Panellist Biographies

Apprenticeships - panellists

Nigel Fenn

SW Water and SW Apprenticeship Ambassador

Nigel heads up Learning and Development at South West Water where he is responsible for all the employee training and talent management activities. He started an apprenticeship programme in 2011 to address a skills gap and respond to the ageing workforce where 40% of the operational employees where within 10 years of retirement.  Nigel is also the Chair of the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network which supports local businesses to start or grow their apprenticeship activities and promotes apprenticeships as a high quality career path option.

TBC

National Apprenticeship Service

Biography pending...

Ian Munroe

sw association of colleges

Ian is the Regional Director for the Association of Colleges (South West) and works closely with Colleges and their strategic leadership teams, governors and staff. Ian has taught and managed in FE before moving into senior leadership with responsibilities for Curriculum and Corporate Development and Higher Education.

Ian began his career in the Ministry of Defence, before moving to the private sector managing various international joint venture projects for the Centre for Maritime Co-operation and was seconded to the International Maritime Bureau to develop an international concordat between IMO and major shipping nations to reduce fraud within the maritime sector.

Ian has a Degree in Naval Architecture and a Master’s Degree in Construction and Project Management and has taught  and managed  both in FE and HE and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Directors.

Ian also leads on various AoC areas nationally and is co-director of the Hinkley Point Training Agency a collaboration of colleges and independent training providers and supported by the HoTSW LEP  and EDF.

Making the most of your workforce -panellists

Helen Lacey

redberry recruitment

Helen Lacey is the Managing Director for a multi- award winning recruitment agency  Red Berry Recruitment ltd . As well as running her business Helen sits as the Chair for the Somerset Institute of Directors, is the Vice Chair for the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, a LEP Board Director and a Non-Executive Director for Inspire to Achieve, as well as sitting on a number of skills, education  and people task groups across the county.

Helens company Red Berry Recruitment ltd has been trading for over 10 years and their offices are situated  in Bridgwater, Yeovil, Shepton Mallet and Cardiff. Helen has over 20 years recruitment experience and  18 years Management experience, has a degree in Psychology and Business and an interest in all things fashion!

Helen has a real passion for sales and marketing , and enjoys helping businesses with ideas as to how they can promote themselves and grow their businesses. She also says she still gets real satisfaction when her team make a difference to the lives of others by finding them the perfect recruit or ideal job!

Paul Tansey

chairman of dorset chamber of commerce

Paul Tansey is Managing Director of B2B Digital Marketing Agency Intergage - one of Dorset's longest standing digital marketing businesses and a specialist in marketing automation. 

Paul is an award winning entrepreneur and as 2018 President of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry he takes a keen interest in all things Dorset. Being passionate about technology and marketing, Paul is a frequent speaker on a variety of marketing topics as well as the future of technology and business.

In his private life Paul lives in Poole with wife Tanith, where the couple spend much of their time with their growing family - they have three sons and 2 grandsons - but also enjoy international motorcycle touring and have clocked up many tens of thousands of miles riding around Europe and the globe. When not touring with wife Tanith, Paul can be found sharpening his motorcycle skills on racetracks or supporting AFC Bournemouth.

Deborah Waddell

sw director - cbi

Deborah was appointed director - south west in June 2014. Her role involves running the member relationship function for CBI in the south west, representing the region's business community on policy issues and ensuring regional businesses have a voice within the CBI’s campaigns. The CBI membership in the south west has grown considerably under Deborah’s leadership. This has been led by a focus and subsequent growth in rural, food and drink companies and manufacturing representation.  

Before joining the CBI Deborah was previously responsible for Education Business Partnership – South West (EBP-SW and now known as CSW Ltd). Here she successfully converted EBP-SW from a small grant funded Devon focused organisation to a profitable seven figure turnover social enterprise. Deborah has also previously worked in the coal mining sector and civil service.

She graduated from the University of Manchester with a M.A. (Econ) Politics in 1999 after which she spent some time in Thailand and Laos with World Vision.

Verity Davidge

head of education and skills policy at eef, the manufacturers' organisation

Working alongside the Director of Employment and Skills Policy, Verity is responsible for developing EEF’s skills, education and employment policy. She responds to government consultations and inquiries on employment, skills and education issues. She also supports EEF’s National Employment and Skills Policy Committee as well as leading EEF’s regional skills groups.

Verity regularly appears in print media where she writes about why it's important that manufacturers have access to the right quality and quantity of skills. She is the co-author of EEF’s Skills for Growth, Up-Skill Battle, Lifting the Lid on the Levy and Making Migration Work for Manufacturers report.

Verity has represented the views of manufacturers on a number of high-level stakeholder group including the Home Office Employer Representative Group on EU migration and DfE Apprenticeship Levy Transfers Group.  She has also represented EEF at APPG and Parliamentary Select Committee hearings.

