Dr Alan Leigh is a Director of Leigh & Barron Consulting Ltd.  He is a very experienced research and design consultant, having worked on a number of highly significant national standards development projects.  Alan Leigh is expert in the analysis of occupations across all levels and all sectors. He is a leading specialist in functional analysis, and has used this to develop standards and qualification frameworks for a whole host of industrial sectors.  He is now developing the use of web-based systems to help in the development of national occupational standards.

Alan entered HR research as a key team-member of the Management Competences Project. This project led to the production of the MCI Management Standards, the first higher level national occupational standards. After establishing his own practice, Alan formed Leigh & Barron Consulting with Anne-Marie Barron.  He led the team that reviewed the Training and Development Lead Body standards. This project produced new standards and qualifications at Levels 3, 4, and 5.  In addition, Alan completely revised the previous standards work of the Museums Training Institute, and this led to two new Level 5 qualifications for curators and conservators. He has since conducted projects for a variety of industry standards setting bodies, including engineering, health, intelligence services, commercial occupations (purchasing and supply, marketing, logistics etc), publishing, glass, construction, finance, plus a number of others.

In addition, Alan has applied his specialism in the service of private organisations, both commercial and voluntary. Alan has helped many organisations formulate their strategic aims and objectives. He has conducted feasibility studies on a number of issues.  He recently produced new competencies for Gerrard Stockbrokers to assist them comply with the requirements of the Financial Services Act.  He has also worked with Save the Children to develop management standards for field managers.

Alan is author of a number of articles on standards and qualifications. Before entering the field of occupational research and development, Alan taught sociology at a number of higher education institutions, including the University of Hull and Humberside Polytechnic. He has a First Class Honours Degree and a Ph.D. He is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, and is a member of the International Council of Museums.