Skip to main content

Chief Executive Officer of Learning Curve Group, Brenda McLeish OBE, was presented with her OBE for her services to further education after being named as a recipient in the New Year Honours in 2022. She also bagged the Businesswoman of the Year Award at the 2022 EducationInvestor awards which were on the same evening.

With over 20 years of experience within the education sector, Brenda goes above and beyond to promote positive change for the industry, fundraise for many charities, and truly embodies her vision of transforming lives through learning. This OBE recognises the achievements and service of people across the UK, from all walks of life.

Brenda has led Learning Curve Group (LCG) to become one of the largest training providers in the country, delivering to over 200,000 learners every year. Since joining LCG in 2008 she has seen the business go from 40 staff to over 800. Her passion for supporting young people to fulfil their potential through making high quality training accessible to all has been firmly rooted in the values of the business and her ‘Purple People’ who work for LCG.

Brenda McLeish OBE DL said:

“It is such an honour to have been presented with my OBE by HRH the Prince of Wales and be named Businesswoman of the Year at the EducationInvestor Awards last week. I am truly humbled to have been recognised and awarded for my contribution to further education and for the success of our ever-growing business. I cannot thank the fantastic team at Learning Curve Group enough. The dedication and hard work of our Purple People made this happen. I look forward to continuing to provide people across the country with the opportunities to gain new skills and fulfil their potential and lead this incredible business to further success so we can transform even more lives through learning.”

Brenda strives to use education and training to transform the lives of anyone she has the pleasure of meeting. Be that through the Purple People Academy, LCG’s internal apprenticeship academy, to support learners who are unemployed and looking to get back into work through nation-wide pathways into employment programmes. Her knowledge of the education funding landscape enables her to broaden the support she can offer individuals, ensuring those who need the most help can access education regardless of level, ability, prior attainment or socio-economic status.

Through Brenda’s leadership, LCG is on track to become the training provider of choice by 2025 and expand their employee count to over 1,500 across the country. Through organic growth and acquisition, LCG is already one of the largest and most diverse providers in the country.

In the year of the pandemic, Brenda knew it was essential to make education accessible to those who wanted to learn during such a challenging time. LCG exceeded their funding allocation to deliver their online courses, therefore Brenda made the decision to take money out of the business to ensure these learners could gain the qualifications they needed to come out of the pandemic in a stronger position. This was important to Brenda and the business, as one of LCG’s core values is to keep the learner at the centre of everything they do. By the end of 2020, the business achieved their 5-year mission of transforming over one million lives through learning - but they aren’t stopping there.

In 2021, LCG had one of their most successful years yet as they acquired, Liverpool-based, Antrec Limited to expand their reach to learners in the Liverpool City region. The training provider also completed the acquisition of Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT), which expands their skills-based academy numbers to over 50 and makes LCG the second largest military training provider after the Ministry of Defence. More recently in September 2022, LCG acquired White Rose Beauty Colleges, adding the 9 incredible colleges across Yorkshire and the North West to their already impressive 8 across London and the North East.

Related content

  • 14/04/2025
Why Your Best Employees Are Leaving – and What You Can Do About It

Top talent is walking away — and it’s not just about money. Discover why employees are rethinking what they want from work, and how practical, tailored learning can boost retention, morale, and long-term loyalty.

  • 31/03/2025
6 Tips to Best Utilise Off the Job Training

Off-the-job (OTJ) training is often seen as a disruption, but when planned well, it benefits both apprentices and businesses. Aligning training with real work, maintaining strong communication with providers, and using a mix of learning methods can turn OTJ time into a valuable investment. By supporting apprentices and tracking progress effectively, employers can develop skilled, motivated employees who contribute more in the long run.

  • 20/03/2025
How to become a Midwife

If you’re considering a career in midwifery, here’s all the important information you need...