Meet the Team

Dawn Leak

Business Development and Training Manager

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2660)
Email: dleak@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

With a wealth of experience in business development, training and further education, Dawn has now worked at Kirklees College for two years. Working in a range of colleges and private training providers for almost 15 years, Dawn now manages the contracts and delivery for approximately £11 million of college revenue.

Mark Connolly

Contracts Team Leader (Apprenticeships)

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2670)
Email: mconnolly@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Mark has worked in youth training at the college since 1991. He now manages the college's apprenticeship contract, working closely with curriculum areas, to maximise success rates and develop contracts by exploring new areas of provision, a recent example being adult apprenticeships.

Contact Mark and his team if you are interested in finding out more about apprenticeships. Whether you are a training provider, parent or carer, employer or young person, Mark and his team can help.

Lynda Lees

Business Support Officer (Apprenticeships)

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2669)
Email: llees@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

With more than a decade of experience, Lynda knows apprenticeships like the back of her hand. In her current role, Lynda is involved with all elements of apprenticeships, from induction and additional support, to ensuring funding files are correct and compliant.

Contact Lynda with enquiries relating to apprenticeship and for further information.

Kate Stafford

Business Support Officer (Apprenticeships)

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2676)
Email: kstafford@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Kate is a new addition to the Kirklees College team. Her previous roles include working as a careers advisor for North Yorkshire Council and as a vocational qualification assessor in France. Kate is part of the apprenticeship team, her role includes monitoring apprentices and liaising with curriculum areas to ensure training is at the right level.

Contact Kate if you are a learner or an employer with enquiries about current and potential apprenticeships.

Helen Mahoney

Employer Engagement Advisor

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2665)
Email: hmahoney@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Previously working at Business Link and Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Helen has built a strong career in business development. Helen's current role involves engaging with local employers to update them on the provision available at Kirklees College.

Contact Helen if you are an employer working in engineering, construction or motor vehicle, if you'd like to work with Kirklees College, and to talk about funding opportunities.

Naomi Metcalfe

Contracts Team Leader (Engage and Foundation Learning)

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 7520)
Email: nmetcalfe@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Before joining Kirklees College in June 2010, Naomi worked for Yorkshire Forward and Calderdale College. Naomi manages the network of providers working on Engage, a programme funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) to improve the life chances of disadvantaged students in Calderdale and Kirklees. She also manages the partnership for foundation learning in the Kirklees area.

Contact Naomi for information about partnership working, if you're a provider interested in the Engage programme or to find out about how the partnership works and what it does.

Amy Hayre

Business Support Officer (Contracts Compliance)

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2664)
Email: ahayre@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Amy has worked in training for the past six years, including her four years at Kirklees College. In her current role, Amy supports the external network of providers, monitoring the college's contracts with them, delivery and performance.

Contact Amy for further information about the training providers Kirklees College works with.

Stella Owen

Curriculum Delivery Team Leader

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2672)
Email: sowen@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

A former teacher, Stella has worked in further education for more than seven years. Stella now manages Train to Gain, both sub-contracts and internally, auditing, worklessness contracts, Jobcentre Plus, skills bank assessors and delivery staff, and the Kirklees Council Future Jobs Fund.

Contact Stella to discuss sub-contracting opportunities and your organisation's eligibility for employer response programmes.

Bernadette Baptiste

Employer Engagement Advisor

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2662)
Email: bbaptiste@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

In her 13 years within the private sector, Bernadette worked in a variety of areas, including marketing, administration, and call centre work. In her role at Kirklees College, Bernadette's team is now the first point of contact for employer enquiries; and they take a lead role in the day-to-day running of the Batley Business Development and Training Centre.

Contact Bernadette with general enquiries around business development and training, to book a room at the Batley Centre or to find out more about the team.

Steph Lofthouse

Administrative Assistant

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2673)
Email: slofthouse@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Steph started her career at Kirklees College as a business and administration apprenticeship. Two years on, Steph is now working in the customer service team.

Contact Steph with general enquiries about the provision offered by the business development and training team and current contracts.

Jo Dyson-Bell

Contracts Co-ordinator

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2667)
Email: jdysnbll@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Jo has worked in the education sector for more than 10 years. In her current role at Kirklees College, Jo is based in the reception area and deals with visitors and telephone enquiries.

Contact Jo with general enquiries about the provision offered by the business development and training team and current contracts.

Kezia Chapman

Administrator for Apprenticeships

Tel: +44 (0)1924 474401 (ext. 2668)
Email: kchapman@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Kezia came to Kirklees College as an apprentice to achieve qualifications to back up her knowledge and experience of work in administration and customer service.

Now having fully achieved her Business Admin and Customer service qualifications Kezia is now an Administrator for the Apprenticeships team.

Kezia lives in Ossett and enjoys shopping, animals and beauty.

Lisa Thomasson

Business and administration apprentice

Tel: +44 (0)1924 436204 (ext. 2675)
Email: lthomasson@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Lisa has previously worked in customer service and retail, and brings a very customer focussed approach to the front of house team. Lisa loves the challenge of being on the front line and is always looking for new ways to make visiting the Batley Centre a customer friendly experience.

Karen Horsfall-Smith

Business support officer

Email: kjhsmith@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Karen came to the Business and Training Unit from Rathbone Training in Dewsbury where she worked as centre manager. Karen's current role involves supporting the unit's training providers, advising and guiding, and learner processing. With a wide range of expertise and a wealth of knowledge in training, administration and office management, Karen is an integral member of the team.