The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has announced Jennifer Coupland as its new chief executive.

She will take up her post in November of this year, replacing Sir Gerry Berragan, whose two-year contract comes to an end. The role was advertised in March.

Ms Coupland is currently the director of professional and technical education at the Education and Skills Funding Agency, and was previously acting chief executive of the Standards Testing Agency. Before that, she spent three years as the deputy director of the Apprenticeships Unit, responsible for apprenticeship reform. 

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Background: IfA boss likens reforms to ‘building an aircraft already in flight’ 

Coupland ‘really excited’ about role

Ms Coupland said: “I am really excited about taking on this new role later in the year. For the past two years, I have been working closely with Sir Gerry and seeing at first hand the great work the institute is doing, and the great people that work there. I am looking forward to leading the institute into the future of technical education - delivering the first wave of T levels, working closely with employers to develop apprenticeships that deliver for our learners and our economy, and making England the standard for high-quality technical education.”

Antony Jenkins, chair of the IfATE, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce that Jennifer will be joining the institute later this year. She has a huge wealth of knowledge and experience in further education and, in particular, apprenticeships that will be integral to further developing the work of the institute.”

‘The skills and knowledge we need’

Anne Milton, apprenticeships and skills minister, said: “My very sincere congratulations to Jennifer Coupland on her new role. Jennifer has shown outstanding leadership on the vital work to deliver the new T levels. Jennifer was also closely involved previously in our reform programme for apprenticeships. I have no doubt that she has exactly the right skills and knowledge we need to lead the institute through its next phases of its development.”

Mark Dawe, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, said: “AELP is delighted that, in Jennifer, the new chief executive of IfATE will have an outstanding background in both apprenticeships and T levels.

“We hope that this will be the dawn of a new era at the institute, which will combine practical common sense and good policy implementation.  AELP is really excited to be working with her.”