AVANT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Hairdressing Programme Tutor Assessor
- Programme Tutor Assessor
Abbie is our Hairdressing Programme Tutor Assessor for Grimsby. She joined us in August 2020 and has worked in the hairdressing industry for over 17 years. Abbie is passionate about her role and developing good working relationships with both employers and learners, sharing her skills and knowledge. Abbie also works as a hairdresser running her own business as it ensures her skills are kept current and up to date with the changes in this fast-paced industry.
Job Titles:
- Administration Assistant
- Member of the Avant Team
- Receptionist
- Reception & Admin Assistant
Alysha is our Receptionist and Administration Assistant in Grimsby. She started the traineeship programme with us in 2020 at the age of 16, then progressed onto an apprenticeship in customer service where she achieved a distinction grade. Alysha has been the face of the company and is usually the first person you see when visiting the Grimsby centre. She is now moving on to the marketing of the organisation, including social media and attending events for young people, adults, and employers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Programme Tutor Assessor
Dave is our Programme Tutor Assessor for our management programmes across the Humber. He joined us in 2018, initially delivering on our customer service practitioner apprenticeship and during his time teaching on the programme, over 94% of apprentices achieved a distinction grade. With his previous industry experience, Dave moved on to delivering the Team Leader/Supervisor apprenticeship and Operations/Departmental Manager at level 5. Dave is also an experienced maths tutor, assisting apprentices with functional skills across all programmes.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Quality Consultant
Jane is our Quality Consultant and started with the organisation in 2003. She has worked in the education and skills sector since 1994 and has held several roles including. Area Manager, Area Verifier, Contract Manager and Head of Quality to name but a few! Jane is a fully qualified teacher and has delivered on many teacher training programmes to support Work Based Learning
providers across the Humber. She now supports the quality team with advice and guidance.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Head of Centre ( Grimsby )
Jane is our Head of Centre and joined us at the start of 2023. She has worked in education and training since 2000 across apprenticeships, traineeships and Adult Education Budget programmes. Jane has experience in centre and
operational management, quality and compliance, leading teams both regionally and nationally. She is a qualified Assessor / Internal Verifier and teacher and is part of the safeguarding team, ensuring that all of our learners are safe whilst on our programmes.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Quality Administrator
Karen is our Quality Administrator, based in Grimsby and joined us in early 2023 to embrace and support our vision of becoming the best provider in the area. As well as bringing experience in projects, accounts and marketing, she has over 18 years of experience in the education and skills sector and has worked in various roles including teaching and assessing, internal verification, quality and management across apprenticeships, adult skills and traineeship delivery.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Compliance Administrator
Katie is our Compliance Administrator, based in Grimsby and joined us at the end of 2022. Her role involves ensuring we are compliant with the funding/contract requirements of the apprenticeship and traineeship programmes. Although this is Katie's first role within the sector, she achieved a Business Administration Apprenticeship in 2021 through Avant, where she
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Delivery Administration Assistant
Leah is our Delivery Administration Assistant and has worked for Avant for over 2 years. Leah started with us on the Traineeship programme in 2020, eventually progressing to an Apprenticeship in Data Technician in which she
achieved a Merit. In recognition of Leah's hard work, she was awarded the ‘Avant Apprentice of the Year' at the 2022 Awards Evening. Leah now provides support to our learners as well as our Programme Tutor Assessors on a day-to-
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Learner Engagement Co - Ordinator
Lucy is our Learner Engagement Coordinator, working for Avant since 2021. Her role is to interview applicants who apply for our apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes. She is keen to interview applicants that are motivated, enthusiastic and willing to learn! Lucy also promotes Avant at schools and colleges across the Humber so you may have seen her! She has
Job Titles:
- Head of Marketing
- Member of the Avant Team
- Head of Marketing & DSL
- Head of Safeguarding
Paul is our Head of Marketing and Designated Safeguarding Lead. Paul has worked for the organisation since 2004 and in the education and skills sector since 2000. With his industry, management and qualified teacher status, Paul has been instrumental in the development of our pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programmes as well as more recently leading the Business Development team and social media marketing. He now leads on marketing, developing our communication strategy and spreading the word about Avant Skills Academy.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Head of Centre ( Hull )
Phil is Head of Centre Hull and joined the company in 2023. He has extensive experience of government funded education and commercial training. Phil has held management positions for over 20 years in both the public and private sectors and is a strong advocate for apprenticeships. Joining Avant at a very exciting time to develop the Hull centre.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Programme Tutor Assessor
Sara is our hairdressing Programme Tutor Assessor for Hull and joined us in 2022 as part of our growth and expansion. She has over 20 years experience in the hairdressing industry with 10 of those years owning a successful salon in Hull. Sara has a wealth of knowledge in the hairdressing sector and enjoys working with apprentices and employers to develop her apprentices into the cutting edge stylists of the future.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avant Team
- Head of Compliance & Quality
- Head of Quality and Compliance
Stacey is our Head of Quality and Compliance and has worked for Avant since 2015 and in the education sector since leaving school in 2007. She is a product of the system beginning with a Pre-Employment programme, progressing through level 2, 3 and 4 Apprenticeships. Stacey leads the continual development of our Apprenticeship standards as well as leading on quality improvement ensuring we achieve our vision of becoming the best provider in the area.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Member of the Avant Team
- Chief Executive, Founder and Owner of Avant Skills Academy
Steve is the Chief Executive, founder and owner of Avant Skills Academy. A qualified leader, manager and trainer with over 30 years management experience in education and skills, he has worked with and for a range of learning providers and funding bodies, so there's not much he doesn't know about the sector. This experience and knowledge is fully utilised in leading the team at Avant and drives Steve's passion for us to be the best learning provider in the area.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Member of the Avant Team
Tammy is our Director of Operations and has worked for the organisation since 2003 and in the education and skills sector since 1999. She led on many of the projects delivered by Avant and its previous charity CfL including promoting
Apprenticeships in Schools, Apprenticeship Handbooks, Apprenticeship Graduation ceremonies and the development of pre-16 programmes. Tammy has extensive knowledge and experience in compliance and contracting and has a passion to ensure that local young people and employers benefit from