Our Team

Maddy Gilbert

Skills & Employment Manager

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Maddy joined Work Hounslow in early 2019 having spent the previous 10 years in various roles within education and training. With a background in teaching and operational management. 

 

Maddy is Work Hounslow Skills and Employment Manager. Maddy oversees the delivery, relationships and strategic direction of the Skills and Employment service ensuring that all of the teams operations are working in direct response to wider Council priorities and plans.

 

Alexander Kumi

Skills & Employment Project Manager

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Alexander joined Work Hounslow with over 20 years of experience working within both private & public sector organisations. His background includes; regeneration, community projects, further education, employability and recruitment. 

 

Alexander is the Work Hounslow delivery manager overseeing the operational output for the Work Hounslow team, ensuring the team are proactively responding to local need and that awareness of the service is actively promoted.

Katherine Black

Project and Performance Manager

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Katherine is the Project and Performance Manager for Work Hounslow overseeing the quality, compliance and administrative work of the team, as well as the maintenance of our data and systems. Katherine also manages the Business Support team.

Deborah Adams

Employer Engagement Coordinator

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Deborah joined Work Hounslow following a number of years working with communities and young people in a variety of settings, more recently specialising in apprenticeships. Deborah has extensive experience in Apprenticeship delivery and recruitment of local talent.

 

Deborah manages the Employment Engagement team, offering information and support to Hounslow’s businesses on accessing the apprenticeship levy funding, recruitment and upskilling existing staff at all levels to the business.  Deborah also supports businesses to deliver on their corporate social responsibility contracts, providing added value to Hounslow residents.

Lauren Read

Skills & Employment Team Leader

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Lauren is one of our Employment Advisors in the Work Hounslow team, working with local residents, providing high quality information and advice and guidance to support their job and training aspirations. Lauren joined Work Hounslow in October 2020 having spent the previous 10 years in Higher Education, whilst also working across Hospitality, Public Service, HR and Recruitment sectors.

 

Lauren is the Team Leader for the Work Hounslow Employment Advisors. Lauren leads, monitors, and supports the team to achieve training and employment performance and targets goals.

 

Elizabeth Whenu

Skills Escalator Team Leader

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Elizabeth joined the Work Hounslow team in Feb 2019. With 19 years’ experience in Housing, Elizabeth brings a wealth of public sector stakeholder experience to the role as well as a strong background in IAG. 

 

Elizabeth is our Skills Escalator Team Leader.  Elizabeth looks after the delivery of the Skills Escalator programme.  Skills escalator has supported Hounslow residents and micro businesses to improve their current circumstance, limiting dependency on means tested benefits and demonstrating improvements for the lives of Hounslow residents.

Timothy Mettis

Job Brokerage & Section 106 Monitoring Officer

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Tim joined Work Hounslow in 2015 having spent the previous 10 years in within Welfare to Work. With a background in IAG. 

 

Tim is our s106 monitor. Tim coordinates the Construction Training Hub delivery providing CSCS qualifications, work placements and employment opportunities and works in partnership with developers, contractors, and sub-contractors to ensure employment and skills plans are committed to supporting Hounslow’s residents.

Leonie Burke

Employment Advisor - Adult Education & Mental Health Lead

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Leonie's background is in contract management at the Skills Funding Agency and West Thames College.  Whilst working on the ‘Train to Gain’ initiative Leonie became involved in delivering information, advice and guidance and decided that was the future for her.  Leonie now holds a Level 4 qualification in IAG and is a qualified Mental Health First Aider as well as being one of the safeguarding leads for Hounslow Adult and Community Education.

 

Leonie leads our work with our sister service, Learn Hounslow supporting learners who require assistance with finding work or understanding their next steps in employment or training.  Leonie also leads working with residents that require mental health advice and guidance and links with organisations that provide specialised support.

Tej Dhaliwall

Employment Advisor - NHS & Heathrow Lead

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Tej joined Work Hounslow in latter half of 2020 coming from a corporate background as Education and Skills Officer, having previously held roles in Human Resources, Finance and Development.  

 

Tej is an Employment Advisor, leading our work and relationships with the NHS & Heathrow. Tej works on and delivers sector specific workshops, employability advice and guidance to support residents into sustainable employment within these sectors.  

Girish Luchmun

Employment Advisor - Community Solutions Lead

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Girish joined the team of Work Hounslow in June 2021 with 15 years of experience of working in Welfare for people Industry. He started his career as an employment support role and progressed to Project Management.   Working on several funded projects - DWP: New Deal, Programme Centre, The Work Programme and WHP – JETs, Mayor of London Councils: Parents into Work, JP Morgan: Digital Talent London, European Social Fund ESF: 16 – 24 Supporting NEETs, Adult Education Budget (AEB) Education and Skills Funding Agency: Traineeship and Apprenticeship and Greater London Authority.  

 

Girish is an Employment Advisor looking after our internal relationship with Community Solutions. Girish work requires close working with community groups, centres, and individuals providing IAG and employment support across the borough. 

Natasha Soni

Skills Escalator Adviser- Green Skills

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Natasha has 18 years as Business Support Officer with Lifelong Learning (Further Education) now called Learn Hounslow. Worked at various sites and schools where Learn Hounslow was based. Provided specialist administrative support to various departments to support the effective delivery of their Programme.

 

Natasha is our Skills Escalator Advisor.  Natasha works with residents who are both unemployed or in low paid work to support their upskilling and progression. Natasha has a particular focus on Green skills, providing training courses leading to sustainable employment opportunities.

Corina Starpariu

ESF Employment Adviser

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Corina works on our ESF project as Employment Advisor.  Corina’s role is to identify and develop employment opportunities and routes into employment, including education and training, for people with who are long term unemployed, disadvantaged groups and those facing barriers into employment. 

Michael Hubbard

Business Support Officer

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Michael started working with Work Hounslow as a apprentice; joined us in Summer 2019, he embarked on a Business Administration (Level 3) apprenticeship. After completing the apprenticeship he then was promoted to Business Support Officer. Michael has a background in customer service and administration.

 

Michael is our Business Support Officer for Work Hounslow and provides administrative and project support to the Work Hounslow advisors and team. Michael supports the whole team; delivering induction sessions and supporting candidates into pathways. Working closely with our BSO apprentice, Michael takes care of the day to day admin needs of his Work Hounslow colleagues.

Chidinma Anumnu

Business Support Officer (Apprentice)

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Chidinma is a new member of the team  with previous experience in primary education (SEN Support) and computing in qualification. An enthusiastic learner who has fitted well into the team. 

 

Chidinma is our Business Support Officer (Apprentice).  Chidinma provides administrative and project support to the Work Hounslow advisors and team. Chidinma is responsible for supporting the team and our residents first point of contact, arranging and booking appointments and handling enquiries.  

 

Sadiah Sameja

Employer Engagement (Apprentice)

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Sadiah is our teams Administration Support Worker, she recently started in 2021. Sadiah has completed a Business Administration Apprenticeship where she gained many skills working alongside the NHS where she gained valuable Customer service, Administration and Healthcare experience.  Sadiah started initially with the Kickstart scheme with London borough of Hounslow working for 14-19 service and Work Hounslow.

 

Sadiah is our Employer Engagement Apprentice.  Sadiah’s role is to support the Employer Engagement Coordinator delivering assistance to employers with recruiting, promoting, and marketing their apprenticeships, traineeships, and employment opportunities on our website and within the team.