Opportunity for change

Our panel of expert speakers

We’re pleased to welcome a range of expert speakers to our YMCA Apprenticeship Awards to discuss apprenticeships and the reforms.
27 February 2017

Rt Hon Lord Heseltine CH

Lord Heseltine was a Member of Parliament in Britain from 1966 to 2001. He was a Cabinet Minister in various departments between 1979 and 1986 and between 1990 and 1997. He was Deputy Prime Minister from 1995 to 1997. He is founder and Chairman of the Haymarket Group, one of the largest privately owned media companies in the UK.

In 2015 Lord Heseltine was appointed by the Government as an advisor to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Within this remit, he is Chair of the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission, co-Chair of the Estate Regeneration Advisory Panel and has recently published an independent report making recommendations to further develop the Tees Valley area. He is also a Commissioner for The National Infrastructure Commission. In October 2012 he published No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth, an independent review into how the public and private sectors in the UK work together to create wealth.

He has written books on Europe and his political autobiography, Life in the Jungle. His latest book co written with Lady Heseltine, Thenford: The Creation of an English Garden has just been published. Lord Heseltine is an enthusiastic gardener and is a Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society.

 

Rt Hon David Lammy MP

David Lammy MP is a firm believer in the ability of education to change lives and takes every possible opportunity to encourage young people to achieve their academic potential.

David became Labour MP for Tottenham in 2000, becoming the then youngest MP in the Commons. David served nine years (2001-10) as a Minister in the last Labour Government, and was made a Privy Councillor in 2008. Since 2010, David has been an active backbench MP.

In June 2007, David Lammy set up National Apprenticeship Week during his role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

 

Caroline Nokes MP

Minister for Welfare Delivery

Caroline Nokes MP is the long standing and much appreciated sponsor for our annual awards ceremony in Parliament.

Caroline first stood for Parliament in Southampton Itchen in 2001 and for the Romsey constituency in 2005, before being elected to represent Romsey and Southampton North in May 2010.

Caroline is the Chair of the Speaker’s Committee on the Arts and became a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Transport in December 2015.

In July 2016 Caroline was appointed to the Department for Work and Pensions as Minister for Welfare Delivery.

 

Rosi Prescott

CEO, Central YMCA

Rosi Prescott is Chief Executive of Central YMCA.

As CEO of the world’s first YMCA, Rosi is able to bring a unique global perspective and reach in regard to issues that affect the lives of young people today.

Rosi was a founding member of the Body Image campaign that sought to highlight the causes and consequences of the rise in body image anxiety– now known as the Be Real campaign.

Most recently, Rosi kicked off the new Eudaimonia! campaign, which is shining a spotlight on the fitness industry and questioning its role in wellbeing in the 21st Century. Away from work, Rosi is a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London (with special responsibility for Lambeth) and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

 

Lady Andrée Deane Barron, MD

Managing Director of YMCA Training

Lady Andrée Deane Barron is a sector expert with three published books and an extensive career history in Education, starting her career as a secondary school teacher. Andrée is the author of the first Apprenticeships in Fitness and Leisure.

Andrée has since managed a number of public affairs accounts as a consultant and was Chief Executive of the Fitness Industry Association for ten years between 1999 and 2009.

Andrée is now Managing Director of YMCA Training, one of the largest voluntary sector training providers in the country.

YMCA Training has 11 centres which provide courses including vocational training programmes, traineeships, apprenticeships and courses for employers.

Andrée is married to Rother Valley MP Sir Kevin Barron

 

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