About Us
Established in 2014 Projects Beyond Borders Ltd (PBB) is a company based in the North West of England. Its mission is to promote international collaboration in the fields of education and sport. PBB will develop partnerships both for revenue and capital projects, manage projects to completion, write applications for funding and support commercial initiatives that result in positive and successful outcomes. We are a company committed to ethical international co-operation and working across borders, be they geo-political, social or academic. We are a company with over eighty years of collective experience in our field. We work with partners across the European Union, China and the Far East, India, MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States).
Meet The Team
Dr. Allan Lawrence
Director
Dr Allan Lawrence has previously worked as the International Business Manager at Blackburn College, Walsall College and Hopwood Hall College, where he worked to recruit international students,and develop Joint Education Projects with partners from around the world achieving income targets in excess of £1m for each college. Allan has also operated as a consultant in the field of education and training and has worked as a lecturer and manager in further and higher vocational education for over 30 years. He was the Project Manager at Salford University for the project to establish the Salford Innovation Park.
At Salford University, he specialised in progammes of training that developed entrepreneurship, creativity and business skills. He has been involved in projects with Salford and Manchester based small business NGO’s and Manchester’s growing social enterprise sector.
During most of his career he has been involved in the development and management of a large number of international education projects within the European Union, Russia, India, Africa and the Far East. He has also worked as a consultant for the European Union, assessing applications for funding on behalf of the EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme. Dr Allan Lawrence has been an EU Assessor for over 15 years.
Yvonne Farrand MCMI
Director
Following a successful career in the travel industry, Yvonne moved into the world of further education in 1996, undertaking a variety of management roles. As the International Office Manager at Hopwood Hall College, she was responsible for setting up the division and putting in place policies and procedures to ensure College staff and systems were in place to manage international student requirements. She was responsible for the set up and management of student accommodation, Admissions, immigration advice and pastoral care systems for international students. Moving into Student Service in 2009 she took management responsibility for a large team and student support funds in excess of £1m.
Throughout her career Yvonne has placed a strong focus on customer service working to develop wrap around care and support services to improve the student experience. She has worked as an independent Consultant since 2011 with extensive experience of helping institutions of Further and Higher Education to establish robust systems and procedures to support both home and overseas students. A member of the Chartered Institute of Management Yvonne spends any free time working in the voluntary sector as an active Governor in both Primary and Secondary Education. She is a Corporate Fellow of the Woodard Corporation and a trustee of an educational trust in the North West. Within her governor roles Yvonne chairs a number of committees and has substantial experience in managing change.
Ronnie Todd
Director
Working in secondary and further education in senior management in education for 40 years, Ronnie’s roles have included Director of Innovation & Development at Hopwood Hall College. Specific responsibilities included capital infrastructure planning and implementation, progressing to regeneration and partnership developments. Responsible for successful capital and revenue grant applications to Sport England, UK Government Regeneration Initiatives, procurement of capital European Regional Development Fund and revenue European Social Fund awards of circa £1m pa.
After joining Bradford College as a Consultant for Sports and International policy development, he was appointed Project Manager in 2008, covering Regeneration, Sports & Arts policy and International Partnership development and recruitment. An active member of the College’s International Team, securing £3.2 m of International Student recruitment income in 2011/12.
His Bradford International work included pioneering developments in the Baltic States and Romania. His contributions to the world of sport include the establishment and growth of FE Sports Academies and College’s International sports profiles. Nicola Adams, the first female Boxing Olympic Gold winner in history, was a product of the FE Boxing Academies at Hopwood and Bradford – a testament to his achievements!
Our Services
International Students
Using our extensive overseas network we are able to assist with the recruitment of international students to UK colleges, universities and training organisations.
International Partners
Through our international network built up over many years we can find international partners, provide introductions and expertise to establish your international presence.
Funding
Our team have each over twenty years successful experience in UK & EU, FE and HE funding applications including ESF, Lottery and Sport England.
Strategic Solutions
Our specialist team can provide advice and support to help you develop your administrative and managerial capacity to internationalise your activities.
Project Brokerage
Our experienced team can develop and manage the full project lifecycle from inception to delivery involving partners from UK and overseas.
Training
We can provide a range of services from developing bespoke education courses for you to market internationally to delivering customised training to staff and students.
Developing International Projects, Partnerships and Opportunities
Our Clients
Companies and Organisations we work with.
Doctor Chris Bamber
I have worked with the staff of PBB for many years and they have recently been instrumental in the re-focusing of OLC activities both in international and national markets. The PBB team has worked with OLC staff to assist in the seeking of new products and markets that strengthened the OLC global offer. Their strength is their ability to think outside the box and work with us to ensure the solutions they identify are appropriate for us. Projects Beyond Borders are certainly a unique team with a unique offer.
Managing Director and Dean
The Organisational Learning Centre OLC (Europe) Ltd
Nik Walker
PBB have provided unique solutions for the College as we introduce an international strategy to recruit overseas. Their broad range of expertise in this field regarding compliance, marketing strategies, market intelligence and access to networks and funding are extremely valuable and provide us with a professional and personalized service. Without their support we would not have the opportunities available to set up our strategy and understand the markets that are now available to us. I would not hesitate to recommend Projects Beyond Borders to any organization that seeks new ways of working and marketing education internationally.
Director of Corporate Development and Work Based Learning
Stockport College
Contact Us
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