Welcome to the NCC…Principal Kirsty Evans.

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We recently sat down with the newly appointed Principal of the CITB National Construction College, Kirsty Evans, to find out more about the new role, what she has planned and a little bit of the person taking up this exciting challenge. 

Talking to Kirsty about her career to date, it becomes clear that Kirsty has a passion for vocational training, skills and educating. Most recently as a Senior Civil Servant at the Dept of Education. 

Whilst this is indeed high office, when we look back on Kirsty’s early days the roles were of a public servant nature, working in training enterprise councils back in the 1990’s, then the successive bodies that were responsible for apprentices and skills in England. 

It was interesting when speaking with Kirsty that whilst the roles and responsibilities she has had have clearly been progressive, and a fine career has been fashioned, she is abundantly aware of the positive impact training, upskilling and apprenticeships have on yes, the individual, but also the families of that individual and the communities in which they live. 

With an early dream to be, would you believe a hairdresser, I was intrigued as to where the passion Kirsty referred to early on in our conversation came from. Clearly schooling and the education process was something that Kirsty enjoyed, valued, and ultimately benefited from. 

Hairdressing’s loss has been training and educating’s gain. As we sometimes discover in our early roles, lady luck often points us towards a career that we like, get the bug for, and learn to love. 

This was the case here as Kirsty joined the Training and Enterprise council and has never looked back. With a CV like Kirsty has, opportunity must frequently knock, so I wondered what it was about the CITB and this role that made this job the next stop. 

Her answer was quite intriguing as Kirsty had felt that as her career had progressed, she was indeed getting further away from the learner… the end user if you will. 

Kirsty sees this new challenge as an opportunity to have a more direct impact on employers and learners. Giving an opportunity to apply all the things that she has learnt over the years about what constitutes great leadership in education and training. 

Doing something where that knowledge and experience can be applied to make a connection and a difference on the front line of learning, educating, and training. 

I asked Kirsty how she felt on being offered the role, her feeling was conveyed that it was like signing for a big club in the world of football. With a further comment that there is every likelihood that this role will be the pinnacle of her career. 

Whilst we now know that Kirsty took this role, I was keen to discover what it was she is responsible and accountable for. 

“In my role I am responsible for the National Construction College and CITB apprenticeships  in Scotland where there is a different model, where the CITB acts as a managing agent for the Scottish Government for construction apprenticeships.” 

 The cultural mood was also important in this appointment with the role being the right fit for both parties. Through the interview process as Kirsty found out more about the CITB’s senior leadership team and their ambitious plans, she recognised that her skill set was ideally aligned with the next chapter challenge of the organisation. 

Reporting to CITB, CEO, Tim Balcon I surmised about what a year one review might look like. Kirsty has clearly taken to her new brief well and was able to describe the three things that would be at the heart of that future meeting. 

  • Excellence: being what the college delivers in terms of outcome for learners and their employers. 
  • Growth: after a period of uncertainty, we will have grown the college by offering a wider choice of training programmes, satisfying the needs of industry.   
  • Beacon Leadership: How does the NCC work with other industry colleges and training providers to improve the collective performance and attract new entrants to the industry. 

With the honest recognition that construction is not, in educational terms, a high performing sector with achievement rates having room for improvement, with the above three points combining, this, one would have thought, must give the best possible chance of improvement. 

The three points above are important for the future, I asked Kirsty since joining the organisation what three words she would use to describe what she has encountered thus far. 

  • Passionate: People who are keen to achieve 
  • Purposefulness: A team who look like they have a reason they do what they do.
  • Impactful: That the work that is done is done to make a difference. 

Whilst thus far we have focused on the plans and ambition of the new leader, I wondered what Kirsty believed the perception of the CITB might be. 

Kirsty was clear that there are mixed views with some championing the work of the organisation, whilst others are less agreeable about the structure and model. 

