Meet the Team
We have over 100 staff to support you on your learning journey
From our directors to our tutors, everyone has one goal in common – to change lives through learning.
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Find out more about the people behind Somerset Skills & Learning and put names and faces to who you might be dealing with. All of our staff are passionate about transforming lives through learning.
Chief Executive
Kathryn joined SS&L in June 2015. Prior to this she was the Director of Funding, Information & Resources at Somerset College. During her 22 year career within the education and training sector she has undertaken a variety of roles including, Senior Manager for SS&L, Curriculum Manager (ICT / Business) for Somerset County Council and Corporate Training Officer for Bristol City Council.
Non Executive Director & Chairman
Dominic has been working in finance for over 40 years. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG, he worked with them in financial and IT consultancy. He then spent many years as a Finance Director for manufacturing PLCs, specialising in company reconstructions and acquisitions, before joining the housing sector where he spent the last 20 years helping major housing associations in London & Bath to diversify into private housing development as a means of subsidising their social housing activities. He is now semi-retired while still doing some consultancy. He has had significant non-executive experience both in the housing and education sectors and currently sits on the board of a specialist publishing business in Edinburgh.
Director of Curriculum
Justin's passion for teaching and training began while teaching English as a foreign language in Spain. Before joining the SS&L family, Justin worked in the youth sector for 10 years supporting young people to reach their full potential through access to education, employment or training. Prior to his appointment to SS&L, Justin formed part of the Somerset Rural Youth Project's senior management team as Programme Manager.
Non Executive Director
Nicola Squibb joins the board of SS&L as non-executive director bringing over twenty years experience of working in the careers, employability, education and training sectors. Nicola has held a number of senior management positions at Prospects Services a leading national employee owned company most recently as Regional Director in the South West and the Shaw Trust a national charity. Prior to this Nicola was a board member of Careerfinder Ltd and commenced her career at Bridgwater College and Somerset College.
Non Executive Director and Chairman of the Business Development Committee
Richard Wilkins brings twenty years of experience working in the information technology sector in business development, sales leadership and digital transformation. Richard has held a number of senior management positions at global technology companies including Zones Inc, Skillsoft Inc, and Insight Inc. Richard has a degree in Chemical Physics from the University of East Anglia.
Non Executive Director and Chairman of the Quality and Curriculum Committee
Steve joins the SS&L board as a Non Executive Director following a four year appointment in Essex as Principal of an Adult Community College. He is currently working as a Further Education consultant which so far has involved projects on localism/devolution and area reviews. Steve is also working part-time in a training and development role at Somerset County Council. Steve spent a significant period of his working career in various roles with the former SS&L organisation and he is excited to see the organisation grow and prosper as a major learning provider in the South West.
Staff Director
Emma joined SS&L in February 2020 after years of experience in the education and care sectors. She first learned of SS&L after working towards a diploma in Business Administration with us. She enjoys problem solving and utilising technology to update processes.
Staff Director
Delivery Manager
Employability Manager
Early Years Academy Manager
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Course Leader – Schools
Course Leader – English & Maths
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Course Leader – Early Years
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Quality Manager
Course Leader
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Janet’s passion and purpose is to enable people development through personal and professional growth opportunities, joining the SS&L Community Learning Team in September 2020.
Leaving a career within the corporate commercial world Janet transitioned into a career within education and training in 2014, after many years working directly and indirectly with a diverse range of industries and sectors, to follow her passion to utilise her skills, experience and passion to enable people development through personal and professional growth opportunities.
Janet’s expertise includes:
Personal Development courses including Developing Personal Confidence and Self-Awareness, Effective Time Management, Understanding Imposter Syndrome, Developing Emotional Resilience, Understanding Communication and Behaviours styles, Developing Assertive Communications and Behaviours, Problem Solving, Career Transition, and Menopause Awareness and more…………
As well as personal development Janet is an enabler of skills development and offers insight courses into subjects such as, An Insight into Volunteering, An Insight into Counselling and Starting your own business - the basics and essential elements you need to know.
Having a varied career based around customer service, leadership and management, recruitment, sales, manufacturing, Janet is a Tutor and Assessor for accredited and apprenticeship courses also.
Very solutions focused living by her mantra ‘ there is always a solution, sometimes we have to dig deeper to find the solution’ enables her to help others through coaching and guidance.
Enjoys Walking - has walked the entire 630 miles of the South West Coast Path (not all in one go!)
Tutor
I’m Georgie, I am the Beauty Lecturer for Somerset Skills & Learning. I have been working within the Beauty Sector since 1997 and I have seen many trends come and go. I love teaching every aspect of beauty and I love to provide treatments where I can; helping people is always high on my priority list. My interests include cooking, socialising, running and enjoying my two little sons and family.
