Mild mannered but with a fierce head for numbers, Fiona Sharp is retiring after 26 years with the colleges that now make up the Education Training Collective (Etc.).
As chief financial officer, hers is a face that will be familiar to many after almost three decades helping balance the books, first as a part-time finance officer at what was then believed to be the smallest sixth form college in the country. Today she heads up the finances for the group that incorporates four Outstanding Tees Valley colleges.
“It is both scary and exciting to be stepping away, and there’s more than a little sadness,” said the Billingham mum who has built her life’s career around a passion for numbers.
Yet, counting the years since she started at Bede Sixth Form College, still takes Fiona by surprise. But, as she knows, the numbers don’t lie.
“It was by complete chance I spotted a job advert in The Gazette for the role at Bede,” she said.
Having previously worked at Halifax Building Society and Cleveland County Council, followed by some part-time roles after the birth of her son, Tom, she explained that working in education finance was something new and she was quickly hooked.
“I loved the cyclical nature of the academic year, but no two years, or even two days, are ever the same. Then there is that feeling of being part of the college community and making a difference to students’ lives.”
In those days Bede was an old building situated on Hale Road, Billingham. And, despite a fondness for her tiny office, often referred to as “the cupboard”, Fiona can’t deny it had seen better days.
In 2008 a merger with Stockton Riverside College was instrumental to securing funding for the “new Bede”, the multistorey state-of-the-art facility on Marsh House Avenue it is today.
By then a full-time finance manager, keeping on top of the numbers catapulted Fiona into the group’s senior leadership team.
Since then, she has seen many more changes, not least navigating the group’s finances through further mergers and acquisitions with NETA Training, Redcar and Cleveland College, and Innersummit in Gateshead, all becoming part of the group, but each maintaining their individual identities.
Looking back, she said: “It is something to be proud of.” But, up until her impending retirement, she added: “You don’t tend to sit back, reflect, and think of it like that.”
In 26 years, it’s fair to say, she has packed a lot into her career and built friendships that are more like a second family.
But now, after relocating to Northumberland, Fiona and her husband, Les, are looking forward to more time for country walks, playing their part in the community, and with plenty still to offer, perhaps some volunteering.
Born and bred in Billingham, Fiona said: “The Etc. has been a huge part of my life. It was always going to take something big to pull me away and perhaps the move to Northumberland has made it a little easier.”
Leaving the college group just months after it was graded Ofsted Outstanding feels like a happy coincidence.
One thing is for sure; Fiona will always hold on to her passion and pride for the college group and its continued success. You can count on that!
