After leaving Wolfreton School, Rod joined a management trainee programme with a large Hull-based national family business, which saw the beginning of a long career with lead roles in sales, branch management, training and supply chain, eventually being appointed as Divisional Director for Logistics and for UK Sales.
During this time, Rod joined the board of the Hull Children’s University, actively delivering modules to Hull schools, introducing children to the world of work and broader life opportunities and aspirations.
Later in his career Rod decided to gain experience in the public sector, and initially was appointed as Head of Operations for Learndirect careers advice, soon transitioning this team and function into the Learning and Skills Council within central government. Rod has led teams to help deliver key government policies including the National Careers Service, the Apprenticeship programme and more recently T-levels. Rod has been active on a number of programme boards overseeing business change and procurement with Business Innovation and Skills and more recently the Department for Education (including the rapid “standing up” of a national helpline in response to the Covid pandemic).
Rod has also been an enabler for the delivery of a national leadership programme and a mental health first-aider.
Since leaving the DfE in 2021, Rod has become an active trustee and volunteer with Hull and East Yorkshire Mind, and a volunteer non-exec director with Hull University Students Union.
He has now recently joined the LSIP (Local Skills Improvement Plan) team in the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce to help deliver the next stage of that programme.
Away from all of this Rod enjoys playing guitar, snooker, painting, geology and motorcycling; and is a keen supporter and committee member of North Ferriby football club.
