SMEs and Apprenticeships: Good news but Look Sharp

Shabnum graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 1998 with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry. She later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems from the University of Liverpool in 1999.

Her career began in telecoms and a pathology laboratory before transitioning to further education as a lecturer, during which she completed a PGCE for FE at UCLAN. Shabnum also achieved QTLS from the Education & Training Foundation, enabling her to work as a supply teacher in Lancashire schools while raising four daughters.

With 20 years of experience in education, Shabnum is passionate about mentoring learners, helping them unlock their potential and overcome career barriers.

In her free time, she enjoys travelling, fine dining, and exploring the outdoors.

Laura has over 10 years of client focused experience in Sales, Marketing, Customer Service and Education. Laura completed Business Studies at Runshaw Adult College before successfully achieving a First Class Honors Degree in Tourism and Events Management at the University of Central Lancashire.

Laura joined SRSCC in 2021, previously supporting our Customer Service and Progress Mentor Team to provide academic and practical support for learners and employers on their apprenticeship journey.

In 2022 Laura embarked on her backpacking travels across South-East Asia before getting a real ‘travel bug’ and making her way to Australia where she lived and worked in Melbourne, Brisbane and road tripped along the West Coast in a roof top tent. After 18 months of travelling, she is back with us at SRSCC and settled back into home life!

Laura is now thrilled to join our business development team as sales executive. With an extensive sales background and familiarity with our courses and values, Laura is extremely passionate to provide guidance and support to potential learners and employers.

In her spare time Laura loves the outdoors, camping, festivals, mindfulness and travel.

Daniella joined the SRSCC team in July 2024 as a Customer Engagement Co-Ordinator Apprentice.

Bringing a wealth of experience from her 7-year career in customer service as a retail assistant, she is dedicated to developing her leadership and management capabilities in a business administration role.

In her free time, Daniella enjoys playing the drums, going on walks, and spending time with family, friends and two cats – Bobby and Buster.

Mark has 25 years learning and development experience gained whilst working for globally and nationally recognised organisations.

Having left school with grades that afforded him very few work opportunities Mark enrolled at Huddersfield Technical College. In his first year he was awarded the J I Case Europe Prize for student of the year, a turnaround his school teachers could not have predicted.

Following his time at Huddersfield Technical College Mark went onto graduate from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA (Honours) in Business Studies, Huddersfield University with a PGCE in Further Education, and the CIPD with a Certificate in Training Practice.
Given the opportunities qualifications and subsequent work opportunities afforded to him Mark is driven to continually develop himself and those he is mentoring. Knowing that qualifications open doors and provide choices and opportunities for his apprentices / learners, as they did for him.

In his leisure time Mark enjoys:

• Spending time with his Wife, teenage Son and young Cockerpoo.
• Walking.
• Socialising.
• And following his football team, home and away.

Shannon joined the SRSCC Team in April 2024 as an Assessment Coordinator. Following a career in administrative roles and in invoice finance as a Relationship Manager, Shannon was ready for a career change and is looking forward to using her previous experience and transferable skills in this new role. A keen learner, Shannon is excited to expand her skills at SRSCC.

As of October 2024, Shannon has been promoted to Assessments Team Leader, where she is eager to contribute further to the team’s success and take on new responsibilities.

Outside of work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and going on long country walks with her dog.

Matthew is a dedicated individual who has devoted 24 years of his life to serving as a Combat Medic, providing critical care and support in high-pressure situations.

Transitioning into a new chapter, he embarked on a career shift in February 2024, joining SR Supply Chain Consultants with a wealth of experience and knowledge in logistics management.

Matthew’s academic journey has been marked by his commitment to learning and growth, culminating in the attainment of a upper second Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in logistics management. This academic foundation complements his extensive practical experience, which includes roles as an operations manager and a facilities manager.

With a unique blend of field expertise, strategic thinking, and managerial acumen, Matthew is poised to make significant contributions to SRSCC, leveraging his diverse skill set to drive efficiency and excellence in his new role.

Rachel was delighted to join SRSCC in November 2023 in her role as a Progress Mentor and Functional Skills Tutor.

Rachel has been teaching for over 15 years and her experience ranges from teaching young offenders and adults in Prison Education to Curriculum management in a Large FE college. Rachel has dedicated much of her career to teaching students who lack confidence in English and helping them overcome barriers preventing them from achieving. Rachel also tutors in her spare time and finds it very rewarding.

