David Barker, FRSA

Placer Skills Academy / Placer Apprenticeships Founder and CEO | Focussed on Skills, Employability and Social Mobility | Social Entrepreneur

London, England, United Kingdom

About

Co-founded one of the UK’s first digital marketing agencies in 1994. After exiting this business in 2004, I have focused on innovating new solutions to tackling youth unemployment, leading to launching Placer, with Placer Skills Academy upskilling people with CPD-accredited employability skills training, and Placer Apprenticeships focussed on helping them move successfully into apprenticeships and worthwhile work. In 2020 and 2022, I was voted one of the UK’s leading social entrepreneur’s in the Social Entrepreneur Index. The Social Entrepreneur Index celebrates the social impact, creativity and innovation of the UK’s most inspiring social entrepreneurs.

Experience

  • Founder and CEO at Placer
    Apr 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 3 mos

    Placer upskills young people with Work Readiness training to help them move successfully into apprenticeships and work.

  • CTO and Head of Partnerships at Association of Apprentices
    Jun 2021 - Dec 2025 · 4 yrs 7 mos

    Part of the start-up team to innovate and launch the Association of Apprentices where we work in partnership with apprentices, employers and apprentice training providers to provide innovative services to increase apprenticeship success.

  • Strategy, Innovation and Technology Consultant at Be the Business
    Dec 2020 - Dec 2025 · 5 yrs 1 mo

    Providing digital transformation consultancy support for Be the Business and their SME's.

  • Director and Trustee at Livery Schools Link
    Jun 2015 - Jul 2021 · 6 yrs 2 mos

    Director and Trustee of Livery Schools Link, a charity supporting members of Livery Companies to support schools and children in education. Lead Director for the Digital Divide Fund and The Volunteering Platform.

  • Project Director at Placer
    Nov 2015 - Nov 2020 · 5 yrs 1 mo

    Innovated the business model and led the R&D, prototyping and pilot start-up phases in the UK of the Placer platform. Placer's mission was to tackle graduate unemployment in the UK by creating a three-sided marketplace with universities, businesses and students to facilitate the supply and demand of work experience, paid internships and graduate job opportunities.