Verity Hancock, Principal and CEO
Verity became Principal of Leicester College in January 2013
Prior to joining the College, she was Executive Director of Capacity and Infrastructure at the Skills Funding Agency.
Since gaining a law degree from New College, Oxford in 1988, Verity has pursued a career in education and previously held positions with the City and Guilds of London Institute, Training and Enterprise Councils and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). She held a number of senior positions within the LSC, including Regional Director, East Midlands and National Director of Funding, Planning and Performance.
Please note that Verity is currently on long term sick leave.
Shabir Ismail, Acting Principal/CEO
Shabir joined Leicester College in October 2010 and brings nearly 30 years of experience in the Further Education sector. Throughout his career, he has held key roles at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) and worked as a consultant supporting other colleges.
Beyond education, Shabir is deeply committed to community engagement. He has held numerous non-executive positions across secondary and primary schools, the NHS, the Leicester Riders Foundation, and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE). He currently serves on the board of East Midlands Housing (EMH) Association and a local primary school.
Shabir has also played a vital role in regional development, having been part of the executive team at the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership and a member of the Leicester Safeguarding Children Partnership Board.
A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics. He has a passion for education and the community we serve.
Deborah Donnarumma, Vice Principal – Curriculum, study programme and apprenticeship
Debi Donnarumma joined the college in May 2021 as Vice Principal, Study Programmes and Apprenticeships. She has previously worked as a Vice Principal in colleges across the East and West Midlands for the last 10 year. She started her FE career 22 years ago, as a teacher at Leicester College. She has previously worked within several industries including fitness, insurance, and hospitality, both in the UK and abroad. She has also held governor posts in local schools.
Della Sewell, Director of Human Resources
Della joined the College in July 2020 as Director of Human Resources. Previously Della was Head of HR at Nottingham College and prior to that worked in HR at Nottingham City Council for nearly 30 years. She began her career working in Personnel at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham.
Della has experience as a Chair of Governors for a primary school in Nottingham as well as being a governor for both her daughters school for 8 years.
Della has a degree in History from Sheffield University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Kully Sandhu, Vice Principal – Adult and Higher Education
Kully was appointed to Leicester College as Assistant Principal for Skills for Life and Functional Skills in August 2007. He previously held the positions of Lecturer, Head of School for Automotive Engineering, Quality Manager and Assistant Director for Widening Participation at the College. His curriculum specialism is motor vehicle engineering, which he taught for 11 years.
Prior to working in Further Education in 1993, Kully was employed in the motor industry. After completing his apprenticeship he held the posts of Technician specialising in automotive electronics, Workshop Supervisor and Trainer. In 1990 he became a partner in an independent garage business. Kully holds an MSc in Educational Leadership.
Louise Hazel, Director of Governance and Policy
Louise was appointed as Director of Governance and Policy in 2016 having previously held a policy and planning role at the College. Before joining Leicester College she worked for the Further Education Funding Council.
Louise has several years’ experience as a school governor in both primary and secondary schools as well as experience as Company Secretary for a City school. She is currently a governor at a Leicestershire secondary academy.