Suzanne Marie Nicols
Eckington,United Kingdom
Summary
I am a quality driven and approachable Manager, with a strong background of team collaboration which has helped to achieve real results. I review and use data to drive progress and identify improvement areas, either for team members or company processes. Staff are supported through targeted training and development of their skills, in line with their KPI’s, to help them increase confidence and become more effective practitioners. I have a firm belief that high-quality learning and continuous development is not achieved without strong well-structured curriculums in place. I am organised and supportive of all team members and ensure full compliance with DfE funding rules by empowering all staff to understand their importance. I enjoy looking for ways to improve efficiency without compromising quality to help strengthen overall performance for everyone.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Business Change Manager/DSL/Inspector
Orange Moon Training
09.2023 - 12.2025
- Developed and shared best practices across company to align with objectives, KPI's and quality standards.
- Fostered positive relationships with all customers to maximise satisfaction, address any concerns to help retention and overall experience.
- Streamlined operations to consistently deliver on targets.
- Interviewed and evaluated team members and management staff to add to workforce and meet demands of the company. Regularly carrying out OTLA’s where required.
- Mitigated regulatory risks by complying with ESFA and Ofsted requirements, taking part in inspections to support the needs of the company.
- Maintaining quality cycle, SAR and QIP.
- Implemented change strategies, resulting in improved productivity levels.
- Inspections of childminder establishments against the education inspection framework.
- Collaborated with all teams to ensure that quality and compliancy are embedded.
- Carry out IQA activities for the company, as well as being the quality nominee for awarding bodies and undertaking SV visits.
- Policy creation and implementation.
Programme Manager/Inspector
Orange Moon Training
09.2021 - 09.2023
- Cultivated work environment focused on personal responsibility, continuous improvement and delivering high-quality results.
- Recruited and hired team members for organisational vacancies and supported adherence to policies across workforce.
- Supported team morale and well-being by developing positive practices centered on career development and individual job satisfaction.
- Investigated issues impacting organisational operations and service delivery to understand root causes, prepare detailed reports and recommend corrective actions.
- Drove company growth with proactive mindset and results-oriented plans for business operations.
- Monitored staff performance and developed improvement plans.
- Advised senior management on resource needs and delivered ongoing operational support.
- Directed daily operation of the delivery team and flexed with changing demands to consistently meet objectives.
- Inspections of childminder establishments against the education inspection framework.
Tutor Assessor/Inspector
Orange Moon Training
07.2018 - 09.2022
- Training/Assessing candidates undertaking early years/education training.
- Providing teaching and learning across a variety of subjects.
- Delivering functional skills to Level 2 in Numeracy, Literacy and IT.
- Apprenticeship sign ups and diagnostics for learners.
- Undertaking inspection visits for childminders using the CIF.
- Develop and manage recruitment of learners.
- Manage learner engagement.
- Manage employer engagement.
- Manage training delivery systems.
- Marketing and delivery.
- Business development to co-ordinate onboarding.
- Maintaining and monitoring quality of delivery.
- Handled stakeholder issues professionally and efficiently, resolving problems with favourable and helpful solutions.
- Kept up to date with current regulations, standards and best practices within the sector through regular training.
Trainer/Assessor
Connect2Care
03.2018 - 07.2018
- Training/Assessing candidates undertaking childcare.
- Providing teaching and learning across a variety of subjects.
- Delivering functional skills to Level 2 in Numeracy, Literacy & IT.
- Apprenticeship sign ups and diagnostics for learners.
Trainer/Assessor
Interserve Learning and Employment
09.2016 - 02.2018
- Continuing to work with candidates assessing a range of subjects.
- Providing teaching and learning across a variety of units and subjects.
- Managing own caseload and diary.
- Prioritising time.
- Providing functional skills support to Level 2 in Numeracy, Literacy & IT.
- Carrying out health and safety checks.
- Meeting KPI's in relation to maintaining caseload number.
- Apprenticeship sign ups and diagnostics for learners.
- Confident in the use of OneFile.
- Experience of using Pearson and City & Guilds testing platforms
- Supporting a caseload of approximately 45 learners.
Assessor
Derbyshire County Council
10.2011 - 08.2016
- Assessing candidates' competence in the workplace against a specified set of criteria issued by the Awarding Body.
- Extended knowledge and experience and given a strong assessing background.
- Worked with a diverse range of candidates of varying ages and abilities.
- Worked in a wide range of environments, from pre-schools to residential children's homes and also working with the social care teams going into private homes to support families.
Childminder
Self Employed
11.2005 - 12.2014
- Working from home caring for children whilst their parents are at work.
- Strong grounding within the childcare sector.
- Organised and ran a support group for Childminders in the local community.
- Worked with children from 3 months to 14 years of age.
- Providing full day care, before and after school care and holiday cover for school age children.
- Planning and implementing activities for all children, suitable to age and ability.
- Built positive relationships with children, parents and staff by providing a friendly, polite and proactive attitude throughout interactions.
- Monitored and recorded children's development, including behaviour and learning, daily for reporting to parents.
- Developed positive parent partnerships by communicating regular updates on child's progress.
- Kept accurate and up to date financial records of childminding work on Excel, for organisational and self-employment legal purposes.
- Stayed vigilant and aware of surroundings throughout childminding activities, ensuring children stayed safe and protected.
Nail Technician and Beauty Therapist
Self Employed
05.2002 - 11.2005
- Visited people in their own homes and provided a beauty and manicure service.
- Built and maintained relationships with clients to encourage repeat nail appointments.
- Maintained thorough knowledge of all services and products to correctly answer clients' questions.
- Kept abreast of latest nail products, trends and techniques to offer clients trending nail designs.
Education
Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School
Skills
- Ability to manage my own time and prioritise workload
- Excellent communicator, verbally and in writing
- Working up to date knowledge of the childcare sector
- Organised and efficient
- Confident in the use of Microsoft Word, Office, Excel
- Quality assurance
- Team leadership
- Project Management
- Performance monitoring
- Training delivery
- Curriculum Development
- Employee assessments
- Operational improvement
- Regulatory compliance
- Data analysis
- Inspection processes
Certification
- Level 4 Award in Internal Quality Assurance
- Level 3 Award in End Point Assessment
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Candidates (A1)
- PTLLS
- Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
- Level 4 Certificate in Early Years Practice
- Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
- Designated Safeguarding Lead Training
- Level 2 Award in Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy
- Level 2 in Lean Organisation Management Techniques
- Currently Completing ILM Level 5 in Leadership and Management
REFERENCES
References are available on request.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Making silver jewellery, Walking in Derbyshire, Reading, Spending time with family and friends
PERSONAL INFORMATION
- Full Driving License Own Car
- Valid DBS on update service
Timeline
Business Change Manager/DSL/Inspector
Orange Moon Training
09.2023 - 12.2025
Programme Manager/Inspector
Orange Moon Training
09.2021 - 09.2023
Tutor Assessor/Inspector
Orange Moon Training
07.2018 - 09.2022
Trainer/Assessor
Connect2Care
03.2018 - 07.2018
Trainer/Assessor
Interserve Learning and Employment
09.2016 - 02.2018
Assessor
Derbyshire County Council
10.2011 - 08.2016
Childminder
Self Employed
11.2005 - 12.2014
Nail Technician and Beauty Therapist
Self Employed
05.2002 - 11.2005
Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School