Difference between revisions of "Jim Knight"

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{{Template:Revolving Door badge}}'''Jim Knight''' (Lord Knight of Weymouth) was the [[Labour]] member of parliament for Dorset South between 1997 and 2010. He is currently the shadow spokesperson for the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]].
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{{Template:Revolving Door badge}}'''Jim Knight''' (Lord Knight of Weymouth) is a [[Labour]] peer and shadow spokesperson on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
  
==Career==
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A former Schools minister, Knight now works as a consultant on the use of technology in education, including as Chief Education Adviser to [[TES Global]].
Knight stood as the [[Labour]] candidate for Dorset South in 1997, winning 35.9 percent of the vote but losing out by 0.2 percent to the [[Conservative]]'s [[Ian Bruce]]. He won the 2001 election by 0.4 percent, with 42 percent of the vote, and the 2005 election with 41.6 percent of the vote. However came second in 2010, to the [[Conservative]]'s [[Richard Drax]], with 30.3 percent of the vote.<ref> [http://www.theguardian.com/politics/constituency/1296/dorset-south Dorset South] ''The Guardian'', accessed 4 December 2014 </ref>
 
  
His roles in parliament include, parliamentary personal secretary to [[Rosie Winterton]] and the [[Department of Health]], parliamentary under-secretary to the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]] and minister of state to the [[Department for Education and Skills]], [[Department for Children, Schools and Families]], [[Regional Affairs]] and the [[Department for Work and Pensions]].<ref> [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/11027/lord_knight_of_weymouth Lord Knight of Weymouth] ''They Work For You'', accessed 4 December 2014 </ref>
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==Education reformer==
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Jim Knight has long had an interest in education technology and has held a number of paid jobs with edu-businesses in the UK. These include:  
  
==Revolving door==
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*Chief Education Adviser to [[TES Global]] (from 1 April 2015)
Knight has worked as an independent consultant advising clients on the use of technology in the education and training sector since October 2010. This role was approved by [[ACOBA]], who saw "no reason why he should not set up the consultancy as described forthwith, subject to the condition that, for 12 months from his last day in office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government Ministers or Crown servants, including Special Advisers, on behalf of any new employer or client".<ref> [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/media/acoba/assets/acobatwelfthreport2010-2011.pdf Twelfth Report 2010-2011] ''Advisory Committee on Business Appointments'', accessed 4 December 2014 </ref>
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*Managing Director of Online Learning at [[TSL Education]] (now [[TES Global]]) (April 2014- June 2015)
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Knight is described as being an 'active member of TSL Education’s advisory board since 2011'. In 2014, when he was appointed MD of Online Learning at the company, he was said to be 'committing to work full-time' as the company focused on accelerating growth and developing its online learning offerings.<ref>Press release: TSL Education appoints Lord Knight as Managing Director of Online Learning, 10 February 2014</ref>
  
==Register of Interests==
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Knight has also provided advice and 'project work in education, technology and literacy', through is own company Egale Ltd. Recent clients include:
===Directorships===
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*[[Alderwood Education]]
*Director, [[Step-A International]] Ltd (consultancy company specialising in providing strategic policy advice and support on use of technology in education overseas) (until 01 10 14)<ref name="parl"> [http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-knight-of-weymouth/4160 Lord Knight of Weymouth] ''Parliament.UK'', accessed 4 December 2014 </ref>
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*[[Dods]]  
*Director, [[Egale]] Limited (advice and project work in education, technology and literacy) [[Egale]] Limited receives or has received in the past calendar year income for services personally provided by the Member to: [[TSL Education]]; [[Alderwood Education]]; [[Dods]]; [[EC Harris]]; [[GSMA]] Ltd; [[Campaign for Learning]] Ltd<ref name="parl"/>
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*[[EC Harris]]
*Director, [[IanXen]] Ltd (developer of mobile diagnostic technology for tropical diseases)<ref name="parl"/>
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*[[Campaign for Learning]] Ltd (all the preceding interests ceased by 19 June 2015);  
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He has also been paid by:
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*[[World Innovation Summit for Education]], Qatar
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*[[BETT]] Brazil
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*[[GSMA]] Ltd
  
===Remunerated employment===
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Knight has also been involved with a number of organisations that promote the use of technology in education:
*Managing Director, Online Learning, [[TSL Education]] Ltd, 1 April 2014<ref name="parl"/>
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*Shareholder and director (until October 2014, although still listed on its website in Sept 2015) of [[Step-A International]] Ltd, a lobbying consultancy providing 'policy advice and support on use of technology in education overseas'<ref name="parl"> [http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-knight-of-weymouth/4160 Lord Knight of Weymouth] ''Parliament.UK'', accessed 4 December 2014 </ref> This describes itself as a company 'formed by former ministers and senior civil servants' who have a 'detailed working understanding of governments, education systems and the technology industry.' It says it works in following areas: identifying future market trends and potential new markets; helping companies 'maximise their CSR opportunities'; training programmes to develop a 'more effective existing management and workforce'; and ''brokering public sector openings and knowledge for the benefit of private sector companies''. STEP-A directors 'have a long history of supporting and advising major international companies such as [[Microsoft]] , [[Apple]], [[Intel]], [[DELL]], [[HP]], and [[Promethean]].<ref>[http://www.step-a.org/current-projects Current Projects]], Step-A website, accessed Sept 2015</ref>
  
