Here at EMA Training, we are confident that we provide the best support to apprentices within the East Midlands.
As an organisation, we believe that the most effective training for apprentices is through face-to-face, trainer-led delivery, supplemented by mentoring in their place of work. This blended approach helps to develop not just the apprentice’s technical skills, but also softer skills around communication, confidence and relationship building.
Our Trainers and Mentors join EMA with either years of experience within the Finance, Marketing and Data sectors, or as a progression path following the completion of their apprenticeships. This allows them to effectively guide and mentor apprentices in becoming the best they can be.
In addition to apprenticeship provision, EMA also offer commercial training programmes in Accountancy, in addition to being an official AAT exam centre for external assessments.
EMA Training has been fortunate to work with the local businesses around us and witness the positive impact apprentices have to these businesses. It’s a rewarding position to be in, and we are very proud of all of our apprentices.
Our values represent our past, present and future as a business. We will continue to provide a second to none service, collaborating with both apprentices and employers to impact the local economy and ensure our apprentices are supported in reaching their full potential.
Tracey is the Managing Director of EMA Training – having started this company in 2013! Having been an apprentice herself, she knows first-hand the potential it provides a young person during the first few years of their chosen career and the Return on Investment it adds to a local business. Tracey’s favourite quote is “As soon as something stops being fun, I think it’s time to move on. Life is too short to be unhappy, waking up stressed and miserable isn’t a good way to live.”
Matt is the Senior Business Development Manager for EMA; his prime focus is to drive the business forward by generating and sustaining relationships with local employers. Matt describes working in the apprenticeship industry as exciting, challenging, engaging and very rewarding, he would describe himself as personable, enthusiastic and friendly.
Having worked alongside EMA Training since 2013, Laura Barber has supported the business in ‘all things compliance’.
Recognising not only Laura’s impact on our internal team but the apprenticeship sector as a whole, we are excited to introduce this new role for Laura to step into.
Laura’s vast knowledge and years of experience make her the ideal person to lead as a Director of the business, and we know she will progress on to do EMAzing things!
As the Chair of the Board, my primary responsibility is to oversee and ensure that EMA effectively fulfils its functions. I am tasked with both facilitating and scrutinising the actions of the senior leadership team to enhance the quality of services provided to apprentices. A key focus is on prudent allocation of public funds. Moreover, our emphasis lies in empowering apprentices for making informed decisions in both their personal and professional lives. Managing these responsibilities amidst various challenges requires our utmost dedication and effort.
Adam has worked in FE since gaining his PGCE in 2009 and began his career as a Functional Skills tutor. He has since worked in a variety of commercial and business development roles for private training providers and colleges to support their growth. In 2020 he founded Roemer Barnes Consultancy in a response to market need for high-quality bid writing services. His primary focus is supporting training providers with accessing government funding through tendering processes and implementing business growth strategies that align to regional, and national, skills policies. Through Roemer Barnes Consultancy, Adam has secured over £25m of funding for his clients across funding streams including Adult Education Budget, Skills Bootcamps, Apprenticeships, UKSPF, Multiply, and Advanced Learner Loans. He supports EMA Training with identifying growth opportunities, developing business cases for expansion, and submitting high-quality tender responses for new funding opportunities.
Julian is involved with The Alternative Board (TAB) as a Facilitator and Coach for the East Midlands region and holds a series of Non-Executive Director roles in the East Midlands.
Julian joined TAB in March 2010 and has worked with East Midland businesses from a broad cross section of industries including retail, marketing, software, security, manufacturing, and accountancy and training companies. He has worked with more than 100 East Midland SMEs over the last 14 years.
He has an extensive breadth of knowledge gained from working with large Corporate Plc’s as well in manufacturing. His 35 years of experience includes significant leadership, strategic, commercial, general management, and overseas roles.
With an eye always on the ‘big picture’ and lead and managed business units of multi-discipline teams up to £100m turnover with 3000 employees as well as a team of less than 10 in an SME.
Julian’s involvement with the EMA Board is to provide business advice and leadership.
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 for 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 new curriculum for the Payroll qualification are some of her favourite things about her job role.
Adill is EMA’s AAT Trainer. He has a strong passion towards training learners in the direction of achieving and exceeding their potential; ensuring each learner feels valued, successful and knowledgeable to take on the next steps of their career. His passion towards accounting, alongside his commitment to achieving successful outcomes for learners, means every lesson is delivered with aptitude and a desire to be an industry leading trainer.
Being an Accountancy Trainer, Mike loves the variety of the role and the people from different walks of life all pursuing a career in accountancy, all with widely varying aspirations. Mike has spent two years in practice, and four years in industry, most of those as a management accountant, meaning Mike can offer his Apprentices different real-life examples of what they could progress towards following their apprenticeships. Mike explains that “Nothing is ever too much to ask, and the willingness to support each other is amazing” at EMA.
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.
In the four years Tracey has been mentoring apprentices she is very proud of the very high number obtaining distinction for their End Point Assessments. Tracey has many years of experience working in a variety of industries, Property, Logistics, Import/Export, Management Consultancy. She has worked in many countries such as USA, UAE, France and Monaco within her accounting roles.
Having been a Payroll apprentice herself, Amy explained that she can empathise with learners and better support them in their development, sharing that working in the apprenticeship industry is, “busy, but exciting! I love working with people and feeling like you have made a difference to someone’s life – it’s very rewarding.”
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 lovessocialising with his friends and playing his guitar.
