Meet the team

We have a skilled and dedicated team to help you.

Stefan Krex

Carpentry & Joinery Tutor & Assessor

Stefan has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and has undertaken various roles on site, both in site management and in company management. He has worked in education since 2020, starting in the prison service before joining ACE Training. In 2023 Stefan obtained his TAQA qualification in assessment training. Stefan works with both apprentices and full-time students.

Tommy Upstone

Carpentry & Joinery Tutor & Assessor

Tommy joined ACE in April 2024, but he’s no stranger to the centre as he completed his level 3 Apprenticeship with us back in 2020. In his current position as Carpentry and Joinery Technician, he provides invaluable support to our learners in the carpentry workshop every day, and in December 2024 he obtained his TAQA qualification in assessment training

With a lifelong passion for construction, Tommy enjoys sharing his skills and knowledge with our learners, making his role a perfect fit.

Michael Simms

Carpentry & Joinery Tutor & Assessor

Michael started his career in the construction industry by completing a Bench Joinery apprenticeship with a local employer in Oxfordshire. He then spent 15 years working on site before completing his level 5 Diploma in Teaching & Education and working in further education. Michael is a qualified IQA and assessor. He works with both apprentices and full-time students, his specialist subject being bench joinery.

Mike O’Connell

Carpentry Tutor

Mike joined ACE Training in March 2026, bringing over 20 years of carpentry experience across the Oxford area. His career spans work in university buildings, heritage projects and new build developments, giving him a broad and valuable skill set. He enjoys the technical side of carpentry and is passionate about supporting learners to develop their skills, build confidence, and strengthen their problem-solving abilities. Mike encourages open conversations in the workshop, creating a positive and supportive learning environment. Having previously worked with apprentices on site, Mike found great satisfaction in mentoring and is now thoroughly enjoying his transition into tutoring.

Danny Callaghan

Lead Bricklaying Tutor & Assessor

Danny has been a member of the ACE team since 2017. He spends half of his week teaching our apprentices and the other half with our full-time students. He is a qualified tutor and assessor and has worked in the construction industry for over 20 years, both as a tutor and an on-site bricklayer. Danny is also our head of welfare and ensures that all our students feel safe and valued.

Rachel Blake

English & maths Lecturer

Rachel joined the team in June 2025. She is a qualified teacher who has a background in delivering English and maths to apprentices in the British military as well as the NHS. She first started teaching in FE back in 2014 and has been employed in FE colleges in the South of England as well as for Pearson TQ. She is passionate about ensuring that everyone has equal access to learning and is trained to deliver innovative and dynamic lessons to meet different learner needs and believes learning should be fun! Rachel is experienced in teaching both English and maths from Entry Level Functional Skills all the way up to A-level.

Sonia King

Pre-Apprentice Training Coordinator

Sonia is responsible for our pre-apprentices. She makes sure that they are happy and well cared for as they transition from school to further education. She has over a decades’ experience in construction education, having previously worked with construction apprentices after completing her Level 3 award in Education & Training. Sonia enjoys working closely with our full-time students to help them achieve their end career goals of an apprenticeship, further education and/or employment.

Katie Peppiatt

Pre-Apprentice Employability Coordinator

Katie has a strong background in education, having worked at both The Warriner School and Meadowbrook College. Initially serving as a Student Support professional, she later transitioned into teaching English, a role that allowed her to further nurture her passion for supporting young people.

Working in an educational setting has always been a source of inspiration for Katie, fuelling her desire to learn and grow alongside her students. She is deeply committed to helping young people achieve their goals, hopes, and dreams, finding immense meaning and purpose in her work. Katie is excited about the opportunities her role brings to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Lyndsey Fitzpatrick

Apprentice Training Coordinator

Lyndsey takes charge of our large caseload of apprentices, ensuring they are happy, well looked after and on track to complete on time. Lyndsey has been with ACE Training for over ten years and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things ‘apprenticeships’. You’ll usually find her out and about seeing her students and employers on site or while they are visiting our centre.

Lisa Marie Perkins

Apprentice Training Coordinator

Lisa joined us in mid-2024 and works closely with our partners and employers to ensure we can match learners with the very best work experience opportunities.

Lisa has many years of corporate relationship management experience which she now applies to ensure our learners are getting the most out of their work placements.

Barry Crane

Director

Barry heads up our workshops and manages our construction tutors. He has a rich background in construction, having previously worked as a bricklayer for 15 years before transitioning into education, where he completed his BA Hons in Education and level 7 NVQ in Senior Site Management (MCIOB). Barry oversees our workshop team and spends time on site assessing our OSAT students. He works with both our apprentices and our full-time students.

Vanessa Cover

Director

Vanessa leads the team and is a fountain of knowledge for any queries relating to construction and funding. Her primary role is to take care of our staff and ensure our centre runs smoothly and continues to deliver the best learning experience to our students.

Adam Marsh

Managing Director

Adam deals with oversight and finances and has been involved in the business since 2006. With a wealth of experience in the property and insurance sectors, he has supported ACE with its business priorities and ensured we offer a competitive and attractive series of courses and apprenticeships that are suitable for today’s constructors.

Gemma Scrivener

Marketing & Communications Manager

Gemma joined ACE Training in 2023 and leads all Marketing and Communications activity. With over 25 years’ experience in helping businesses build and promote their brand, she brings creativity and expertise to showcasing ACE’s work and impact.

She is passionate about working in schools, sparking those all-important career conversations with young people and inspiring them to see the opportunities in construction. Building meaningful relationships is at the heart of her role, whether with students, schools, employers, or partners.

Gemma also takes pride in celebrating success, from learner and apprentice achievements and team milestones to community projects and award wins. She ensures ACE’s values, impact and commitment to sustainability are visible and recognised, helping the organisation connect with others and inspire the next generation of construction professionals.

Jessica Anstice

Administration Coordinator
Jess joined our office team in January 2026. Before joining ACE Training, she had been a Teacher of Physical Education since 2019 after Graduating from Loughborough University as a qualified teacher. Her journey has included teaching students from the ages of 3-18 in both state and private educational settings. She is passionate about supporting and helping others to succeed to achieve their highest potential, whether it be ACE staff members or learners.

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