Debbie Harris

What do you do in the business?

I am responsible for the leadership and governance of several key delivery functions within the business, including Operations, Quality & Curriculum, Partnerships, and Safeguarding & Wellbeing. My role involves leading a team of senior leaders to ensure we meet our operational and quality objectives while driving progress towards our strategic goals. We deliver vocational learning programmes, including apprenticeships, online courses, and full-time study programmes, to over 4,000 learners every year across England, ensuring our PRAISE values are embedded into everything we do. Our teams include Trainer/Assessors, Independent Tutors, Quality Assurers, Curriculum and Resource Specialists, and Safeguarding & Wellbeing Champions.

What’s your background?

I have worked in the education sector for over 25 years, holding a variety of senior leadership roles, including board membership, and I am proud to be a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). My career began as an apprentice within the operational team of a major brewery, where I progressed through several roles and ultimately became a national trainer. In that capacity, I travelled extensively across the UK to deliver Train the Trainer programmes and to support trainers in achieving their assessor and quality assurance awards. Following a redundancy, I moved into a Trainer Assessor role for an independent training provider, delivering management and administration apprenticeships — a role that sparked my lifelong passion for apprenticeships, vocational learning, and their transformative impact on individuals and organisations. I firmly believe in the power of vocational training and have seen countless examples of apprentices progressing rapidly into senior roles. It has been incredibly rewarding to contribute to their development and witness the long-term benefits of high-quality apprenticeship programmes. Throughout my career, I’ve thrived in the ever-evolving landscape of education, where no two days are the same and each brings new challenges and opportunities to make a meaningful impact. Whether coaching and mentoring emerging talent or shaping strategic initiatives, I remain driven by the belief that education — especially vocational training — can change lives.

What’s the best piece of careers advice you have given or received?

The best career advice I’ve received, and often share, is to pursue what genuinely feels right for you and brings you joy. Too often, people follow a path based on external expectations rather than their own interests and passions. If you truly enjoy something, invest in it and work hard to make it a reality. We spend a significant portion of our lives at work, so it’s essential to find fulfilment in what we do. It’s also important to remember that career paths aren’t fixed; the choices you make at 16 don’t determine your future. There is always room to pivot, grow, and explore new directions at any stage of life.