Simon Waugh has announced today that he will leave the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) at the end of March.

Simon has been Chief Executive of NAS since February 2009. 2012 marks the end of his initial three year contract and Simon has decided to leave at this point rather than extending his contract.

Simon has led NAS since its launch in 2009 and has overseen a period of significant growth and development in the Apprenticeships programme.

Speaking of his decision to resign:

“I am immensely proud of the achievements of the National Apprenticeship Service. Since NAS was established in 2009, we have seen a significant increase in the number of employers and young people participating in the Apprenticeship programme; quality is at an all time high and still improving, and the programme provides opportunities in more sectors and job roles than ever before and we are investing in Apprenticeships at Levels 4, 5 and 6.

“NAS has clearly demonstrated itself as an organisation that responds creatively, flexibly and dynamically to the demands of employers, individuals and communities.

“The support from Government and personally from Minister Hayes over the past three years has been tremendous.  By working together we have realised the ambitions set for the Apprenticeship Programme.

“I have enjoyed working with colleagues in NAS and across the sector to support the transformation of the Apprenticeship programme and feel privileged to have led NAS for its first three years.

“I have achieved all that I set out to do when I joined NAS, and after the considerable success of the past three years I believe that this is a good time to move on. I know that I leave NAS in very able and competent hands.  It was a very difficult 2011 for my family and I look forward to working part time and spending more time with them.”

John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “I would like to pay special tribute to the outstanding work that Simon Waugh has presided over as Chief Executive for the National Apprenticeship Service.

“Apprenticeships are at the heart of our drive to equip people of all ages with the skills employers need to prosper and compete, which is why we are investing record amounts in increasing numbers and quality.

“More than 440,000 learners started an apprenticeship in academic year 2010/11 – an increase of around 50% on the previous year.  By the end of this Parliament we'll have supported 250,000 more apprenticeships than would have been created under the previous Government's plans and developed Apprenticeships as a route into higher learning.”