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| Clare Whittingham Head of Performance and Projects learndirect 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. | |
| Alan Benvie Director of Foundation Skills Skills Solutions Alan is Director of Foundation Skills within Skill Solutions, one of the largest providers of Apprenticeships in the North West. Skills Solutions is part of the Manchester Solutions Group of not-for-profit economic development service delivery companies. Alan is responsible for Foundation Learning programmes delivered through 11 training centres, each with a dedicated Placement Consultant. Having managed 16-18 provision throughout the Learning Gateway, e2e and Foundation Learning, Alan has a keen interest in maintaining Work Experience as a fundamental part of future employability related training. With a background in applied psychology, over the last twenty years he has worked in the field of training with roles including: management development, trainer training, special needs provision and managing the delivery of programmes for unemployed young people and adults. Prior to this he worked in counselling, commercial training, two government departments and collecting trolleys for ASDA. | |
| Ruth Bruckshaw Salford Training Centre Manager Skills Solutions Ruth is Skills Solutions Training Centre Manager in Salford. Skills Solutions is part of the Manchester Solutions Group of not-for-profit- economic development service delivery companies. Ruth joined Skills Solutions 10 years ago as an e2e Tutor. Since then she has become a fully qualified teacher with an English specialism and is now leads the English curriculum across all the Skills Solutions Training Centres. Ruth was promoted to Salford Training Centre Manager three years ago. Previously Ruth worked for the Inland Revenue and then fortunately found her true vocation in post 16 education. Ruth has always believed that young people should be encouraged to achieve all they can and has, for the last 20 years, been actively involved in Guiding UK. Ruth is currently Division Commissioner for Stretford & Old Trafford. | |
| Darren Avery Business Manager Jobwise Darren has over 20 years’ experience in the Training and Recruitment Industry. He began his career at 16 as a YTS trainee (Youth Training Scheme) and is now a member of the Senior Management Team with Jobwise Training Ltd – a London provider with outstanding outcomes for learners. Darren’s early career success was as a Placement Officer working for Sight & Sound Education Ltd, placing young people and adults into work experience placements. Over 6 years Darren strengthened his employer relationships and this resulted in a record high of achieving 100 people on placement. Darren spent 2 years working for TALENT Recruitment as a Recruitment Consultant. His time was spent working in deprived areas of London placing disadvantaged people into work. During his time with TALENT the TEC funded programmes achieved an impressive 100% job entry rate. A large part of Darren’s career (13 years) was spent with TBG Learning Ltd in various roles including Recruitment Manager, Centre Manager and Regional Manager. He successfully turned around performance of contracts, centres and the regions he managed. He increased contracts and ensured high delivery of outcomes. The result was the presentation of the prestigious Skills Funding Agency’s Provider of the Year Award. In recognition of his significant dedication and contribution which resulted in the substantial increase in contracts and the opening of 3 new additional Learning Centres in his region, Darren was presented with TBG Learning’s Outstanding Contribution Award. During this time TBG Learning grew to be one of the largest providers delivering skills and employability in the UK. As a member of the Senior Management Team within Jobwise Training Ltd, an established provider with strong employer links ‘developing a stronger workforce for London’s future’, his role is to lead on the employer strategy, manage and grow contracts, and develop external relationships. He is also integral to Jobwise Training Ltd.’s growth strategy. In 2013 Jobwise Training Ltd. was awarded an overall grade 2 from Ofsted and a grade 1 for outcomes for learners. Jobwise Training Ltd.’s funded contracts include Apprenticeships, Adult Skills Budget, Traineeships and Study Programme. | |
| Stella Turner Head of Qualifications and Delivery Association 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. | |
| Garry Haynes Curriculum Leader for Core Skills OCR As a Curriculum Leader for Core Skills, I combine my teaching experience with my assessment background at OCR, to ensure that we offer a clear way of supporting learners and centres in their journey towards Core Skills success. At the moment, I am focusing on developing the Cambridge Progression group of qualifications and associated support resources, as well as our new Cambridge Employability offer. This brings with it a focus on employer engagement and Traineeships, as well as a review and improvement of our package of support for Core Skills. I have been with OCR for seven years and have been a qualifications team manager in the skills and employment area of OCR, managing a team of qualifications managers and leaders delivering qualifications such as Functional Skills, Cambridge Progression, Basic Skills and Essential Skills. Previously I have taught full time in vocational education on a wide range of subjects, including Maths and English, and this gave me a sound base from which to understand the challenges that the vocational sector now faces. I now also teach part time. As a result, my focus at OCR is always on developing and supporting solutions to help vocational education grow and perform. I have also worked in employer training; I’ve been a teaching and learning mentor, advanced practitioner, personal trainer, triathlon coach and orienteering coach; and I’ve worked for OCR and other awarding organisations as an External Assessor and developer. | |
| Adrian Murray Curriculum Leader for Business OCR As OCR’s Curriculum Leader for Business, my role is to ensure that the qualifications and resources that we provide meet the needs of learners, centres and employers. My involvement with the KATO (Kent Association of Training Organisations) Traineeship pilot is a good example of how opportunities can be provided for learners through the co-operation of an awarding body with training providers and employers. Having just developed OCR’s new ‘Being Entrepreneurial’ qualification, my current focus is on ensuring that the resources are in place to help centres deliver this exciting new qualification successfully so that learners develop the skills that employers have told us they want. I am also working on a number of redevelopment projects both in general and vocational qualifications. Having been with OCR for two years, I regularly draw upon my 17 years’ experience in the classroom. Throughout this time I worked in secondary schools in both middle and senior management roles, and successfully taught a variety of both general and vocational qualifications in Business, Economics and ICT. I am passionate about education, and am always looking to share ideas and good practice. I run a successful Business Studies website that provides free teaching resources and is used in a number of countries, and have written for a number of well-known organisations in the past. | |
