LSST Marks One Year of Transformative Further Education Leadership as Matt Garvey Reflects on Progress, Partnerships and Learner Ambition
By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 20 November 2025
Matt Garvey reflects on his first year as Head of Further Education (FE) and Business Development. Photo: LSST
LSST is proud to mark the first anniversary of Matt Garvey’s tenure as Head of Further Education and Business Development – a year in which demonstrable quality assurance, employer-led innovation and strategic expansion have combined to deliver impact for learners and partners.
“Appointed last year, Mr Garvey has overseen a sustained programme of improvement across LSST’s Further Education portfolio,” said Mr Ali Jafar Zaidi, LSST’s CEO. “Under his stewardship, LSST has strengthened its Skills Bootcamp provision, taken a lead role in Trailblazer initiatives for young people and secured notable external validations that evidence the rigour and impact of LSST’s learner-centred approach.”
“The past twelve months have seen several high-profile endorsements of LSST’s FE work. In March 2025 LSST achieved the prestigious matrix Standard accreditation for outstanding information, advice and guidance — a recognition the assessors linked directly to the confidence, communication and career outcomes experienced by Bootcamp participants,” said Charlie Tennant, LSST’s Vice Principal, “In the same period LSST’s Skills Bootcamps received praise from Ofsted, with inspectors highlighting the quality of resources and the extent to which our programmes inspire and enable learners to succeed.”
More recently, LSST was awarded the Mayor of London’s ‘Distinguished Provider of Adult Education’ accolade – a civic affirmation of the institution’s transformational contribution to adult learning across London and its continual engagement with employers, civic partners and communities.
The institution’s employer-facing offer has been a central plank of this progress. LSST’s award winning Skills Bootcamps — nationally funded, employer-informed short courses designed to progress adults into employment — have been expanded and refined to meet identifiable local labour-market needs in London. These Bootcamps have yielded robust completion and interview rates and have been instrumental in creating direct routes into employment for large cohorts of learners.
LSST is also now a delivery partner for the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer in Birmingham at its Aston campus. This initiative supports 18–21-year-olds who are not in education, employment, or training to take positive steps into work or learning. The Trailblazer programme reinforces LSST’s emphasis on early intervention, widening participation and wrap-around learner support.
“Further Education played a key role in my development and I am very proud of the impact LSST FE is having on learners today,” said Matt Garvey, Head of Further Education and Business Development. “Across our Skills Bootcamps, Trailblazer projects and employer partnerships, we are making a life-changing impact on learners who want a helping hand to secure good quality work or get back into learning. That impact gives individuals a sense of optimism for the future, a sense of purpose and contributes to their financial and personal well-being. It has been an incredible journey.”
The operational success of LSST’s Further Education offer has been matched by a strong commitment to quality. For example, LSST invested in securing the Institute of Leadership & Management’s ‘assured status’ for their Skills Bootcamp. LSST provides learners with breakfasts, lunch and excellent learning environments, all of which contribute to high-quality outcomes. These investments have underpinned LSST’s Further Education capacity to scale provision without compromising quality.
As LSST looks ahead, the priorities are clear to align Further Education as an entry point for LSST’s Higher Education. “Our focus for the years ahead is growing our reach while maintaining high standards. I look forward to the challenge and to celebrating the successes of every LSST learner,” said Matt.
Apply to our London Skills Bootcamps or Trailblazers in Birmingham via:
Foteini Meleti, Programme Manager: foteini.meleti@lsst.ac
Matt Garvey, Head of Further Education & Business Development: matthew.garvey@lsst.ac
For more information on our Skills Bootcamps, visit: https://www.lsst.ac/skills_bootcamps/
For additional information or interviews, please direct questions to LSST’s Public Relations Manager via kunal.mehta@lsst.ac.
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