===Shareholdings===
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*trustee of the [[e-Learning Foundation]], which 'helps schools and families provide computers, educational software and Internet access to all school children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with special learning needs.' It is supported by [[Samsung]], the ICT association [[Naace]], [[European Schoolnet]], which is a 'consortium of 31 ministries'; and others.
*Joint owner with wife of [[Egale]] Limited<ref name="parl"/>
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*chair of the [[Tinder Foundation]] - strap line: 'dedicated to making good things happen through digital technology' -a staff-owned mutual that focusses on digital inclusion, community learning, and tackling social challenges through digital solutions. It has partnered with [[Vodafone]]; [[TalkTalk]], [[Facebook]], [[Lloyds Bank]] and others.
*[[Step-A International]] Ltd<ref name="parl"/>
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*Visiting Professor, [[London Knowledge Lab]], [[Institute of Education]], [[University of London]]<ref name="parl"/>
*[[Arsenal Fanshare Society]] Ltd<ref name="parl"/>
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*former unpaid director of [[Apps for Good]] (to March 2014)
*[[IanXen]] Ltd (developer of mobile diagnostic technology for tropical diseases)<ref name="parl"/>
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*former trustee, [[Nominet Trust]] (to April 2015)<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-knight-of-weymouth/4160 Lord Knight register of interests], Parliament website, accessed Sept 2015</ref>
  
===Non-financial interests===
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===Other education interests===
*Chair, [[HTI Education Trust]] (furthering employability in education through academies and other activity)<ref name="parl"/>
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Knight was also chair of [[HTI Academies]], a sponsor of state schools that folded in 2014.<ref>[http://schoolsweek.co.uk/ex-ministers-multi-academy-trust-collapses/ Ex-minister’s multi-academy trust collapses], SchoolsWeek, 3 December 2014</ref>
*Unremunerated Director, [[Apps for Good]] Ltd (registered charity seeking to enable young people currently digitally excluded)<ref name="parl"/>
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*Chair, [[Tinder Foundation]] Ltd (tackling social and digital exclusion<ref name="parl"/>
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===Other non-education related interests===
*Visiting Professor, London Knowledge Lab, [[Institute of Education]], [[University of London]]<ref name="parl"/>
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*[[Xrapid Ltd, a company that diagnoses malaria with iPhones.
*Unremunerated trustee, [[Nominet Trust]]<ref name="parl"/>
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==Political career==
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Knight was Labour MP for South Dorset from 2001 until 2010. He was made a peer in 2010.
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His roles in parliament included, parliamentary personal secretary to [[Rosie Winterton]] and the [[Department of Health]], parliamentary under-secretary to the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]] and minister of state to the [[Department for Education and Skills]], [[Department for Children, Schools and Families]], [[Regional Affairs]] and the [[Department for Work and Pensions]].<ref> [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/11027/lord_knight_of_weymouth Lord Knight of Weymouth] ''They Work For You'', accessed 4 December 2014 </ref>
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
[[Category:Revolving Door|Knight, Jim]][[Category:ACOBA|Knight, Jim]][[Category:Labour Party|Knight, Jim]][[Category:Revolving Door|Knight, Jim]][[Category:Education|Knight, Jim]][[Category:House of Lords|Knight, Jim]]
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[[Category:Revolving Door|Knight, Jim]][[Category:ACOBA|Knight, Jim]][[Category:Labour Party|Knight, Jim]][[Category:Revolving Door|Knight, Jim]][[Category:Education|Knight, Jim]][[Category:House of Lords|Knight, Jim]][[Category:Education Industry]]

Revision as of 09:06, 26 September 2015

Revolving Door.jpg This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch.


Jim Knight (Lord Knight of Weymouth) is a Labour peer and shadow spokesperson on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

A former Schools minister, Knight now works as a consultant on the use of technology in education, including as Chief Education Adviser to TES Global.

Education reformer

Jim Knight has long had an interest in education technology and has held a number of paid jobs with edu-businesses in the UK. These include:

Knight is described as being an 'active member of TSL Education’s advisory board since 2011'. In 2014, when he was appointed MD of Online Learning at the company, he was said to be 'committing to work full-time' as the company focused on accelerating growth and developing its online learning offerings.[1]

Knight has also provided advice and 'project work in education, technology and literacy', through is own company Egale Ltd. Recent clients include:

He has also been paid by:

Knight has also been involved with a number of organisations that promote the use of technology in education:

  • Shareholder and director (until October 2014, although still listed on its website in Sept 2015) of Step-A International Ltd, a lobbying consultancy providing 'policy advice and support on use of technology in education overseas'[2] This describes itself as a company 'formed by former ministers and senior civil servants' who have a 'detailed working understanding of governments, education systems and the technology industry.' It says it works in following areas: identifying future market trends and potential new markets; helping companies 'maximise their CSR opportunities'; training programmes to develop a 'more effective existing management and workforce'; and brokering public sector openings and knowledge for the benefit of private sector companies. STEP-A directors 'have a long history of supporting and advising major international companies such as Microsoft , Apple, Intel, DELL, HP, and Promethean.[3]

Other education interests

Knight was also chair of HTI Academies, a sponsor of state schools that folded in 2014.[5]

Other non-education related interests

  • [[Xrapid Ltd, a company that diagnoses malaria with iPhones.

Political career

Knight was Labour MP for South Dorset from 2001 until 2010. He was made a peer in 2010.

His roles in parliament included, parliamentary personal secretary to Rosie Winterton and the Department of Health, parliamentary under-secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and minister of state to the Department for Education and Skills, Department for Children, Schools and Families, Regional Affairs and the Department for Work and Pensions.[6]

Notes

  1. Press release: TSL Education appoints Lord Knight as Managing Director of Online Learning, 10 February 2014
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lord Knight of Weymouth Parliament.UK, accessed 4 December 2014
  3. Current Projects], Step-A website, accessed Sept 2015
  4. Lord Knight register of interests, Parliament website, accessed Sept 2015
  5. Ex-minister’s multi-academy trust collapses, SchoolsWeek, 3 December 2014
  6. Lord Knight of Weymouth They Work For You, accessed 4 December 2014