SKILLS 26

TUDOR PRICE (Host)
CEO at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

A skilled business leader within both the private and public sector. Proven operational and contract delivery experience with broad commercial expertise in all corporate functions. Experienced Chairperson and facilitator at national and regional level representing cross sector engagement.

Specialities: Leadership, Presentation & communication, Committee work, Bid writing, Economic Development
Relationship management, Operational design & delivery, Contract performance and delivery.

LAUREN EDWARDS (Keynote Speaker)
Member of Parliament for Rochester & Strood

Lauren Edwards was elected as the Labour MP for Rochesterand Strood in July 2024.

She is Vice Chair of the Public Administration andConstitutional Affairs Select Committee and Co-Chair of the All-PartyParliamentary Group for Skills, Careers, and Employment, a cross-party groupthat serves to raise the profile and status of skills and employment policy inthe UK.

Prior to this she was the Medway Council Cabinet Member forEconomic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment and sat on regionalbodies such as the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, the Kent and MedwayEconomic Partnership, and the Kent and Medway Business Fund board. She was aLabour and Co-operative councillor in Rochester East from 2021 to 2024.

Prior to being elected, she worked as a Manager in financialregulation at the Bank of England, with a period seconded to HM Treasury. Shealso worked for the Communication Workers Union and for several Labour MPs inWestminster both in government and opposition.

FACILITATED BY: JONATHAN SHAW
Strategic Director at Kent Further Education

Jonathan’s career has been remarkably diverse, spanning roles as a farm worker, care assistant, and social worker before entering politics. He served as a Member of Parliament for three terms (1997–2010), during which he held several ministerial positions, including roles at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). He was also the Regional Minister for the South East and served as a Government Whip.

In addition, Jonathan contributed as a Private Parliamentary Secretary at the Department for Education (DfE) and was an active member of the Education and Skills Select Committee for four years.

Currently, Jonathan is the Strategic Director for Kent Further Education and serves as a board member, having previously been the Chief Executive of the think tank Policy Connect. He is also the Chair of the Blackthorn Trust, a Kent-based mental health charity, and has been running the Medway Leadership Programme for the past 14 years.

VINCE MAPLE
Leader at Medway Council

Vince is currently the Labour & Co-operative Leader ofMedway Council following their historic victory in 2023. He was firstelected to represent Chatham Central ward on Medway Council in 2007 and becamethe youngest Labour Group Leader when taking on the role in 2012. He isalso the Chair of Labour in Local & Regional Government ExecutiveCommittee.

Prior to focusing on his local government service, Vince worked for the GMB Trade Union representing workers across a wide range of sectors. He also served in front line civil service roles in both the Home Office and Department of Work & Pensions.

Away from council life, Vince lives with his Civil Partner Mary and his son Ned. When he isn’t stuck in meetings he can be found enjoying live music, watching Chatham Town FC or even blasting out a karaoke song or two!

MEL COLLINS
Head of South Team at Skills England

I lead Skills England’s place-specific work for the South of England, through which we work closely with a wide range of local stakeholders, in particular Strategic Authorities and the designated Employer Representative Bodies working on Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs). I also have national responsibility for the whole of the LSIP programme, ensuring that this policy delivers against its ambitious objectives.

I have been working on LSIPs and their accompanying funding programmes (the Strategic Development Fund and the Local Skills Improvement Fund) since December 2021, and through this time period I have seen some brilliant projects, with groups of FE providers collaborating to develop innovative provision to meet current and emerging skills needs, as well as employers shifting in their understanding of the skills system thanks to the work of the ERBs

GARY ALLEN
Managing Director at Wire Belt Company Ltd

Gary is the Managing Director at Wire Belt Company Ltd. Wire Belt is a metal conveyor belt and conveyor manufacturing company founded in 1962 based in Sittingbourne. Gary is passionate about working with local educational providers to promote apprenticeships in the workplace and offering hands on work experience to young students from the local community.

Wire Belt has been successfully recruiting apprentices since 1978 and continues its commitmentto young people and apprenticeships today. The company prides itself ondeveloping and nurturing the next generation of talent for the future. Thiscommitment was rewarded in 2016, when Wire Belt won The Kent Excellence inBusiness ‘Apprenticeship of the Year Award.’

Gary’s hobbies and interests outside of the workplace include a passion for high board diving he is a trained Level 2 Coach, coaching both children & adults. It is also quite likely you will catch Gary at The Valley, watching his beloved Charlton Athletic on a Saturday afternoon!

JO NOLAN
CEO at Screen South

Jo Nolan’s producing and company management experience covers a wide spectrum of film, media and arts, including, Features, Shorts, Theatre, and Training nationally and internationally. Jo has extensive experience in independent film production, having developed her skills through Producing, Production Management, AD and Art Departments. Her support has been integral to the success of several award-winning UK independent filmmakers including Oscar and Cannes winner - Andrea Arnold - as part of her Feature Exec Role and Talent Development lead at Screen South.

She has Exec Produced and delivered over 350 productions including features, award winning shorts and music promos. Jo has been producer for BBC Arts New Creatives South and C4’s Random Acts delivering over 170 shorts and Interactive projects by new regional talent for Broadcast. She has been a leading partner on European programmes - Create Converge, North Sea Screen Partnerships and the Hi3 Network. Jo recently led Screen South’s Develop-Create XR with the BFI’s Creative Challenge Fund. Jo is a voting member of BAFTA and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

MARK CRAIG
Owner & Director at Home Instead Maidstone

Mark Craig began his career in retail before moving into hospitality management, bringing with him a strong passion for customer service. His entrepreneurial drive showed early and he launched a car washing round at 12 and founded his first full-scale business at 24. He is now the Owner and Director of Home Instead Maidstone, an award‑winning home care provider. Mark has led his team to commercial success and exceptional quality standards, earning an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), an accolade achieved by only around 3% of providers in England.

A committed advocate for workforce development, Mark believes social care training should build confident, capable and valued teams, especially in a highly competitive recruitment market where attracting and retaining great people is crucial.  He serves as Co‑Chair of the Skills for Care Registered Managers Network for West Kent and contributes actively to the Social Care priorities on the Kent & Medway Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).

Outside of work, Mark is close to completing four years of training to qualify as a psychotherapist. He is also Treasurer and Trustee of Building a Dementia Friendly Maidstone, reflecting his deep commitment to the local community.

FACILITATED BY: LUCY DRUESNE
Deputy CEO at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

Lucy leads strategic initiatives that strengthen business across Kent & Medway. Her responsibilities include policy and representation, as well as the design and delivery of projects that address the needs of local businesses.

Lucy played a pivotal role in developing the Kent & Medway Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and continues to serve as its strategic lead. The LSIP works closely with employers, sector bodies, and education providers to identify priority skills gaps and solutions that help align training provision with business needs in key growth sectors.