Outside of work, she likes to spend time with her family, go on holidays, but would love to see more of the world!

Jess went to college straight after school in Sheffield studying Health and Social care. She then moved to Blackburn and went onto University study Teaching and Learning Support and Education Studies- which she graduate from with a 2:1.

Jess worked within Customer Services whilst at University, and enjoyed being able to help assist clients. Jess’ next step was working in schools as a Teaching Assistant, giving her vast experience working with children who have SEMH needs. This helped her develop many skills and expanded her understanding in regard to the education sector. 

During her spare time Jess likes to go on days out with her husband and their daughter, going back to Sheffield to see her friends and family and taking her German Shepherd out on long walks in the countryside.  

Chloe has a diverse professional background, starting her career as a Nursery Nurse Apprentice, where she completed her apprenticeship. She subsequently gained a wealth of experience in various roles including being a Nanny, a Sales Advisor and most recently as an Accommodation Coordinator.

During her time working in the nursery sector, she gained invaluable experience with Ofsted standards and requirements, which she skillfully navigated to ensure the nursery met all required benchmarks. Her adaptability and resilience are evident as she transitioned through several fields due to varied circumstances such as completion of her apprenticeship and the shifting dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She’s shown a remarkable commitment in every role she’s held, notably in her most recent employment as an Accommodation Coordinator. There, she managed a wide range of responsibilities including handling student complaints, coordinating with external contractors, and organising accounts and much more.

Outside work Chloe lives with her husband, 2 dogs and 3 cats. Chloe is a big advocate for animal welfare and mental health wellbeing.

Claire graduated from Edge Hill University in 1997 with a BA (Hons) Degree in Social Studies with Qualified Teaching Status. During her time in the teaching profession, she predominantly worked as a class teacher with primary school age children. 4 years ago, she changed her role to a Teaching Assistant (Level 3) and set up her own home tutoring business, in the evenings, teaching children up to Year 10.

Outside of work, Claire enjoys going away in her motorhome for weekend breaks, going to the gym and walking her lively sausage dog.

Megan graduated in 2021 from Edge Hill University with a 1^st class degree in BSc (hons) Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing. During her time studying, I volunteered at a local youth centre where she worked with a range of young people through art and creative activities.

Since graduating, Megan’s worked in further education supporting students with SEND. This has given her a strong passion for supporting all students to overcome any barriers to their learning, promoting their independence and positive wellbeing to help them to succeed. Megan is excited to be working at SRSCC to apply her skills and knowledge to support learners in achieving the best outcomes.

In her spare time, you can always find Megan reading a book or practicing yoga and meditation- which has become such a positive start to her day. She loves keeping an active and busy lifestyle when not looking after her three guinea pigs, who definitely rule the house!

Gemma is delighted to have joined our Business Development Team in May 2023

In the past, Gemma’s job roles have been varied and she has vast experience in a number of different managerial roles.

Gemma has excellent customer service skills and experience in sales and account management.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and going for walks with her 2 little dogs.

Every Thursday Gemma also teaches children dance and organises a show annually.

Eileen joined the SRSCC Team in 2023 as Quality and Compliance Manager. Having worked in the training and Apprenticeship industry for over 23 years, she has a particular focus on compliance and training.

Her key strengths include reviewing and the implementation of company policy and procedures, to ensure they are fit for purpose and meet regulatory requirements.

Eileen has a good all-round knowledge of the training industry and has been heavily involved in the preparation and planning of OFSTED, ESFA and Awarding Body on-site visits.

She describes herself as ambitious, dedicated and an excellent communicator with a real passion for improving the quality of occupational training.

Alison has over 25 years experience in the government funded training industry, working across a number of occupational sectors and funding streams, including Apprenticeships and short courses.

She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and experience at SRSCC to enhance the already established Apprenticeship programmes and to further enhance her own knowledge in the procurement sector.

In 2005, Linda decided to change her career from management to training, gaining a position with a training organisation, delivering full Apprenticeship’s which included NVQ’s and Functional Skills qualifications, later progressing to Internal Verifier, supporting the quality of other Assessors.

In 2017 she became a Functional Skills Tutor at HMP establishments, continuing until the 2020 Covid19 lockdowns.

