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Jessica Oghenegweke is Appointed as Non-Exec Director of the Association of Apprentices

21st June 2021
Jessica Oghenegweke, a Commissioner for the Social Mobility Commission (an independent extension of the Cabinet Office), joins the board of directors of the Association of Apprentices created by former Lord Mayor of London, Sir Peter Estlin and educationalist Jason Holt CBE.

The Association of Apprentices (AoA) chaired by Estlin and Holt, has appointed Jessica Oghenegweke, Commissioner for the Social Mobility Commission, who advocates for social mobility in apprenticeships.

The Association aims to unite and support apprentices in their journey whilst filling the gaps to provide a vocational alternative to full-time education. The AoA’s founding principle is that apprentices themselves must lead the charge, so it is key that the Association is for apprentices and led by apprentices.

Jessica, as a former production apprentice for the BBC, joins AoA at an essential time to steer direction and strategy for the requirements of their growing membership. Alongside advising ministers, Jessica is also a creative host for Apprentice Nation and is currently studying Global Challenges at Brunel University. 

Peter Estlin commented “I am absolutely thrilled that Jess has joined our Board. Jess has an enormous passion for apprentices and is a big champion of social mobility, this being very much as the heart of our Association, enabling all apprentices to fulfil their ambitions”.

Jessica Oghenegweke said “I am elated to be joining the board of directors at the Association of Apprentices. Apprenticeships are a fantastic tool for boosting social mobility, and I’m really looking forward to working with the board of directors and apprentices to create a real community of apprentices across the UK and provide more opportunities around the UK to those whose lives could be positively transformed through completing an apprenticeship. Being through an apprenticeship myself, I have seen first hand how vital they are for opening doors that were once shut, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. I’m excited to be part of an organization that believe in the importance and potential of apprenticeships as much as I do”.

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Jan Richardson-Wilde

CEO, Occupational Awards Limited

Jan is the CEO of Occupational Awards Limited, a Director of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink and an FE College Governor. She has over 35 years’ experience in the education sector in strategic and operational management of training programmes with colleges, private training providers, local authorities the voluntary sector and not for profit organisations. Jan has previously been a board member of the Learning and Skills Council, chair of the North Yorkshire Training Provider network and Vice-Chair of Yorkshire Coast College and a Governor of the Grimsby Institute for Further and Higher Education. She has extensive experience of education policy, apprenticeships, qualification, and curriculum development as well as business improvement.

Jan joined OAL in 2019, a leading non-profit industry-focused Awarding and End-Point Assessment Organisation, supporting a wide range of employers and of key stakeholders to succeed and surpass expectations. Jan is committed to continuous improvement and enthusiastic about improving the effectiveness, impact and quality of apprenticeships, education, and training in the UK and internationally. She has a wide range of experience of working in a collaborative context with employers and training providers to develop End Point Assessment, apprenticeships, and a wide range of vocational programmes.

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