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What does excellence in apprenticeships and technical education look like? This was the question the panel at the first ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ Excellence Seminar were seeking to answer.Ìý

The event hosted by The ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ & Enterprise Company and Gatsby Foundation brought together  experts and practitioners from education, business, alongside a current degree apprentice, to discuss and share their insights on the vital role careers education plays in raising the profile of and creating successful transitions to apprenticeships and technical education.ÌýÌý

The discussion and debate was wide ranging, as the panel examined a number of questions, including what can policy makers and employers do to drive apprenticeship take up? What makes for a great careers experience for a young person? How can participation and inclusion of marginalised and vulnerable communities be increased?ÌýÌýÌý

It was the first in a series of events that will bring together experts, practitioners and young people to examine different topics around delivering world-class careers. Future seminars will focus on leadership and governance of careers, and inclusion and securing sustainable employment outcomes for young people with SENDÌý

Meet the panel

Chairperson - Nazrene Mannie

Nazrene is the Executive Director of the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN Global) and is a specialist in the field of social policy, focusing on sustainable skills development and youth employment. Nazrene is a strong advocate for inclusion and access in training and work and has been appointed as a UN Geneva Gender Champion. She works closely with private sector companies and international development entities such as the ILO, IOE and OECD, amongst others, to drive forward the agenda for agile Workforce Development within the context of the Future of Work.

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Panelist - Jasbir Sondhi

Jasbir is Vice Principal at Westminster Kingsway College (WKC). She has worked in further education for over 15 years and is committed to ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to access high quality learning opportunities that lead to success for both individuals and communities. At WKC she has been instrumental in developing strong strategic alignment between curriculum and careers education, leading on the design and implementation of a new ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ Education Information Advice & Guidance offer to meet the needs of a changing curriculum offer and student need.

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Panelist - Rita Patel-Miller

Rita is the Head of Social Value at Mace Consult supporting clients to embed social value into their contracts. Rita works on developing social sustainability frameworks and strategies, identifying and implementing measurement systems and embedding social value into procurement systems whilst developing structured implementation plans. She is also the Chair of the Central London Employer Cornerstone group and has developed a range of initiatives for young people including accredited work placement programmes that have been adopted nationally.

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Panelist - Rylie

Rylie, 16, is an Apprentice Site Manager with Willmott Dixon Construction working on the Darlington Railway Heritage Quarters, and has recently joined The CEC's Youth Advisory Group. She moved from a mainstream school to a UTC in Year 10 where hands-on, project-based learning was more suited to her learning style and offered her multiple work experience opportunities.

Panelist - Klara Reddy

Klara Reddy is the Senior Lead Practitioner for Personal Development at Ormiston Academies Trust, one of the largest multi-academy trusts in England, which educates over 30,000 pupils across five geographical regions.Ìý Klara heads up a team of 10 collaborative and passionate Lead Practitioners and Enrichment Coordinators who specialise in the different components of Personal Development and are committed to creating the biggest difference for OAT children through a rich and wide Personal Development offer. Leading on all aspects of PD, Klara is a specialist in PSHE Education, Citizenship Education, ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ Education and implementing youth social action.

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Panelist - John Ramsdale

John is the Senior Assistant Headteacher at Penwortham Girls' High School, who leads the school's careers programme with a concerted effort in promoting apprenticeshipsÌý to his students considering their next step.

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