Workshop Facilitators

	Mike Cox Operations Manager Association of Employment & Learning Providers After 13 years in retail purchasing and supply, Mike became an assessor for apprenticeships with TBG Learning in 1999. He soon moved onto various development roles with learndirect, RNID and then LSN where he headed up the bidding and development team, helping design support programmes and research in areas including Train to Gain, Citizenship, Diplomas, Key Skills, Functional Skills and Foundation Learning. He joined AELP in February 2013. Mike is married with 2 children and lives in rural Kent.

	Ben Sweetman Head of Programmes QA Limited Profile and photo to be published shortly.

	Paul Masterman QA Limited Profile and photo to be published shortly.

	Mike Cooper Trainer & Consultant Mike Cooper has worked in the post-16 sector for 30+ years, including 17 in successful providers across England, finishing as Curriculum Manager for English. He also taught Numeracy, Business Studies, Public Services, Catering, and Performing Arts. Earlier, he worked in a secondary school and the voluntary sector. Mike was LSDA’s Regional Director for the South East, 1999-2006. This post spanned work with the full range of the FE sector – locally, regionally and nationally. Free-lance since 2006, Mike works for and with a wide range of sector bodies, providers, networks and other organisations. Topics cover teaching and learning, supporting English and Maths development, observation and quality improvement. He has experience in open and distance learning, and a significant track record in designing and facilitating events and training. He has led webinars for networks since mid-2012. American-born, Mike graduated in 1972 from Stuyvesant High School in New York City, and then came to the UK for his higher education. He has lived and worked here ever since.

	Gail Lydon Teacher and Practitioner Researcher Pearson Gail has worked in teaching, staff development and quality improvement for over 25 years. Initially working in schools she soon moved into FE and work-based learning. She has worked on a wide range of national programmes including being the Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Facilitator for the Functional Skills Support Programme and has worked with various awarding bodies developing materials and supporting other practitioners. She maintains a teaching role alongside writing, project management and practitioner research. Central to her approach is the sharing of materials and good practice www.great-learning.co.uk.

	Janice Richards Programme Leader (Industry) Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) Janice initially trained and worked in computer systems analysis and design before moving into project management, and she has over 20 years of experience of working in IT in the manufacturing, energy supply and pensions industries. In 2005 she joined Mathematics in Education and Industry, a national maths education charity, helping to establish a national programme to provide access to AS/A Level Further Mathematics. Janice worked in a variety of roles at MEI, before moving into her current role as Industry Programme Leader in 2012. The aim of the role is to support the development of mathematical skills in the Education and Training sector and in the workplace through professional development, resources, and information, advice and guidance. Janice has a particular interest in facilitating the transfer of skills and knowledge between education and industry, in both directions. She recently developed a workshop that brings maths teaching staff and employers together to support this exchange, and she is currently developing two guides to encourage the strengthening of mathematical skills during Study Programme and Traineeship work experience placements.

	Judith Cohen Consultant Judith Cohen worked in colleges as a teacher and manager in posts with responsibility for business studies, learning support and widening participation. From 1999-2006 she was LSDA Regional Director in Yorkshire & Humberside, running regular cross regional networks for work-based and other providers. She was Programme Manager for the large national Train to Gain programme; developing employer responsiveness in the provider network. She became an independent consultant in 2008 working at a senior level with: 14-19 Leadership Development Programme; World Skills Programme and the Skills and Employer Responsiveness Programme with special responsibility for developing new apprenticeship pathways in ‘green skills’. She has extensive research experience and has recently led evaluation exercises (internationally) for the Open Society Foundation and the NHS.

	Clare Whittingham Head of Performance and Projects learndirect I joined the industry in 2010 from a recruitment background. Starting with JHP in an operational role, I quickly learnt about a variety of employability and skills development programmes under various funding routes of either Prime under SFA, YPLA, & DWP; or subcontracted delivery. Starting in our Employability Division has put me in a great position to understand the needs of a wide variety of unemployed and NEET customers, working with people to support both their skills needs as well as their wider support requirements. During our merger in November 2012, our Foundation Learning programme moved into our Apprenticeship Division, allowing greater cohesion between the sharing of progression opportunities to further support our young people. I was successfully appointed as Head of Foundation Learning and was tasked with the design, build and transition of Foundation Learning into Study Programme. This was a fantastic opportunity to really embrace the rationale behind the Study Programme changes and build a programme that fully supported young people whilst aligning to our strengths as an Apprenticeship focused operation. Following the successful launch of our Study Programme provision it has been fully integrated into our Apprenticeship operations to allow for a fully embedded learner journey. As a result, my role is now focused on the performance of our traineeships offer, Apprenticeship supply chain delivery, and a portfolio of change projects designed to further improve our divisional performance.

