Employee appointment

In 2022, The Progress Group welcomed a new shining star into its ranks, Jasmine Mulligan. Jasmine joined the organisation as Curriculum Manager, a role that saw her lead curriculum development across The Progress Group.  

Before joining The Progress Group, Jasmine spent 10  years working in mainstream education. After completing her English Literature degree, she began working with charitable organisations that supported young people with their English skills through  creative writing. Her work with those organisations paved the way for her career in teaching. “Before starting with TPG, I was working as Head of English and Professional Tutor – which meant I was looking after the training of teachers, new starters, and early career teachers (ECTs) in my school. During this time, I developed a deep interest in pedagogy, designed to support the most vulnerable learners,” Jasmine said.  

 In such a short space of time, Jasmine has had a huge impact across the Group. Her previous experience, thirst to develop, and ambitious mindset have been recognised by senior colleagues, including The Progress Group CEO, Jayne Worthington. Jasmine expressed that she always had an interest in Alternative Provision as a sector and admitted this element attracted her to TPG. She said: “I was teaching in a school where the number of students with SEND needs was extremely high, and the pupil premium proportion was even higher.  

 “Several of my students had moved onto Alternative Provisions and I had working relationships with the staff in those provisions – I was really interested in the sector. 

 “The idea of working across a whole organisation and the ability to support vulnerable young people all over the country was a real appeal for me.”  

 For Jasmine, the most exciting part of the role at TPG was the chance to develop an online learning platform designed to bring education to those who otherwise would not have access. Coming into the organisation, Jasmine was keen to immerse herself in the ‘business aspect’ of the Group. She was confident that her wealth of experience in teaching would be a truly valuable addition to the team makeup.  Given her previous experience, it’s no surprise that Jasmine understands the importance of education and training. She said: “For me, education offers all children the chance to see that they have choices in their life, beyond those they may have been previously exposed to.  

 “I am a passionate believer in teaching young people to advocate for themselves and others around them so they enter the world with an understanding of the service they can provide to those they interact with.  

 “I hope that every student we work with realises their worth and talents and finds a way to channel that into our society.”

When asked how she would sum up her time at The Progress Group so far, Jasmine said: “The Progress Group is a place full of energy and so far, every day has been an adventure.”

Reflecting on her role so far, Jasmine admitted that her favourite part of the job was interacting with staff and students.  

“The young people I have met have been full of energy, talent, and humour, and I feel very blessed to have been welcomed into classrooms by so many of them in such a short space of time.  

 “A real passion of mine is working collaboratively with others to discuss learning and teaching practices and understand how we can improve them. My role has allowed me to explore and learn more about teaching than I could have ever imagined. I have had some really passionate values and research-driven conversations with colleagues across the organisation.” 

Jasmine wants to see her role evolve in the coming months and years.  

 “My ambition for the future is that I can work with staff to build their confidence in, and hunger for, teaching and learning creatively in a way that continually improves education. I’m a great believer in the organisational power of ‘lifting-up’ staff so they can be their best selves. So, I hope to be a part of that in some way – however big or small!” Jasmine said.  

Liverpool-headquartered training and education specialists, The Progress Group, have announced two senior appointments to accelerate business growth.

The Progress Group comprises six subsidiaries, each serving different industries and demographics. Collectively the Group supports individuals aged 11 to 65 to access high-quality training and education.

Among the six subsidiaries are Progress Schools and Progress Careers which work within the 11 – 16 age bracket.

Progress Schools is a national alternative education provider with 14 independent secondary schools throughout England. Progress Careers operates a national Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) service to schools and educational institutions.

Earlier this week, the Group announced the appointment of Charlotte Barton as Managing Director of Progress Schools and Paula Thompson as Managing Director of Progress Careers.

Both Charlotte and Paula previously held the role of ‘Interim Managing Director’ before the announcement. Each comes with a wealth of experience in their respective areas and is well-equipped to support the Group’s impressive expansion plans and ensure high quality service.

The strategic move comes as the Group begin to double down on its ambitious growth plans. Due to demand, the plans see Progress Schools grow its national footprint in the sector and open several new alternative provision schools. Significant investment has been made to ensure the success of the plans.

Group CEO, Jayne Worthington, explained how training and education are integral to the UK economy. She said: “The current climate has highlighted the vital role training and education play in our society’s social and economic stability. Skills development,  an agile behaviour set and critical thinking underpins the country’s economy and is a determining factor for the UK’s workforce resilience.

“As a group of training and education specialists, we are wholeheartedly committed to providing our learners with opportunities that enhance their life trajectories and ultimately enable them to make their own life choices.”

Charlotte and Paula’s appointments come during a pivotal transitional period for the Group as they begin to explore new markets and make moves to become a household name in the training and education sector.

Jayne said: “We have huge plans at the Group, but at the forefront of those plans is our people. Our colleagues are the driving force behind our success, and I am confident that Charlotte and Paula will excel in their roles and support us in levelling-up our services to those who need them most.”

Charlotte and Paula’s appointments now bring the Group’s total of women in senior leadership positions to five.

Notes to editors:

The Progress Group comprises six subsidiaries operating across the UK, including Complete Skills Solutions, Complete Training Solutions, Progress Schools, Progress Careers, Grey Matter Learning, and Prepare to Achieve. Each business serves a different industry and demographic and supports individuals aged 11 to 65 to access high-quality training and education.