There seems little doubt that Kirsty is keen to speak  with key stakeholders from construction companies, plant hirers and manufacturers to listen first hand to the differing views, learning more about what it is the organisation can deliver to further match the needs of the industry. All to deliver relevant courses that cover the training and qualifications that are required, giving the college the opportunity to move away from offering courses that no other college wants to do. 

Now, no senior manager I have ever met like surprises, but in the truest sense of the word, what had Kirsty seen in her first few months that had pleased or indeed surprised. 

“I have been pleasantly surprised by the actual National Construction College at Bircham Newton which is so impressive as an estate and campus. A brilliant location with brilliant facilities.” 

I apologise for the second football analogy, but in the same way as when a new manager goes into a new club, they often talk that they have inherited a poor structure, and the players could be fitter…So what club has Kirsty inherited. 

“I am lucky because the NCC I’ve inherited is totally focussed on helping its learners to achieve, we’re working with some great employers who help us to continuously improve our training and  trustees on the board who all want to move further forward to succeed, adding greater value than we perhaps have in the past.” 

This is a good situation, made more surprising given the OFSTED inspection some 18 months ago that categorised the college as, ‘requires improvement’.  Lots of purposeful hard work has ensued and the college has been transformed, in a recent Ofsted Monitoring visit it was recognised that significant progress had been made to deal with the industry of tomorrow. 

Indeed, the very role Kirsty has accepted is that of Executive Principal NCC / CITB Apprenticeships Scotland, has been created to give the college and CITB’s apprenticeship delivery a dedicated senior leader, figure head and strategic focus. 

All leaders look to improve, this may involve change of strategy and organisational structure. There will always be a list of priorities, and I asked Kirsty what was in her in-tray and on her to do list? 

The priority will be the recruitment of a Head of Business Development. This team will drive our engagement with employers to better understand how the NCC can match the needs of the industry. 

The second improvement will be in investment to bring the CITB’s other campuses up to the same high standard, as Bircham Newton. Whilst also attracting and recruiting more sector experts into CITB’s National Construction College.  With various roles be advertised available at the colleges. 

As regards the budget to deliver the change it would seem clear that the organisation is backing and investing in the plan, with Kirsty clear of the return the organisation is looking for based on this conversation alone. 

In closing I would say that I first visited the NCC some two and a half years ago, it is off the beaten track, you will need a comfort break…but do not let this put you off. 

When I speak to others that have actually visited, the collective opinion is similar. The National Construction College in Bircham Newton is a hidden gem, a best kept secret with a definite wow factor that is well worth a day of your time. 

Profile Section: 

Where do you live and what does your family support network look like

I live in a place called Withington in Manchester, with my partner Danny and our rescue cats, Sky and Walker.

How do you relax away from work

Seeing family and friends, and I like live music – and I’m a gamer so I am always trying to find a few hours to spend on my Switch.

How do you create a good work life home life balance

I try to avoid weekend working if I can, so I can be present for the people I care about, but it can be hard to switch it off sometimes – even if you are not working, you can find yourself endlessly thinking about work related stuff. 

A simple little thing I do is at the end of the week, write down the top 3 things that are on my mind to do with the job. Having written it down, I then find I’m able to not have it constantly at the forefront of my mind whilst I’m doing other  things. I’m sure, there is some psychology that explains it!

The last book you read, the last gig you went to

Last gig I went to was Ocean Colour Scene, Cast and Embrace on the waterfront in Liverpool; the last book I read was something by Stephen King, who is one of my favourite authors. 

Favourite holiday destination

Cyprus

The record you put on the most

This depends on my mood. I really enjoyed Glastonbury on the TV this year, which has prompted me to play lots of Kasabian. 

The person you would like to meet the most alive today

Lewis Hamilton

Who inspires you

Lots of people – too many to mention them all! One is an extraordinary woman called Katie Hayes who runs a local cat rescue charity, PawPurrs Halfway House. Her dedication, commitment and selflessness are inspirational

What would you buy with a gifted £25

I would give it to charity