Meet the team

See who makes the cogs turn at Burton Street



Managing Director

Clare joined Burton Street Foundation as Operation’s Manager in 2010 and became part of the senior management team. She had responsibility for overseeing the £2million refurbishment of the buildings and then getting the site to full occupancy. She was promoted to Operations Director in 2012 with direct responsibility for all external users of Burton Street including business tenants and community groups as well as all facilities departments such as catering, cleaning, building maintenance. Prior to working for Burton Street Foundation, Clare was a Senior District Manager for a large multi-National Facilities Management company, and has over 25 years of management experience in the commercial sector. Clare was selected by the Board of Trustees to succeed Dave Clarson as Managing Director in January 2015, having worked together closely for the previous 5 years.


Senior Manager, Learning Disability Services

Andy first visited Burton Street in 2001 as a support worker, and then as a volunteer. Since then he has worked across many learning disability departments and held various management positions. He was promoted to the position of Senior Manager in 2013. Andy has responsibility for managing and developing services and structures for children and for adults with profound learning disabilities, implementing new legislation, creating links with local schools, universities and organisations, maintaining partnerships with health professionals and managing students who come to study our work. He also has responsibility for the centralised referral system for all new clients, and leads on this for all departments. As a member of the senior management team he supports colleagues to make decisions on finance, HR issues, future projects and many other aspects in the running of the organisation, and takes the lead on special projects, such as supported holidays in Anglesey. Andy holds an NVQ level 5 in Leadership & Management in Health and Social Care.


Finance and Administration Manager

Helen joined the Burton Street Foundation in June 2003 to administer the finances of the organisation. She has worked in finance and payroll for over 35 years. Her first position was in an engineering company, where she worked for 13 years up to them re-locating out of Sheffield. Subsequent positions have been with a hotel, a distribution company and a games producer, working in finance in each of the roles. She holds a qualification in Frontline Management, and continues to build on the already robust financial systems of the organisation to make them clearer and more efficient.


Human Resources Manager

Katherine has over 25 years experience in HR, admin and finance gained across both public and private sector. Previously she worked with South Yorkshire Police, where she progressed from HR Clerk to HR Manager. Katherine has been Burton Street's HR Manager since June 2014. She is responsible for delivering a holistic HR service which includes the following:
  • All aspects of recruitment
  • Induction of staff
  • Performance management
  • Special leave requests
  • Resignations/retirements
  • Application of policy/procedure involving complex issues regarding sickness
  • Disciplinary issues
  • Grievance issues
  • Providing advice and guidance to managers in relation to HR matters
  • Project management
  • Workload management
  • Budget monitoring/reporting
  • Attendance at meetings
  • Liaising with external agencies
  • Maintenance of HR records



Senior Manager, Learning Disability Services & Operations

Colin joined Burton Street in July 2020 as a Senior Manager for Learning Disabilities & Operations.

Born in Sunderland but brought up in Sheffield, he started work after university on the shop floor in a steel works in the early 1980’s. After a number of years became factory manager then eventually owner as the business expanded and provided much of the internal shelving and balustrading for the Meadowhall Shopping centre. The business continued to grow and became a subcontractor for many Blue-Chip companies including Barclays, Shell, Boots, Asda, Tesco and Marks & Spencer providing metal finishing products throughout the UK, Europe and Asia.

In 2006 Colin took a radically different career path he sold the business and joined as General Manager a Case Management and Occupational Therapy service for complex care needs here in Sheffield. The service grew providing specialist professional services to children, young people and adults with brain injuries, spinal injuries, complex orthopaedic injuries, amputation, psychological, behavioural and mental health conditions. The aim of the service was to support over 300 clients through the rehabilitation and litigation processes to maximise their independence and quality of life, Colin became a Director of the service in 2012 and led the expansion of the service into offices in Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh employing over 400 hundred support workers and 90 clinical staff.

Colin’s employment took another giant turn in 2020 by joining the Burton Street Foundation, and hopes his varied life and employment experiences can help in some small way to continue the great work Burton Street does and help ensure Burton Street carry’s on “making that difference”.