Laura Barclay – Head of LLE Market Stimulation, Department for Education

Laura is Head of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) Market Stimulation Team in the Department for Education (DfE). She has worked in higher education (HE) for 6 years, having worked on various elements of HE policy and strategy prior to working on the LLE. In this role, she works closely with external stakeholders on preparing for the LLE, as well as DfE policy teams and key delivery partners such as the Student Loans Company (SLC). 

Stephen Jones – Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Student Loans Company

Stephen Jones has been with the Student Loans Company (SLC) for over a decade, bringing a wealth of experience in business support and partner engagement. Since 2019, he has worked within Partner Services, where he has played a pivotal role in strengthening relationships with external stakeholders. In his current role as Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Stephen leads the communications and engagement strategy for SLC’s involvement in the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) Programme. He is responsible for delivering a planned, coordinated, and credible engagement programme with external business partners, ensuring that SLC’s messaging is clear, consistent, and aligned with the needs of the sector. Stephen is passionate about building collaborative partnerships and driving impactful engagement that supports the successful delivery of transformational programmes.

Dr Ailsa Crum is a Lead Consultant with AHEP Consulting. She has 30+ years’ experience in HE including as a QAA Director with responsibility for re-developing key sector reference points, e.g. the UK Quality Code, subject benchmarks and credit frameworks. Ailsa has an extensive background in recognising academic credit and championing lifelong learning. She is currently engaged in a QAA-funded project to identify the lifelong learning impact of apprenticeships for employers, educators and learners and, with AHEP Consulting on a project to support implementation of LLE. She was an architect of the Quality Enhancement Framework in Scotland and retains extensive international links through review and enhancement activities. She chairs the Board of Futureworks and sits on the Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA) Board where she chairs the Finance and Risk Committee. 

Rachel Reeds is a Lead Consultant at AHEP Consulting. With experience across the student lifecycle, Rachel is a specialist in the recruitment-to-enrolment stage, with a track record of redesigning policies, processes, and systems to improve efficiency, compliance, and applicant experience. Rachel is a graduate of AHEP’s PGCert in Higher Education Administration, Management and Leadership. Rachel is author of Surviving and Thriving in Higher Education Professional Services (Routledge, 2024) and founder of The Bold Collective, a professional development community for HE managers. She also co-hosts the HE Tea Break podcast and is known for challenging institutional hierarchies as a positive disruptor.