Tutor
Kay has worked in the creative arts and health & wellbeing sectors for over thirty years. Teaching and inspiring others in the development of their own creativity is now Kay’s primary focus and she was delighted to join Somerset Skills & Learning in the Summer of 2021.
Tutor
As a Digital Skills tutor I really enjoy being around people, contributing positively to people’s digital lives and the wider digital community. Technology has moved on so quickly, which had meant many people have felt left behind and at times have missed opportunities due to a lot of services moving to online-only platforms.
The aim of my role is to minimize digital exclusion and enhance further digital skills. Delivering digital skills to all age groups from 6+ year olds and teenagers, right up to my oldest group aged 80+. I teach skills such as, how to switch on a smart device and make a call, to more advanced digital skill sessions on coding and website design.
Digital skill can sound overwhelming, especially when we see friends and family whizzing away on their devices like there is no tomorrow. I only know too well how people who want to learn skills are shown so quickly they don’t get the chance to see how it was done.
The Digital skills session we run is all about helping you become confident to use your devices in the way you want. It may be that you are wanting to do online shopping, find information or further your career. Doing a digital skills course will provide you with the skills and confidence to become independent and stay safe whilst using your devices.
Tutor
Felicity joined the SS&L Community Learning Team in January 2022. Prior to this she has worked in several roles within The Priory Group’s Education Provisions over a 9 year period, working with 5yrs to 21yr olds with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Associated conditions. Felicity graduated with a degree in Creative Expressive Therapies in 2013 and is passionate about using the creative arts for expression, exploration and wellbeing. Felicity delivers a number of workshops and courses at SS&L around autism awareness, emotional regulation and facilitates community arts groups. As well as running family workshops to encourage connection and learning through play.
Account Manager - Covers Mendip and Wiltshire
Laurie joined SS&L in June 2018, after six years’ experience of working within the education and learning industry including apprenticeships, adult learning and employability lead projects. Laurie is part of the employment engagement team and works with business’s across Somerset to support apprenticeship recruitment and upskilling for employed staff.
Account Manager - Covers North Somerset and West Somerset
Georgina joined SS&L in 2007 as an Early Years NVQ Assessor and went on to teach for 10 years before joining the employer engagement team. Georgina is passionate about working with employers to train and develop their staff to be the best they can be and will source the most appropriate funding. Prior to joining SS&L Georgina has extensive experience in retail and hospitality management, customer service, childminding, pre-schools and children’s centres.
Senior Account Manager - Covers South and Central Somerset and Dorset
Penny has been with SS&L for many years, starting as Office Manager at Castle Cary and progressing to Senior Account Manager covering all of Somerset and heading up the apprenticeship recruitment team. She has been involved in training and apprenticeships for more than 20 years and works with employers supporting them to develop and grow their businesses through apprenticeships and staff training.
Head of Marketing & Employer Engagement
Dave joined SS&L in 2017 after almost 15 years managing the commercial team in the West Country for Global, the media group behind Classic FM, Heart and Capital. With an accomplished background in managing client relationships and leading sales teams, Dave works with employers to help develop and grow their businesses through apprenticeships and staff training. Dave also leads our marketing team.
Recruitment Advisor
Lisa is our Recruitment Advisor, as part of the employer engagement team. Lisa has a background in managing client relationships and previous experience in a similar role. She is passionate about working with potential learners to support them with their first steps into training and employment. Prior to joining SS&L Lisa has also worked in Education, Training and Customer Support roles.
Community Learning Lead
Sara is our Community Learning Partnership Lead who oversees community learning, contracts, performance and quality and compliance. She is passionate about supporting others, changing lives and has a wealth of experience in engaging with the community and delivering quality education and training. Sara enjoys seeing the positive impact that the fantastic projects have.
Community Partnership Coordinator
Andy is an experienced Community Partnerships Coordinator and Staff Director. He is very keen to nurture, support and help develop adult learning opportunities for disadvantaged groups across Mendip and Sedgemoor.
Community Learning Administrator
Anna provides excellent administrative support to the wider community learning team and our community learning partners. Anna co-ordinates meetings, communicates with external partners and tutors, creates contracts, collates due diligence requirements, records payments to partners, quality checks learning plans, inputs data and updates performance data. Anna’s role is fundamental to community learning.
Anna is also a dog groomer and has to admit- dogs really are her best friends!
Community Learning Partnership Co-ordinator
Catherine brings a wealth of experience in community learning, networking and partnerships.
