User:Barrie Hopson
A psychologist by training, Barrie was Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Lifeskills International, which is now part of the VT Group. Previously, he was joint managing director with Mike of Lifeskills International and then joint managing director, and subsequently Co-Chairman with Mike of Hay-Lifeskills Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hay Group.
Barrie was director of the Vocational Guidance Research Unit at Leeds University and then set up the Counselling and Career Development Unit at Leeds University in 1975 and was its first Director until 1984. He has worked widely as a consultant to business and educational organisations in the UK, USA, Far East and Europe. He is a professional Associate of the National Training Laboratories for Applied Behavioural Science in Washington DC, a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the British Institute of Management.
He has written twenty-five books and numerous articles on personal and career development, quality service, transition and change management, generic training skills, marriage and Lifeskills teaching. His best known books are “Build Your Own Rainbow”, “12 Steps to Success Through Service”, the series of “Lifeskills Teaching Programmes” and the textbook on “Lifeskills Teaching”.
He is currently Chairman of Axia Interactive Media, based in the UK and Canada who are specialists in web-based solutions to support lifelong learning and professional development.
He has set up 5 successful companies in the UK and one in the USA.
He is a non executive director of Three Albion Place Ltd. which combines the functions of a private members club, a conference and events business whilst striving to be a centre for social and cultural communication in Yorkshire.
He still consults at senior level with companies and organisations using new technology to further learning and development. He is currently producing a web enabled learning programme to encourage the over 50’s to manage their careers and their lives more effectively and writing an accompanying book.