Career and Personal Development Team

David Ritchie
Career and Personal Development Manager

HCS Ltd Delta House Avenue One Letchworth Herts SG6 2HU Tel: 01462 705000 (M): 07748 761393 Fx: 01462 705001 e-mail: david.ritchie@hcs.co.uk

Biographical Details:

David is currently under contract to a number of schools across Hertfordshire where he is managing the growth and development of careers, work related learning and enterprise education in years 7-13. In addition he is managing a small team of experienced careers specialists who are also fulfilling similar contracts.

Previously, David has held the responsibility under Connexions for establishing a support programme to facilitate the development of the careers work curriculum within educational institutions in Hertfordshire, specifically focusing on managing professional, policy and programme development. Specific responsibility included the introduction of Progress File, establishing a Quality Award for Careers Work and the Hertfordshire wide implementation of Fast Tomato.

Chris Aylward
Career and Personal Development Consultant

HCS Ltd Delta House Avenue One Letchworth Herts SG6 2HU Tel: 01462 705000 (M): 07867 528380 Fx: 01462 705001 e-mail: chris.aylward@hcs.co.uk

Biographical Details:

After running the first successful pilot in Hertfordshire, Chris is currently under contract to a school in Hertfordshire where he is organising the growth and development of careers and work related learning. After the first year of the pilot OFSTED gave an outstanding score for the careers and work relating learning activities on offer, stating that they offered students outstanding opportunities for personal growth.

Previously, Chris was a Connexions Careers Education and Guidance Consultant responsible for helping schools across Hertfordshire to develop their careers education programme. Chris also has experience of working in school outside Hertfordshire, including a memorable week in Tanzania supporting teachers from across East Africa. Chris is currently a Connexions Lead Personal Adviser with experience of working in a wide range of educational institute across Hertfordshire. Chris has a Degree in English and Philosophy, a Full Diploma in Careers Guidance and a Post Graduate Diploma in Careers Counselling and Guidance.

Angela Perry
Career and Personal Development Consultant

HCS Ltd Delta House Avenue One Letchworth Herts SG6 2HU Tel: 01462 705000 (M): 07899 066445 Fax: 01462 705001 E-mail: angela.perry@hcs.co.uk

Biographical Details:

Angela joined Herts Careers Services as a Careers and Personal Development Consultant in April 2007 and is currently under contract to a number of schools across Hertfordshire where she is managing the growth and development of careers, work related learning and enterprise education in Years 7-13.  In addition Angela is a member of our Work Related Learning and Enterprise Team, organising and running work related learning and business activity days in schools and Professional Development Placements for teachers in conjunction with local and national employers.

Before joining Herts Careers Services Angela spent 9 years with the John Lewis Partnership working in various roles and most recently within their HR department delivering training across the business.  Angela has also worked in event management, TV production and recruitment.  Angela attended Middlesex University where she gained a First Class Honours degree in Applied Arts.

Joanna Gooch
Career and Personal Development Consultant

HCS Ltd Delta House Avenue One Letchworth Herts SG6 2HU Tel: 01462 705000 (M): 07795 542165 Fx: 01462 705001 e-mail: joanna.gooch@hcs.co.uk

Biographical Details:

Joanna came to HCS in July 2007 and currently works across our Careers & Personal Development and Work Related Learning & Enterprise teams.  She is responsible for careers and enterprise education in two schools in Hertfordshire and as a member of the WRL&E team supports the delivery of business activity days, professional development placements and other work related learning initiatives.
Prior to joining HCS Joanna was responsible for Graduate Recruitment & Development at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, a leading City law firm.  Before which, she spent several years working for Executive Search consultancies, predominantly in the Investment Banking and Legal sectors.
She read International Business and French at Sheffield Hallam University and also has a Masters in Psychology from Bristol University.

Carolyn Ashby
Career and Personal Development Consultant

HCS Ltd Delta House Avenue One Letchworth Herts SG6 2HU Tel: 01462 705000 (M) 07789 928539 Fx: 01462 705001 e-mail: carolyn.ashby@hcs.co.uk

Biographical Details:

Carolyn is currently under contract to act as Careers Co-ordinator in two schools in West Hertfordshire where she is responsible for the growth and development of careers and work related learning in years 7-11.
Prior to working for HCS Ltd, Carolyn held a number of roles delivering education projects in the public and voluntary sectors. Carolyn project managed ‘Giving Nation’ – an initiative to support and foster charity work in secondary schools under the Citizenship and Enterprise curricula. She worked at the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) for 11 years. At DCSF she project managed work to increase access to teacher training, developed policy on the New Deal for Young Unemployed People, and acted as Assistant Private Secretary to the Minister for Higher Education.

Andy Whittle
Career and Personal Development Consultant

HCS Ltd Delta House Avenue One Letchworth Herts SG6 2HU Tel: 01462 70500 (M) 07899 658130 Fx: 01462 705001 e-mail: andy.whittle@hcs.co.uk

Biographical Details:

Andy has been working in Hertfordshire schools for around two decades and for many of them he has been a Careers Co-ordinator as well as a PSHE and English teacher. At the moment he works for HCS in one school in the county as a Careers and Personal Development Consultant. This appointment covers responsibility for the development of careers, work related learning and enterprise education in years 7-13. As a part-time teacher Andy combines this role with running a small team of colleagues who teach Life Skills.
As Work Related Learning consultant, Andy works with Inner London Boroughs to enhance their WRL and CEG accreditation provision within particular programmes such as Aim Higher that raise the Career aspirations on young people.

Nikki Clarke
Career and Personal Development Administrator

HCS Ltd Delta House Avenue One Letchworth Herts SG6 2HU Tel: 01462 704980 Fx: 01462 705001 e-mail: nikki.clarke@hcs.co.uk

Biographical Details:

Nikki joined the Careers & Personal Development team in November 2007. Nikki is responsible for the administration and clerical support for the team.  This includes the preparation of our presentations, managing our database and marketing activity. Nikki also manages all of your Progress File enquiries and orders.
Previously, Nikki worked for 6 years as a Connexions CEG Co-ordinator, where she undertook the monitoring and administration of the joint in-service training programme for learning providers and other agencies working directly with young people. Key tasks included the organisation and administration of all training events, the Annual Careers Conference and the Higher Education Conference.