Former Conservative Home Secretary and Education Secretary Kenneth Baker takes up the role at a critical time for the organisation as it enters a new phase in its successful development. On March 16th, Edge will be launching the first ever election broadcast generated entirely by the public, as part of its ‘Have your say’ campaign.

Lord Baker said: “I regard this as a great honour and I will do all I can to further the effectiveness of Edge. I am a firm believer in Edge’s message of ‘many paths to success’ and I am fully behind its Six Steps to Change Manifesto. Enabling all young people to access practical and vocational learning, as well as academic study, is vital both for our students and for the future of our economy.”

Lord Baker is taking over from John Cox CBE, one of the founding Trustees of Edge. Cox assumed the role of Chairman on an interim basis when previous Chair Sir Garry Hawkes CBE became President of the charity in March 2009.

John Cox, who is also Chairman of the UK Centre for Economic and Environmental Development, said: “I and my colleagues on the board of Trustees warmly welcome Lord Baker and are delighted that he has accepted the position of Chairman of Edge. We look forward to working closely with him in raising the stature and provision of practical and vocational learning.”

For more information on Edge’s campaign visit www.edge.co.uk/haveyoursay

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact: Mel Garfield or Simon Francis at Band & Brown Communications: 020 7419 6950 / edgeteam@bbpr.com

Rt. Hon. Lord Baker of Dorking C.H.
Kenneth Baker was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1968 to 1997. He held a number of senior positions in Mrs. Thatcher’s Government, including that of Britain’s first Minister for Information Technology, when he introduced computers into schools; Minister for Local Government; Secretary of State for the Environment, where he privatised BT, Secretary of State for Education and Science, where he was responsible for introducing the National Curriculum, tests and league tables, Grant Maintained Schools, City Technology Colleges, and Student Loans. He was also Chairman of the Conservative Party. In November 1990 he was appointed Home Secretary. He left the Government after the 1992 election and was appointed a Companion of Honour. He became a member of the House of Lords in 1997.

As co-founder of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, Lord Baker is leading the introduction of University Technical Colleges (UTCs), which aim to offer 14-19 year olds the opportunity to take a technically-orientated course at a specialist college sponsored by a university or FE college, with progression routes into higher education or further learning at work. Edge is supporting this initiative, which will provide new practical and vocational learning opportunities for young people. There are currently around 15 UTCs being planned at sites including Aston and Walsall.

Lord Baker is a non-executive director of Genting Plc and Chairman of Graphite Resources. He is a member of the European Advisory Board of the American investment house Cross Border Enterprises and Chairman of Trilantic Capital European Merchant Banking Advisory Council. He is President of The Royal London Society for the Blind; a Trustee of the Baker Dearing Educational Foundation and The Booker Prize Foundation; and, Vice-Chairman of The Cartoon Museum. He has edited several anthologies of poetry and books on political cartoons, as well as publishing his memoirs.