Canny Conversations Podcast by Safaraz Ali MBE

This week, Safaraz continues his conversation with Lucy Hunte, the National Program Manager for Apprenticeships at NHS England. In this very insightful episode, Lusy reflects on her career journey and the impact she's making in the apprenticeship sector. She discusses the importance of mentorship, diversity in the workplace, and the challenges faced in promoting apprenticeships to SME employers. lucy's background in sales has equipped her with valuable skills to navigate the sector and advocate for positive change. She tells us about her experiences, challenges, and vision for the future of apprenticeships and workforce development in NHS England.

This week, Safaraz is in conversation with Lucy Hunte, the National Program Manager for Apprenticeships at NHS England. Safaraz and Lucy discusses her career journey working in apprenticeships, first at colleges and then moving to her current role at NHS England.

She talks about how NHS England has embraced apprenticeships, growing from under 1,000 apprentices when she started in 2016 to over 150,000 now. Lucy discusses the challenges and opportunities of implementing apprenticeship programs within such a large organization like the NHS.

Key topics highlighted include: increasing apprenticeship uptake across NHS trusts, utilizing the apprenticeship levy, developing health-specific apprenticeship standards, ensuring quality provision, challenges around maths and English requirements, and Lucy's passion for bringing back the business administration apprenticeship standard. Lucy also shares advice for government and the apprenticeship sector more broadly. She advocates for consistency, simplicity and putting learners first when developing policies and standards.

In this week’s episode of The Canny Conversations podcast, Safaraz talks to Jonathan Foot, Head of Apprenticeships and Early Careers at Compass Group UK and Ireland. In part one of their conversation, Saf and Jonathan discusses his role leading the apprenticeship program at Compass Group, the large food and support services company operating in sectors, including business, healthcare, and education. They discuss the Compass Group's "Mission to a Million" commitment to provide opportunities for career development regardless of people's backgrounds. Jonathan outlines how he has built up an award-winning apprenticeship program at Compass by focusing on quality teaching and learning. He also emphasizes the importance of collaborating with partners like the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance to attract diverse talent into the business. 

In this week’s episode of The Canny Conversations podcast, Safaraz talks to Jonathan Foot, Head of Apprenticeships and Early Careers at Compass Group UK and Ireland. In part one of their conversation, Saf and Jonathan discusses his role leading the apprenticeship program at Compass Group, the large food and support services company operating in sectors, including business, healthcare, and education. They discuss the Compass Group's "Mission to a Million" commitment to provide opportunities for career development regardless of people's backgrounds. Jonathan outlines how he has built up an award-winning apprenticeship program at Compass by focusing on quality teaching and learning. He also emphasizes the importance of collaborating with partners like the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance to attract diverse talent into the business. 

Welcome back to the second half of this Canny Conversation, with our guest Sophie Norris, the Early Careers Manager at Bentley Motors, the iconic luxury car maker based in Crewe.

In this episode, Sophie shares insights into her own career journey from studying events management in Manchester to her current role managing Bentley's early careers programs. Safaraz and Sophie go on to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Bentley as the business embarks on its 'Beyond 100' strategy to become an end-to-end carbon neutral organization by 2030.

The conversation also touches on Bentley's deep roots in the local Crewe community, the disappointment over the cancellation of the HS2 rail link. Sophies small team of 3 will manage 150 new trainees, next year across apprenticeships, industrial placements, and graduates. She also offers valuable advice to those considering careers at Bentley and talks about the crucial role of volunteering and getting outside your comfort zone. Safaraz and Sophie go on discuss the need to tailor applications, ask questions at interviews, research the business values, and demonstrate spark, curiosity, and purpose.

Joining us In this episode is Sophie Norris, the Early Years Career Manager at luxury carmaker Bentley Motors Ltd. Sophie was born and raised in Cannock in the West Midlands, but now calls Manchester home after attending university there. Safaraz will be talking to Sophie about her interesting career journey, from studying English Literature, to pivoting into human resources, eventually landing her "dream role" at the iconic British brand Bentley Motors where she now manages a portfolio of over 250 trainees across a variety of programs.

