Meet the team
Richard Boniface
BSc.(Hons), FRSA, CMRS, ACGI. Richard leads the strategic research and consultancy activities at RCU. He has managed major research projects for DfE, the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the Association of Colleges. He has developed particular expertise in progress measures, higher technical education and in linking skills supply and skills demand. Prior to joining RCU in 2004 he was Deputy Principal of a large FE College and also has extensive industrial experience having worked as an electronic engineer. Recent research reports include The Higher Technical Landscape for the Gatsby Foundation and College Staff Survey for DfE.
Graham Whalley
Graham has an extensive and in-depth knowledge merging datasets to meet the information requirements of clients and has helped to pioneer RCU’s highly innovative approaches to analysing post-16 FE and HE data.
Louise Breckell
Louise is responsible for the company finances and administration of the company’s ISO 20252 quality assurance system. Louise also provides administrative and logistical support to individual projects.
Gareth Wilson
Gareth has led on large strategic planning projects that have utilised data analysis processes, qualitative and quantitative research techniques to produce robust evidence to support the research recommendations. He leads on RCUs work in economic development including working with LEPs. He has also developed services to help groups of Colleges enter into dialogue with LEPs and other funding bodies.
Chris Lee
Chris is primarily responsible for marketing, communications and customer support and is the key point of contact for over 300 Colleges currently subscribed to RCU’s Vector, LMI and MiDES services. Chris has also led on a number of market assessment projects for Colleges.
Dave Carter
Since joining RCU, Dave has developed a wide range of skills and experience in quantitative research methodologies, statistical techniques and data analysis. He leads on quality assurance for RCU data products and customer research projects ensuring that outputs are robust and validated.
David Goodwin
David is highly experienced in data analysis and the interrogation of large datasets and leads on RCU and the AoC’s MiDES. David is also heavily involved in the data quality side of the company and has a key role within the implementation and upkeep of RCU’s Information Security Management System and ISO 27001 accreditation.
Oli Webster
MBCS. Oli joined RCU in 2022 as a Data Analyst Apprentice and has since progressed onto a BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship with Manchester Metropolitan University. A key member of the team, Oli brings fresh insights and technical expertise to a range of data and research projects, contributing to the development and enhancement of platforms such as InsightU and HERA. His ongoing studies, coupled with practical experience, make him an invaluable asset to our projects and client solutions.
Phil Huggon
Phil read languages at Oxford then joined BP Gas Europe in London, Lisbon and then Brussels. Subsequently, Phil has worked at MARS and Shell in a variety of marketing, business development and brand management roles. Phil currently pursues his interests in health and education, taking up the post of Marketing and UK Recruitment Director at the University of Salford. He is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of NHS Manchester Primary Care Trust
Jerry White
Jerry has held a range of roles across the education sector. Beginning his career as a university lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, he has also worked in Adult and Community Learning prior to joining City College Norwich in 2009, where he became Principal and CEO in 2022. He has also been a Primary and Secondary school governor and has sat on the Board of a University Technical College. He has particular interests in SEN provision and Higher Education.