| Speakers |
| James Billingham (BA Hons) Head of Operations The Leading Edge (TLE) - ( AELP Skills Champion/Chair) I commenced my career in logistics at Corus Distribution (2000) as a product development engineer and account manager. A career change into the training and development industry led me to become a national account manager for logistics training providers delivering learndirect provision and then moving to become regional manager for Skills for Logistics (2005-2008). During this time I championed Skills for Life within the logistics sector and was a national lead within the supply chains of automotive and removals.
Subsequently, I became Managing Director for a private training provider (2008-2011) and grew the company’s capacity to deliver apprenticeships and moved to TLE in December 2011 as Head of Operations (Work Based Learning). Over the last 12 months, I have been involved in multiple projects linked to the logistics sector. This includes working with logistics stakeholders in London to establish the first Logistics Group Training Association and working with logistics organisations to deliver relevant, specialist training programmes with an evidenced return on investment. I am passionate in the role of AELP Logistics Skills Champion to work with logistics training providers in raising the profile of the industry and working with employers and stakeholders across the country to promote the quality of training, expertise and knowledge that AELP logistics providers posses and deliver. | |
| Pierre de Carteret Programme Manager - Vocational Training DHL Training
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| Tim Chewter Research and Project Manager Association of Employment and Learning Providers  Tim joined AELP full time in 2010 as a Researcher, providing both an internal and external research function for AELP. As well as undertaking research into the demographics and representation of its membership, Tim also undertook a number of research studies around the Minimum Contract Levels, the utilization of the Qualifications Credit Framework among providers, Higher Level Skills, WBL Workforce Data Collection, Ofsted grading and Functional Skills, to name a few. In his current capacity as Research & Project Manager, Tim has undertaken research looking at the drivers for provider supply chain practises and the current state of Teaching, Learning and Assessment among Independent Training Providers. This research has been used extensively among government agencies to influence and inform key policy decisions as well as highlighting the support needs of the sector. In recent months, Tim has been coordinating the £700k Apprenticeship Application Support Fund, which is enabling providers to engage and support those who have previously been unsuccessful in applying for an apprenticeship. He is also responsible for the writing and editing of AELP’s monthly e-publication Sector Connect. Tim is recently married and outside of work is a keen cellist. | |
| Alex Farkas Senior Employer Relationship Manager Department for Works and Pensions
He has an operational Jobcentre background and has managed teams operating in some of the most deprived wards in the country – Salford & Rochdale. Alex has worked on the employer relationship agenda for the last 16 years operating locally across Greater Manchester until he took up a national role in 2007. He has account managed large national employers operating across all sectors and now has a focus on working with trade associations - primarily in the IT, Road Haulage & Passenger Transport and Finance sector. He works on a team of 26 Jobcentre Plus national account managers with varying portfolios across the private and public sector and with 3 agendas :-
You can see from his picture that Alex is a keen Manchester United supporter | |
| Jim Hamil Teamtrain Ltd Awaiting Information | |
| Doug Pond Senior External Verifier SQA
As an SQA appointee with the role of Senior External Validator, I have responsibility for supporting, advising and guiding the 14 External Validators working within the Validation Groups that make up Transport Logistics. These include Road Haulage, Road Freight Transport, Road Passenger Transport, Rail Transport, Warehousing and Distribution and Supply Chain Management. SQA offer all of these qualifications in Scotland and some within the rest of the UK, at both National and Vocational Qualification level. I also monitor the work of local E.V.s within SQA International Centres such as China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia and operate as an External Validator myself within the UK and internationally. Some of my other tasks for SQA include the writing and vetting of Qualifications, contributing to e-assessment developments and presenting to a variety of audiences.
My background
After working as a teacher in various English Authorities in the 1960s and eventually becoming Head Teacher of a Secondary School, I moved into Local Authorities as an Inspector and eventually Chief Inspector in a London Borough. In the 1990's I left Education to set up my own business, eventually moving to Scotland as Managing Director of a medium sized Transport Training Company based in Tayside and Fife. This role involved me in working closely with Skills for Logistics and various qualification bodies including the SQA and on retirement from full time employment in 2008, I joined them in a more formal appointee role. I now share my time between working for the SQA, chairing my local Community Council and photographing and enjoying the glorious environment of Angus. | |
| Adam Skelton Research Specialist Skills for Logistics Awaiting Information | |
