Meet the team

Debbie Keegan

Head of Employer Engagement – Business Development

Debbie Keegan brings over 30 years of experience across further education, employer engagement, careers and workforce development. As Head of Employer Engagement at Loughborough College Group, she leads a team that builds strong partnerships with businesses and creates meaningful opportunities for students and apprentices to connect with industry.

Passionate about bringing education and employers together, Debbie works closely with businesses to ensure employer insight and regional skills needs help shape opportunities for our students. She also leads the Group’s approach to work experience and industry placements, alongside wider employer engagement and partnership activity.

Debbie’s career includes senior leadership roles within further education and ten years at Rolls-Royce plc, where she led the organisation’s UK work experience programme. A Level 7 qualified Careers Leader and former Ofsted Skills Nominee, she brings extensive industry and education experience to her role, with a strong focus on developing partnerships that benefit students, employers and the wider community.

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Lois Smith

Industry Specialist Account Manager (Care, Education & Sport)

Lois is our dedicated Industry Specialist Account Manager for Care, Education and Sport, working closely with employers across these sectors to develop tailored training and workforce solutions.

With over six years’ experience in Apprenticeships, and having completed multiple programmes herself, Lois brings valuable first-hand insight into the learner and employer journey. Her practical knowledge, combined with a genuine passion for education and skills development, enables her to support organisations in upskilling staff, addressing workforce challenges and planning for future growth.

Lois works in partnership with employers to understand their goals, delivering a personalised approach that helps build the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) needed to strengthen teams and drive long-term success.

Whether you are looking to enhance the skills of your current staff or welcome new talent, she is here to guide you. 

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Joanna Knight

Industry Specialist Account Manager (Engineering and Logistics)

Joanna is our dedicated Industry Specialist Account Manager for Engineering and Logistics, working closely with employers to build strong partnerships and deliver tailored workforce development solutions.

With a clear understanding of the needs and challenges facing these fast-moving sectors, Joanna is highly skilled at identifying organisational priorities and matching them with the most relevant training opportunities. Her consultative approach ensures employers receive practical, responsive support that aligns with business goals.

Joanna works with organisations to develop staff capability, close skills gaps and plan for future growth, helping teams build the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) needed to succeed. Her focus on customer relationships and tailored solutions makes her a valued partner for employers across the engineering and logistics sectors.

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Lynn Baldock

Industry Specialist Account Manager (Construction and Land-based)

Lynn is our specialist Account Manager for Construction, Animal Care, Equine and Land-based industries, bringing extensive experience in supporting employers across these diverse sectors and helping organisations develop their workforce.

She works with organisations to understand their current and future skills needs, recommending tailored apprenticeship and training solutions that support recruitment, retention and progression.

By maintaining close links with industry through site visits, events and employer partnerships, Lynn provides practical advice that helps businesses build skilled, capable teams for the future.

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Lydia Brown

Industry Specialist Account Manager (Finance and Accounting, Marketing, Customer Service and Business Admin)

Lydia is our dedicated Industry Specialist Account Manager for the Service Sector, bringing valuable experience gained from working across numerous industries at all three of our main Apprenticeship campuses.

Specialising in Finance and Accounting, Marketing, Customer Service and Business Administration, Lydia works closely with employers to understand their workforce needs and connect them with tailored training and Apprenticeship solutions. Her practical knowledge of these essential business functions allows her to support organisations in developing the skilled teams need to operate, grow and succeed.

Lydia also works collaboratively with our wider team of Industry Specialist Account Managers, helping employers identify the cross-functional roles that are vital to every sector. Her collaborative approach ensures businesses receive joined-up support, helping teams strengthen core operations, improve performance and develop the talent needed for future growth.