Peter Mayhew-Smith CBE never set out to become a college leader. What started with teaching literacy and supporting people in his local community turned into a career spanning almost 40 years in further education. Today, he's Group Principal and Chief Executive of South Thames Colleges Group, having helped guide colleges through financial challenges, major mergers and significant changes across the sector.

In this episode of Inspiring Working Lives, Peter joins Dan Taylor to look back on his journey from the classroom to senior leadership, the difficult decisions he's had to make and why giving people a second chance through education has always mattered to him. They also discuss the growing importance of student mental health, creating a supportive college environment and what it really takes to lead when things don't go to plan.

Ian Adams MBE’s career has taken him from the BBC to the NHS, local government and the charity sector, working on everything from the digital TV switchover to major changes in public services. Alongside his day job, he spent 20 years as a Westminster councillor, served as Lord Mayor of Westminster and has dedicated much of his time to charities supporting young people and people experiencing homelessness. In this episode, Ian joins Dan Taylor to look back at the opportunities and unexpected turns that shaped his career. They talk about what it really takes to make change happen, why listening to the people affected by it matters, and the importance of giving back. Ian also shares his thoughts on social mobility, building a career with purpose and why your next move doesn’t always have to be a step up – sometimes moving sideways can take you somewhere you never expected.

What happens when the career you planned isn’t the career you end up having?

Ian Pryce never expected to work in further education. After starting out in finance, his career took him into college leadership, where he spent 26 years as Principal and Chief Executive of Bedford College and later the Bedford College Group.

In the final episode of Season 3 of Inspiring Working Lives, Ian looks back on the twists and turns that shaped his career, from his working-class upbringing and first-generation university experience to his journey into leadership.

He also shares why education and social mobility have remained such important parts of his work, and the lessons he’s picked up along the way.