UNLOCKING POTENTIAL,
SHAPING FUTURES…
TRAIN
Train your team
HIRE
Hire an apprentice
Let us find and train your next rising star
GROW
Become an apprentice
Earn a competitive salary while training for your future career
TRAIN
Train your team
HIRE
Hire an apprentice
Let us find and train your next rising star
GROW
Become an apprentice
Earn a competitive salary while training for your future career
DELIVERING APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING WITH
BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE HUMBER
We deliver Apprenticeship training across Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire in a range of occupational sectors including Business, Data, Digital, Hairdressing, Management and Marketing.
We have the highest employer and learner satisfaction rates in the area? If you are an employer we can help you recruit, train and retain your existing staff.
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About Us
Formed in September 2007 as Avant Partnership, we have grown and developed, with significant changes over the years. In 2010 we started our first direct delivery with the Young Apprenticeship programme and Smart Moves in Hull. 2015 saw the opening of our Grimsby training centre and and in 2016 we brought Alcrest Academy’s former hairdressing apprenticeship training in-house.
In 2019 we changed our name to Avant Skills Academy to better reflect the organisation’s purpose, which was based on feedback from employers and learners. We also introduced the following visions for the organisation and our apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship provision:
“To provide a dynamic approach to the delivery of high quality learner and employer centred learning and development”
“Our Apprentices learn and develop the knowledge and skills required to become competent and valued employees, enabling them to progress in their career”
“Our Pre-apprenticeship learners gain real work experience and develop the skills to become work-ready, enabling their progression to an Apprenticeship or employment”
Meet the Avant Team
Programme Tutor Assessor
Apprenticeship Engagement Coordinator
Programme Tutor Assessor
Receptionist and Administration Assistant
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Reception and Administration Assistant
Centre Supervisor (Hull)
Centre Supervisor (Grimsby)
Programme Tutor Assessor
Curriculum and Quality Consultant
Apprenticeship Engagement Coordinator
Quality Administrator
Programme Tutor Assessor
Quality and Compliance Manager
Head of Marketing
Programme Tutor Assessor
Head of Curriculum and Delivery
Chief Executive
Director of Operations
Compliance Administrator
Abbie Norman
Hairdressing 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.
Alysha Lond
Apprenticeship Engagement Coordinator
Alysha is an Apprenticeship Engagement Coordinator. She started a pre-apprenticeship 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 has been the first person you see when visiting the Grimsby training centre. She is now moving into the Engagement Team where she will be engaging with young people, adults, and employers to promote our pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programmes.
Andrew Jessett
Programme Tutor Assessor
Andrew is a Programme Tutor Assessor for the Pre-apprenticeship Programme in Grimsby and joined us in August 2024. He has worked in the education sector for over twenty years and has a plethora of educational experience, having taught students from a wide range of backgrounds. Andrew has taught primary age children, young people and adults who have found themselves in the prison system. He enjoys supporting his learners at Avant Skills Academy and relishes the role of getting them workplace ready and moving them into employment and apprenticeships.
Caelyn Revell
Receptionist and Administration Assistant
Caelyn is our Receptionist and Administration Assistant, who has only recently joined in 2025. She manages greeting clients and handling inquiries, ensuring a welcoming and efficient environment. She also supports daily office operations by maintaining records, scheduling appointments, and assisting with various tasks to keep everything running smoothly. In her spare time, she also supports the community by volunteering for Humber Rescue; ensuring the safety of others who experience issues in the water.
Cassandra Bishop
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Cassandra is our Designated Safeguarding Lead for all Avant sites and Partners. With 13 years’ experience in education Safeguarding and Pastoral Management across various settings, she is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of young people in our community. Passionate about supporting our learners, Cassandra is committed to helping them achieve their full potential and thrive in all aspects of life.
Crystal Evans
Reception and Administration Assistant
Crystal Is our ‘Reception and Administration Assistant’ In our Grimsby centre, she joined us in 2024 progressing onto our business administrator apprenticeship. She is the first face you would see when visiting our Grimsby training centre. Crystal supports the effective running of the centre with general administration functions as well as the safeguarding team with learner attendance.
