Speaking of Excellence...

This episode explores how to foster a culture of compliance within organisations. We will delve into why compliance is crucial for sustainable success, how it can be integrated seamlessly into daily operations, and the benefits of a robust compliance model for employees, stakeholders, and the organisation as a whole.Joining Lou Doyle... Heather Collins – London South Bank UniversityJo McCormack – Education Partnership North EastPaul Rogers – WS TrainingAlisha Burke – NCFE 

Dr Barbara Van Der Eecken guest hosts the episode 😍It's another inspiring, powerful and heartwarming discussion.We will hear from two successful, multi-awarding winning, providers who are leading the way in transforming women's employment outcomes through innovative approaches and practical support.Our guests are Liz Sewell and Kaneez Fatima from Belina GROW and Jane Knight from Successful Mums Academy.They share their strategies for creating high-quality employability and training provision designed to engage and support women into meaningful work.

This episode delves into the complexities of managing multiple partnerships while maintaining high standards of quality. We discuss effective strategies, potential challenges, and success stories to inspire and inform listeners. Our guest host is Alex Miles, Managing Director of Yorkshire Learning Providers. Alex is joined by Lois Calvert, Multiply York and North Yorkshire and Hayley Lord, South Tyneside Council. Despite having very different roles within the sector, Hayley and Lois have a lot in common and are able to share some fascinating insights into: Developing a positive and constructive relationship with a large subcontractor network Managing quality standards across different types of accredited and non-accredited programmes Supporting people who aren't used to formal learning and making an impact where is most needed Insights into being a local authority learning provider How quality professionals are finding their voice and coming together to share great practice across the skills sector During the session, Hayley mentioned how a tutor's resource, "Alphabet Squares" was shared during one of the supply chain CPD sessions. They are a creative and engaging way to plan for exploring key themes within a specific subject area, ensuring that learning remains relevant and meaningful. Each letter of the alphabet is linked to an industry-related topic, incorporating essential embedded subjects such as Maths, English, ICT, Safeguarding, and more. Hayley has kindly shared 2 examples of English and Maths Alphabet Squares with listeners. You can download them here.

Welcome to part 2 of this special two-part episode! In Part 1, Lou Doyle explored how apprenticeships and universities have joined forces in what our guests call a “mutually disruptive but positive” way. In this episode, we’re diving deeper into the award-winning project itself. Join Professor Daryll Bravenbour (Middlesex University), Dr. Mandy Crawford-Lee (UVAC), and Clare Dunn (Open University) as they discuss: ✅ How the project came to life✅ Its impact on career progression in healthcare✅ The broader benefits it’s delivering✅ Why it matters—and what the future holds for higher-level apprenticeships. If you’re passionate about education, healthcare careers, or apprenticeships, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Lou is joined by Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee (UVAC), Prof. Darryll Bravenbour (Middlesex University), and Clare Dunn (The Open University). They set out to explore the role HEIs play in widening access to education and careers since the apprenticeship reforms in England. They ended up having two insightful discussions. Firstly, they discussed how the growth in apprenticeships in Universities and HEIs over recent years has had a 'disruptive' influence on both apprenticeships and HEIs. We felt this discussion deserved its own episode. Look out for the next episode, in which they discuss the collaborative project that won them special recognition with a highly commended award at The Quality Professionals Awards 2024.

With rare exception, all providers will find themselves in a situation where some or all of their provision is struggling to meet the standards set. It takes strong leadership to take colleagues on a journey of improvement. What have our guests learned about transforming the quality of education within their own organisations that might help inform the leadership practice of others? In this episode Lou Doyle is joined by: Ranjit Singh is the VP of quality and learner experience at Hull College. Sarah Burrows – Chief Education Officer, PMA Education, Lee Lister – Campus Principle, Education Partnership North East.

In this episode, Lou Doyle, CEO, Mesma is joined by Andy Tait, Performance Learning Group, Jogita Govind, LEAP Apprenticeships, and Dani Duric, Reed in Partnership. They explore the importance of cultivating a continuous improvement mindset and discuss strategies for fostering a culture of innovation, overcoming resistance to change, and effectively measuring success. By sharing examples and practical tips, they highlight how involving staff, students, and customers can drive meaningful progress. Join us as we cross-check ideas on the way continuous improvement can thrive in FE and Employability.

Lou Doyle is joined by Melissa Gardiner (then Associate Director of Quality and Performance, Middlesbrough College), Emma Simpson (Teaching and Learning Mentor, Apprenticeships at Middlesbrough College) and Tracey Bedford (Head of Quality at WS Training Ltd.) One of the most significant shifts since the apprenticeship reforms took hold has been the move from programmes dominated by assessing existing skills to those that set out to develop new knowledge, skills, and behaviours. Many providers and trainers are still on this journey. What have our guests learned about the transition within their own organisations that might help inform changes for others in the FE and skills sector?