Our story

With over 15 years of teaching experience, Adill brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to EMA Training. He is qualified in AAT, ACCA, and CIMA, giving him a broad and well-rounded understanding of the accounting profession.

Having been part of EMA for over 7-years, Adill has played a key role in supporting and developing learners across a range of programmes. He teaches both ACCA and CIMA courses, guiding students throughout their journey to achieving chartered status.

Known for his engaging quizzes and distinctive teaching style, Adill is highly regarded by his students and consistently achieves strong pass rates, significantly above national averages.

Since doing an apprenticeship at EMA, Zoe enjoyed the coursework side, so took the opportunity to get involved with EMA as an Accountancy Mentor. Being a Mentor interested her, due to the fact she gets to support and guide learners to achieve their goals: Zoe finds this the most rewarding part of her role. Zoe is a brilliant reflection of the EMA values, working with her apprentices to better understand and support them throughout her time with them.

Jordan was initially drawn to working in the apprenticeship industry to help young apprentices get started in their finance careers. Having started as an apprentice himself over 7 years ago, Jordan feels he has unique insight into the difficulties and rewards of the apprenticeship route.

Jordan has continued to progress and expand his role within EMA since becoming the senior trainer and now works more closely with employers and learners to ensure they are provided with the best possible experience and standard of delivery while studying inside or outside of the hub.

Outside of work, Jordan loves socialising with his friends and playing his guitar. His golf game has also not got any better!

Philippa (Pip), is compassionate, honest, and determined, and brings all of that and her expertise to EMA to help our apprentices achieve their goals. After years in big corporate environments, Pip was drawn to EMA Training’s friendly atmosphere, full of support from colleagues and management. Pip thrives in a fast-paced environment and makes a meaningful impact on all the apprentices she teaches.

Outside of work, Pip is passionate about nature, wildlife photography, and creating a haven for garden wildlife—she even had a weasel visit recently! Pip’s favourite quote reminds us of the importance of kindness: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Calum started out as an apprentice with EMA Training, and after completing his qualifications, he was eager to stay on as a trainer and support future Apprentices.

At EMA, Calum now delivers both Level 3 and Level 4 CIM Marketing Apprenticeship Qualifications, supporting learners all the way through their journey as both Trainer and Mentor.

Calum is also an avid Derby County supporter, holding a season ticket in the South Stand along with his two brothers!

After spending half her career in practice, in London, Katherine learnt to quickly adapt to changing client needs, learning about different business models and industries, and focusing on technical excellence – working on the introduction of new standards IFRS 15, IFRS 16, and my favourite, IFRS 9, were the topics of the day.

With a love for both financial and management accounting, and a hometown of Nottingham, Katherine made the leap to working in industry and moving back to the East Midlands. It was great to move from being an outsider to truly working in the heart of the business and shaping the business.

Katherine always wanted to have a broad and varied career, and just couldn’t ignore the pull to teaching, so following ex-colleague Pip to EMA Training to work as an accountancy trainer was a natural next step.

Outside of work, I try to spend as many weekend days exploring the Peak District with my husband and dog as I can!

With 17 years’ experience working across a diverse range of industries, Jess brings a deep, practical understanding of real-world finance to her role at EMA Training. Her varied career has allowed her to gain valuable insight into how different businesses operate, and she now channels this expertise into supporting the next generation of accounting professionals.

As an Accountancy Mentor for AAT apprentices, she guides learners through their programmes, helping them build confidence, develop technical skills, and prepare for successful careers in the finance sector.

Alongside her role, she is a proud advocate for Type 1 Diabetes awareness, inspired by her daughter’s diagnosis nearly two years ago. Her passion for supporting others – both professionally and personally – underpins everything she does.

Derek has over 40 years of experience in accountancy, consultancy and business which he uses to bring real-life examples and experience to his training classes. After gaining a degree in English at Cambridge University he qualified as a Chartered Accountant with a ‘big 4’ accountancy firm, before embarking on a career in industry.

He then transitioned into management consultancy where, as well as leading large transformation projects, he developed a passion for training and development. This led to him running his own training and consultancy company for many years. At EMA Training he has come full circle, and enjoys combining an engaging and interactive learning environment with financial and accounting discipline.

Pooja holds an MBA in Finance and brings over 5 years of experience working in payroll, both in-house and within bureau environments. She has developed deep expertise in payroll systems, compliance and statutory regulations, alongside a strong commitment to accuracy and professional standards.

Currently, Pooja is a our Payroll and Business Administration Trainer and Mentor, where she combines her technical knowledge with a passion for inclusive, learner-centered teaching. She supports apprentices in developing practical skills and professional confidence, drawing on creative instructional methods and real-world scenarios to make complex processes accessible.

Her work reflects a dedication to professional development and to raising the visibility of payroll as a valued discipline within business education.

With a background in Accounts and Finance, Liz is AAT and FCCA qualified, with a PGCE. Previously a Finance Director for a family-owned construction company and a Lecturer at Derby College, Liz brings both commercial insight and teaching experience to the team.

Outside of work, Liz enjoys Modern Jive dancing, watching Nottingham Forest as a season ticket holder, caravanning, and spending time with family and friends, and is a “Glam-Ma” to two grandchildren.

Meg started her career in finance straight from school, completing an AAT apprenticeship that combined practical experience with professional study. With over 15 years experience across both practice and industry, she has developed strong financial foundations and a particular interest in management accounting and business support.

