15 October 2008

Creative & Cultural Skills is delighted to announce the promotion of Pauline Tambling to chief operating officer.

For the past year, Pauline has been executive director of programmes where her responsibilities included writing the business plan and securing approval for the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills and setting up the new Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences. The new role of chief operating officer will see the bringing together of all flagship programmes and our work in the nations and regions under Pauline. This will ensure joined-up delivery and the meeting of our ambitious targets in a critical re-licensing year. The role will report to Tom Bewick, who becomes group chief executive following the decision to establish the National Skills Academy as a wholly owned subsidiary earlier this year.

Pauline has worked in the arts industry for the past 25 years, including executive roles at the Royal Opera House and Arts Council England, and has a wealth of knowledge and experience built upon since the start of her career teaching in local authorities. Pauline has written on arts education policy and has contributed to various research and government reports. She has written two TV series’ for BBC2 and enjoys various non executive roles; she is chair of Shape, a board member of the Shakespeare Schools Festival and also sits on the board of governors at the University College for the Creative Arts. Pauline has also spoken at conferences around the world. In 1999, Pauline was a finalist for the European Women of Achievement Award (arts category).

Of her new role, Pauline said: “It has been a great pleasure to work at Creative & Cultural Skills over the last year. It is a dynamic young organisation which, under Tom Bewick’s leadership, is already making a major impact for the sector. I look forward to playing a part in its future.”

Tom Bewick said: “I’m delighted that someone of Pauline’s standing has accepted this appointment. She has not only already achieved some fantastic things with us, but will I’m sure go on to help ensure our ambitious vision of turning more of our creative talent into skills and jobs.”

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For more information on this press release, images and interviews please contact Jessica Benson on 0207 015 1800 or email jessica.benson@ccskills.org.uk

Notes to editors

Creative & Cultural Skills is the sector skills council for the creative and cultural industries. Our remit covers the areas of: advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, and performing, literary and visual arts. For more information visit www.ccskills.org.uk.

Licensed by government in June 2005, Creative & Cultural Skills is one of 25 Sector Skills Councils, known collectively as the Skills for Business Network, to oversee the strategic development of the workforce in our industries and deliver realistic solutions to skills needs.

Our Chairman is Tony Hall CBE and our Chief Executive is Tom Bewick. Both founded the organisation from scratch in 2004. Our remit is UK-wide. Wales is represented by Judith Isherwood, Chief Executive of the Wales Millennium Centre. Scotland is represented by John Stalker, Chief Executive of Festival City Theatres. Northern Ireland is represented by Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of Arts Council Northern Ireland.