Gareth Holford
Weymouth,Dorset
Summary
I'm an experienced education professional with a strong track record in leading personal development, coordinating curriculum and supporting students. I use insight from behaviour, attendance and academic trends to shape meaningful, responsive tutorial and enrichment programmes. I enjoy developing teams and leading by example through high‑quality group delivery and 1:1 support. Known for being collaborative, organised and solutions‑focused, I'm committed to safeguarding, wellbeing and inclusive practice that genuinely enhances the student experience across both campuses.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Personal development tutor
Coastland College
Weymouth, Dorset
2021.11 - Current
- Supported numerous learners through regular 1:1 tutorials, tracking progress, setting goals, and addressing barriers to achievement.
- Delivered engaging group sessions on personal development themes such as employability, wellbeing, safeguarding, and study skills.
- Monitored attendance, punctuality, and academic performance, intervening early and collaborating with curriculum teams to improve outcomes.
- Provided pastoral support, signposting students to internal and external services to promote wellbeing, resilience, and positive behaviour.
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External partnerships administrative assistant
Weymouth College
Weymouth, Dorset
2019.01 - 2022.07
- Coordinated external bookings for college facilities, managing enquiries, scheduling, contracts, and ensuring smooth delivery of events and room usage.
- Acted as the key administrative link between Weymouth college and external partners, maintaining positive relationships and supporting collaborative projects.
- Processed documentation, invoices, and compliance requirements for external hires, ensuring accuracy and adherence to college policies.
- Provided efficient administrative support to the Partnerships team, including data management, reporting, and maintaining up‑to‑date records.
- Liaised with internal departments (estates, finance, curriculum teams) to ensure operational readiness and high‑quality service for all external clients.
Business administration apprentice
Weymouth College
Weymouth, Dorset
2017.09 - 2019.01
- Supported the External Partnerships team with day‑to‑day administrative tasks, including handling enquiries, preparing documents, and maintaining accurate records.
- Assisted with coordinating external bookings for college facilities, helping manage schedules, contracts, and communication with clients.
- Helped build and maintain positive relationships with local employers, community organisations, and external stakeholders.
- Contributed to data entry, reporting, and tracking partnership activity to support departmental planning and compliance.
Senior sales account manager
nSpire Online
Weymouth, Dorset
2016.12 - 2017.08
- Managed a portfolio of key B2B accounts, building long‑term relationships and driving repeat business through tailored IT refurbishment and procurement solutions.
- Led end‑to‑end sales cycles, from prospecting and quoting to negotiation and closing, consistently meeting revenue targets in a competitive market.
- Collaborated with technical and operations teams to ensure accurate product specifications, quality assurance, and timely delivery of refurbished IT equipment.
- Identified growth opportunities within existing accounts, upselling value‑added services such as asset recovery, secure data wiping, and bulk hardware refresh projects.
- Produced accurate sales forecasts, maintained CRM records, and contributed to strategic planning to support business development and market expansion.
Sales account manager
nSpire Online
Weymouth, Dorset
2015.05 - 2016.12
- Managed a portfolio of customer accounts, building strong relationships and ensuring consistent, high‑quality service to drive repeat business.
- Handled the full sales process from initial enquiry and quoting through to order processing, delivery coordination, and after‑sales support.
- Identified opportunities to upsell and cross‑sell products or services based on customer needs and market trends.
- Collaborated with internal teams such as operations, logistics, and finance to ensure accurate order fulfilment and smooth customer experience.
Education
GCSEs - Maths
Weymouth College
Weymouth, Dorset 2016.09 - 2017.07
GCSEs - Business
Weymouth College
Weymouth, Dorset 2016.09 - 2017.07
GCSEs - English
Weymouth College
Weymouth 2016.09 - 2017.07
Level 3 Business Apprenticeship - Business
Weymouth College
Weymouth 2018.09 - 2020.07
Skills
Communication
- Use a range of communication styles to support students effectively, including clear verbal guidance, active listening and reading non‑verbal cues such as body language
- Build trust and rapport by communicating calmly and empathetically when addressing concerns or resolving issues
- Adapt my communication approach to suit individual learner needs, ensuring every student feels heard, understood and supported
- Approach challenges with a calm, analytical mindset to identify underlying issues
- Use insight from behaviour, attendance and feedback to shape practical, student‑centred solutions
- Work collaboratively to resolve concerns quickly and maintain a positive learning environment
- Make balanced, evidence‑informed decisions that support student progress and team consistency
- Prioritise effectively when managing competing demands across campuses
- Confidently take initiative while ensuring decisions align with safeguarding, wellbeing and college priorities
Timeline
Personal development tutor
Coastland College
2021.11 - Current
External partnerships administrative assistant
Weymouth College
2019.01 - 2022.07
Level 3 Business Apprenticeship - Business
Weymouth College
2018.09 - 2020.07
Business administration apprentice
Weymouth College
2017.09 - 2019.01
Senior sales account manager
nSpire Online
2016.12 - 2017.08
GCSEs - Maths
Weymouth College
2016.09 - 2017.07
GCSEs - Business
Weymouth College
2016.09 - 2017.07
GCSEs - English
Weymouth College
2016.09 - 2017.07
Sales account manager
nSpire Online
2015.05 - 2016.12