She has since worked as a Careers Advisor on a National Careers Service contract, and as a Financial Wellbeing Mentor, supporting the Probation Service.

In her new role as Progress Mentor and Functional Skills Tutor with SRSCC, Linda is looking forward to using her knowledge and skills to give guidance and support to others.

Anjali graduated from Edge Hill University in 1993 with a BA (Hons) in English with Qualified Teacher Status. She worked as a primary school teacher and supply teacher for over 25 years in different schools located in Derbyshire and Lancashire. In addition to her teaching qualifications, Anjali also holds TEFL and mentor certifications. She has also have volunteered with Lancashire Women, a charity that aids women in returning to employment, and worked at a local Barnardo’s shop alongside this.

Anjali’s aim is to apply her teaching knowledge and experience to her mentoring position by supporting, guiding, and assisting learners in accomplishing their goals.

Maddy graduated from Huddersfield University in 2009 with 2:1 in drama. She went on to travel and work in various customer-facing roles around the world. After returning to the UK, Maddy found her passion for marketing and social media and has supported companies as they look to grow their brand both nationally and international. 

Maddy is currently studying for the CIM Level 6 Digital Marketing Diploma.

Outside of work, Maddy can be found running around a hockey pitch or going for muddy walks with her husband and kids. 

With over fifteen years’ experience in the education sector, Matthew is passionate about enabling learners to achieve their potential and breaking down barriers that may exist in ones learning journey.

Matthew graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2008 with an BA(Hons) in Politics before moving into employment as a Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant. After a number of years in this position, Matthew gained his Qualified Teaching Status at St Mary’s University, before taking up a primary teaching post. In addition to classroom teaching, Matthew developed in his role as a middle-leader by heading the Physical Education, Religious Education and RSHE departments.

In his spare time, Matthew enjoys playing a number of sports such as football, golf and cricket, riding various types of heritage trains and buses, and is a keen reader of anything historical.

Matthew prides himself on his ability to get the best possible outcomes for his learners and has a proven track-record of achieving great results whilst giving people the tools they need to continue their learning as they move onto the next stage in their career.

Emily went straight into work after finishing school, working in the customer service sector for six years. After some time, Emily returned to studying alongside for her role in customer service and completed her qualifications in Animal Behavior and Zoology. Since getting back into education, she has found her love for learning, making SRSCC the perfect fit for her new passion.

Emily recently moved from Hampshire and set up her new roots in the Lancaster area where she also volunteers with Cats Protection. Emily relocated to be with her longtime partner, and they aim to travel the world as much as possible. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and watching an array of true crime documentaries.

With over 25 years procurement and business practitioner experience, Ruth is passionate about engaging with students of all levels and making learning fun and enjoyable for all.

Ruth started her career in automotive via a company traineeship at Peugeot in 1990 and this is where she decided that purchasing was her niche. Following on from her degree Ruth has worked in various companies within the automotive and telecommunications sectors, particularly GPT, Marconi, ID Data Systems and JLR as a buyer progressing to senior management positions, and latterly designing, developing and delivering training courses for procurement within JLR.

In 2002 Ruth decided to move into the education sector delivering teaching and training in a wide range of Business, Strategy, Management, Operations & Supply and HR modules at Coventry University. This was combined with CIPS teaching delivery at City College Coventry across a wide range of the syllabus at all levels and becoming CIPS Course Manager. She was responsible for her and the team taking the college from a “Highly Commended” provider to a “Centre of Excellence”. Alongside this she has worked with CIPS as an assessor for 16 years, through syllabus changes for a variety of modules, specialising in Management in the Procurement Function and been an assessor on the Corporate Award Programme.

During her time working she has studied a BA Honours Degree in Business Information Technology, MBA in International Business and PGC in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education along with MCIPS and attaining Chartered Status. Having a combined knowledge of working in Further Education and Higher Education has provided Ruth with a broad spectrum of education subject knowledge in addition to Procurement Professionalism. Having a combined experience of procurement practice, business and education enables Ruth to give real life examples from experience within different organisational sectors that students can relate easily to.

After being on maternity leave for a couple of years, Rachel decided it was time to pursue a career in Accounting and Finance. Rachel started studying her AAT Level 2 in 2022 and aims to continue studying her AAT course through to Level 3 and 4.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going on long walks and shopping.