NOCN Group’s team of Business Development Managers work with Colleges, training providers and employers across the UK to enable them to benefit from the future-fit skills solutions we offer, which include Regulated Qualifications, Apprenticeship End Point Assessment, Assured Courses, Competence Cards & Tests, and Short Online Courses.

The team are experts in our specialist areas where skills advancement is needed most: preparation for life & work; construction & the built environment; engineering, manufacturing & the green economy; health & social care; and education & management.

We sat down with our Business Development Manager in the West Midlands, Liz Furniss, who has recently been promoted into the role, for a question & answer session on the evolution of her role and what she brings to the team and our customers.

Liz, tell us about your role at NOCN Group - what does a typical day look like?

I am currently in a transition period after securing a promotion to Business Development Manager for the West Midlands region. At the moment, my days are consumed with learning about the skills landscape in the region and introducing myself to the many fantastic organisations we already work with to understand the full scope of our provision and how we can support them and their learners even more effectively.

I am also handing over my current role of Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) Contracting to new team members, upskilling new starters to ensure a smooth delivery.

You recently progressed to Business Development Manager covering the West Midlands, how did that come about?

I have worked for NOCN Group for just over a year in the capacity of Business Development Executive where my focus has been on Apprenticeship EPA contracts, ensuring a smooth process for customers who chose to work with us as their End Point Assessment Organisation. This role involved working closely with customers throughout the whole Apprenticeship EPA journey to ensure the best possible learner outcomes. This experience along with my knowledge and passion for customer support led me to apply for the Business Development Manager role and I was delighted to be successful and get the opportunity to take on this new challenge.

What are you most looking forward to when it comes to supporting Colleges and training providers in your region?

I am excited about getting to know the different provisions across the West Midlands to understand more about their settings, the qualifications they offer, the delivery process and how NOCN Group can work in partnership to provide support and guidance. I’m eager to see first-hand our future-fit skills solutions being implemented and all of the benefits they bring.

What is it like being a part of the NOCN Group Business Development team?

The Business Development team at NOCN Group is truly amazing. The wealth of knowledge within the team is incredible and everyone is happy to support each other and our customers to secure the best possible outcomes. I find the team super supportive and encouraging and couldn’t ask for a better bunch of people to guide me in my transition to becoming a Business Development Manager. It is a joy coming to work every day because I know there is one clear goal for the whole team and the wider organisation as an international skills charity and that is to enable organisations and individuals to thrive. This makes it a really rewarding job that makes a real difference with a social impact.

Liz, along with one of her colleagues Callum, is currently undertaking a squat challenge to raise money for Stand up to Cancer. Please show your support and sponsor them here.