Gary Cookson

EPIC helps people and places to Evolve, Perform, Improve and Compete.

I’m Gary Cookson – a portfolio HR, OD and L&D Director doing a mix of self employed, associate and freelance work.

I’m a CIPD Chartered Fellow, a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute, a qualified coach and member of the Association for Coaching, a Personal Trainer accredited by the REP, a teacher, a qualified workplace mediator, a qualified H&S professional, a distance learning tutor, and more besides. Career-wise, before launching EPIC, I was Associate HR Director at the DBS, and HR Director at Trafford College. Prior to that I was doing HR/OD integration work at a new housing group, and before that I was Head of HR & OD at Golden Gates Housing Trust for 11 years and I also have experience of working in a call centre, a national charity and an international pharmaceuticals company. Prior to working in HR I qualified as a secondary school teacher (I taught History). I’ve also managed and delivered CIPD programmes for many years and have delivered face to face and distance learning qualifications for a range of providers and awarding bodies.

Outside work, I’m a keen sportsman – competing in triathlons regularly but also having led and managed some representative sports teams – a father to four lovely children, and husband of a long-suffering wife. It’s for them that I do everything I do.