Skills Commission inquiry into Level 4 and 5 Higher Technical Qualifications evidence session 1

The Skills Commission’s inquiry into Level 4 and 5 Higher Technical Qualifications held its first evidence session via Zoom on Wednesday 11 May 2022.

The inquiry is co-chaired by:

• Sir John Hayes MP
• Baroness Garden of Frognal
• Graham Hasting-Evans, CEO of NOCN Group

The evidence session focused on the Construction pathways and the Legal, Finance, and Accounting pathways.

Oral evidence was provided on Level 4 and 5 Higher Technical Qualifications by the following expert witnesses:

• Ian Woodcroft, Head of Policy and Government Relations, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)
• Jonathan Bourne, Managing Director, DAMAR Training
• Dr Sue Pember CBE, Policy Director, HOLEX (Adult Community Education)
• Martyn Price MBE, Chair, Cross Construction Apprenticeship Task Force
• Stuart Pedley-Smith, Head of Learning, Kaplan Financial
• Robert Boucherat, Head of Apprenticeship Quality & Compliance, Kaplan Financial
• Ben Kinross, Apprenticeship Engagement Officer, National Society for Apprentices/National Union of Students
• Professor Alfred Seaman, Professor and Programme Director BComm & Accounting, Humber College of Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

The following commissioners and observers participated in the session:

• Katharine Emms, Senior Education & Policy Researcher, Edge Foundation
• Jonathan Shaw, Strategic Director, Kent Further Education
• Graham Razey OBE, CEO EKC Group, Kent Further Education
• Dr Jane Towers-Clark, Head of Academic Partnerships, ACCA Global
• Joe Fitzsimmons, Policy Manager, ACCA Global
• David Morgan, CEO Career Development Institute, Career Development Policy Group
• Dr David Cameron, Director of Education, CILEX – the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
• Michelle Gauntlett, Director of Operations, The CPD Standards Office
• Clare Fraser, Public Affairs Manager, City & Guilds Group
• Beatrice Barleon, Head of Public Affairs and Policy, Engineering UK
• Paul Rice, Product Development Manager, Enginuity
• Sam Green, Head of Research and Planning, LTE Group
• Michael Walsh, Vice Principal and Dean, Manchester College/UECN College
• Chris Wright, Assistant Principal: Industry Excellence and Skills Excellence, Manchester College
• Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Derby
• Gila Tabrizi, Senior Policy Manager, WorldSkills UK
• Selene Washington, Senior Engagement & Planning Manager, Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education
• Matthew White, Assistant Director, Higher Technical Education Division, Department for Education
• Natascha Engel, CEO, Policy Connect

Please contact teymour.anwar@policyconnect.org.uk for further information.