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Apprenticeship Reference Group

Group Chair

Linda Dean, Vice Principal Apprenticeships, Business and People, Blackpool and The Fylde College

Members:

  • Barney Willis , Head of Apprenticeship and Traineeship Operations, Weston College
  • Brian Malyan, Vice Principal for Technical and Vocational Education, Derby College Group
  • Carl Riding, Vice Principal – Employer Partnerships & Adult Provision, Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG)
  • Danielle Houghton, Assistant Principal: Apprenticeships, Trafford & Stockport College Group (TSCG)
  • Darren Coventry, Assistant Principal Apprenticeships and Business Development, City of Portsmouth College
  • Debbie Houghton, Group Principal for Apprenticeships, Partnerships and Innovation, Capital City College Group
  • Elliot Blair, Group Head of Apprenticeships, Bedford College Group (The)
  • Gina Steele, Deputy Managing Director Total People, LTE Group
  • Grant Glendinning, CEO and Group Principal, Education Training Collective
  • Helen Rose, Vice Principal External Relations & Apprenticeships, Kirklees College
  • Jackie Lanagan, Assistant Principal Curriculum and Partnerships, East Durham College
  • Jacqui Canton, Principal, Abingdon and Witney College
  • Jenny Scrivens, Head of Apprenticeships and Skills, Stoke on Trent College
  • John Kelly, Director of Delivery Faculty of Construction & Engineering , Activate Learning
  • John Lyne, Chair, Tameside College
  • Kam Dehal, Vice Principal - Business Development, East Surrey College (Orbital South Colleges)
  • Lauren Goff, Quality & Standards Coordinator, Reaseheath College
  • Lisa Kniveton, Assistant Principal: Apprenticeships, Trafford & Stockport College Group (TSCG)
  • Lisa Parish, Assistant Principal- Curriculum Strategy and Innovation, West Suffolk College
  • Mike Blakeley, Executive Director of Apprenticeships and Future Skills, Exeter College
  • Morag Davis, Assistant Principal for Technical Curriculum, East Lancashire Learning Group (ELLG)
  • Nichola Jones, Group Director of Apprenticeships/Business, Bedford College Group (The)
  • Nicki Clarke, Executive Director of Apprenticeships, Hull College
  • Nicola Raine, Assistant Principal for Apprenticeships and Business Development, Derwentside College
  • Rachael Smith, Director of Faculty - Apprenticeships and Workbased Learning, Walsall College
  • Rachel Corns, Assistant Principal, Dudley College of Technology
  • Richard Roberts, Director of Apprenticeships & Commercial Development, Hertford Regional College
  • Ritchie Bywater, Head of Apprenticeships, Askham Bryan College
  • Samantha King, Group Director of Business Engagement and Apprenticeships, Bedford College Group (The)
  • Sarah Stephens-Lewis, Assistant Principal for Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement - Workplace Learning Central, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS)
  • Sharon Bennett, Director of Apprenticeships & Partnerships, New College Durham
  • Sharon Yates, Assistant Principal - Apprenticeships & Business Hub, Reaseheath College

Meeting dates 2025/26

  • Friday 10 October 2025 10:00am-11:30am
  • Tuesday 10 February 2026 14:00pm-15:30pm
  • Wednesday 13 May 2026 14:00pm-15:30pm

Past meetings: