Helen Smyth
Vice President - Operations at Franklin Apprenticeships- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Donald H Taylor
Helen is a smart Learning and Development leader who manages the difficult art of aligning her activity to the business with innovation - she is always clear on her organisational objectives, while being unafraid to try out new ways of meeting them. She's combines true professionalism with a positive outlook and is a real pleasure to work with.
Marc Zao-Sanders
i've known and worked with helen for several years now. she's one of the industry's catalysts for change because she has that rare combination of deep and open-minded thinking with a pragmatism routed in years of relevant experience in HE and corporates. she's also exceptionally approachable and willing to help those she can (of which there are many!) she's an outstanding speaker too. find a way to work with helen, if you can!
Donald H Taylor
Helen is a smart Learning and Development leader who manages the difficult art of aligning her activity to the business with innovation - she is always clear on her organisational objectives, while being unafraid to try out new ways of meeting them. She's combines true professionalism with a positive outlook and is a real pleasure to work with.
Marc Zao-Sanders
i've known and worked with helen for several years now. she's one of the industry's catalysts for change because she has that rare combination of deep and open-minded thinking with a pragmatism routed in years of relevant experience in HE and corporates. she's also exceptionally approachable and willing to help those she can (of which there are many!) she's an outstanding speaker too. find a way to work with helen, if you can!
Donald H Taylor
Helen is a smart Learning and Development leader who manages the difficult art of aligning her activity to the business with innovation - she is always clear on her organisational objectives, while being unafraid to try out new ways of meeting them. She's combines true professionalism with a positive outlook and is a real pleasure to work with.
Marc Zao-Sanders
i've known and worked with helen for several years now. she's one of the industry's catalysts for change because she has that rare combination of deep and open-minded thinking with a pragmatism routed in years of relevant experience in HE and corporates. she's also exceptionally approachable and willing to help those she can (of which there are many!) she's an outstanding speaker too. find a way to work with helen, if you can!
Donald H Taylor
Helen is a smart Learning and Development leader who manages the difficult art of aligning her activity to the business with innovation - she is always clear on her organisational objectives, while being unafraid to try out new ways of meeting them. She's combines true professionalism with a positive outlook and is a real pleasure to work with.
Marc Zao-Sanders
i've known and worked with helen for several years now. she's one of the industry's catalysts for change because she has that rare combination of deep and open-minded thinking with a pragmatism routed in years of relevant experience in HE and corporates. she's also exceptionally approachable and willing to help those she can (of which there are many!) she's an outstanding speaker too. find a way to work with helen, if you can!
Credentials
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The Learning Awards Official Judge
The LPI (Learning and Performance Institute)Nov, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
Technical Specialist Career Fit Achievement
MyInnerGenius & IBMAug, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
From Data to Decisions
City & GuildsOct, 2020- Nov, 2024 -
ROI Learning Impact Evaluation Practitioner (Level 7)
ILMJun, 2011- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Franklin Apprenticeships
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United States
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Professional Training and Coaching
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1 - 100 Employee
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Vice President - Operations
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Jan 2022 - Present
Franklin partners with companies across the United States to create high-quality tech apprenticeship programs that deliver business results and change lives. As VP Operations, I lead the Operations function to ensure our systems and processes are effective, efficient and support our growth as we scale. Franklin partners with companies across the United States to create high-quality tech apprenticeship programs that deliver business results and change lives. As VP Operations, I lead the Operations function to ensure our systems and processes are effective, efficient and support our growth as we scale.
