, Marketing and Partnership Launch Teams, as well as earning her a place in the Executive Team. 

Along with her own personal progression, Marie has been instrumental in the development of her teams, and in securing apprenticeship contracts with some of the country's biggest and best-loved brands.

Mark Denton - IT & Projects Director

Mark joined Lifetime in October 2012 as Head of Project Office responsible for the management, governance and delivery of strategic IT & Business projects. In October 2013 Mark joined the Exec team to lead the IT and Projects teams. Immediately prior to joining Lifetime Mark set up a small local fitness business following 10 years at EE and Orange.

Mark was a Senior Manager for 10 years specialising in the delivery of business technology projects and programmes in telecoms. Mark’s worked for organisations spanning technology, telecoms, ecommerce and online information focussing on delivering business change in line with commercial priorities. Mark has a 2:1 degree in International Relations from Keele University.

Tessa James - HR Director

Tessa joined Lifetime in 2014, bringing with her an extensive, generalist HR experience from having been working within the HR industry for over 10 years. Over her career, Tessa has held a number of HR roles within a variety of companies such as Rocco Forte, De Vere and Intercontinental Hotels Group.

In her remit, Tessa is responsible for driving the people agenda, and is passionate about the value people bring to an organisation.

Tessa holds an LLB in Law from Cardiff University and an MSc in Human Resources Management from University of South Wales

Angela Maguire-Lewis - Quality Director

Angela has extensive knowledge of Work Based Learning having worked in the sector for 25 years within Operations and Quality, and most recently worked as Head of Apprenticeships for Cardiff and Vale College.

Prior to her time at Cardiff and Vale College, Angela was Operations Manager for Babcock International Group.

Angela has in-depth experience and knowledge of the design, delivery and evaluation of apprenticeships across the UK and has represented Work Based Learning providers in her former role as Board Member of NTFW and as a member of external stakeholder meetings for post 16 education and skills in Wales. Angela remains a Board Member for Qualifications Wales.