Experience

Midlands Engine

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Program Officer

  • Nov 2020 - Present



Skills and Education Group

• United Kingdom
• Education Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of Projects

  • Aug 2014 - Oct 2020

  - Responsible for the tendering and contracting of project funds secured by the Skills and Education Group.- Ensuring project finances are effectively managed over the term of the contract.- Producing detailed monthly reports for partners and senior managers, including monthly update of progress, risk register update, performance against KPIs and budget performance.- Arranging, attending and producing information for meetings with funding partners- Effective relationship management with partners, via different media to ensure quality of outcomes and timely delivery of the project/contract.- Carrying put systematic evaluation of projects to ensure KPIs have been achieved, identify good practice and learning points for the future.- Organising high profile meetings, conferences and events- Delivering effective and informative presentations to various groups including funding partners, post-16 education delivery partners, sector bodies, and voluntary and community organisations. - Producing marketing materials and case studies with colleagues to demonstrate the benefits of the project, along with case studies to showcase effective practice across a range of partners.



Education and Skills Funding Agency

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Relationship Manager

  • Jun 2011 - Jun 2014

  Responsible for:Provider Relationship, Performance and Risk ManagementQuarterly Reviews for eight providers inc 2 FE Colleges, University of Lincoln, 3 private training providers, Honda and ToyotaUnderstanding and implementation of Minimum Levels of Performance and Minimum Standards24+Advanced Learning LoansComplaintsSpecial Issues e.g. Customer Service Apprenticeships investigation, Short Duration Apprenticeships, transfer of learners between providers, potential poor practice – employer and learner interviews and reports.Dealing with and managing constant change.Stakeholder Relationship ManagementLincolnshire Stakeholder Engagement Plan – Employer Skills Passport, develop relationship with JCP staffESF Contract Management and Match ComplianceESF Tender scoring, Article 13 Audits and European Commission audits.CapitalBriefing providers including feedback on unsuccessful bids.Scoring and moderating bids with regional colleagues.Briefing all staff on developmentsAdvising providers of new capital programmes and explaining the requirements to tight and testing timescales.Achievements:All contracts managed to the advised timescales and recommendations accepted by the Senior Management Team.Successfully steered providers through ESF European Commission and Article 13 Audits.All capital bids for 9 bidding rounds scored to very tight timescales and feedback given to the colleges to encourage better bids, where appropriate.Providing clear and concise guidance and explanation to providers to enable them to understand rules changes and implications.Working with providers and Jobcentre Plus to implement the Employer Skills Passport in East Lindsey.



National Apprenticeship Service

• Learner Services Manager

  • Apr 2009 - Jun 2011

  Responsible for:Increasing the volume and quality of applicants for Apprenticeships, including the use of Apprenticeship Vacancies.Working with Strategic and Local Partnerships to increase knowledge and awareness of Apprenticeships.Ensuring appropriate CEIAG is available to both young people and adults.Agreeing with LA how young people will receive assistance if fail to get Apprenticeship.Increase number of Apprenticeships offered by local councils.Work with providers to increase Apprenticeships and decrease Programme Led Apprenticeships.Deal with complaints in a timely manner.AchievementsThe numbers of applicants in Lincolnshire was higher than for any other county in the East Midlands.Surveys indicated that awareness of Apprenticeships was the highest of any county in the East Midlands.Providers and schools were aware that Apprenticeships were a real alternative to the academic route and progression was a real possibility.



Learning and Skills Council

• Area Wide Inspection/Partnership Manager

  • Jan 2006 - Apr 2009

  Responsible for:Managing the development and implementation of the action plan following the Area Wide Inspection of Lincolnshire and Rutland. Working within the LSC and with partners at a senior level to agree strategy, plan and implement activity. 1. Planning Coordinating further development of the Post Inspection Action Plan following the 14-19 Area Wide Inspection of Lincolnshire and Rutland. Liaising, guiding, influencing and supporting key partners both within the structure designed to support the Post Inspection Action Plan and the 14-19 Strategy.Liaising with relevant DfES, local LSCs in the region and LSC National Office contacts.Ensuring effective communication of the Post Inspection Action Plan and the 14-19 Strategy.2. Implementation Implementing, monitoring and reviewing progress of the Post Inspection Action Plan.Communicating developments and activity. Project managing specific key activity within the Post Inspection Action Plan Liaison with relevant DfES, local LSCs in the region and LSC National Office contacts.Identifying and implementing areas of opportunity for collaboration across the 14-19 sector. Working with and influencing partner organisations at a senior level to achieve outcomes/targets of the Post Inspection Action Plan. Report progress. Manage 6 staff in conjunction with partners. Manage budget of £1.4 million.3. Planning14-19 Learner EntitlementCommon ProspectusSixth Form Planning and Allocations14-19 DiplomasInput into 16-19 Capital developments e.g. Wolds College, LouthAchievements:AWIP was delivered9 local partnerships were established between schools and colleges who previously had not collaborated together.A clear Learner Entitlement was developed and understood by partners.Partnership Managers were managed effectively via a range of contracts and secondments

• ESF/Local Initiative Fund Manager

  • Sep 2001 - Dec 2005

  Responsible For:Writing Tenders, Scoring Applications, negotiating and writing contracts for ESF and LIF.Working with regional partners to produce marketing material and case studies that extol the virtues and successes of ESF.Working with regional co-financing partners (Connexions, Lincolnshire County Council and Jobcentre Plus) to ensure that there were clear differences in tenders and clarity across the process.Arranging training and presenting at conferences/work shops for prospective tenderers and staff.Ensuring that match funding was available and matched to the ESF activity.Develop and implement internal control procedures for ESF and LIFTake leading role in providing high-level support on regional and national development of documentation and systems for more successful management of ESF Co-financing and develop “Best Practice”.Ensuring that the delivery of the contracts was done in a timely manner and that ESF ILRs and short records were in place for all learners.Understanding and explaining State Aid to colleagues and partners.Register and resolve all complaints, including those against LSC providers and the LSC itself.Financial management of ESF Co-financing Plans at Measure Level, including management of funds by Measure level, each of which has a value of up to £1.8m. The planning horizon for management of these funds spans months and years.Take lead in negotiating ESF and LID funded contracts at senior level with providers, and co-ordination of activity by LSC contract managers in the development and implementation of ESF and LID contracts.AchievementsSuccessfully delivering on 4 ESF tendering roundsEnsuring that a minimum about of funds were clawed backHelping to develop a contract guidance book in association with PFA to try and develop consistency of outcomes.A quarterly regional ESF brochure of good practice and case studies.Budgets spent and accounted for in a timely manner. Manage Budgets totalling £21 million.