Welcome back to the ACE360 blog!
We’re excited to introduce you to Dr Fiona Aldridge, our newly appointed CEO. With an impressive background in policy and skills development, Fiona brings invaluable experience which complements the existing team, making her the perfect leader for this new chapter.
Building upon the work of the team so far, Fiona’s appointment comes as The Skills Federation takes a renewed step towards shaping policy within the apprenticeship and skills sector in the UK. By collaborating with Sector Skills Councils and institutions across higher and further education, Fiona will help improve the bigger picture for skills and apprenticeships in the UK with the broader team at the Skills Federation (aka FISSS) and ACE360.
Meet Dr Fiona Aldridge
To help you get to know her better, we asked Fiona some questions!
In conversation with Dr Fiona Aldridge, the Skills Federation’s new CEO
What excites you most about leading the Skills Federation at this pivotal moment?
This is an exciting time to be joining the Skills Federation. Everyone in the sector knows that skills and training are vital to powering UK growth and productivity, to greening the economy and making the UK agile in response to rapidly changing technology.
In the context of the new Industrial Strategy and the forthcoming post-16 Skills Strategy, it is great to see signs that the new government recognises this too. Drawing on the expertise of our members and partners, I’m looking forward to ensuring that the Skills Federation brings the shared perspective of different industries on how the UK can build a workforce able to meet our skills needs, to these developments.
What experience do you bring to the role?
I first joined the skills sector in 1997, at the start of the last Labour Government. First at Learning and Work Institute and more recently at West Midlands Combined Authority, I have been privileged to have spent many years involved in shaping national and regional skills policy and in designing and delivering evidence-based skills provision.
In recent years, I have experienced how skills investment aligned to economic need and labour market opportunities can transform outcomes for people and for businesses.
As I now shift my attention away from a focus on place and towards the skills needs of sectors, I am excited about the opportunity for Skills Federation to help re-set skills policy, and to ensure that industry is seen as a strategic partner in the design and delivery of an effective skills eco-system.
Should end point assessments (EPA) be reformed?
The EPA system has evolved significantly since its introduction and should continue to do so. We’re all aware that the system is not without its challenges; availability of assessors, consistency of EPAOs, as well as the complexity of the process.
But while the government is right to consider reform, the independence of the assessments – the cornerstone of employer confidence in the system – must be maintained. Without an independent assessment system, we believe that the trust employers have in the competence of employees, and in the apprenticeship system as a whole, would be severely undermined.
In any reform, ensuring proportionality and flexibility will be key, but any streamlining must not come at the cost of quality.
When you’re not working, how do you like to unwind?
I love to spend time with family and friends over great food and wine or immersed in a good book.
A few years ago, my children persuaded me that we needed to get a puppy – and so we welcomed Nala, an enthusiastic chocolate-coloured cockapoo, to our family. She’s been great for us all, and I find walking her – whether at the local park or in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside – is a great way to relax and appreciate the world around me.
What’s next?
During my first few weeks here, I have been delighted to see so much interest in the industry perspective that Skills Federation can bring to the skills system.
As I develop this work, I am keen to make sure that we draw on the expertise of all our partners, including those who use ACE360. Please do get in touch if you have insight to share or would like to work more closely with us. You can reach me at [email protected].
We’re thrilled to have Fiona on board and are excited about the future of The Skills Federation under her leadership. Stay tuned for more updates and insights from ACE360 on our Linkedin, and all the latest updates from Dr Fiona Aldridge here.