Prior to joining EEF, Verity worked at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry where she led on employment and skills in. Prior to the LCCI she worked at the public affairs agency College Public Policy.

Verity has a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics as well as an MSc in Public Affairs and Lobbying.

Employer led skills priorities -panellists

Steve Cardew

plymouth employment and skills board

Steve Cardew retired as the CEO of Kawasaki Precision Machinery in March 2017. Steve had worked for Kawasaki at the Plymouth site for 23 years in a variety of positions including Operations, Sales and Managing Director which meant he had responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the Plymouth site and operations in the UK.

Steve has worked in the manufacturing sector for 44 years, as the MD of Kawasaki Steve Chaired the Plymouth Manufacturing Group (PMG) for 3 years from 2011-14.

In 2015 Steve accepted an invitation to Chair the Employment Skills Board for the Plymouth area.

On retiring from his full time position Steve accepted the position of Non-Executive Chair of the Board at Kawasaki and continues to support the business on a part time basis which includes representing the Company by attending a number of networking groups across the City and UK.

Current Positions held:-                                                                                                        

  • Non-Executive Chair of Board Kawasaki Precision Machinery UK
  • Chair of the Employment & Skills Board for Plymouth (ESB)
  • Member of the Plymouth Growth Board (PGB)
  • Executive Committee Member of the British Fluid Power Association (BFPA)
  • Member of the British Japanese Parliamentary Group (BJPG)

Fiona McMillan OBE

somerset Employment and Skills Board

A Non Executive Director on the Board of EDF Energy Nuclear New Build (NNB GenCo) with particular focus on People Development, Skills and Training, and Local Stakeholder Engagement. Formerly Principal for 18 years of Bridgwater College in Somerset, an Ofsted designated outstanding college, recognised for its business and industry engagement. Awarded OBE in 2003 for Services to Further Education.

Chair of the Somerset Employment and Skills Steering Group, and Vice Chair and Board Member of the HotSW LEP. Chair of the West Somerset Opportunity Area Partnership Board. Holds degrees in English from University of London, and Exeter University, and an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Bournemouth University.

Adam Powell

West of England Employment and Skills Board

Supporting inclusive economic growth, job creation and the development of a skilled workforce across the West of England to meet the current and future needs of education and business, communities and individuals. Since 2014, Adam has led a Local Enterprise Partnership skills team – now within the newly established West of England Combined Authority – working in partnership with leaders from schools, colleges, universities and private training providers, unitary authorities, government departments and many other stakeholders towards a shared regional economic strategy promoting prosperity for all.

At Bath Spa University, Adam held senior management-level responsibility for the University's employability strategy and engagement with external partners as Head of Enterprise & Local Partnerships. This followed several years as Head of Employability and Manager of Artswork, Bath Spa University's Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning for the creative industries, his first venture in to higher education since graduating from the University of Aberdeen (BSc Psychology, 1996) and City University, London (Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Administration, 1997).

Prior to his career in higher education, Adam worked in the creative and cultural industries for around ten years, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Association of British Orchestras. He worked in a range of capacities within a number of arts organisations including National Youth Music Theatre, London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Royal College of Music and has toured extensively as a percussionist and arts manager across Europe, North America and Asia.

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampowell/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/adam_powell

Ian Girling

Dorset Employment and Skills Board

Ian Girling is the Chief Executive of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the county chamber accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce. Ian has a very strong focus delivering high-quality support with the development of new services and benefits for members and leads a modern and vibrant Chamber which is also responsible for the prestigious Dorset Business Awards. Ian has also led the development of a range of ground-breaking partnerships to give a powerful voice to our business community – including the Dorset Business Alliance, a strategic partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors as well as affiliation partnerships with nine town chambers from across Dorset. Ian has also led the development of the highly successful Dorset Young Chamber, an innovative programme building links between education and business. Ian has proven track record in skills development and business support through his role in running Business Link operations in Dorset before supporting the development of the first Growth Hub model. With a strong focus on collaborative working, Ian is passionate about developing enterprise in an environment where businesses can flourish.

 Ian is also a Board member of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Chair of the Employment and Skills Board.

Paul Massey

chair of cornwall and isles of scilly employment and skills board

Paul Massey was born and raised in Cornwall. He lives with his family on a farm near Redruth and his children are a third generation to attend Pool School. Having studied at Truro College and Cornwall College, he pursued a career in software development. By the age of 22 he had started his own business, Bluefruit Software, which now employs over 40 staff, and continues on a high growth curve.

Paul plays an intrinsic role in the Digital Industry in Cornwall including playing a key role in Software Cornwall and trailblazing employer-led projects like the Software Summer School.

He is Managing Director of Bluefruit Software Ltd, Chair of the Employment and Skills Board, Founding Member of Software Cornwall and Trustee of Racehorse Relief.