Introducing this year’s Employability Award Judges
- Dr Calum Carson, Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Decent Work and Productivity, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Tammy Fevrier, Deputy Director, Youth and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions
- Gill Holmes OBE, Contract Management and Partnering Delivery Director, Department for Work and Pensions
- Dr Katy Jones, Research Fellow, Centre for Decent Work and Productivity, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Nicola Inge, Employment & Skills Director, Business in the Community
- Naomi Phillips, Director of Policy and Research, Learning and Work Institute
- Jagdeep Soor, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Pathways Group
 Dr Calum Carson, Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Decent Work and Productivity, Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Calum Carson is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is currently undertaking academic research on the first major independent research project focused on employer perspectives and experiences of Universal Credit and related employment policy. He has previously worked within the employment support sector, and has a wide range of research interests including active labour market policies, welfare conditionality, the Decent Work Agenda and in-work progression. Calum previously worked at ERSA as part of the policy team.
Tammy Fevrier, Deputy Director, Youth and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions
Tammy joined the Department for Work and Pensions as a casual administrative assistant in Holloway Jobcentre Plus in 2002 following graduate and postgraduate study in immunology and biochemistry.
She has spent the majority of her career in DWP in a range of roles including as Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Head of Family Policy Division, Head of Non Pensions Arm’s Length Bodies (with responsibility for the Health and Safety Executive and Money and Pensions Service), Head of European Social Fund and Contracted Provision Policy and Head of Transformation and Insights in the Department’s Business Transformation function.
An experienced policy professional with experience across the whole policy life cycle, she returned to her social policy ‘home’ in 2020 taking on the role of Deputy Director of the newly formed Youth and Skills division where she is leading on youth employment policy (the DWP Youth Offer) and work to improve the alignment between employment and skills support to help people enter and progress in employment.
A mum of one giant teenage boy, Tammy enjoys following the success (!) of the mighty Tottenham Hotspur, cinema and theatre, baking, socialising and laughing.
 Gill Holmes OBE, Contract Management and Partnering Delivery Director, Department for Work and Pensions
Gill Holmes OBE, has been in DWP and its predecessors for over thirty-five years, working in a variety of operational delivery and projects roles, before moving to the contracting and performance management function in 2009. Gill is passionate about supporting and mentoring, and leads on a development programme for colleagues who identify as being from an ethnic minority background within DWP Finance Group as well as being a Leadership Coach, a mentor and Mental Health First Aider. As a single parent on benefit in her early twenties, she has experienced the challenges of trying to move back into work. Gill has been supported in her career by outstanding leaders and mentors and works to ensure she passes on that support to others.
 Dr Katy Jones, Research Fellow, Centre for Decent Work and Productivity, Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Katy Jones is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is currently leading the first major independent research project focused on employer perspectives and experiences of Universal Credit and related employment policy. Katy has previously held research positions at The Work Foundation and the University of Salford. She has published widely on topics including youth unemployment, homelessness, welfare conditionality and skills.
 Nicola Inge, Employment & Skills Director, Business in the Community
Nicola leads Business in the Community’s work across education, employment and skills, including the award-winning Ban the Box campaign and the Opening Doors inclusive recruitment campaign. Nicola is responsible for a team driving action from businesses to support disadvantaged learners and jobseekers, remove barriers to work and develop skills. She works closely with the business members of the Employment & Skills Leadership Team (chaired by Jonathan Lewis, CEO of Capita) to develop and deliver BITC’s strategy to achieve a vision where everyone, regardless of their background or experience, can access the education, employment, and skills they need to thrive throughout their working lives. She represents BITC on a range of external boards and advisory groups focused on skills and inclusive employment.
Prior to taking on the post of Director in 2018, Nicola was Campaign Manager for Excluded Groups at BITC, leading a team responsible for campaigns, communications, research and policy. With a background in fundraising and volunteer management in the homelessness sector (at Depaul Trust and Crisis), she initially joined BITC in 2008 to deliver support to help companies develop strategic community investment.
Nicola holds a MA General from Edinburgh University and has previously qualified as an Advisor with Citizens Advice. She and her young family live in Oxford.
 Naomi Phillips, Director of Policy and Research, Learning and Work Institute
Naomi is Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy and Research at Learning and Work Institute (L&W), an independent research, development and policy organisation. As we recover from the pandemic, we face new, urgent challenges to our society and economy. L&W believes now is the time to work together to create a skills-led, growing economy, with good jobs and learning throughout life. Naomi has a background in policy and advocacy, working for leading UK charities, as well as central and local government.
 Jagdeep Soor, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Pathways Group
Jagdeep Soor FIEP joined the Pathway Group in July 2022 to lead on the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance and the Apprenticeship Diversity Social Mobility Forum. Working in partnership with a number of corporate employers, the movement is to promote social mobility, equality, diversity and equity of opportunity for the multicultural and marginalised communities in apprenticeships and employability. Previously having worked at the Centre for Ageing Better leading on employment, his work resulted in raising the profile and achieving positive impact for the Over 50’s.
Jagdeep’s career spans more than over 25 years, developing strategy and delivering operational performance in mainstream employment support provision in England and Northern Ireland. He has also worked in criminal justice services, and health and social care sectors. This is the 2nd year that Jagdeep has been invited to be a judge at the prestigious ERSA Awards. An accolade that he is both honoured and proud of.
The ERSA Conference, Exhibition and Awards | 30 November – 1 December | Birmingham, UK
‘A place for employability professionals of all levels to debate, network and learn together’
Two day conference plus sector drinks and dinner to celebrate our successes, with announcement of the award winners
Join up to 300 industry experts including large contract holders of government employment provision, community interest, specialist providers, housing associations, local authorities etc..
See here for more info dev.ersa.org.uk/conference22 | speaking, exhibiting, networking and other promotional opportunities. |
