London South East Colleges has chosen the ex-CEO of housing association Peabody to be its new chairman.

Stephen Howlett was also pro-chancellor at the University of Greenwich for four years and a board member and vice-chairman for Canterbury College for nine years.

Mr Howlett, who has lived in Greenwich for 40 years, was critical of the Government for failing to invest adequately in further education.

He said: “I am a product of further education and would never have gone to university without going to college. It enabled me to work in a different way, supporting me to develop new skills.

“My aim is to give more young people in the region access to high quality skills-focused education – which is crucial for social mobility and will benefit the economy as a whole.

“Apprenticeships are key to this so I am pleased to see the College’s commitment to delivering these across a range of industries.”

“Colleges are ideally placed to deliver hands on education yet successive Governments have failed to adequately invest in FE. This must change and I look forward to working with London South East Colleges and supporting such an important sector.”

Sam Parrett, principal and CEO of London South East Colleges, said: “We warmly welcome Stephen as the new Chair of our College Corporation. His background and commercial expertise will be of huge benefit to our students and the communities we serve.

“Following last year’s merger of Bromley College with the former Bexley College and Greenwich Community College to create London South East Colleges, we have been working hard to strengthen Further and Higher Education provision across the region.

“We are now focused on several major developments including a new aviation college at Biggin Hill and the expansion of our construction provision to a larger site. Stephen is extremely well placed to support us with this work and will provide a strong steer for the College."