Joanne leads the consortium’s project bidding and delivery processes. Working closely with the LEP to pursue funding streams that can help to deliver projects to close the skills gaps for employers across the Leeds City Region. Joanne leads the core project team to ensure contracts are developed, implemented and executed successfully.

Joanne has worked in the public sector for over 25 years with experience in Project Management of large-scale complex EU and non-EU contracts from bid inception, performance management of supply chains to project completion. She has spent 16 years specifically within Further Education, maximising external funding opportunities with overall management responsibility for several regional and national Prime Contractor based ESF programmes.

Louise has worked for the Consortium since 2002 and leads on strategic partnerships. Working in collaboration with colleges, stakeholders and strategic partners, Louise ensures that the consortium delivers skills training to employers in the Leeds City Region in line with our LEP priorities.

Louise leads on the Joint Venture Partnership with colleges, as well as the Leeds City Region Skills Network, which connects colleges, universities, private providers and the voluntary sector.

Louise has worked in Further Education for over 25 years. A graduate of University College London and member of the British Psychological Society, Louise has taught in both FE colleges and universities.

Joanne is responsible for identifying and executing training and skills development programmes for employers and colleges within the Leeds City Region. Joanne leads on developing new training programmes in the construction, low carbon, transport, logistics, digital and creative sectors, to deliver a range of ESF projects.

Joanne has extensive experience of managing skills-related engagement in many sectors nationally and regionally - cyber security, digital, construction, advanced manufacturing, rail, energy efficiency, health, and climate change.

With a proven track record of project management, Joanne has developed successful proposals, costings, and secured and delivered complex and large-scale projects.

Clair’s role involves identifying and managing various skills development programmes and maximising opportunities for employers and colleges in Leeds City Region to access funding and support. Clair leads on developing training for various sectors including creative and digital, business, finance, hospitality, retail and health and social care.

With a background in FE, Clair is an experienced relationship manager with vast experience of stakeholder and project management alongside employer engagement and has worked for the Consortium since 2009.

Rachel is responsible researching and analysing market insight that may influence the programme design, delivery and ongoing review and evaluation of funded projects. Rachel leads on the action research demonstrator projects and develops stakeholder relationships that support research and intelligence across all projects.

Rachel has 10 years’ experience of engaging with change and developments in an external research funding environment, and a detailed understanding of the skills and inclusive growth agenda.

As a Skills Advisor, Jeremy liaises with businesses and organisations within the Leeds City Region focusing specifically within the Finance, Business, Creative and Digital sectors.

Jeremy’s role is to support businesses to fulfil their skills development/training needs, which will lead to growth for the individual businesses and, in turn lead to growth within the sector. As an advisor, he will link up employers with partner training providers and make sure that employer feedback helps shape the training offer in the region.

Jeremy has a wealth of experience working with employers from a wide range of sectors and working on ESF/ESIF funded projects such as the Skills Fund, the Skills Enhancement Fund, Workplace Learning and more recently the LEP skills service.

Jas supports both businesses and providers to meet local employer skills and training requirements within the Leeds City Region. Jas’s focus is on the Manufacturing and Engineering sectors.

Jas has extensive experience of employer supported training and working with regional funding streams. Jas can support both partners, colleges, employers and stakeholders to best utilise appropriate funding provision.

As a Skills Advisor, Parminder liaises with businesses and organisations within the Leeds City Region focusing specifically within the Infrastructure Construction and Low Carbon sectors.

Parminder supports businesses to fulfil their skills development and training needs, which will lead to growth for the individual businesses and, in turn lead to growth within the sector.

Parminder is experienced in staff training and workforce development, supporting those at risk from redundancy, developing skills for inward investors and as an account manager for workplace learning in the north of England.

David’s role as a Skills Advisor focuses on Engineering and Manufacturing. David brings together businesses and providers to deliver workforce training and skills solutions that can contribute to business growth and regional business development.

David has a background in finance, teaching abroad and in FE and as an assessor for Apprenticeships. David also has experience of working for private training providers which included experience of ESIF and commercial contracts.

Sharlotte is responsible for employer engagement and developing skills solutions within the Finance and Business, Creative and Digital and Medical Technologies sectors. Sharlotte works closely with partner colleges and providers to bridge skills gaps within these sectors.

