This weeks National appointments: Featuring European Space Agency, QTS Training & Prime Accountants Group

This week’s round up of National appointments includes European Space Agency, QTS Training & Prime Accountants Group. Read on to find out more.

**Meganne Christian, European Space Agency

European Space Agency (ESA) reserve astronaut, Meganne Christian, has joined the UK Space Agency in a new role that will support the thriving UK space sector. Renowned for her skills across multiple science areas, Meganne brings her experience and expertise to the agency’s Exploration team as Reserve Astronaut & Exploration Commercialisation Lead.

She will also support education and outreach programmes dedicated to encouraging the uptake of STEM subjects across UK schools. Meganne Christian, reserve astronaut & exploration commercialisation lead for the UK Space Agency, said: “I am thrilled to join the UK Space Agency at this hugely exciting time, with the sector growing and the UK taking part in major international missions.

“Being a reserve astronaut for ESA is a truly unique opportunity, and this new role with the UK Space Agency gives me even more of a chance to help the thriving space sector push the frontiers of human exploration and demonstrate the benefits of space to us all here on Earth.”

Chief executive at the UK Space Agency, Dr Paul Bate, said: “As we continue to push the boundaries of discovery and champion the power of space for future generations, I’m delighted to welcome Meganne to the UK Space Agency.

“Her unique expertise will benefit both our exploration and inspiration programmes, developing new commercial opportunities for UK companies, while supporting young people from all backgrounds to pursue STEM subjects. Meganne has already hit the ground running, joining our Space for Everyone tour around the UK and engaging audiences at national events, and I look forward to working with her.”

**Phil Wheatcroft, QTS Training

QTS Training, a national provider of railway training services, has announced the appointment of Phil Wheatcroft in the role of Senior Trainer and Assessor.

Phil began his new role in June and will be a key part in building the firm’s presence in England. He will oversee operations across QTS Training’s English training centres; in Linby, Nottinghamshire, and Knottingley and Leeds, Yorkshire. Boasting more than three decades of experience in rail safety and training, Phil spent more than 20 years at rail construction firm Jarvis before spending a decade at training provider, Intertrain.

Phil currently sits on several industry steering groups, including Network Rail’s Competency Direction Group and its Lift Planner Competence Working Group. As part of this, he helps with the creation of new competency and training materials for the rail sector.

Lorna Gibson, director of QTS Training said: “It’s great to have welcomed Phil at such an exciting time for us. His vast knowledge and experience will prove hugely beneficial to QTS Training, particularly as we scale up our operations at our English training centres.”

Phil Wheatcroft, senior training assessor, said: “It’s been a fantastic initial month at QTS Training. I’ve been following the company for several years now and it’s wonderful to be playing a part in its next chapter. For me, I’m most excited to upskill new talent to help tackle the skills shortage and bring more people into the rail industry.”

Paislei Godley, Prime Accountants Group

A tax manager from a leading Coventry accountancy firm is celebrating more than two decades at the company with a promotion to a senior role.

Paislei Godley has worked for Prime Accountants Group for 22 years and has recently been promoted to the position of senior tax manager. Prime has offices in Coventry, Solihull and Birmingham and Paislei who is based in the Coventry office, within Whitley Business Park, and lives in the city joined the firm in November 2001 as an office junior.

She has worked across numerous departments in eight different roles, during which time she discovered her passion for tax accounting. Paislei began her training soon after starting as a tax secretary, passing her Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) exams in 2011, followed by her Charted Institute of Tax (CTA) exams in 2013.

She said: “Working at Prime is a real privilege. I started in an admin role back in 2001 and soon found a passion for the tax industry, so I spoke to our managing director Kevin Johns to share my desire to train in this new area. Kevin went above and beyond to support me. I was provided with a mentor who not only showed me the workings of tax but helped me in passing my exams.”

Kevin Johns, managing director of Prime, said: “Paislei has always been a fantastic employee and we’d all like to congratulate her on her well-deserved new senior role. Over the years, Paislei has always been willing to get stuck into anything - including one of our numerous charity events which saw the team cycle to all the gold post boxes across the UK.”

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By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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