Derek has worked across UK and Scottish Government with experience in organisational development and change management. He is a Fellow of the Association for Project Management, the Chartered Management Institute, and is a Cabinet Office Infrastructure and Projects Authority High risk assurance reviewer.
During secondment to Police Scotland from Department for International Development (DFID), Derek delivered the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice’s highest risk change programme. At DFID, he was responsible for the Operational Excellence Portfolio and ‘One HMG’ shared service platform for 28 countries government departments. And has led change within Scottish Government, Scottish Court Service, and the Scottish Prison Service.
In April 2018, Derek became DWP’s Group Director for Central, West and South-West Scotland. Responsible for the leadership and customer service of 41 Jobcentres. He had a National Lead role on Housing, working to facilitate the best outcomes for customers and Landlords.
Derek took leadership of the National Employer and Partnership Team in November 2020; leading a team of national account managers with a portfolio of c.250 national employers, partners, and trade associations.
Derek leads DWP’s employer and partnership community: including the Group Partnership Manager forum, operation of the Disability Confident scheme and accreditation system for work coaches and employer engagement staff. He is the Senior Responsible Officer for DWP’s Find a Job online service.
Derek’s passionate about sharing leadership insight to deliver high quality programme outcomes; being a member of Business in the Community’s (BITC) Employment and Skills Leadership Team is an opportunity to deliver this to a wider audience.
About Business in the Community’s Employment and Skills Leadership Team
Each area of work Business in the Community (BITC) undertakes is led by a group of senior executives who provide strategic guidance and support us in achieving our objectives.
The purpose of Business in the Community’s Employment and Skills Leadership Team is to help create a UK where everyone, regardless of their background or experience, can access the education, employment, and skills they need to thrive throughout their working lives.
Find out more about BITC’s work on employment.