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AhHa! Consulting
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England, United Kingdom
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Director
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Aug 2021 - Present
#Helping organisations attract, develop and retain talented people #Helping organisations attract, develop and retain talented people
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Sainsbury's
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Learning Product and Experience Manager
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Mar 2018 - Jan 2022
I led the learning and learning products design strategy for Sainsbury’s, building a fabulous team of 25 to deliver innovative learning resources and experiences to support the performance of Sainsbury’s 180,000 colleagues across all brands - Sainsbury's retail, Argos, Habitat, Nectar and Sainsbury's Bank. Key activities Responsible for devising the Sainsbury’s learning strategy and the annual plans that delivered that vision, to meet KPIs and budget. Accountable for the design, production and curation of all learning resources and experiences via the leadership of a design and production team of 25 colleagues and the selection and management of learning content and platform suppliers. Member of the Talent and People Development senior leadership team, connecting learning, talent and technology to deliver Sainsbury’s people development strategies. Show less
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Flamstead Holdings Group Ltd
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Derbyshire
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Group Learning and Development Manager
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Jun 2017 - Mar 2018
Part of the Houston, Texas headquartered Quanex building products corporation, The Flamstead Group manufactures and supplies products and materials to the construction sector from a multi-site base in the UK. As Group Learning and Development Manager I reported directly to the CEO. Alongside L&D I also led on talent and succession strategy for the group. Key projects included shaping the organisational structure, determining the strategy for leadership, business and technical skills development, setting the early talent agenda (including effective utilisation of the apprenticeship levy) and re-framing the approach to recruitment, selection and on-boarding. The digitisation of these activities was also a core focus. Key external activities included chairing the apprenticeship trailblazer group for fenestration, board membership of the Derbyshire Skills and Employment Board and project lead on the launch of a fenestration training academy, in partnership with schools, colleges, universities and the business chain. Show less
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IMI
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United Kingdom
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Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Head of Learning and Development/Group Digital Learning Manager
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May 2011 - Mar 2017
At IMI I led on the global learning strategy for c12,000 IMI employees across 75 countries, in 13 languages. Led the regional learning delivery teams in Germany, Europe, Denver, USA and Shanghai, APAC. Developed the group capability development strategy, standard operating procedures and governance processes. Managed the design, delivery and ROI evaluation of learning programmes and projects across the business and for external partners (management and leadership, commercial and operational excellence, product and technical, induction, legal and compliance). Included face-to-face programmes, digital learning, shadowing, rotation, coaching and mentoring. Managed the selection, design, implementation and operation of digital learning and HR systems and content across the IMI Group (Oracle, Totara, Moodle, Cornerstone, Sharepoint, Storyline, Lectora, Captivate, Camtasia, Adapt, Adobe Presenter, ADP, Oracle, IFS). Contributed to the development of the IMI graduate and apprenticeship programmes to ensure these offered meaningful capability development and deliver against talent development and succession plans, including maximising value from the UK apprenticeship levy. Show less
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foundation degree forward
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Higher Education
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1 - 100 Employee
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Associate Director
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Mar 2009 - Apr 2011
At FDF I was responsible for creating productive employer partnerships with higher education for management and leadership development and apprenticeship progression. Employer clients included Tesco, Booths, TUI Group, Jewson, Halfords and Co-Op Travel. Key Achievements Successful benchmarking of the Booths store management programme to accredit this as a degree level qualification with Manchester Metropolitan University. Development of national management foundation degrees for the retail and travel sectors that aligned with qualification frameworks to support progression for managers and apprentices. Design, development and implementation of national digital learning systems and content to support foundation degree delivery to work based learners (Moodle, Mahara, MyKnowledgeMap, Storyline, Adobe Presenter). ROI evaluation of the retail management degree for Tesco store managers, to demonstrate the impact of the programme to senior stakeholders. "Helen was a very efficient and positive colleague who made a significant contribution to the success of FDF in developing work-based degrees. She assisted us in problem-solving on several occasions and demonstrated a calm and focused approach to any task she undertook. I am happy to recommend her to anyone in the field of learning development". Derek Longhurst, Chief Executive of FDF until 2011. Show less
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Leap Ahead Lifelong Learning Network
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Derby, United Kingdom
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Sector Manager
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2007 - 2009
Leap Ahead was a partnership of 12 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire universities and colleges, working to boost skills levels in the East Midlands by developing vocational learning in partnership with employers. Key Activities Partnering with Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire employers to understand their people development plans and support them in building effective relationships with local university and colleges. Building and maintaining effective relationships with the Leap Ahead universities and colleges to partner them with relevant local employers. Working with schools and careers’ advisers to support learner progression into higher education. Developing digital learning systems and content to support blended learning delivery to work based learners (Blackboard, Storyline, Sharepoint, PebblePad, Nuventive). Show less
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University of Wolverhampton
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Lecturer and Course Leader
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2000 - 2007
The University of Wolverhampton specialises in the delivery of vocational higher education. Key Activities Setting up the tourism management department separately from the existing Business School and leading the Tourism Management programme team. Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate business studies subjects and supporting students to develop effective career and personal development plans. Building the digital learning environment and content to support classroom and work based learning including e-portfolio (PebblePad, WOLF). Developing and managing partnerships and student recruitment with schools and colleges in the UK, Poland, Spain, China and Malaysia. Partnering with employers to support their people development via higher education and also for student work experience, internships, student projects and graduate recruitment. Show less
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Leeds Beckett University
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Research Associate, then Lecturer, then Senior Lecturer and Deputy Pathway Leader,
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Sep 1992 - Aug 2000
Leeds Metropolitan University (now Leeds Beckett University) is today home to one of the largest UK university faculties specialising in tourism, hospitality and events management. In 1993 when I joined the faculty, I was part of the course development team for the first degree in tourism management. I went on to teach extensively on and then manage this programme over the next 7 years.
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Senior Lecturer and Deputy Pathway Leader
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1993 - 2000
Teaching business management to undergraduate and postgraduate students and managing the Tourism Management undergraduate pathway.
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Education
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1992 - 2000
Leeds Beckett University
MPhil, Small Firms and Public Policy -
1989 - 1992
Leeds Beckett University
BSc Hons, Service Business Management
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