Our Team

Who We Are

At Sword Training Solutions Ltd, we bring together a world-class team of professionals and Associates with diverse expertise and global experience. Our people are the foundation of our success, enabling us to support a growing international client base across sectors and regions.

What We Do

We specialise in solving complex challenges through high-impact training and consultancy. Our approach blends deep industry knowledge with creative, practical strategies—designed to deliver measurable, lasting change.

Trusted, Secure, and Globally Ready

All team members are security and DBS cleared to the highest UK Government standards.

We are fully insured and equipped to operate flexibly and internationally. Our delivery teams are supported by robust medical and COVID-19 protocols, ensuring safe and reliable service anywhere in the world.

Our Values

We are proud to champion equality, inclusion, and diversity in everything we do.

Female empowerment is a core principle within our organisation, our network, and our training programmes. Our Equality, Inclusion & Diversity Policy is available upon request.

Our Team

At Sword Training Solutions Ltd, our strength lies in the calibre and diversity of our people. Our core team and trusted Associates bring together a wealth of experience across sectors including government, defence, education, and corporate leadership.

We are proud to work with professionals who are:

Highly qualified and security-cleared to the highest UK Government standards
Culturally aware and globally experienced, enabling us to operate effectively across regions
Collaborative and client-focused, committed to delivering tailored, impactful solutions
Innovative thinkers, combining strategic insight with practical delivery

Our team is united by a shared commitment to excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement. Whether working locally or internationally, we bring the same level of professionalism, discretion, and dedication to every assignment.

Our Ethos and Values

At Sword Training Solutions Ltd, our values are rooted in service, integrity, and impact. We are proud to support those who serve, and we are committed to making a meaningful difference through our work and partnerships.

Supporting the Armed Forces Community

We are honoured to publicly support the Armed Forces Covenant, reflecting our deep respect and commitment to service personnel and veterans. In recognition of this dedication:

In June 2023, we were awarded the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award
In August 2024, just four years after our founding, we proudly received the ERS Gold Award (which we will hold for 5 years before reapplying)

These milestones reflect our unwavering support for the Armed Forces Community and our drive to lead by example.

Giving Back Through Action

Our commitment goes beyond recognition—we actively support initiatives that make a difference:

In 2022, we began supporting the Regimental Support Service, a social enterprise assisting the British Army. We continue that support.
That same year, we sponsored The Blackthorn Rally, an adventurous charity event led by Irish Guardsmen, raising funds for local causes, including several charities in Kenya
In 2024, we proudly sponsored The Oarsome Army Educators in the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic, raising funds for the ABF: The Soldiers’ Charity

These partnerships reflect our belief in purposeful action and community impact.

Meet the Sword Training Solutions Team

ROB GILES MA MSC PGCE

Founder and CEO

Rob brings over three decades of experience in military training and education development, having served as both an infantry soldier and an officer. With an MA and MSc, and more than 15 years in education design, Rob has built a career rooted in strategic leadership and operational excellence.

In 2020, Rob founded Sword. His vision was to create a platform for professionals who are passionate about helping others grow and prepare for the future.

As CEO, Rob leads with a hands-on approach, ensuring every project meets the highest standards of quality and impact. His global network includes partnerships with major defence providers and consultancies, and his leadership continues to drive Sword’s expansion and innovation. Rob's expertise includes:

ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 14001
Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT)
ADDA, ADDIE, SADL
Train the Trainer Programmes
FCDO Engagement
Female Empowerment Initiatives

Rob’s commitment to excellence and his strategic oversight ensure Sword remains a trusted partner in delivering transformative training solutions worldwide.

robgiles@swordtrainingsolutions.com

SARAH CLAYTON Chartered Mktr MCIM DipM

Chief of Staff

With over 25 years’ experience leading large-scale, high-impact programmes, Sarah oversees our daily operations and internal governance. As Chief of Staff, she plays a central role in aligning strategy with execution, managing cross-functional initiatives, and ensuring smooth communication between leadership and teams.

