About The Directors

Managing Director

Jon Gibson FIMWoodT, LCG, Tech IOSH

Jon started his career as a wood-machinist, earning the Sir Alfred Tomkins Memorial Scholarship, British Aerospace Award and a City & Guilds Medal for outstanding work.

In 1989, he was appointed one of the youngest lecturers in machine woodworking at Brunel College, Bristol. While at Brunel, Jon obtained further qualifications including City & Guilds Licentiateship and he gained CNC Machining/CAD-CAM and AUTOCAD experience.

In 1995, Jon left the college to become an independent training provider, later founding Didac. His qualifications include TDLB D34 Internal Verifier Award, CIEH Basic Health and Safety Certificate, IOSH Certificate and NEBOSH Certificate.

In 1997, Martin and Jon co-founded Didac Limited as a subsidiary of Rye Machinery from whom they acquired the business in 1998.

He is an external verifier for City & Guild’s, has worked on the development of furniture and machine woodworking NVQ’s, and is an expert witness for the HSE in machine accident investigations.

Jon is also an experienced Trainer, Assessor and Internal Verifier for all the qualifications

Training Director

Colin Jones FIMWoodT, LCG

Colin served an apprenticeship as a wood machinist, later working in the shop fitting, building, joinery and furniture manufacturing industries.

In 1973, Colin began his training career with an appointment to the Bristol Skillcentre to teach wood machining, carpentry and joinery to adult learners. During his time there he developed courses in liaison with local businesses.

In 1980, Colin moved to Brunel College as a lecturer, taking qualifications in CNC Machining and D32/33/34/36 TDLB Units. In 1995, he was promoted to be head of Brunel’s School of Construction Crafts. This gave him the responsibility of running a faculty with 22 staff and 520 pupils.

In 1997, Colin left Brunel to work alongside Didac, developing training courses, materials and quality assurance.

Colin is also an experienced Trainer, Assessor and Internal Verifier for all the qualifications

Commercial Director/Company Secretary

Martin James BSc, MBA, CEng, MIET, MCIM

Martin is a Chartered Engineer with a BSc in Production Engineering and Production Management from Brunel University, a qualification achieved whilst sponsored by G Plan Furniture Plc.

After six years with G Plan, developing furniture production technology, he joined Rye Machinery, becoming the company’s Managing Director in 1991 and gaining a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Cranfield School of Management

In 1997, Jon and Martin co-founded Didac Limited as a subsidiary of Rye Machinery from whom they acquired the business in 1998.

Since then, Martin has applied his commercial expertise to developing Didac’s business, and a North American distribution business for Neat Concepts Limited, a manufacturer of specialist MDF products with whom he won the Queens Award for Enterprise in 2003.

He is a former independent member of Council for Buckinghamshire Chiltern University, and Chairman of the Woodworking Machinery Suppliers Association. He is currently Chairman of CRDM Limited, a high-tech engineering company specialising in Additive Layer Manufacturing