There’s no denying:
we’re passionate about what we do.

A champion of social inclusion, Andrew ensures integrity through compliance with our regulators, and supports our Centres in relation to regulatory issues.

Whilst “a stopped clock may be right twice a day”, Andrew is on time, all the time. So what keeps him ticking? Taking on challenges and the satisfaction of a job well done; championing social inclusion; and upholding integrity in everything he does.

Andrew’s key roles and responsibilities include:

• Overseeing compliance with our regulators, and supporting the responsible officer with responses and updates to the regulatory bodies
• The Centre Recognition and Qualification approval process
• Overseeing investigations and evidence-gathering for Centre enquiries, appeals, complaints, malpractice and maladministration cases
• Supporting the professional growth and development of team members
• Supporting the implementation of business plans leading to the growth of Skills and Education Group and its subsidiaries

Motivated to have a real, positive impact on people’s lives, Andrew values being part of a workplace culture that supports autonomy by encouraging ideas, listening to views and encouraging self-growth.

Cathryn provides our Executive Leadership team with core strategy around the educational environment, landscape, and government focus on FE initiatives, and aids in the development of our products and services.

With a strong work ethic and values and a natural passion for making a difference, Cathryn always strives to make a real difference by supporting individuals in changing their lives through the funding, products and services Skills and Education Group offers.

Quite simply, she’s the real McCoy.

Some of Cathryn’s responsibilities are:

• Monitoring, reviewing, analysing and providing a strategic overview of the current internal and external educational environment and landscape, and the government’s focus on the latest initiatives. This includes highlighting threats, opportunities, recommendations and constructive challenges, which inform and influence our Executive Leadership team in relation to strategic direction for Skills and Education Group.
• Working with key Executive Leadership team colleagues to identify, develop and implement reports that aid growth and provide key intelligence relating to products and services
• Working across Skills and Education Group to develop and coordinate responses to consultations from those including regulators
• Developing policy briefings on key announcements from the government and working with our communications team to ensure that these are effectively communicated to Centres and members in a timely manner

For Cathryn, doing the right thing for the right reason is paramount, and Skills and Education Group does just that as she and her passionate and supportive colleagues strive to achieve social inclusion for all.

Karen supports and encourages others to work to the best of their ability, as she and her team develop and grow ideas to support the further education and skills sector.

You’ve likely heard the expression, “Keen as mustard”. Well, it should be upgraded to “Keen as Karen.” In heading our Professional Development team, Karen brings great enthusiasm and energy to supporting and encouraging others so that they can work to the best of their ability as, together, they develop and grow ideas to support the further education and skills sector.

In her role, Karen is responsible for:

• Planning and preparing a programme of professional development activity for the further education and skills sector
• Supporting the needs of providers by offering bespoke training and development that meets their needs
• Developing aspiring staff in the sector so they become efficient and effective educators and leaders
• Encouraging and developing the use of digital technologies to enhance the learning experience
• Supporting the growth of Skills and Education Group membership

Proud to be part of a team that works together to achieve, Karen is energised by working with like-minded professionals who all want to do well for the further education and skills sector, ultimately making a difference in learners’ careers and lives.

Karl identifies problems and puts plans in place to remedy the root causes, as it applies to awarding processes and compliance with regulatory requirements.

When it comes to our team, Karl’s definitely a first stringer! Working with rules and structures and applying his all-round insight into our awarding processes, Karl identifies problems and puts plans in place to remedy the root causes. His role brings him into contact with almost everybody across Skills and Education Group, as well as many of our customers.

Karl’s responsibilities include:

• Ensuring BIIAB, Skills and Education Group Awards, and Skills and Education Group Access’ compliance with the requirements set by our regulators
• Acting as the point of contact for all regulators for BIIAB, Skills and Education Group Awards, and Skills and Education Group Access
• Ensuring self-assessment is undertaken regularly against all regulatory criteria so that we remain compliant with regulatory requirements
• Working with the Compliance and Regulation team and the head of Quality Assurance to support our Centres in meeting our requirements

Taking genuine pleasure in working with a team that wants to “do the right thing”, Karl values the way that Skills and Education Group looks out for, consults and generally considers its staff, leading to a positive work environment.

Kaye is committed to growing customer relationships and supporting our customers as they work to improve the life chances in the communities they serve.

If a jigsaw puzzle is missing a piece, you want Kaye on the case. She loves the trust that comes from growing customer relationships, and listening and really getting to the bottom of what people are trying to achieve. For her, no two days are ever the same, and there is certainly no time to get bored as she works to solve the puzzle that is the further education and skills sector.

Kaye is responsible for:

• Leading the work of our knowledgeable and solution-focused Relationship Management team, ensuring clear points of contact for all customers across Skills and Education Group
• Establishing relationships with key stakeholders and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the skills landscape on a regional and national level
• Identifying new business opportunities across Skills and Education Group and effectively managing pipelines
• Providing excellent customer service, and serving as a source of information and a critical friend when needed
• Working with the Brand Manager and wider communications team to ensure products and services are effectively marketed and communicated

Knowing that Skills and Education Group has a true desire to improve the life chances of communities, Kaye and her team work hard to make sure they support our customers in making this a reality. She finds no better feeling than when customers share the same passion as her, and their faces light up when they realise she has just found the solution they hadn’t thought of.

The buck stops here. Really. Martin ensures that assessment and product development is carried out at the highest level in order to support our staff and best serve our learners.

Martin’s key roles and responsibilities include:

• Implementing and managing the product development and end-point assessment processes
• Assisting in maintaining compliance against regulatory requirements
• Ensuring necessary steps are taken across Skills and Education Group with regards to safeguarding
• Supporting the Executive Leadership team in liaising with external organisations, agencies and regulatory bodies

Martin draws from the range of knowledge and experience of colleagues across Skills and Education Group and focuses on supporting and championing the UK FE and skills sectors, to work for the inclusion and advancement of all.

