Andy Thornton Email & Phone Number

Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

Supporting the development of careers pathways to support people from all backgrounds and levels of ability to gain employment, especially in sectors which are growing and which will be the key industries for the City Region in the future

Mann Island, Liverpool

Supporting staff development and mandatory training in a high profile public sector business is a responsible and varied role and I'm really excited to have the opportunity to do it. I'm the lead for apprenticeships, which involves managing the levy budget, the network of providers, and ensuring that managers and staff at all levels understand the opportunities and implications of modern apprenticeships. We have a very successful apprenticeship programme which is supporting skills development, succession planning and career progression while demonstrating good value for money through the levy.With a very broad range of staff, from police officers, ferries crews, customer service teams, specialist project teams, professional departments and craft-based teams, I'm certainly not going to have a quiet life, but it's a challenge I really enjoy and can give 110%.I'm also still involved in elements of project management, and supporting change within the organisation which I enjoy as it keeps my skills fresh, and am always looking for new challenges.

Liverpool, United Kingdom

In this role I supported the provision of external training in the transport market, linked to job opportunities in partnership projects aimed at supporting people into sustainable jobs in transport, logistics and related jobs in the Liverpool City Region.This activity resulted in over 500 people gaining new jobs in bus, rail, taxi and similar trades, adding over £12m into the local economy and supporting new skills.I was also involved in corporate learning, training design and development, funding bids, project management, learner support and new business development, so there was always a lot to do and a varied but challenging environment.In this role I also wrote and accredited a highly successful customer service programme for bus drivers, which played a major role in improving the levels of customer service on the bus network and dramatically reduced complaints as part of the highly successful Bus Alliance.

1, Mann Island, Liverpool

I managed an inspirational and passionate team which promoted skills for the transport, tourism and retail sectors in the Liverpool City Region, including the provision of vocational skills, ICT qualifications, digital inclusion, maths and English, bus and taxi driving qualifications, customer service, apprenticeships and many other learning opportunities. This was a government-funded project through Unionlearn, for which I wrote the bids, managed the finances, supervised the team, planned the project, and reported back to stakeholders. We were always on budget and overachieved on our outcomes, for over ten years.I was also the Project Manager of the WorldHost City Region Project, which successfully trained over 4000 front line staff during Summer 2014, providing the "Liverpool Welcome"​ in preparation for the International Festival For Business and achieving Britain's first WorldHost City Region.Merseylearn has been cited in several national government strategies as best practice, won numerous awards and accolades, and has supported over 30,000 people to gain professional skills and qualifications through 10 years of continuous success.My Masters Degree specialised in change management, and I facilitated the small team which restructured my organisation in 2008 as part of a major change initiative. During this process the model which I proposed was later adopted as the matrix for the new structure. I've formerly managed Queen Square, the busiest bus station in Europe, which was a challenge I greatly enjoyed and gave me the chance to develop and use many skills including operations management, HR techniques, and I have a pssiion for providing excellent customer service.The variety of my career has given me many excellent skills, backed by a sound academic background and positive approach, and while I have a good skills base I'm always keen to learn!

Phd - Incomplete, Change Management

I did 2 years of my PhD before suspending this to concentrate on work. When time permits I intend to pick this up again because I enjoy.

Msc, Management Development

Studying Management Development, with a specialism of change management and resistance to change linked to my PhD. I thoroughly enjoyed.

Level 5 Diploma In Management, Management

Activities and Societies: Institute of Leadership and Management

Level 5 Diploma In Marketing, (Dip.M), Marketing/Marketing Management, General

Activities and Societies: Chartered Institute of Marketingstudying marketing

Hnc, Business And Finance

11 Gce O Levels, 5 A Levels