Charlotte Holt
Bristol,UK
Summary
Experienced programme leader with 15+ years in delivering complex strategic initiatives in innovation, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies. Expertise in converting insights into actionable, funded programmes while leading cross-functional teams to achieve high-impact outcomes. Proficient in engaging diverse stakeholders across government, industry, and research to foster collaboration and influence without formal authority. Strong governance and financial management skills, ensuring effective prioritisation and measurable impact.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certificate
Work history
Strategic Workforce Manager
National Composites Centre
Bristol, UK
01.2023 - 02.2026
- Led cross-Catapult foresighting cycles, shaping strategic themes and industry needs aligned to innovation priorities.
- Mobilised multi-disciplinary delivery teams across Catapult Centres, ensuring programme direction, pace and clarity of outcomes.
- Converted insight cycles into funded initiatives, supporting the development of commercial opportunities and industry partnerships.
- Built strategic ecosystem relationships with Innovate UK, Catapult Centres, sector conveners and government partners.
- Embedded new clustering methods and process improvements that increased forecasting accuracy and delivery efficiency.
- Analysed financial performance, produced budget forecasts, and ensured activities aligned to organisational strategy.
- Represented WF-Hub at national forums, acting as a credible technical-commercial intermediary.
- Improved service delivery through strategic planning and execution of projects.
Training Programme Manager
National Composites Centre
Bristol, UK
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Oversaw £1.8M portfolio of capability-building programmes, ensuring alignment to organisational mission and workforce needs.
- Developed scalable learning products that generated £500k revenue in year one and built £1M+ commercial pipeline.
- Established cross-industry and academic partnerships enabling successful adoption of programmes at national level.
- Implemented cost-modelling and digital systems to enhance governance, visibility and financial sustainability.
- Led multi-disciplinary project teams without direct authority, setting clear expectations, timelines and performance measures.
- Managed risk, prioritised delivery routes and enacted mitigation plans to maintain sustainable outcomes.
- Facilitated change management strategies in response to organisational needs and market trends.
Project Lead
National Composites Centre
Bristol, UK
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Delivered Strategy Programme, simplifying processes and improving customer engagement pathways.
- Managed grant-funded programmes, controlling KPIs, reporting cycles, governance reviews and intervention performance.
- Designed and delivered flagship capability programmes, supporting adoption of new digital and engineering practices.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams, escalating risks and resolving issues to protect delivery outcomes.
Project Management Officer
National Composites Centre
Bristol, UK
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Provided governance, risk and milestone oversight across major programmes including ATI-funded initiatives.
- Enabled evidence-based decision-making through structured reporting, KPI tracking and process standardisation.
- Supported senior management in strategic decision-making with comprehensive data analysis and insights from past projects.
- Monitored risks proactively; mitigated potential issues before they could impact the projects.
Early Career
Virgin Media
01.2001 - 01.2014
- Progress tasks across programme support, PMO leadership, risk management, customer operations and delivery governance.
- Key contributions included building risk frameworks, embedding lessons-learned processes, and supporting major programme approvals.
- Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
Education
BA (Hons) - English with Associated Psychology
University College Worcester
Worcester, Worcestershire 09.1997 - 07.2000
Skills
- Stakeholder and partner management
- Business development and opportunity progression
- Performance reporting and impact analysis
- Agile and waterfall methodologies
- CRM and digital tools
- Workforce development strategy
- Continuous professional development
Timeline
Strategic Workforce Manager
National Composites Centre
01.2023 - 02.2026
Training Programme Manager
National Composites Centre
01.2018 - 01.2023
Project Lead
National Composites Centre
01.2015 - 01.2018
Project Management Officer
National Composites Centre
01.2014 - 01.2015
Early Career
Virgin Media
01.2001 - 01.2014
BA (Hons) - English with Associated Psychology
University College Worcester
09.1997 - 07.2000
Certification
- APM Project Management Qualification
- P3O Foundation
- Lean Training Certification
- Aspiring Managers Programme
- Train the Trainer
- MS Project
Accomplishments
- Built and executed a foresighting pipeline generating multiple funded initiatives aligned with Innovate UK priorities.
- Convened the Hydrogen Skills Alliance, developing a cross-sector roadmap for future workforce needs.
- Delivered high-impact technical programmes adopted nationally, improving workforce capability across emerging technologies.
- Implemented digital tools (LMS, cost-modelling, forecasting), improving repeatability, transparency and delivery performance.
- Produced evidence-based insight reports influencing Net Zero, digital transformation and healthcare workforce strategies.
Custom Section
- Mission & Intervention Leadership
- Strategic Planning & Portfolio Management
- Stakeholder Engagement & Ecosystem Building
- Commercial Pipeline Development
- Cross-functional Programme Delivery
- Evidence-based Insight & Foresighting
- Governance, Budgeting & Risk Management
- Workforce, Innovation & Technology Adoption
- Influence-based Leadership (Matrix Delivery)
Personal Information
Title: Strategic Programme & Delivery Leader