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Skills Sub-group

Chair: Richard Byard – OxLEP (Acting Chair)

The Skills Sub-group brings together a diverse range of expertise from various sectors including public and private employers, education providers and stakeholder groups.

Working in collaboration with our OxLEP Skills team, this group strives to enhance the skills and capabilities available to employers in Oxfordshire, as well as providing better learning opportunities for young people, residents and the broader workforce.

Its key commitments include:

  • Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of skills needs and priorities in Oxfordshire
  • Strengthening the connections between businesses and learning providers
  • Enhancing skills development and business support services for employers
  • Establishing stronger relationships with employment and skills organisations at the county and regional levels
  • Encouraging higher aspirations and promoting economic wellbeing

Other sub-group members:

  • Nico Decourt: Head of Educational Partnerships, Directorate of Marketing, Recruitment & Engagement Member – Oxford Brookes University
  • Kate Berman: Operations Director – Olamalu
  • Jo Lynch: Senior Partnership Manager, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire District (Covering Imelda Goldsboro) –Department for Work and Pensions
  • Lisa Lyons: Director for Childrens’ Services – Oxfordshire County Council
  • Prof Ewart Keep: Director, SKOPE – University of Oxford
  • Richard Kennell: Managing Director – SOFEA
  • Eddy McDowall: Executive Director – Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers
  • Neil Brookes: Group Executive Director – Activate Learning
  • Alexander Brandham: Group Leader UK Apprentice Programmes – BMW (UK) Manufacturing Ltd
  • Joanna Hart: Space Partnership Director – Space Partnership
  • Mark Vingoe: Chief Executive Officer – Engineering Trust
  • Paul Jones: Apprenticeships Lead – Oxford Professional Education
  • Chris Meah: Chief Executive Officer – School of Code
  • Cllr Susan Brown: Leader of Oxford City Council/Head of Media and Staff Communications – Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/Oxford City Council
  • Emily Manser: Area Lead for Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, Oxford to Cambridge and East Anglia team Areas Directorate, Cities and Local Growth Unit – Cities and Local Growth Unit
  • Clayton Lavallin: Economic Development Team Leader – Oxford City Council

Skills Advisory Panel:

From 2019, this Sub-group has taken on the additional responsibilities of the Skills Advisory Panel (SAP) for the Department of Education (DfE) continuing to bring together key partners and stakeholders to strategically plan for an improved skills infrastructure for the benefit of Oxfordshire’s communities.

The primary role of the Skills Advisory Panel is to:

“Bring together local employers and skills providers to pool knowledge on skills and labour market needs, and to work together to understand and address key local challenges. This includes both immediate needs and challenges and looking at what is required to help local areas adapt to future labour market changes and to grasp future opportunities. This will help colleges, universities and other providers deliver the skills required by employers, now and in the future.”

Skills Advisory Panels: Guidance on the role and governance, DfE, 2018