Dave Thompson (Facilitator)

Dave is employed by CfL (Consortium for Learning) a charitable organisation promoting Work Based Learning (WBL) and representing the WBL network in the Humber sub-region. As an Apprentice Dave applied to join the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Learner Panel created by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in March 2007 and was appointed to the role of Vice Chair of the Panel.

The Regional Learner Panel comprised a total of sixteen learners from Adult and Community Learning, Further Education Colleges and Work Based Learning from across the region. Dave was one of only two Apprentices appointed to the panel.

To enable Dave to take a broader view of Apprenticeships to the Regional Learner Panel, other than his own personal experiences, he was tasked with setting up a mechanism for communication with Apprentices across the Humber sub-region.

Dave grasped this opportunity enthusiastically and developed a local forum for Apprenticeship discussion, the Humber Apprentice Panel (HAP). Facilitated by Dave HAP has evolved and exceeded all original expectations, successfully delivering the voice of local Apprentices to meetings with senior officials and representatives of the Department for Universities and Skills (DIUS), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Ofsted.

Dave has also supported the development by HAP of its own website and an electronic forum (www.humberapprenticepanel.co.uk) to enable Apprentices across the Humber sub-region the opportunity to communicate with other Apprentices

In May 2009 Dave was named Advanced Apprentice of the Year for the Yorkshire and Humber Region at the prestigious Celebration of Learning and Skills (CoLaS) Awards in Harrogate. Since being named Advanced Apprentice of the Year, Dave has joined the National Learner Panel.