Position:
Employment & Skills Director
Company:
Business in the Community
Bio:
Nicola leads Business in the Community’s work across education, employment and skills, including the award-winning Ban the Box campaign and the Opening Doors inclusive recruitment campaign. Nicola is responsible for a team driving action from businesses to support disadvantaged learners and jobseekers, remove barriers to work and develop skills. She works closely with the business members of the Employment & Skills Leadership Team (chaired by Jonathan Lewis, CEO of Capita) to develop and deliver BITC’s strategy to achieve a vision where everyone, regardless of their background or experience, can access the education, employment, and skills they need to thrive throughout their working lives. She represents BITC on a range of external boards and advisory groups focused on skills and inclusive employment.
Prior to taking on the post of Director in 2018, Nicola was Campaign Manager for Excluded Groups at BITC, leading a team responsible for campaigns, communications, research and policy. With a background in fundraising and volunteer management in the homelessness sector (at Depaul Trust and Crisis), she initially joined BITC in 2008 to deliver support to help companies develop strategic community investment.
Nicola holds a MA General from Edinburgh University and has previously qualified as an Advisor with Citizens Advice. She lives in London with her husband and two young children.