Meet The Team.
Skillbridge was co-founded by Laura Cook, Matt Dean and Antony Ruck. This partnership brings together a shared passion for high quality technology and support for neurodivergent and disabled students alongside decades of experience in the Assistive Technology and student support sectors.
Laura Cook
Laura Cook is the Founder and Managing Director of The Learning Support Centre. She started her career in the education and disability sector as a support worker over 20 years ago. Laura has volunteered as a trustee for Citizens Advice Bureau and The Association of Non Medical Help Providers (ANMHP) of which she was chair for six years.
Laura was a SEND Governor for four years and also delivered SEND Governor training to trainee Governors for Leicestershire County Council. Laura is passionate about the high quality support for our clients but also across the sector, and this is evidenced by her ongoing work with the Department for Education and Student Loans Company as the Vice Chair of the ANMHP.
Matt Dean
Matt is a skilled expert within the Assistive Technology industry with a distinguished track record. With over 20 + years of experience, he has worked for both resellers and software publishers across diverse sectors and continuously worked to create a positive impact on the Assistive Technology landscape.
Throughout his career, Matt has held various pivotal roles, enriching his knowledge and insight, which he now brings to Skillbridge. In addition to this, Matt serves as a valued advisor to Disability Organisations and prominent blue-chip companies, offering his valuable insights and guidance in the realm of Assistive Technology.
Donna Welburn
Donna has over 18 years of experience of working in the education sector in a range of challenging environments, with proven success of managing budgets, increasing income and achieving excellence in customer service.
She is the Operations Director for The Learning Support Centre and has extensive knowledge of managing support services, particularly with regard to quality, safeguarding, HR and other governance. She has led a student support team in an FE college and has a strong knowledge of the complexities of supporting students at both Further and Higher Education level.
Antony Ruck
Antony has been part of the AT industry since 1999, working with manufacturers, publishers, standards organisations and service providers to deliver first class products and customer experience.
In addition to being the co-founder and CEO of Aventido Limited, he has also provided volunteer support for the British Standards Institute, co-created ATEC (the Assistive Technology Exhibition and Conference), been Chair of BATA, and is the first co-Chair of the newly formed DATEurope. BATA campaigns for the rights and interests of those needing Assistive Technology, working in collaboration with Government departments such as the Cabinet Office, the Home Office, DfE and DWP.
Antony has presented on the advancement of assistive technology and the AT industry at events such as ATIA, BETT, ATEC, OneCPD, NNAC, ATF Switzerland, and The Workplace Health and Wellbeing Show.
Chris Collier
Chris is a former secondary English teacher, study skills tutor and needs assessor. He has over 15 years’ experience of leading assessment services and managing Assistive Technology (AT) and human support providers. He has been a British Assistive Technology Association (BATA) Council member and vice-chair of the Association of Non-Medical Help Providers, during which time he contributed to Student Finance England’s DSA operations calls and the DSA-QAG auditing process for Non-Medical Help Providers.
Chris has in-depth knowledge of assistive technology and funding guidance and is on hand to provide advice and answer any questions about Skillbridge services.
Contact Us.
We're always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
E: contact@skillbridgesolutions.co.uk
T: 0330 133 3920