Departures of Geoff Russell at SFA and Simon Waugh at NAS
January 17, 2012
Geoff Russell has announced he will step down from the position of Chief Executive of Skills Funding Agency on the same day that Simon Waugh has announced that he will also step down as Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). Russell is expected to depart the SFA in the Summer, whilst Waugh will leave the NAS at the end of March; both men are retiring.
Speaking of his decision, Geoff Russell said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of establishing the Skills Funding Agency and re-shaping it to meet the needs of the further education sector. My task was to create an Agency structured and able to perform a new role promoting and funding further education colleges and other training organisations to meet the challenge of equipping England’s economy with the skills it needs to overcome economic challenges. I am proud of the critical role that the Skills Funding Agency is playing in establishing the incentives and accountabilities to assist the further education and skills sector to respond creatively, flexibly and dynamically to the demands of employers, learners and communities. With my task complete, it is time to move on.
Simon Waugh said: “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”.
Gordon Marsden, the Shadow FE, Skills and Regional Growth Minister said: “The simultaneous and unexpected announcement that the two key people directing the Government’s skills funding and apprenticeships policy are resigning is bound to raise serious questions and concerns in the sector as to the future delivery of BIS’s Apprenticeships, FE and Skills programmes with increased demands on the NAS from Government and stretched staffing with overall Government cuts. Ministers will need to respond to such concerns fully and urgently.”