About  Avant Skills Academy

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

Trainee Business Development Coordinator

Alysha is a Trainee Business Development Coordinator 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 has been the first person you see when visiting the Grimsby centre. She is now moving into the Business Development team where she will be engaging with young people, adults, and employers to promote our pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programmes

Dave Thompson

Programme
Tutor Assessor

If anyone understands the benefits of being an apprentice, it’s our Programme Tutor Assessor Dave Thompson, who started as an apprentice in 2006 working for the organisation. Dave is the perfect role model to our traineeship learners and apprentices, having won ‘Apprentice Of The Year’ in 2009. Throughout the week, he helps transition the traineeship learners into fully fledged apprentices as well as delivering on the Content Creator apprenticeship and award in education.

David Thompson

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.

Donna Gagan

Programme Tutor Assessor

Donna is one of our Programme Tutor Assessor for Business programmes in Hull and the surrounding areas. She joined us at the start of 2024, having worked in apprenticeships for almost a decade across the Yorkshire and Humber area. Donna has a robust industry background, having honed her managerial skills across diverse sectors such as catering, retail, and hospitality. Donna finds tremendous joy in guiding learners from initial apprentices to full-fledged team members, relishing in their transformative journeys.

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

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.

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.

Leah Goodhand

Compliance Administrator

Leah is our Compliance Administrator. She 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 supports the implementation and management of funding body and programme requirements, providing assurance of compliance with funding and finance requirements

Lucy Kent

Programme Tutor Assessor

Lucy joined us in 2023 as a Programme Tutor Assessor, delivering on our Skills Experience programme in Grimsby. Lucy has taught in primary, and secondary education as well as work-based learning since 1993. She brings a wealth of experience to the team which has made a positive impact on the young people that she engages with and helped to transform their journey with Avant.

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 & DSL

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.

Ryan Johnson

Business Development Coordinator

Ryan, our Business Development Coordinator at Avant’s Hull Centre, combines his experience in education and recruitment to match our partnering employers with our apprentices and young talents. Ryan has previously advised school leavers on employability and is well-equipped to guide individuals toward the perfect apprenticeship and company to launch their careers. Ryan is passionate about aligning young talent with opportunities, driving success for both individuals and employers

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.

Sarah Neilson

Business Development Coordinator

Sarah joined us in May 2022 as a Compliance and Office Coordinator, however, with her background in HR, Service Administration, Customer Service and staff training across multiple sectors, she soon demonstrated a passion for supporting our apprentices and employers. She supported the delivery team as a Programme Tutor Assessor from January 2023, however, her passion for working with employers led her to jump at the chance to join the Business Development Team. Sarah now engages with young people, adults, and employers to promote our pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programmes

Stacey Rogers

Head of Centre Grimsby

Stacey is our Head of Centre in Grimsby 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 all directly delivered learning programmes in Grimsby, 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

Delivery Administrator

Teresa joined the Avant Hull 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.  She has also built up general administrative skills and experience which will enhance her in her role as Delivery Administrator with Avant.

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.