John Hall is the specialist adviser to London Higher (the regional university association for London's HE sector) on school and HE relationships. He works with Prof Malcolm Gillies (Vice Chancellor, City University London and Chair of London Higher) who was appointed by ministers as the champion for HE partnerships in London. Useful products from the ‘SHELL’ project (School-HE Links in London) are available at www.londonhigher.ac.uk/SHELL. John was previously the regional director for Aimhigher in London based at the Institute of Education, University of London. Originally an academic (a geographer with a particular research interest in contemporary London), he later headed up a local government association, was seconded to the civil service and supported London First's work with the HE and FE sectors. So his current work brings these many strands together in a highly stimulating way.