Matthew Griffiths, chief executive of PLASA and also the Chair of Metier commented: "On behalf of the Board I’d like to express my thanks to Duncan for his achievements since his arrival in May 1996. During this time he has overseen considerable changes in Metier's fortunes and has been instrumental in raising the annual turnover of the organization from £250,000 to £1.5m. We believe that Duncan has been instrumental in bringing £10m to the sector - a large proportion of this has been invested in partnership projects helping to support the viability of around 35 other organizations."
Metier has made the successful transition from a National Training Organization into a much more practically-based agency delivering innovative programmes of work in the areas of education, skills and employability. Sones will continue to work with Metier over the next 12 months drawing on his knowledge of funding sources and partnership development. The organization has a strong team of managers and skilled staff: this team will be supplemented by two new appointments - that of an executive director and an equality projects director.
Griffiths continued: "Metier will have an important role to play in developing the delivery infrastructure for training for many years to come. Clearly the landscape will change with the arrival of the Sector Skills Council for the Cultural and Creative Industries, and we have ensured that Metier's role will dovetail with the new organization, and not compete with it."
Duncan Sones added: "I am very grateful to all the friends and colleagues who have worked with me to get Metier to its current position. The organization has new opportunities to develop and offer targeted services to the creative industries, and in addition will be supporting the development of the Sector Skills Council. I am especially proud of the work Metier is undertaking to redress some of the inequalities in the cultural industries labour market and that we have helped so many organizations further their work through Equal funded project Creative Renewal. I hope that in my new role as part-time development director for Metier I can help to set up more projects of this kind." Sones will leave Metier at the end of August and will relocate to London.
(Ruth Rossington)