Dave Thompson
Centre Supervisor (Hull)
If anyone understands the benefits of being an apprentice, it’s our Centre Supervisor in Hull, Dave Thompson, who started as an apprentice in 2006 working for the organisation. Dave is the perfect role model to our pre-apprenticeship learners and apprentices, having won ‘Apprentice Of The Year’ in 2009. Throughout the week, he oversees the delivery of the pre-apprenticeship programme as well as delivering on the Content Creator apprenticeship.
David Thompson
Centre Supervisor (Grimsby)
Dave is our Centre Supervisor in Grimsby as well as delivering on 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.
Ellis Stewart
Programme Tutor Assessor
Ellis is one of our Programme Tutor Assessor based in Hull. She joined us at the start of 2024 and has previously delivered on the study programme since 2018. Ellis is also an experienced health and social care tutor, having several years of experience working in the sector supporting individuals with mental illnesses, disabilities and with dementia and delivering qualifications to students aged 16 – 19. Ellis is very passionate about giving students the opportunity to progress and achieve their full potential.
Jane Patterson
Curriculum and Quality Consultant
Jane is our Curriculum and 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 Curriculum, Quality and Compliance teams with advice and guidance.
Jane Wright
Head of Quality and Compliance
Jane is our Head of Quality and Compliance 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.
Julianne Jessett
Apprenticeship Engagement Coordinator
Julianne has joined Avant Skills Academy as an Apprenticeship Engagement Coordinator, supporting young people in gaining work experience and apprenticeships. With experience in education, fundraising, and customer service, she has developed strong communication and relationship-building skills. In 2023, she was named New Recruiter of the Year for England whilst working at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, making her one of the youngest to receive the award. A firm believer in hard work, Julianne became a homeowner at 21 and is passionate about inspiring young people to achieve their goals.
Leah Goodhand
Quality Administrator
Leah is our Quality Administrator. She started with us on the pre-apprenticeship 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 supports the implementation and management of all quality assurance and quality improvement processes, providing assurance of compliance with internal and external quality requirements.
Mary Irish
Quality and Compliance Manager
Mary is our Quality and Compliance Manager. Mary joined the team in September 2024 and brings with her over 30 years of experience working in education, skills and training sectors. She has extensive Further Education experience, contract managing Apprenticeship training providers, and she successfully supported them to transition from Frameworks to Standards. She is excited about working for Avant and will bring audit, monitoring, quality, and inspection experience. Mary also has a track record of securing funding through bid writing.
Lynne Godfrey
Programme Tutor Assessor
Lynne is one of our Programme Tutor Assessors specialising in Business Administration and Customer Service as well as having experience in as experience in Management and as a Functional Skills tutor. She joined us in 2023 and brings over 20 years of experience in work-based learning and apprenticeships. Lynne is not only a qualified teacher but also an internal verifier and an End Point Assessment assessor so is well placed to support her apprentices. Lynne is keen to develop the workforce of the future.
Lucy Campbell
Learner Engagement Coordinator
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
supported young people and adults for over 20 years in the addiction field and brings many transferrable skills to the role.
Paul Robinson
Head of Marketing
Paul is our Head of Marketing and leads the Engagement Team. 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 on Safeguarding and Prevent. He now leads marketing, social media, developing our communication strategy and spreading the word about Avant Skills Academy.
Sara Fields
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.
Stacey Rogers
Head of Curriculum and Delivery
Stacey is our Head of Curriculum and Delivery 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, and progressing through level 2, 3 and 4 Apprenticeships. Stacey leads all directly delivered learning programmes across the organisation, ensuring we provide a high quality learning experience for all our learners and employers and ensuring we achieve our vision of becoming the best provider in the area.
Steve Roe
Chief Executive
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.
Tammy Johnson
Director of Operations
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
local training.
Teresa Wade
Compliance Administrator
Teresa joined the team at the start of 2024 as a Delivery Administrator. Over the past 36 years working in the Education Sector, Teresa has worked on various funded training programmes and has built up a variety of expertise, knowledge and understanding in this field of work. As our new Compliance Administrator, Teresa now supports the implementation and management of funding body and programme requirements, providing assurance of compliance with funding and finance requirements.