Anne Pierce has over 20 years experience in the field of careers, education and training. Prior to that, her career spanned a variety of roles in the hospitality sector within school meals, university catering, and conference sectors.

Anne completed a PhD at the Dorset Institute of Higher Education (now Bournemouth University) in 1988. She then had a nine year tenure at the Hotel and Catering Training Board which was subsequently de-regulated to become the Hospitality Training Foundation and secured its recognition by the UK Government as the National Training Organisation – with responsibility for labour market research, the development of flexible training support, careers promotion, vocational education and training and policy development.

In November 1997 she became Chief Executive of Springboard – a national charity which helps young, unemployed and disadvantaged people prosper through nurturing them into careers in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism. She has led the development of Springboard such that it is now the first port of call for specialist careers information, advice and guidance in the UK, produces an innovative portfolio of products, programmes and educational support services designed to help inform potential recruits, provide them with opportunities for work experience and to help them make a smooth transition into employment in the industry.

Springboard’s trading subsidiary – Springboard UK works with and for the industry and is dedicated to promoting hospitality, leisure and tourism as a first choice career, attracting new talent and working with its business partners to address HR challenges and skills shortages.

She is a firm believer in finding practical and workable solutions, promoting the industry as an exciting, rewarding and progressive career, providing stimulating and memorable teaching and learning materials and helping the industry find practical and effective solutions. She was awarded an MBE in 2004 for her contribution to the Hospitality industry and received the coveted Special Award at the 2008 Cateys.

She served as a Governor of Westminster Kingsway College for 9 years until 2009, and is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, and a non-Executive Director of both Pierce Design International – a leading hotel interior design company and PDi Property – a residential property development company.