North Yorkshire training provider appoints industry expert as COO

Derwent Training, based in Malton has appointed a new chief operating officer with almost 20 years’ experience in learning and apprenticeships, as it continues to grow and support learners and employers from across the North.

Vicki Parker began her career as a tutor in 2007 and has held numerous roles including Apprenticeship Manager, Quality Manager, and most recently Head of Training Operations at a creative academy, so is well-placed to hit the ground running.

Claire Gavaghan, CEO at Derwent Training said: “Vicki has fantastic experience which make her an asset to our team and I’m thrilled to have her on board. She already has lots of great ideas and has fit in well with our staff, so this is an exciting time for us.”

Vicki will be tasked with quality assurance and improvement, overseeing the day to day operations in the building which includes resources, staff deployment, timetabling, and communicating with employers – a wide and varied role which is essential to the smooth running of Derwent Training.

Vicki said: “I’m really excited to join the team and am keen to make a difference. Derwent Training has an excellent reputation and I can’t wait to get stuck in and understand how the learners’ experience can be improved even further.”

Derwent Training Association, which was founded 36 years ago, has earned an enviable reputation for its engineering apprenticeships – achieving a 98 per cent employer satisfaction score (January 2023) and is rated ‘good’ by OFSTED.

The company provides training to apprentices, employers and individuals to build skills and improve employability across Yorkshire and the North East from its training centre in Malton, where it can offer face-to-face delivery such as level three and level four apprenticeships, as well as online delivery to upskill employees through bespoke training and CPD courses.