Sharlotte’s previous role as Skills Engagement Advisor with the LEP Skills Service she supported businesses from across the Leeds City Region to achieve their growth ambitions through workforce development and training.

Sharlotte also held a key role in the development and implementation of a high value fully funded training programme for North Yorkshire employers during her time working in Calderdale Colleges’ External Funding Unit.

Michaela is responsible for working with Leeds City Region employers to identify training needs, establish suitable options and source appropriate funding. Michaela leads on the Hospitality and Tourism, Retail and Health and Social Care sectors.

Michaela has extensive strategic experience at senior management level within a number of industries including manufacturing, retail, construction and the charity sector. With a proven track record in producing successful business plans and funding proposals, Michaela has been working closely with SMEs for the last ten years to support start-ups, growth businesses and up-skill the workforce.

Kay manages and co-ordinates relationships between delivery partners & sub-contractors and WYCC once the Funding Agreement is live. Kay performance manages the delivery of contracted activity against profile and ensures quality assurance. Her role also includes making sure that all evidence conforms to the ESF guidelines, making claims to the Managing Authority and facilitating any external audits.

Kay comes to the team from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, where she worked on the Provider Risk and Assurance team, a role that she first started in 2005 for the Learning and Skills Council. As such, she has a wide range of experience covering several funding streams and post 16 learning.

Georgia manages and co-ordinates relationships between delivery partners & sub-contractors and WYCC once the Funding Agreement is live. Georgia performance manages the delivery of contracted activity against profile and ensures quality assurance. Her role also includes making sure that all evidence conforms to the ESF guidelines, making claims to the Managing Authority and facilitating any external audits.

Georgia has over 13 years’ experience working in the training and education industry both in the private and public sector, with the last 8 years spent working within HE managing relationships and contracts within externally funded projects across a breadth of industries and initiatives nationally.

Joanna is responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with delivery partners and sub-contractors ensuring WYCC contracts are managed effectively from approval to closure.

Joanna has a wide and varied work history within HE, Commercial, Professional and Manufacturing sectors including training within the private sector. For the past 11 years Joanna has worked within the public sector managing a number of funded projects, accounts and relationships across the country.

Clare is responsible for the contract management of individual agreements with delivery partners, sub-contractors and employers from approval through to closure.

Clare has over 15 years’ experience working in the training and education industry both in the private and public sector, working on a suite of ESF funded initiatives.

Over the last nine years Clare has successfully contract managed a diverse portfolio of supply chain providers across the North of England and a broad range of SME employers within key economic sector areas of the Leeds City Region.

Lyn is responsible for the contract management of partners and sub-contractors delivering for the WYCC once the Funding Agreement is live. Her role includes ensuring all delivery partners and sub-contractors conform to ESIF guidelines and deliver contracted training.

Lyn has 12 years’ experience working in the training and education industry mainly in public sector, working for Calderdale College. Most recently years spent working very closely with the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership delivering employer led training.

Emma is responsible for the overall development and implementation of procedures that support the effective contract management for WYCC Projects. Her role is to ensure clear linkages between engagement, supply chain and contract management, as well as the effective delivery of timely contracts to our partners.

Emma has nine years’ experience working in the training and education industry, mainly in the public sector working for Calderdale College one of the WYCC member colleges. Emma’s most recent experience was working very closely with the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership delivering employer led training.

Lucy is responsible for developing the reputation and brand of the consortium. Lucy’s role includes raising awareness of the ESF funded projects among stakeholders and making sure everyone is informed and engaged. She will support Joint Venture Colleges, providers and employers with their marketing and communications to deliver, successful programmes within the ESF projects.

Lucy’s day to day role includes stakeholder and media relations, social media management, web content development, copywriting, branding, campaign planning and PR.

Lucy has worked in public sector marketing and communications for over 15 years including further and higher education establishments, emergency services and the NHS.

Alice is responsible for communicating developments within the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges, the Leeds City Region Skills Network, the region’s priority sectors and funding organisations with stakeholders. Alice’s role enables the Consortium to effectively engage in new opportunities. Alice supports the Partnership Director with the co-ordination of the the Leeds City Region Skills Network and the Marketing and Communications Manager with the delivery of the communication plan.

Alice is an experienced relationship manager with a history of working in the private learning industry. Alice is skilled in communication and stakeholder engagement, she also has an academic background in journalism.