Ashfield educationalist awarded MBE in King’s Birthday Honours
A college Senior Leader in Ashfield has been made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours, who insisted that the prestigious award was shared with his phenomenal colleagues and volunteers that he works with.
Simon Martin, Executive Leader who is also safeguarding lead for Academy Transformation Trust Further Education (ATTFE) College’s Sutton in Ashfield and Ollerton’s sites was recognised for Services to Further Education.
Mr Martin said: "I am humbled that our many years of providing community learning to those who need it most has been rewarded in this way.
“In receiving this Award, I recognise that I am but a representative of the large team of peerless colleagues whose commitment has made our achievements possible, and so I hold it and carry it on behalf of everybody.
“It is also a fitting reflection upon the outstanding work of ATTFE College in its communities and further afield, and I will be working hard to prove myself worthy of this recognition on behalf of our ongoing collective endeavour".
The 64-year-old specialist in further education for the past 35 years has been instrumental in ATTFE College’s recent growth and keynote successes.
This has included securing tens of millions of pounds worth of funding from national and local sources over the past 8 years to enable ATTFE’s transformational impact, and the strategic oversight of ATTFE’s highly regarded safeguarding work.
Simon will be continuing this essential mission to maximise ATTFE’s contribution to the learning and skills development of the exciting new EMCCA region.
Simon has worked in education in Nottinghamshire since 1991.
He served previously as the Headteacher and Principal of Sutton Centre Community College/Sutton Community Academy, where he oversaw the school’s successful conversion to its status as an academy with Academy Transformation Trust, and served subsequently as the national Director of Further Education for the Trust.
He currently holds other senior voluntary positions in educational leadership and governance, including Chair of Governors of Croft Primary School in Sutton in Ashfield and Vice-Chair of South Wolds Academy in Keyworth.
He is the Vice-Chair of HOLEX, the national membership organisation for Adult and Community Education, and is a Director and Company Secretary of several local charities and community interest companies including Takeover Radio 106.9FM and Let’s All Eat, based in the Ashfield area of Nottinghamshire.
Simon graduated in European Studies from Lancaster University in 1984 and is fluent in French and German.
He also holds a Masters in Educational Management, and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), and is a Fellow of the Society for Education and Training (FSET).
Before entering an educational career, he worked in business administration and finance management including with Marks & Spencer plc and University College London.
He is qualified as a Chartered Company Secretary, and he is the Chair of the East Midlands Branch of the Corporate Governance Institute (CGI). He is also the Safeguarding Officer for one of England’s largest karate martial arts associations, JKS England.
Out of work Simon enjoys Shotokan karate; running; weight training; birdwatching; international cuisine and big-event catering and reading. He previously served in the Territorial Army and retains a keen interest in military history.