OUR BOARD

Vice Chair of the Lancashire Work based Learning Executive Forum. Claire has extensive experience in the skills and Further Education Sector, in particular, leading Business Development and Employer Engagement for FE Colleges. Claire is currently Senior Business Development Manager at Blackburn College.

As Vice Chair of the Lancashire Work Based Learning Forum,  Claire is committed to working collaboratively to  promote growth of high quality, technical, professional and vocational education across Lancashire, ensuring that the talent pipeline meets the demands of the business community.

Ian is the Chief Executive Officer of Greater Merseyside Learning Providers’ Federation (GMLPF) which brings together a network of Liverpool City Region (LCR) based Independent Training Providers, Colleges, HEIs and Voluntary Sector organisations. Ian has been in post for 7 years having worked in the world of education, skills and employment locally since 1992.

SYPN are the voice of South Yorkshire’s Independent Training Providers (ITPs).

Lisa’s role is to champion the incredible skills training happening across our region. Connecting a network of diverse ITPs with regional and national stakeholders. Through collaboration and advocacy, Lisa celebrates achievements, addresses challenges, and pushes for continuous improvement in skills development.

Nick Smith is the Chief Executive of TTE Training Limited (TTE), an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ and award-winning engineering training provider based at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. TTE primarily trains process maintenance and operations apprentices on behalf of COMAH regulated manufacturing employers, including INEOS Inovyn, Essar Oil (UK) and Urenco. Nick currently represents Cheshire and Warrington training providers as a director and board member of the Northern Skills Network, and small and medium providers as a board member of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP). He is also a Chartered Manager and Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, and is the volunteer Chair of the CMI’s West Midlands & North West regional board. Nick’s other volunteer roles include being a trustee and non-executive director at the Northern Consortium educational charity and a member at the Great Academies multi academy trust.

I am Chair of Yorkshire Learning Providers, MD of Woodspeen Training Limited and I believe that learners and employers should be at the heart of everything we deliver.

Having worked in the education sector for over 40 years within Independent Training Providers, I am personal, passionate and professional about Skills, Employability Training and Apprenticeships. I ensure that all learning is inclusive to all and that all learners wellbeing is a priority enabling them to reach their full potential.

Julie Shawcross is an accomplished Business Development Director, specialising in building and managing Bid Teams capable of crafting winning proposals within the apprenticeship, training, skills and employability sector. As the Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Provider Network, she is leading collaborative working between all FE providers in the sub-region. With a strong focus on strategic thinking and wider community engagement, Julie is dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration to benefit employers. learners and training providers. Her reputation for excellence and commitment to advancing workforce development makes her a respected leader in the field.

Mark is one of the founding members of the NSN and Chair of GMLPN since 2004. He has been a driving force in promoting the value of vocational and technical education and skills in the north of England.

Additionally, Mark is CEO of Mantra Learning, founded in 1968 and one of the largest Logistics Training Providers in the North and its sister company The National Logistics Academy, the largest provider of logistics. He has over 32 years of director and board level experience and serves as a board member for Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

CEO and Founder of B-Skill Limited, a National Independent Training Provider, established in 2000 and based on Tyneside.

Paul is passionate about helping everyone achieve their full potential through Work-based Learning and Skills, especially in the North of England. He has been on the Management Group of the North-East Learning Provider network (NELP) for many years and representing NELP on the Northern Skills Network Board since its launch. Paul believes that by working together, the provider networks in the North of England can make a real difference to the opportunities available to their members.