New Minds Leading Educational Field for LSC’s Adult Learning and Young People’s Learning

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Five new expert members have been announced by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), bringing their expertise to the learning and skills environment.

The five new participants will join the LSC’s Adult Learning and Young People’s Learning Committees. These committees are vital parts of the structure supporting the implementation of courses that meet the Government targets for participation and training levels. The two committees advise the LSC’s National Council on matters of policy relating to adult and young people’s learning respectively.

Adult Learning Committee

Joining the Adult Learning Committee (ALC), which champions adult learning and aims to maximise the impact of LSC activities on the economy, competitiveness, productivity and the workforce, will be Pat McMullan, National Strategy Manager of the British Gas Engineering Academy and Anthony Massouras, Founder and Managing Director of Mimosa Healthcare Group.

Pat McMullan started his career as an Apprentice engineer for Scottish Gas before spending the next stages of his career working at Scottish Gas, British Gas and Centrica. He is a member of numerous groups, and is a member of the City and Guilds National Advisory Committee for Engineering. Mimosa Healthcare Group, which was established by Anthony Massouras, has 28 care homes across England and currently employs 1,500 staff. Mimosa benefits from a focus on training and the improvement of skills and knowledge at all levels of the workforce.

The Chair of the ALC, Frances O”Grady, welcomed the two new members and said: “I am delighted to welcome Pat and Anthony to our Adult Learning Committee. Pat brings with him a wealth of experience in the engineering sector. A former Apprentice himself, he is a member of the Apprenticeships Task Force. Anthony’s healthcare group Mimosa specialises in vocational training for care staff and is the only independent company to provide Apprenticeships for school leavers interested in a career in the long term care sector”.

Young People’s Learning Committee

The Young People’s Learning Committee (YPLC), which advises the National Council on the provision and funding of education and training for young people aged 16-19, and is committed to increasing and improving the attainment and participation of all young people in further education, welcomes three members to its ranks; Christine Gaskell, HR Director at Bentley Motors since 1996, David McGahey, Director of Public Services with Politics International and Kath Boullen, Chief Executive of St Helens Chamber.

Christine Gaskell has been heavily involved in the establishment of the Bentley Academy. During the period since Christine joined Bentley, the company has achieved Investors in People (IiP) accreditation, which has been renewed four times. Prior to his time ar Politics International, David McGahey was the Managing Director of VT Education and Skills and Amey Education. He has wide-ranging experience of working in the education sector, having worked in seven different Local Education Authorities and, for five years, working as Buckinghamshire’s Director of Education. Finally, Kath Boullen from St. Helens Chamber, an organisation that provides services to improve the economic prosperity of businesses and people in St Helens, Greater Merseyside. The chamber represents 1,100 companies, providing business support, training and supporting new business starts.

The Chair of the YPLC, Ian Ferguson, said: “The YPLC will benefit greatly from having these new members on board. Christine has helped Bentley to achieve Investors in People status four times. She also created the Bentley Academy for young people who wish to gain vocational training in the car industry. David has wide-ranging experience in all aspects of education from teaching pupils himself to overseeing the provision of education to young people in Buckinghamshire.

“Last but not least,” he concluded, “we welcome Kath Boullen, Chief Executive of St Helens Chamber – an organisation that works to regenerate the St Helens area in Merseyside, by providing business training and support to local people and new business starts.”

The Chairman of the LSC, Chris Banks, commented: “The LSC’s adult learning and young people’s learning committees help the LSC to provide the best possible service for learners, by ensuring that we have the proper funding and planning in place to deliver results at the front line. I am pleased to welcome these five new appointees to our statutory committees and look forward to working with them.”

Jethro Marsh

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