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Mike CoxOperations ManagerAssociation 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. |
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Sue ClarkeVocational Education DivisionDepartment for Education Sue Clarke is a member of Wolf Implementation Team in the Vocational Education Division at the Department for Education with responsibility for developing 16-19 Study Programmes. After working in sales for Cadbury Schweppes, Sue held a number of teaching and leadership roles in Further Education Colleges as well as a senior leadership role at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority where she was responsible for co-ordinating the development of Principal Learning qualifications and delivery of the 14-19 Diploma Programme. Before joining the Department as a Policy Advisor, Sue was a member of the senior management team responsible for policy and strategy across the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency. Sue has experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams on a range of projects and worked with a variety of external partners on strategic initiatives turning policy into practice. |
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Alan PottsCentral England Group Partnership ManagerJob Centre Plus/Department for Work & Pensions I joined the Civil Service in 1975 as a casual AO. I have worked for a number of different Departments over the years ranging from Unemployment Benefit Service to DWP. The highlight of my time would be from 2008 until 2010 when I was DWP National co-ordinator for a programme called Personal Best. This was a volunteering programme that was linked to the recruitment of Games Maker volunteers for the 2012 Olympic Games. For the last 12 Months I have been the Central England Group Partnership Manager based in Five Ways House in Birmingham. |
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Stella TurnerHead of Qualifications and DeliveryAssociation of Employment and Learning Providers Stella is responsible for keeping a ‘watching brief’ on matters related to qualifications and curriculum development. She represents AELP on groups such as the Skills Funding Agency’s Qualifications Approvals and Governance Group and the BIS Vocational Qualifications Forum plus various Awarding Organisation Consultative Committees. Since joining AELP Stella has managed a number of projects, including work related to the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF) Readiness Programme, Functional Skills Support, Unit Delivery Trials, the review of FE Teaching and Training Qualifications and the promotion of Higher Level Skills. More recently she has taken on responsibility for overseeing and managing work allocations within AELP’s delivery team. Stella has always worked in the education and training sector and has over 10 years experience of working for a work based learning provider. As a Senior Training Manager for a large training provider in Bristol, she was responsible for a team of ten, overseeing and contributing to the design and delivery of a range of both government funded and commercial programmes including IT courses, Apprenticeships and NVQs in a variety of occupational areas. Prior to joining AELP Stella worked for the Awarding Body OCR as a Customer Support Manager. This role involved working with local authorities, schools, colleges and training providers providing information and guidance on qualifications and government reforms. |
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Carolyn BrownseaEducation ConsultantWarwick Education & Training Consultancy Carolyn Brownsea is a freelance education consultant specialising in quality assurance, self assessment and development planning, leadership and management and observation of teaching and learning. Carolyn has completed a number of interim management assignments in FE colleges, establishing the employer responsive offer. Carolyn worked for Surrey Training and Enterprise Council for 8 years, a member of the senior management team, with responsibility for developing a range of Post-16 initiatives, and contract management and quality assurance of work based learning provision. She then went on to work for Ufi/learndirect for 4 years, initially as a regional Development Manager in the south east and latterly was responsible for the development of a strategy for delivering employer responsive learning. Carolyn has extensive experience of developing supply chain networks to meet ever changing business needs, revised targets and policies. Working with both the private and public sector to establish hub and spoke delivery partnerships. Identifying opportunities to tender and preparing tenders, where appropriate in partnership with relevant key stakeholders. Carolyn is a registered additional OfSTED Inspector, Member of the Institute for Learning and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management |
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Simon GriffithsSenior Manager, Service Delivery (West Midlands)
Education Funding Agency Simon Griffiths has been working in Education and Training for 17 years originally starting work with Birmingham Training and Enterprise Council. Simon is currently the Senior Manager in the West Midlands from the Education Funding Agency’s Young People’s Directorate which is responsible for funding allocations to 3,300 schools and colleges and other providers delivering education and training to 16-19 year olds in England; funding allocations to schools, colleges and local authorities for high needs students aged 19-25 and improving the funding allocations system for all high needs students for 2014/15; intervention in failing sixth form colleges and commercial and charitable providers; and targeted programmes to engage and educate disadvantaged groups including the Bursary scheme, the Youth Contract, ESF, and education of young people in Young Offender Institutions. Simon was formerly a Senior Adviser at the Young People’s (YPLA) working with the 14 local authorities in the West Midlands to support their commissioning priorities. Prior to the YPLA, he worked for the Learning and Skills Council working closely with Commercial and Charitable Providers on integrating them within 14-19 partnerships, as well as introducing Foundation Learning, Young Apprenticeships and the Schools Engagement Programme across the West Midlands. Simon was also involved nationally and locally with the development and roll out of the Entry to Employment (E2E) programme to the sector. |