Admire is a Learning and Development Mentor and Trainer for EMA’s IT programs. With varied experience in both IT and education spanning over a period of 25 years witnessing his IT learners achieving their qualifications gives him a degree of Job satisfaction. So far he has experienced a great family culture with EMA and feels a sense of belonging. He recommends anyone who has a passion for education and transforming young lives to work in the apprenticeship industry.
Holly is EMA’s Digital Mentor and a fun fact about Holly is that not only was she an apprentice herself, she won Higher Apprentice of the Year 2016! This experience puts Holly in a fantastic position to best support her Apprentices in their learning and development. Holly is hardworking, determined and a team player; so being able to watch learners grow in confidence during their time at EMA and helping them pass their qualifications is really rewarding for her.
Ryan was an apprentice with EMA for a long time and became interested in working for them as he progressed through the programme. Looking for a place of work where he could pass on his skills, knowledge and experience he thought EMA would be the perfect fit for him. His passionate, dedicated and determined characteristics defiantly shine through when teaching things he is passionate about.
Having been a marketing apprentice with EMA, Calum was eager to stay in the apprenticeship industry as a Trainer. Alongside completing the Level 4 CIM qualification, Calum started working with Level 3 Marketing Apprentices, supporting the start of their apprenticeship journeys.
Calum loves to travel and has been able to follow his passions all over the country alongside his identical twin brother.
Hollie has recently progressed from an AAT Trainer & Mentor with EMA Training, to EMA’s Resource Manager. Having been with EMA since 2015, Hollie is ideal for this role! Kind, patient and supportive, Hollie is looking forward to getting stuck into this new role and supporting the wider team!
Hollie’s favourite quote is, “When a flower doesn’t bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.”, and it’s perspective like this that has allowed Hollie to progress as amazingly as she has, throughout her career.
Kerry is the longest serving employee with EMA Training Limited and has been responsible for a number of key areas, such as the delivery of apprenticeship recruitment and employee process development. Kerry loves that EMA wants to make the right choices and decisions for both staff and students, whilst wanting to make a positive impact on the local economy along the way.
With over 5 years’ experience within the Apprenticeship sector, Abby is a fantastic addition to our Quality and Compliance team.
Abby’s favourite quote is “A winner is a dreamer who never gave up”, and she reflects this ethos within her day-to-day role. Working directly with our Apprenitceships Director, Abby is a fantastic support to the business and her team.
Hardworking and organised, Jess has flourished in her recruitment role! Supporting the Recruitment Manager on a day to day basis, Jess is making a huge positive impact to the department and business. With a passion for clay pigeon shooting, Jess is proud of her involvemnet within the shotgun shooting community and is excited to progress within competitions.
Rosie is outgoing, genuine and supportive; her experience with EMA has been a journey full of opportunity and happiness. She has never worked for an employer who cares as much about their team as EMA do; she loves how she is appreciated for everything she does. She is proud of herself for joining a completely new industry aged 19 with no experience and within 12 months being promoted to “Trainee Finance Manager”.
Tina has worked in many industries: NHS as an Assistant Practitioner in Radiography, Sports Massage therapy and as a climbing instructor. As well as admin in an apprenticeship provider whilst completing her own business admin apprenticeship where she discovered her love for working in the apprenticeship industry. Tina is the welcoming face for EMA, and touching on her range of experience, she is the ideal person to fulfil this role!
Beckie is the Apprentice Learning Support Coach here at EMA. Beckie works on a one-to-one basis with apprentices in the workplace, providing supportive and developmental feedback. Previously, Beckie was part of the ICT trade in the RAF for 12 years and ended her career with them instructing at the defence college at RAF Cosford. Following this, she has worked for apprenticeship providers throughout the Midlands offering help and support to those starting their careers. Beckie feels apprenticeships are an educational pathway that can bring out the best in anyone.
Having worked with EMA’s CEO, Tracey previously, Jo knew she loved Tracey’s ethos and passion! This is what drove her to wanting to work with EMA. Jo’s role is to support the quality of the provision EMA deliver. This entails supporting tutors and mentors to develop their practice and resources. Reliable and responsive, Jo is a great support for tutors and mentors, making sure EMA’s values truly are reflected through their teaching.
Angela is hardworking and friendly and looking forward to helping the next generation of young adults achieve great things in an ever-growing industry. Being EMA’s Business Administrator, Angela always has something to be doing; meaning she always sees achievement. She loves to see candidates progress.
As an IT Technician, Adrian supports colleagues and learners on a daily basis. This brings new challenges every day for Adrian but is lucky to have support when he needs it, this helps him develop new skills and practice them in the workplace. Adrian describes working in the apprenticeship industry as satisfying, challenging, and rewarding and is very proud to do his job.
Michael’s day-to-day role varies from IT work to Marketing, it is very varied and rewarding. After joining EMA as an Apprentice Michael has many things to be proud of, whether that’s passing his Level 3 DST with a distinction or taking on a full-time role with Digital Support and Facilities.
Previously, Beckie was part of the ICT trade in the RAF for 12 years and ended her career with them instructing at the defence college at RAF Cosford. She knew she wanted to enter the teaching/training arena after leaving. Since then, she has worked for apprenticeship providers throughout the Midlands offering help and support to those staring their careers. She feels apprenticeships are an educational pathway which can bring out the best in anyone.
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.
Having worked alongside EMA Training since 2013, Laura Barber has supported the business in ‘all things compliance’.
Recognising not only Laura’s impact on our internal team but the apprenticeship sector as a whole, we are excited to introduce this new role for Laura to step into.
Laura’s vast knowledge and years of experience make her the ideal person to lead as a Director of the business, and we know she will progress on to do EMAzing things!