Helping people upskill comes second nature to Edwina McQueen having served as a senior executive for City & Guilds for 18 years – now she is seeking to pass on her expertise to businesses and individuals in Shropshire through McQueen Education & Training Consultancy.
One of Edwina’s clients is the British Couture fashion designer Claire Mischevani who creates outfits worn by celebrities and royals alike. Claire was looking for the next generation designer, within her Shrewsbury-based design house and boutique. She was keen to recruit an apprentice but wasn’t sure how to go about it.
Edwina worked with Claire to identify the skills she needed, looked at the job description, identified the right apprenticeship standard to match that role, found the training provider who could deliver it and accessed funding. With over 600 apprenticeship standards to choose from, getting the right skills match and training was crucial.
Claire was very pleased with the results!
“We couldn’t possibly recommend Edwina highly enough, for the most professional help and assistance with what turned out to be a very challenging apprenticeship programme” – Claire Mischevani
Coming out of lockdown, as businesses adapt to new ways of working, it will be more important than ever that people’s skills match the business need, says Edwina.
“In addition to the job retention scheme, the government’s ‘Plan for Jobs’ creates opportunities for businesses to protect, support and create jobs, through the Kickstart scheme, as well as additional payments for taking on apprentice, new funding for sector-based work academies and other support through the National Careers Service.
“I can help open up these opportunities so businesses can better understand their options. I understand people and workplace skills, I understand what employers need in the workplace and I understand apprenticeship funding and the government strategy around that”.
“Did you know that small businesses (non-levy payers) have more choices now on what their apprenticeship programme looks like and that funding can be sent directly to their own apprenticeship account, or that unused levy funds can be transferred from a levy paying employer?”
Alongside running her business, Edwina serves as Apprenticeship Ambassador for The West Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and a Careers Enterprise Adviser, going into schools to talk to young people about their options.
Edwina also offers team and one-to-one coaching and mentoring sessions to individuals, specialising in career coaching, leadership, management and sales.
For advice on developing your organisation through apprenticeships or upskilling, or coaching & mentoring enquiries, contact Edwina on edwina@mcqueenetc.co.uk