Premier Management Team

Norman Basson - Chairman & Chief Executive












Norman trained as a physical educationalist, sports coach and physiotherapist within the elite Army Physical Training Corps, in which he served twenty-two years until retirement in 1986. He then developed and successfully ran his own physiotherapy practice, health & fitness club and training centre, which he sold on to Elegant Ways PLC before establishing Premier in August 1992. In the early years Norman personally developed and refined the Company's training programmes, placing a great emphasis on the quality of the training team as well as focusing on client care both during and after the courses. His passion and wholehearted personal commitment have been instrumental in achieving Premier's reputation for excellence within the industry.


Philip Walters - Executive Director & Co-Shareholder












Following an early career as a Chartered Accountant working for Deloitte Haskins & Sells in its Cardiff, Brussels and London offices, Philip joined Whitbread's JPM International where he became managing director in 1987. Philip managed an MBO from Whitbread in 1992 and also the eventual sale of the group to Sega Enterprises of Japan in 1996 for whom he continued to manage the group until 2001 when he left to drive his own M & A consultancy. Philip joined Premier in May 2004 as an equity partner in order to direct the business development and growth of the group. Philip also continues to chair or co-chair four other major companies.


Phil Rogers - Finance Director












Phil started his career in an accountancy practice in Bath during which time he qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He progressed to a consultancy role, widening his breadth of business experience and advising clients on a wide range of areas from tax planning to corporate strategy.

In November 2002, he joined Premier as Finance Manager and has since restructured the group of companies and introduced a robust financial management system. He assumed the role of Company Secretary in January 2005 and then Finance Director in October 2005. He is responsible for all aspects of financial control together Information and Communications Technology and Human Resources.


Malcolm Oakey - Funding & Facilities Director












For a 12 year period prior to Malcolm's appointment at Premier he served as the Group Accountant to a privately owned group of companies in the leisure and hospitality sector. Malcolm joined Premier in 1997 and was appointed finance director prior to the Company's national expansion programme and 5-year development plan in which he was a key-manager. He manages the Company's business relationship with over sixteen FE Colleges throughout the UK relating to LSC funding for Premier's training courses.