With a passion for education, enabling progression and providing excellent customer service, Michael thrives on challenges and is happiest when working under pressure on new and innovative projects.

A cucumber should be so cool.

Michael’s role includes:

• Guiding the leadership, management and planning of the Awarding Services Directorate team and its operations
• Ensuring that high levels of internal and external customer service are maintained throughout the teams within the Awarding Services Directorate
• Overseeing the development of the annual statements of compliance across all activity regulated by Ofqual, QAA, Qualification Wales, SQA and CCEA
• Advising the Executive Leadership team on issues of performance, strategy, policy and finance

But he doesn’t do it alone. When faced with out-of-the-ordinary issues and opportunities, Michael draws on the expertise of our teams, recognising that the dedication and support of others is integral to success, within our group and in the skills and education sector.

To support Centres, employers and stakeholders, Neil works with his team on internal and external quality assurance regulatory requirements; ensures compliance with all regulators; and recruits, trains and monitors various positions.

No one has ever had to tell Neil to look alive. Ever. In working on a team that genuinely wants to do their best for our Centres and customers, Neil helps people to grow and develop, and promotes best practices in every aspect of his role. Day in, and day out.

Neil is responsible for:

• Recruiting, training and monitoring all EQAs/moderators/EPAs/IQAs
• Working with the team on internal and external quality assurance regulatory requirements and ensuring compliance with all regulators
• Developing excellent working relationships with Centres, employers and stakeholders
• Overseeing and undertaking internal audits

Neil values Skills and Education Group for being an honest organisation that strives to do its best to help others on a daily basis. Responsive and reactive to people’s needs, everyone in the organisation is willing to help, and no one is too busy to help to resolve issues.

Paul has over 30 years’ experience in the post-16 skills sector, including seven years as a lecturer and 13 years managing work-based learning with colleges and independent providers. For the past nearly two decades, he has been on the senior teams of all of the key membership bodies across the further education and skills sector, representing apprenticeship providers and colleges. More recently, along with being the CEO of Skills and Education Group, he has been on the board of and chaired the body representing awarding organisations across the UK.

But he’s no stick-in-the-mud.

Continuously expanding his thinking and building his skills, Paul is responsible for:

• Leading the strategy of the Skills and Education Group and our subsidiaries, and seeking opportunities for the group and subsidiaries to grow and add value
• Ensuring that our whole team is developed and focused on delivering great results for our members and customers
• Working with key partners, stakeholders and influencers to advance our work and our objective to make a real difference in people’s lives
• Linking everything we do back to our charitable objective

Leading by example, Paul understands the need for action, working closely with our team to take on a range of challenges in order to effect change for each and every one of our stakeholders.

Leading the finance team, Sarah-Jane facilitates support for internal and external customers, and ensures exceptional customer service to all.

Having worked in finance roles since 1995 in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, retail and education, Sarah-Jane uses her skills as an ACCA accountant to make a difference. The finance team supports all customers both internal and external, and Sarah-Jane leads an outstanding team in providing exceptional customer service.

Her key roles and responsibilities are:

• Leading and managing the finance team
• Management accounts
• Year-end financial statements and year-end auditing
• Budgeting and reforecasting
• Payroll

In terms of core aspects of the workplace that Sarah-Jane holds dear, she cites the values and culture of Skills and Education Group, the work of its Foundation, and the organisation’s ambition to make education accessible for all.

In his role, Scott wears a lot of hats … and shirts, ties, trousers and shoes, because he serves our organisation and stakeholders in so many ways.

Just a few of Scott’s responsibilities include:

• Leading the Member Services and Communications Directorate
• Driving the work of our Foundation
• Working with the Executive Leadership team on performance, strategy, policy and finance
• Ensuring that effective management and performance systems are followed
• Contributing to the development of the annual business plan and budget
• Supporting strong effective communications and engagement with our customers, membership and stakeholders
• Facilitating our customer journey

It sounds like a lot to take on, and it is. But Scott benefits from the same advantages that our members do: the full support of a qualified, passionate team.

Sharon manages Customer Support teams across Skills and Education Group, problem-solving and ensuring the highest quality of service.

As our head of customer support, Sharon is one cool customer. It’s punny, but it’s also true.

Facing workplace puzzles head on to find the best solutions, Sharon loves helping customers to understand different processes and systems; learn how using them can help their work; and stay up to date with relevant qualifications and knowledge specific to their organisational roles and needs.

Some of Sharon’s key responsibilities are:

• Managing Customer Support teams across Skills and Education Group
• Ensuring that excellent customer service is always maintained
• Helping the customer support teams to learn and grow together
• Ensuring that interactions with customers meet and exceed their expectations for themselves and their learners
• Supporting her team and helping them to reach their full potential

Sharon believes in and contributes to making education available for all, whatever a person’s age, background and skills set. Via our portfolio of products and the grants we provide to learners, she sees great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of diverse individuals.

Forget about “two shakes of a lamb’s tail”. Simon gets things done in one, because he has the necessary experience and drive grounded in 20 years of further education work and a background in training and development.

Some of Simon’s primary roles and responsibilities are:

• Finance, IT, premises and resources
• Risk management
• Company secretary, governance
• Contractual and legal matters
• Tender- and project-based activities

For Simon, our commitment to social inclusion both for our customers and staff is key to delivering services of the highest value. Likewise, he’s committed to further education because of the opportunities it provides to people who might otherwise face barriers to social and economic advancement.