What We Do - Action Themes
Introducing the Action Theme Champions
Get to know the individuals who will take the 2005-2006 action themes forward.
Cathy Thompson - Adult Skills Champion
Cathy’s background is nursing and midwifery, education and management. She has held several senior positions in these fields within the NHS.
Currently her role is Directorate Manager of Learning and Development supporting the learning needs of 6,000 staff. A major aspect of this role involves encouraging staff to return to learn and acquiring skills appropriate for their roles and the future needs of the service. She is excited at being the Adult Skills Champion.
Kevin Adderley - Enterprise Skills Champion
Kevin's current role is Head of Strategic Development within the Council which includes - Inward Investment as well as support for indigenous businesses, economic policy, special initiatives, forward planning of land use and property management.
Prior to joining the Council he worked for the Department for Work and Pensions and was District Manager for Wirral. Support and policy for the growth of businesses, whether existing or new, has always been a part of his portfolio and he was actively involved in the designing of the national policy for self employment as part of the New Deal initiative.
"I believe that the creation of an entrepreneurial culture and an environment that supports such an approach is an imperative in any location, and even more so here in Wirral given the relatively low level of new business start ups in comparison with the regional and national average."
Ray Dowd - Employability Skills Champion
Currently Principal and Chief Executive at Wirral Metropolitan College with responsibility for £23 million turnover. The College is the main provider of skills for the Wirral community. The College also has a subsidiary Company, Scientiam which is the second largest Work Based Learning provider across Greater Merseyside.
"My role as Champion will to be to focus on what we mean by skills and then to upskill the existing workforce. The role of champion will need to ensure that adults are job ready and young people are equipped with skills for the future. The first priority will be to engage with employers and others to ensure that the supply side is being driven by demand. I very much look forward to undertaking this important role and to ensure Wirral is able to compete in a global economy."