National Apprenticeship Week Spotlight: Michelle Owen

To mark National Apprenticeship Week, FE Associates is proud to showcase a career journey that demonstrates the long-term value of apprenticeships within the Further Education and Skills sector. Michelle Owen’s journey from apprentice to senior quality and curriculum professional highlights how structured training and apprenticeships can support long-term career development and help meet local skills needs and workforce opportunities.

Michelle began her career as an apprentice in hairdressing, gaining hands-on experience of workplace learning, assessment and professional standards. This early exposure to apprenticeships gave her a clear understanding of how high-quality training can support both technical skill development and learner confidence.

Building on her industry experience, Michelle progressed into education and quality roles within the hair and barbering sector, including serving as Lead Quality Assurer for Hair and Barbering at The Employment and Skills Group. In this role, she supported apprenticeship provision, assessment practice and quality assurance, ensuring apprentices were well-prepared for both end-point assessment and progression within the industry.

Michelle’s career has since developed into senior quality leadership roles across Further Education and work-based learning. She has held positions including Quality Assurance at Eastleigh College, Quality Manager at Strive Training and most recently Head of Quality for Work-Based Learning at City of Portsmouth College, where she led quality improvement across apprenticeship provision, inspection readiness, SARs and QIPs, and learner outcomes.

Now working as a Quality and Curriculum Consultant at FE Associates, Michelle supports colleges and training providers nationally, working closely with senior leaders to strengthen quality systems, curriculum oversight and teaching, learning and assessment across apprenticeships and wider provision. Her work is grounded in ethical leadership, robust quality processes and a deep understanding of apprenticeship standards.

Reflecting on National Apprenticeship Week, Michelle’s journey highlights that apprenticeships are not only a route into employment but also a pathway into education, demonstrating how hands-on learning, mentorship and skill development can support long-term career growth while contributing to local skills development and broader economic opportunities.

Michelle is now seeking her next interim leadership placement and is ready to support your organisation with expert, outcomes-focused delivery.

Contact Judith Richardson  (Judith.Richardson@fea.co.uk) today to discuss your interim leadership requirements