Ruth works with industry partners to understand the current landscape in relation to regional and national skills gaps and where apprenticeships could be a solution in these areas. A key part of her role is driving forward the apprenticeship offer to ensure delivery of the right solutions for employers and industry.

Before joining Teesside University, Ruth was a Workforce Development Adviser, managing an internal corporate apprenticeship programme, working closely with internal and external partners to deliver apprenticeship solutions. Ruth is passionate about apprenticeships as an alternative to the standard learning route, enabling employers and individuals to identify and develop talent through work-based learning.

Alan has been involved in Apprenticeships since 1986. He has had many roles in the private, voluntary and public sector. He headed up the Apprenticeship Service in the North East of England and was a member of the senior management team at the National Apprenticeship Service. He passionately believes that apprenticeships when delivered will make a huge difference for both Employers and Individuals. Alan now supports the North East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network in promoting Apprenticeships to both Employers and Individuals across the region.

Worked in Advanced Automotive Manufacturing for 40 years starting as an Apprentice, worked in Production, Procurement and latterly as a Section Manager in Learning and Development for an Automotive OEM. In 2022 started a new challenge supporting setup and launch of a GIGA factory in Blyth and appointed as a Professor of Practice at Newcastle University. In 2021 was Regional and National Apprenticeship Ambassador Champion and awarded an MBE for services to Apprenticeship and STEM education. Passionate about giving young people the best possible chances, raising aspirations showing social issues, economic background, and gender are not barriers to a career.

Linda is Head of Workforce and Partnership Development in the School of Health & Life Sciences at Teesside University, and she has worked in higher education for 25 years in various roles. Her current role involves working in partnership with organisations in health and science to ensure that the range of educational provision offered by the School meets their workforce requirements. This includes professional apprenticeships, the number of which within healthcare has grown rapidly over the last six years - starting with one apprenticeship a few years ago, and now a total of 15 available at all academic levels.
Linda’s professional career was in nursing prior to entering education and she worked as a registered nurse in critical care for a number of years. Her nurse training was completed through a traditional work-based learning model which is captured in the essence of apprenticeships but with the additional achievement of an academic award. She is passionate about apprenticeships and how they enable people from all academic backgrounds to enter onto a career pathway to achieve their ambitions and goals.