Fiona has been involved in apprenticeships since Hudson Contract started its own apprentice sponsorship scheme in 2011. Since then, the scheme has helped more than 250 construction firms take on apprentices around Bridlington, Scarborough, and the East Coast.
Fiona works with local training providers, schools, employers, and would-be apprentices to help them navigate the minefield of funding, finding work placements and promoting construction as a trade. Recognising the time pressures on construction SME’s she provides clear and simple answers to the questions most asked about apprenticeships.
In addition, Fiona manages and allocates the apprentice levy pot to assist local construction firms with their training costs. She also shares her apprentice levy transfer knowledge as part of her work as an Employer Ambassador

Carl Southcoat is the Workforce Development Business Advisor for the Hull and East Yorkshire, Business, Growth and Skills Hub, (formally the HEY Local Enterprise Partnership, [LEP]). Carl is responsible for establishing and managing the workforce development aspect of delivery across the Hull and East Yorkshire region as part of the HEY Growth Hub and Employment and Skills Team.

In particular, Carl leads on managing apprenticeships, technical education and wider industrial placements enquiries. Communicates the apprenticeship offer to grow the number of businesses taking on new apprentices and to upskill existing employees. In addition, working with large levy paying companies to source and retain unspent apprenticeship levy funds for local reinvestment to support the economic growth and development of SME’s.
On behalf of the HEY Growth Hub Carl supports the delivery of a fully funded business support service that offers a specialist free and impartial information, advice and guidance service to SME’s businesses in respect of their individual business growth and development plans.

Alice has worked in Learning and Development for just over 12 years now, joining Arco Ltd nearly 9 years ago. Alice is quite new to managing the apprenticeship scheme at Arco but has relished the chance to take this on as part of her role, and the opportunities this has presented her with (like presenting here tonight!). She has a real passion for people and their development, taking great pride and pleasure from supporting people to achieve their ambitions.