Meg found her passion for training while supporting junior colleagues, discovering how much she enjoyed helping others build confidence and grow in their roles. Now at EMA Training, she is excited to share her experience and support learners as they begin and progress in their finance careers.

Outside of work, Meg enjoys spending time with her family, going on walks with her partner and dog, and being part of a book club and the WI.

With over 10 years’ experience in the apprenticeship sector, Abby brings a wealth of knowledge to our Quality and Compliance team. Starting her career as a Business Administration apprentice, she quickly progressed into recruitment before moving into a data analyst role. This is where her passion for data truly began.

Now working closely with the Apprenticeships Director, Abby plays a key role in supporting both the business and her team, bringing insight, organisation, and a keen eye for detail to everything she does. Guided by her favourite quote, “A winner is a dreamer who never gave up,” she approaches her work with determination and a positive mindset.

Outside of work, Abby enjoys getting lost in a good book and is a big fan of Taylor Swift.

With three years of experience in apprenticeship recruitment, Jess supports employers in finding the right talent for their teams. Starting as a Business Administration apprentice herself, she has developed a strong understanding of both employer and candidate needs.

In her role, Jess works closely with businesses to promote apprenticeship opportunities and fill vacancies efficiently, making the recruitment process as smooth as possible. She enjoys building strong relationships with both employers and candidates, offering guidance and support every step of the way. Passionate about helping people take the next step in their careers, Jess takes pride in creating successful apprenticeship matches that benefit everyone involved.

Tina has built a diverse career across several industries, starting in the NHS as an Assistant Practitioner in Radiography, alongside roles in sports massage therapy and as a climbing instructor. These experiences have shaped her hands-on, people-focused approach and ability to adapt in a variety of environments.

Her journey into the apprenticeship sector began in an administrative role with a training provider, where she also completed her own Business Administration apprenticeship. It was here that she discovered a real passion for supporting learners and being part of their development.

At EMA Training, Tina plays a key role in creating a positive first impression for both learners and employers. With her wide-ranging experience and friendly approach, she brings energy, warmth, and professionalism to everything she does.

I started my journey at EMA Training teaching IT, which was a natural progression from my previous roles, before gravitating towards what I do best, supporting people. Fast forward two years, and I’ve found myself firmly in the world of additional learning support and safeguarding as Designated Safeguarding Lead, making sure both learners and staff feel supported, heard, and safe.

Before all that? A banqueting manager, and a 12-year career in the RAF as an IT & Communications Specialist. I learned discipline, resilience, and how to work under pressure. Put it all together, and you’ve got someone who’s a bit of a legend, who genuinely cares about helping others thrive.

Along with the role at EMA Training, I run Me, Myself, Menopause, a community support group for those navigating the challenges of this stage of life.

Starting her career as a qualified beauty therapist, Angela spent 15 years developing a strong passion for helping people feel confident and supported. She then moved into retail with Laura Ashley, where she spent 10 years on the shop floor, progressing into a Sales Leader role and building her customer-focused approach.

Joining EMA Training as an office administrator, she has since progressed into compliance and completed an IAG qualification, supporting learners with their next steps. Known for her light-hearted personality and positive energy, she brings warmth to the office and embraces every opportunity to learn, truly reflecting EMA’s culture of growth.

Michael’s role sits at the fringe of technology, implementing automation and AI solutions into the business to save on admin time and drive the business forward. He looks after all things IT, data analytics and automation; it is very varied and rewarding.

After joining EMA as an apprentice, Michael has many things to be proud of, whether that’s passing 2 apprenticeships or saving the company over 1500 hours a year through streamlining and automating processes.

Ted is our Recruitment Data Apprentice who supports data-driven recruitment processes, helping to deliver accurate insights that inform effective decision-making.

With a strong passion for the automotive industry, Ted has gained hands-on experience working across some of the UK’s most iconic motorsport venues, including Goodwood, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Donington Park, the Top Gear Test Track, and Driftland. This unique, action-packed background gives Ted a natural, adaptable approach to everything he does.

Stuart (Stu) is EMA’s Marketing Manager. Having started as a trainer mentor for our marketing apprenticeships, he has now stepped back into operational marketing, a passion of his. If you’ve seen something on our website, socials, emails, a billboard or magazine, chances are Stu has had some part to play in it being there.
He is also the person to contact if you want to know more about collaborating with EMA Training or Love Business Expo.

Paula has worked within the apprenticeship and education sector for 22 years delivering business, customers services, sports and finance payroll. For 12 years she worked in a charity organisation within a football club for 12 years managing the finances and education department. Interacting with the learners and being able to build a new curriculum for the Payroll qualification are some of her favourite things about her job role.

Laura has worked for independent training providers for 20+ years, during which time she’s gained a wealth of knowledge and experience. Having started her own career as an apprentice, she genuinely believes in the value of apprenticeships and the opportunities they can create. For Laura, being able to learn on the job is one of the most powerful ways to develop skills and confidence.

She first began working alongside EMA in 2013, supporting the business with compliance, before officially joining the team in 2021.

Laura’s vast knowledge and years of experience make her the ideal person to lead as a Director of the business.

Jordan was initially drawn to working in the apprenticeship industry to help young apprentices get started in their finance careers. Having started as an apprentice himself, over 7 years ago, Jordan feels he has a unique insight into the difficulties and rewards of going down the apprenticeship route.

Jordan loves the fast-pace of the apprenticeship industry, and shared that he has enjoyed being a part of EMA’s growth! Outside of work, Jordan loves socialising with his friends and playing his guitar.