Sarah is responsible for driving operational efficiency, overseeing project delivery, managing internal processes, and supporting executive decision-making. She plays a hands-on role in team leadership, resource planning, and HR functions—including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee engagement. She fosters a collaborative culture and ensures our people and processes are equipped to scale effectively.

Sarah is central to maintaining our strong culture of governance and compliance. She leads all internal ISO initiatives and provides dedicated support to our major ISO clients, ensuring they receive reliable, expert guidance at every step.

A Chartered Marketer, Sarah brings deep expertise in marketing and programme management, making her ideally placed to support our rapid growth and evolving priorities.

sarahclayton@swordtrainingsolutions.com

VINCENT HOCKLEY

Chief Operating Officer

With over 24 years of military experience, Vince specialises in leadership development, training design, and strategic learning systems. He has held key roles at both operational and strategic levels, focusing on developing new leaders and preparing them to train and lead others effectively.

His expertise in the Systems Approach to Training (SAT) enables him to create tailored learning solutions for clients across defence, security, and corporate sectors worldwide. Vince’s approach blends strategic insight with practical application, ensuring training is both relevant and impactful.

Known for his professional rigour and emotional intelligence, Vince builds strong, outcome-driven relationships. His ability to connect and guide people reflects his mission: to help others become confident, capable practitioners in the training world. Whether mentoring individuals or supporting teams through change, Vince is committed to helping others unlock their full potential.

STEVEN BROWN MSC PGCE

Lead Instructor

With 25 years of training, teaching and team management experience across multiple domains, Steve brings a wealth of training design, delivery and assurance expertise to the Sword Training Solutions team.

Initially specialising in physical development & skill acquisition, adventurous training and physical rehabilitation, Steve has developed a diverse experiential portfolio of Systems Approach to Training (SAT) expertise working for organisations such as British Army Headquarters, the Army Staff Leadership School and the Defence Intelligence Training Group. Additionally, Steve has delivered SAT and Train-the-Trainer training for such overseas military clients as the Naval Academy and Intelligence Academy, Nigeria, the Army Staff College, Ukraine, the Royal Saudi Land Forces, and the Military Academy, Iraq.

Capitalising on his previous experience as team leader for the Defence Intelligence Training Audit Team, Steve is an ISO 9001and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor.

LEE MULLETT MSc PGDip PGCE BA(Hons) FSET

Lead instructor

Lee joined the team in April 2025, with a master’s degree in education practice and innovation, complimented by 20+ years of practical application in training settings. He has experience in training design, delivery, audit and assurance, and has developed a diverse portfolio of Systems Approach to Training (SAT) expertise in organisations including Defence Intelligence, Defence Communications and the Army’s Educational and Training Services (ETS) Branch, where he qualified and practised as a defence learning development adviser. Globally, Lee delivered SAT activities to the Nigerian Air Warfare College and was embedded within a host nation’s Land Forces’ Headquarters as the SAT manager and Theatre curriculum design lead.

Prior to joining us, Lee provided assurance to SAT documentation and processes, and managed a team of course designers and training analysts within a defence level organisation.

An ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Lee continues to serve as an Army Reserves officer delivering leadership and management training and education.

James Heald

Lead instructor

Welcome to the team James, who joined us in September 2025.

With 31 years of exemplary service in the British Army, James has developed outstanding teaching and training capabilities, consistently demonstrated through the effective delivery of technical, operational, and leadership instruction across a variety of environments.

As a DSAT-trained (Defence Systems Approach to Training) instructor, James has expertly designed, structured, and implemented training programs that align with defence standards and meet operational demands. In addition to his instructional expertise, he is a certified ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and Trainer, bringing a detailed understanding of quality and information security management systems into his training practices—ensuring both compliance and continuous improvement. More recently he has achieved ISO 21502 Lead Project Manager status. James also holds IOSH Managing Safely certification, reflecting his in-depth knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and safe systems of work, which he integrates seamlessly into all training activity.

James' structured, outcomes-driven approach, combined with the ability to adapt to different learning styles and operational contexts, has consistently enhanced both individual and team performance in high-pressure and mission-critical settings