	Denise Wilson Trust Secretary Springboard Sunderland Trust Denise Wilson first joined Springboard Sunderland Trust in 1978, only two years after the organisation was established. A fully qualified teacher, Denise helped to develop many of the early training programmes designed to meet the special needs of an area, which at the time had the highest youth unemployment levels in the country. Denise has spent 35 years with Springboard working in areas with high levels of deprivation and disadvantage. The training and education programmes delivered by Springboard help to create new opportunities for some of the most needy in society by helping them achieve their educational, vocational and personal objectives. During this time she has had a variety of roles within the organisation, starting as a project leader working on youth and community projects and for the last 12 years has been Trust Secretary and Operations Manager. Against this background Springboard has become one of the largest training organisations in the North East working with more than 2000 people a year, in 16 different vocational areas. Programmes delivered include Apprenticeships, Study Programme; alternative education, work with the unemployed and bespoke training, delivered from 9 different sites across the North East. Springboard has always prided itself on its involvement with local employers and has more than 300 work placement and work related opportunities. Springboard has recently gained the Fair Train Quality Standard and qualified for the Gold Standard.

	Ian Pritchard Managing Director of Pritchard Associates Ian worked as a science teacher and Assistant Principal running the international, ACL and WBL provision for 24 years prior to setting up his company, Tintisha Technologies, which provides technology services and creates software for education. In addition to running the company Ian works as a consultant specialising in strategy development, change leadership and the effective use of technology. Working mainly in the UK Ian also works in India and China.

	Lindsay Jardine Director of Operations Kent Association of Training Organisations (KATO) Lindsay Jardine has been working within the Learning and Skills arena in Kent for over 15 years and as director of KATO for the past six. KATO is one of the longest standing Training Provider networks in the country, supporting over 60 Work Based Learning Training Providers including the six FE colleges in Kent. Lindsay is the voice of the work based learning sector across Kent and is responsible for the dissemination of up to date information and key messages to members of the network from Government, Local Authorities, funding agencies, the Local Enterprise Partnership and other key partners. Lindsay supports the network by promoting collaborative partnerships, co-ordinating employer and school engagement and providing impartial representation for the network.

	Mark Deveson Foundation Team Leader Mid Kent Kent Adult Education I am currently Foundation Team Leader for Mid Kent with Kent Training and Apprenticeships and have been with the organisation for 9 ½ years, having originally joined as a Placement Liaison Adviser on the e2e programme before becoming an e2e Co-ordinator then a Foundation Learning Co-ordinator before moving onto managing our current Study Programme offer. Amongst my leads/responsibilities I have always had employer engagement, marketing and H&S / risk assessment as one of my lead areas. Before joining KT&A I worked for the Medway Education Business Partnership on work experience and other projects for 5 years following a short period of time working for Jobcentre Plus.

	Jayne Duncan Foundation Team Leader Kent Adult Education I am currently Foundation Team Leader for East Kent with Kent Training and Apprenticeships and have been with the organization for 3½ years. In my current role I have been the lead for the 12 week Work Experience unit for our Study programme. I joined KT&A from Kent Supported Employment where I worked on various JCP, KCC and ESF contracts supporting people with disabilities into work. I was an Employment and Support officer and as such I worked closely with employers to provide effective and progressive work placements. I have been in training and employment for 20 years and have worked in Birmingham and London with a number of providers and employers.

Mike Cox

Ben Sweetman

Paul Masterman

Mike Cooper

Gail Lydon

Janice Richards

Judith Cohen

Clare Whittingham

Denise Wilson

Ian Pritchard

Lindsay Jardine

Mark Deveson

Jayne Duncan