Mark Lovell - A4e Executive Chairman
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An entrepreneur and business leader focused on high growth business strategy in public service markets, Mark has led the strategy for the growth of A4e Ltd from start up to a £100m business over the last 16 years. Employing over 2000 people and now working on an international basis from over 120 service centres, A4e is a leading player in global public service reform. His business philosophy is based on ‘doing things the right way not the easy way’. Mark has led A4e’s diversification from welfare and training into a broad section of public service delivery areas through his passion and enthusiasm for innovation in service delivery.
The business model he has pioneered focuses on a market entry strategy tackling gaps, pilots and market failures in public services. By designing services which integrate and are embedded in the local communities in which they operate, Mark has built a sustainable business model where the strategy and vision are aligned to ‘Improve People’s Lives’. This principle is built on a collaborative model of joint working between public, private and voluntary/community faith organisations since all sectors are required for effective public service reform.
With offices in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Israel, Poland and most recently Northern Ireland, Mark’s responsibilities lie in the continuing development and direction of A4e’s business strategy, the extension of A4e’s international business operations and the diversification of A4e’s service offer. Mark moves seamlessly between strategic and tactical issues, keeping updated on front line services and this enables him to maintain a dynamic and passionate dialogue with ministers in governments around public service reforms. It also ensures the business has a strong understanding of customers’ needs and can evolve services to maintain their relevance to the people who use the company’s services.
Mark holds overall responsibility for Group strategy, ensuring sustainable long term business growth in existing and new markets. Holding an MBA from the University of Sheffield and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, he is responsible for ensuring A4e's vision of improving people's lives by delivering social change. His focus internationally is on working with governments to develop strategies to develop Active Labour Market Policies, tackle poverty and combat exclusion.
With a keen interest in the import and export of best practice, as well as exporting UK social policy, Mark leverages learning from the best organisations in the UK and overseas. His current projects involve effective policy development across a range of government sectors, practitioner and customer engagement in service design and effective investment/return models to underpin value for money public service delivery. Developing talent and freeing people’s entrepreneurial spirit are core to his approach to work. Divorced with two children, he lives with his long term partner and enjoys playing football, reading and walking his three dogs. He also helps entrepreneurs and business people start up and diversify their companies in his spare time.
READ MARK'S BLOG