Midlands training boss Rob Colbourne receives OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Rob Colbourne, managing director of leading Midlands training provider Performance Through People, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Mr Colbourne has headed PTP Training, part of the BCTG Group, for nearly 18 years, and was behind the launch of The Ladder campaign that has created more than 4,000 apprenticeships across the region since 2018.

He has received the honour in recognition of his services to the training and apprenticeship sector.

Mr Colbourne, aged 52, who is married with three children and lives in Walsall, said: “I was genuinely surprised but very honoured when I received a letter telling me I was to receive an OBE.

“I have never sought such an award, but am nevertheless very proud, especially because of the emotive response from my parents.

“But most of all, I was very proud of all my colleagues at PTP who have worked so hard over the years to enhance the provision of training and apprenticeships across the Midlands regions.

“I may be picking up the award, but this OBE really is a reflection of teamwork both here at PTP and across the wider BCTG Group.”

Before his role at PTP, Mr Colbourne was the training manager at Walsall Chambers of Commerce for 13 years and was previously the training manager for the Debenhams group.

Over many years, Mr Colbourne has chaired a number of boards such as the Association of Employment and Learning Providers in the West Midlands, the Staffordshire Provider Network and more recently the Greater Birmingham LEP Education & Skills Board.

He has also represented training providers in groups such as Wordskills, Ofsted and the government’s National Provider Panel.

Chris Luty, chairman of the BCTG Group, which supports almost 10,000 young people and adults each year, said: “This is a great achievement for Rob personally and is very much deserved.

“He has worked tirelessly for the sector for more than 25 years, and his dedicated leadership of PTP Training since 2004 has been outstanding.

“He is passionate about workplace training, with two of his own children having completed apprenticeships, choosing this over academic routes.

“One of the things that’s always impressed me about Rob has been his determination to provide a level playing field for all providers, whether they are in further education, the community or an independent organisation.

“We feel very lucky and proud here at BCTG Group to have such an esteemed figure in the training sector working for us.”

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