With buckets of experience in education and skills, this passionate cheerleader can provide a solid base to execute expert recruitment routines.
With over 10 years of recruitment experience at every level across the education and skills sectors, Kristina is skilled in the appointment of roles covering the design, development, delivery and quality assurance of educational products and services in awarding organisations, AAOs and professional membership bodies. She leads our partnership with the Federation of Awarding Bodies as their Platinum Supplier of executive search, recruitment, and board development services.
Kristina enjoys the camaraderie, collaboration, innovation, determination, and passion of the sectors she supports and takes pride in advocating this niche area of the UK and worldwide education system. She sees the far-reaching impact of awarding and skills qualifications at all levels, raising the aspirations of so many people and helping them access and achieve life-changing qualifications and training.
Outside of work, Kristina has just become a mum for the first time and enjoys travelling with her family to destinations decided through a game of Skyscanner roulette! After 15 years as a competitive cheerleader, she is now a Non-Executive Director on the board of SportCheer England, working towards official sport recognition and setting up the organisation as the official membership and regulatory body for the industry. Kristina is also attempting to learn Polish to connect with her heritage and is an avid Aston Villa fan.
Talk to Kristina about:
- Awarding organisation recruitment
- Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation recruitment
- Training and Skills recruitment
- Membership bodies recruitment
- Assessment recruitment
“I really rate Peridot Partners as ‘the’ recruitment agency for anyone hiring for key positions in the skills and awarding sector. The Head of Skills and Awarding, Kristina Preston, at Peridot really understands the sector, and what is needed in terms of knowledge, skills and background to fill those roles. Always helpful and going above and beyond to match candidates to roles that suit.”
James Stockdale, Trustee at OCN London
Kristina's selected track record:
British Psychotherapy Foundation | Director of Training Operations
Chartered Institute of Building | Head of Environmental Sustainability, Conference Lead, Training Solutions Consultant
Electrical Safety First | Deputy Technical Director
Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) | Chief Executive Officer
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) | Assessment Design and Outcomes Managers, Subject Matter Expert
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) | Head of Awarding Organisation and Responsible Officer
Gateway Qualifications | Trustees, Head of Quality and Standards, Centre Compliance Manager, Programme Manager
NCFE | Trustees
OCN London | Trustees
WJEC | Assistant Director: VTQ and Skills Delivery, Qualifications Development Officer
Download our membership brochure“Peridot Partners was excellent to work with in recruiting at a senior level. Their depth of knowledge and expertise of the awarding sector gave us confidence to appoint the Federation’s CEO through them. This is the second senior appointment that we have made through Peridot, and we have again been impressed by their professionalism and responsiveness, which demonstrate why they are a key platinum supplier for recruitment within the industry.”
Board of Trustees, Federation of Awarding Bodies
Read some of Kristina’s articles:
- How assessment organisations maintain quality and build trust
- What does ‘reasonable’ really mean in high-stakes assessment?
- EPAO to AAO: Preparing for the apprenticeship assessment reform
- Ofqual governance principles and what AO boards need to know
- How good governance strengthens awarding organisations
- Awarding organisation trustee interview preparation guide (with bonus cheat sheet)
- Awarding Bodies: Insights from the Experts – Deborah Jenkins
- Awarding Bodies: Insights from the Experts – Candace Miller
- Awarding Bodies: Insights from the Experts – Phil Beach CBE
- Awarding Bodies: Insights from the Experts – Everton Burke OBE
“I have now worked with Peridot on last three occasions and it has been an absolute pleasure. Kristina Preston and team have been brilliant. They understand the role requirement very well and therefore we’ve been fortunate so far with a 100% success rate in identifying the right talent Thank you!”
Kavitha Balasubrmanian, Head of Human Resources, LAMDA
