Canny Conversations Podcast by Safaraz Ali MBE

In this inspiring episode, and the continuation of Safaraz’s conversation with Jan Richardson CEO of Occupational Awards Limited, they talk about her remarkable 35+ year career journey in education and training. Jan shares the challenges she faced early on as a young single mother yet persevered to gain qualifications and progress through roles from trainer to senior leader. She provides candid insights on juggling work and family, overcoming barriers and setbacks, and the importance of resilience. Jan discusses her current role as CEO of the Occupational Awards Limited, leading the organisation through growth and change. She offers wisdom on building culture, engaging employees, and “futureproofing” the business. Her stories impart nuggets of career advice and leadership best practices. Jan leaves us with a powerful message to keep evolving, not retire. 

In this week’s episode, we hear the first part of Safaraz’s conversation with Jan Richardson-Wilde, CEO of Occupational Awards Limited, They chat about how Jan has lead the organization through huge challenges. When Jan took on the CEO role, the company was still small, with only 4 employees. Then just months into her tenure, COVID-19 hit. With the company's focus on food and drink, a sector that was decimated during this period, Jan talks about the difficult decisions and changes needed to pivot the business - implementing technology for remote assessments, diversifying into new industries, and adapting their model. She discusses the importance of listening to employers, building strong partnerships and focusing on people. Jan provides valuable insights on resilience, change management and leading with purpose during a crisis. 

Be prepared for an inspiring conversation on thriving through adversity.

In this week’s episode Safaraz continues his conversation with Paul Eeles, the CEO of The Skills and Education Group. We will be hearing how Paul has dedicated his career to championing skills, education, and social mobility. He shares insights from his varied professional journey, from starting as a chef to leading large organizations in the further education sector.

Paul and Safaraz also talk about some of the key issues facing further education today. They discuss the challenges of acquiring and integrating organizations, the importance of careers advice for young people, and the competitive awarding organization marketplace.

Paul stresses the need for a coordinated skills system that meets the diverse needs of learners and employers. He advocates for policy that looks at the bigger picture rather than short-term initiatives.

At its core, Paul believes education is about empowering individuals and transforming lives. He calls on all of us to make a positive difference through our work.

This conversation also provides an enlightening perspective on leadership, change, and purpose. 

This week’s Canny Conversations Podcast features the first part of Safaraz’s conversation between him Paul Eeles, Group Chief Executive of the Skills and Education Group. Paul has been with the organization for 13 years, during which it has grown from a small regional membership body to a major national organization.

In this wide-ranging chat, Paul traces his career journey from school into hospitality and catering, to becoming a lecturer, and eventually
rising to his current leadership role. Safaraz and Paul discusses pursuing continuous learning and qualifications as an adult, even though he did not excel academically at school. Paul shares perspectives on contributing his skills through voluntary roles such as charity trustee, school governor, and other community involvement. He talks about the importance of giving back and describes some of the organizations he supports. Safaraz and Paul cover some other topics including changes in the FE sector, networking beyond one's immediate industry, and pushing yourself as a leader to think differently. Paul provides an inside look at leading a long-established membership organization and building on its legacy.

In this second half of our conversation between Safaraz Ali and Rachel Jagger-Thomas from JTL they talk more about diversity and inclusion within the building, engineering and services sector in the UK and how this can be improved and promoted. 

There is further discussion around the challenge of getting more women into technical trades such as plumbing and electrical work, which have historically been male-dominated fields. 

Rachel talks about the importance of role models and tackling biases that have deterred women and other underrepresented groups from entering these careers.

Rachel also highlights JTL's commitments to being a disability confident employer, advocating for more diversity through initiatives like the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance, and influencing change within the sector.

They talk about the work being done to make technical trades more welcoming for all, while acknowledging there are still challenges around perceptions, biases and stereotypes that need to be addressed. 

In this week’s podcast we have the first part of Safaraz’s conversation with Rachel Jagger-Thomas from JTL, national training provider in England and Wales for the electrical, plumbing and heating industries, and a member of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance.  
Rachel is the Diversity, Safeguarding and Inclusion Advisor for JTL, she has over 13 years’ experience working in equality, diversity and inclusion roles across higher education, further education and now in industry training.

In her conversation with Safaraz, Rachel shares insights from her career journey and diverse experiences living and working internationally. 

They discuss how the dialogue and language around diversity, equality and inclusion has evolved over the past decade, moving from compliance to a more active engagement. Rachel also talks about some examples of the positive changes she has seen in some organizations taking proactive steps for inclusion, while also acknowledging there is still further progress needed in the sector.

They also look at improving gender equity and the representation of minority groups in trades,  

In the second part of Safaraz’s conversation with Viren Patel CEO of The Open University Worldwide, They talk about Virens perspectives on leadership, diversity, and driving change. He discusses leading The Open University through the pandemic, embracing new technology like AI, and strategies to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving world.

Viren stresses the importance of empowering teams, coaching rather than micromanaging, to help employees reach their potential. 

Other topics that Viran and Safaraz cover include, talent development, work culture, managing diverse teams, and maintaining a work-life balance. Viren offers wisdom as both a business leader and a champion of inclusion,  adding value, guiding others, and positively influencing the work force under his leadership.

This week Safaraz is in conversation with Viren Patel, CEO of the Open University Worldwide Viren Patel, CEO of the Open University Worldwide and Director of Apprenticeships and Partnerships at the OU. In the first half of this two-part conversation, Viren shares his personal journey as a refugee who came to the UK in the 1970s and overcame the challenges to become the first in his family to graduate with a degree. 

He discusses the mission of Open University to increase access to higher education and skills training through innovative delivery methods. He
also talks about the OU's focus on vocational learning and partnerships to equip students for evolving employer needs.

He shares perspectives on building an inclusive culture internally and externally through community initiatives. And talks about OU's role as a major employer driving economic growth in Milton Keynes. Viren offers advice for young people on developing transferable
skills and embracing diverse experiences to thrive in modern careers. 

In this second part of Safaraz's conversation with Graham Hastings-Evans of NOCN Group, they explore the state of play for the skills environment in more depth. Their chat looks at the speed of change and the current challenge for skills to keep up with the future needs of the economy when policy makers continue to plan for an economic past. 

Not only do employers, governments and training providers need to adopt more dynamic approaches in order for young people to leave   college both more resilient and with the right skills, but also support the workforce of today, 80% of whom will still be working in 10 years’ time. So just how do policy makers, employers and skills providers tackle such an important economic challenge?     

In today’s episode, Saf begins a wide-ranging conversation with Graham Evans, CEO of the National Open College Network Group.
In the first part of this two parts conversation, Graham recounts how his farming childhood and early career as a civil engineer in the global construction industry provided invaluable lessons that are still as powerful and relevant today in his role as CEO of an academic organisation.
It is clear that no experience has been wasted for Graham but it has led him to question whether, in today’s world, we have become too cautious; do we protect our young people so much that they no longer know how to be resilient or how to take calculated risks.
This conversation takes in his varied career that saw him place training schools on the 2012 Olympic site in order to bring the long-term unemployed into work, to preparations of the digital TV network for Y2K, and now his role guiding the NOCN group, as it grows globally.
So, to better understand what those lessons were and how he applies his learning know how, and what you too could learn, why not have a listen. 

Next week we will hear the second part of Saf’s conversation with Graham Hastings-Evans, CEO of NOCN Group. They will be talking about how the NOCN group has grown and where it is going in the future.