Community Learning Co-ordinator
Based in Frome, Emily oversees the community learning across Mendip ensuring a programme of delivery is in place to support the local community with learning, health and wellbeing. Emily networks across Mendip providing learning to community groups and ensuring SS&L has a diverse offer for the Mendip community. Emily manages 2 tutors and utilises their skills and experience to enhance our programme of delivery.
Emily has an extensive background in community learning programmes and supporting the community and a lovely sense of humour!
Community Learning Co-ordinator
Rob has previously worked at Bridgwater and Taunton College in their Business Development team focussing on Business Development, employer engagement and apprentice recruitment.
Prior to this he was a year 5/6 primary school teacher working at 3 local primary schools.
Previous job roles have been managing the Taunton and West Somerset Children Centres and working at the West of England School and College for young people with little or no sight.
Rob is a unit who loves rugby having been a player, coach and spectator he also has a weakness for Hot Chilli Sauce, Beer and Heavy Metal music.
Tutor
Janet’s passion and purpose is to enable people development through personal and professional growth opportunities, joining the SS&L Community Learning Team in September 2020.
Leaving a career within the corporate commercial world Janet transitioned into a career within education and training in 2014, after many years working directly and indirectly with a diverse range of industries and sectors, to follow her passion to utilise her skills, experience and passion to enable people development through personal and professional growth opportunities.
Janet’s expertise includes:
Personal Development courses including Developing Personal Confidence and Self-Awareness, Effective Time Management, Understanding Imposter Syndrome, Developing Emotional Resilience, Understanding Communication and Behaviours styles, Developing Assertive Communications and Behaviours, Problem Solving, Career Transition, and Menopause Awareness and more…………
As well as personal development Janet is an enabler of skills development and offers insight courses into subjects such as, An Insight into Volunteering, An Insight into Counselling and Starting your own business - the basics and essential elements you need to know.
Having a varied career based around customer service, leadership and management, recruitment, sales, manufacturing, Janet is a Tutor and Assessor for accredited and apprenticeship courses also.
Very solutions focused living by her mantra ‘ there is always a solution, sometimes we have to dig deeper to find the solution’ enables her to help others through coaching and guidance.
Enjoys Walking - has walked the entire 630 miles of the South West Coast Path (not all in one go!)
Tutor
I’m Georgie, I am the Beauty Lecturer for Somerset Skills & Learning. I have been working within the Beauty Sector since 1997 and I have seen many trends come and go. I love teaching every aspect of beauty and I love to provide treatments where I can; helping people is always high on my priority list. My interests include cooking, socialising, running and enjoying my two little sons and family.
Tutor
Kay has worked in the creative arts and health & wellbeing sectors for over thirty years. Teaching and inspiring others in the development of their own creativity is now Kay’s primary focus and she was delighted to join Somerset Skills & Learning in the Summer of 2021.
Tutor
As a Digital Skills tutor I really enjoy being around people, contributing positively to people’s digital lives and the wider digital community. Technology has moved on so quickly, which had meant many people have felt left behind and at times have missed opportunities due to a lot of services moving to online-only platforms.
The aim of my role is to minimize digital exclusion and enhance further digital skills. Delivering digital skills to all age groups from 6+ year olds and teenagers, right up to my oldest group aged 80+. I teach skills such as, how to switch on a smart device and make a call, to more advanced digital skill sessions on coding and website design.
Digital skill can sound overwhelming, especially when we see friends and family whizzing away on their devices like there is no tomorrow. I only know too well how people who want to learn skills are shown so quickly they don’t get the chance to see how it was done.
The Digital skills session we run is all about helping you become confident to use your devices in the way you want. It may be that you are wanting to do online shopping, find information or further your career. Doing a digital skills course will provide you with the skills and confidence to become independent and stay safe whilst using your devices.
Tutor
Felicity joined the SS&L Community Learning Team in January 2022. Prior to this she has worked in several roles within The Priory Group’s Education Provisions over a 9 year period, working with 5yrs to 21yr olds with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Associated conditions. Felicity graduated with a degree in Creative Expressive Therapies in 2013 and is passionate about using the creative arts for expression, exploration and wellbeing. Felicity delivers a number of workshops and courses at SS&L around autism awareness, emotional regulation and facilitates community arts groups. As well as running family workshops to encourage connection and learning through play.
Choose to grow this July! This month we have a great selection of workshops and courses, both online and at locations in Somerset...
UpdatesThe Community Learning Partnership Fund for community learning projects is open for applications, with a closing date of Friday 15 July 2022. Find out more and how to apply...
UpdatesOur Early Years Team like to develop and grow too! They recently attended Nursery World 2022 as part of their continuing professional development...