Sophie will also share insights into Bentley's ambitious Beyond 100 strategies focused on sustainability and innovation to lead sustainable luxury mobility over the next century. We'll learn how Bentley managed to accelerate growth and navigate uncertainty over the past few years. Finally, in this first part of her conversation with Safaraz, Sophie will talk about her management style and what she has learned from previous managers during her career.

In the second part of this Conversation featuring Kathryn Marshall, Senior Apprenticeship Manager at Lloyds Banking Group, Safaraz and Kathryn continue to explore the world of apprenticeships - the opportunities they provide for career development, the misconceptions that still exist, and the incredible impact they can have on people's lives. Kathryn shares insights from her own experience leading Lloyds Banking Group's apprenticeship programs. With over 1,100 apprentices across 38 different job roles, Lloyds is clearly committed to apprenticeship opportunities. Kathryn discusses the wraparound support Lloyds provides including networking events, ambassador programs, and skills development. They also talk about the need to promote apprenticeship parity with university degrees, especially with parents who still view university as the best option. Kathryn stresses the behaviours behind inclusion that are just as important as targets in creating a diverse and welcoming environment for apprentices.

It's a fascinating discussion about the transformational power of apprenticeships. 

Welcome to this new episode the Canny Conversations Podcast with Safaraz Ali focusing on apprenticeships and talent development. This week we hear from Kathryn Marshall, senior manager of apprenticeships at Lloyds Banking Group, one of the UK's largest financial services companies. In the first part of this two-part conversation, Safaraz and Kathryn explore how Lloyds delivers 30 different apprenticeship programs across customer service and specialist areas like finance and compliance, leadership development, and technology roles like software engineering. They also discuss how Lloyds is focusing on using apprenticeships for internal reskilling and helping existing staff pivot into new technology-focused careers. They also touch on the future of retail banking amidst industry changes, the skills modern professionals need, and why lifelong learning and staying relevant are so vital today. We will also hear about Kathryn’s own career journey, and what drove her towards talent development, and how views on workplace learning have shifted with advances in technology.

In this episode we hear the second part of Safaraz’s conversation with,, Jenny Pelling, Director of Apprenticeship Development and Diversity at Kaplan, the educational services company. 
In this continuation of their conversation, Jenny shares her journey in the education sector, from her part time role in HR that shifted into education, to rising up the ranks to become a director. They discuss some of the challenges apprentices face today, from imposter syndrome to struggles with work-life balance and mental health.

Jenny outlines the pastoral care, mentoring, and lifelong support that apprentices really need to thrive - beyond simply learning the curriculum and coursework. This includes the coaching, confidence-building, and fostering of crucial life skills that she spearheads at Kaplan.

They also focus on the importance of collaborations and strategic partnerships to drive the industry forward together,  through data-driven insights and broader representation. Kaplan has key focuses on the way people learn through technology as well as increasing opportunities.

Jenny offers her advice for both individuals looking to advance in their careers, as well as guidance for parents on the evolving landscape of apprenticeships today.

In this episode, Safaraz is in conversation with Jenny Pelling, Director of Apprenticeship Development and Diversity at Kaplan, the educational services company. 

In part one of this two-part conversation, which will continue next week. The discussion covers Jenny's multifaceted role at Kaplan, a major global education organization seeking to increase access and opportunity. This includes governance, quality assurance, supporting apprentices, and collaborating with employers on effective programs. She has seen employer attitudes shift to more strategic uses of apprenticeships over her 20 years in the field. 

Jenny's passion for education access and diverse qualification routes started with teaching English internationally. Her career path then led to law, specializing in employment law, and helping pioneer legal apprenticeship models. Their conversation explores how sectors like law have changed.

They go on to talk about Jenny's accomplishments as a leader, advancing apprenticeships, diversity, inclusion and social mobility across education and professional services. Their discussion goes on to focuses on the importance of holistic pastoral support for apprentices.