Earlier this year Twyford CofE Academies Trust was selected as one of nine centres supporting the rollout of new vocational qualifications across England. In our role as a TVPD hub, Matt Cowing, Deputy Headteacher Ada Lovelace, attended an event held by London & International Insurance Broker's Association (LIIBA). Mr Cowing was one of the guest speakers along with Amazon, one of our T Level industry placement partners.
The half day event was hosted by Fairer Consulting and topics discussed included research being undertaken to investigate early careers social mobility. There were also thought leadership discussions regarding how employee views can shape the culture of a firm.
Mr Cowing commented on the event:
The LIIBA event at Lloyd’s of London was a fantastic opportunity to see some of the brilliant work taking place across the insurance industry, and particularly the work that Jackie Girow and LIIBA are doing to broaden opportunities and bring new talent into the sector. I was fortunate to be invited to speak alongside a diverse group of speakers, including Bolu Olawaye, Co-Founder of Apprentis, Sandra Healy, Founder and CEO of Kintris, and Shayana McGowan from Amazon, each bringing valuable perspectives on inclusion, social mobility and the future workforce.
A particular highlight was hearing examples of how employers such as Amazon, are investing in apprenticeship and skills pathways to create opportunities for young people from a wide range of backgrounds. The discussions demonstrated how strong technical and apprenticeship routes, combined with a wider set of skills and experiences, can open doors to remarkable careers and enable individuals to create opportunities for others in turn.
It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to share some of the work we are doing at Ada Lovelace School and more broadly through the TVE Hub with a wider audience of industry professionals. The event reinforced the importance of stronger partnerships between education and industry, ensuring that young people can see clear, credible pathways from education into rewarding careers.
I hope the event serves as a starting point for further conversations and meaningful action, encouraging the insurance industry and its partners to broaden their horizons and recognise the potential of T Levels, apprenticeships and other technical and vocational routes as powerful pathways into the profession.
