Canny Conversations Podcast by Safaraz Ali

In this episode we hear the second part of Safaraz’s conversation with,, Jenny Pelling, Director of Apprenticeship Development and Diversity at Kaplan, the educational services company.  In this continuation of their conversation, Jenny shares her journey in the education sector, from her part time role in HR that shifted into education, to rising up the ranks to become a director. They discuss so...

In this episode, Safaraz is in conversation with Jenny Pelling, Director of Apprenticeship Development and Diversity at Kaplan, the educational services company.  In part one of this two-part conversation, which will continue next week. The discussion covers Jenny's multifaceted role at Kaplan, a major global education organization seeking to increase access and opportunity. This includes governan...

In this inspiring episode, and the continuation of Safaraz’s conversation with Jan Richardson CEO of Occupational Awards Limited, they talk about her remarkable 35+ year career journey in education and training. Jan shares the challenges she faced early on as a young single mother yet persevered to gain qualifications and progress through roles from trainer to senior leader. She provides candid in...

In this week’s episode, we hear the first part of Safaraz’s conversation with Jan Richardson-Wilde, CEO of Occupational Awards Limited, They chat about how Jan has lead the organization through huge challenges. When Jan took on the CEO role, the company was still small, with only 4 employees. Then just months into her tenure, COVID-19 hit. With the company's focus on food and drink, a sector that...

In this week’s episode Safaraz continues his conversation with Paul Eeles, the CEO of The Skills and Education Group. We will be hearing how Paul has dedicated his career to championing skills, education, and social mobility. He shares insights from his varied professional journey, from starting as a chef to leading large organizations in the further education sector. Paul and Safaraz also talk ab...

This week’s Canny Conversations Podcast features the first part of Safaraz’s conversation between him Paul Eeles, Group Chief Executive of the Skills and Education Group. Paul has been with the organization for 13 years, during which it has grown from a small regional membership body to a major national organization. In this wide-ranging chat, Paul traces his career journey from school into hospit...

In this second half of our conversation between Safaraz Ali and Rachel Jagger-Thomas from JTL they talk more about diversity and inclusion within the building, engineering and services sector in the UK and how this can be improved and promoted.  There is further discussion around the challenge of getting more women into technical trades such as plumbing and electrical work, which have historically...

In this week’s podcast we have the first part of Safaraz’s conversation with Rachel Jagger-Thomas from JTL, national training provider in England and Wales for the electrical, plumbing and heating industries, and a member of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance.   Rachel is the Diversity, Safeguarding and Inclusion Advisor for JTL, she has over 13 years’ experience working in equality, divers...

In the second part of Safaraz’s conversation with Viren Patel CEO of The Open University Worldwide, They talk about Virens perspectives on leadership, diversity, and driving change. He discusses leading The Open University through the pandemic, embracing new technology like AI, and strategies to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving world. Viren stresses the importance of empowering teams, coachin...

This week Safaraz is in conversation with Viren Patel, CEO of the Open University Worldwide Viren Patel, CEO of the Open University Worldwide and Director of Apprenticeships and Partnerships at the OU. In the first half of this two-part conversation, Viren shares his personal journey as a refugee who came to the UK in the 1970s and overcame the challenges to become the first in his family to gradu...

In this second part of Safaraz's conversation with Graham Hastings-Evans of NOCN Group, they explore the state of play for the skills environment in more depth. Their chat looks at the speed of change and the current challenge for skills to keep up with the future needs of the economy when policy makers continue to plan for an economic past.  Not only do employers, governments and training provide...

In today’s episode, Saf begins a wide-ranging conversation with Graham Evans, CEO of the National Open College Network Group. In the first part of this two parts conversation, Graham recounts how his farming childhood and early career as a civil engineer in the global construction industry provided invaluable lessons that are still as powerful and relevant today in his role as CEO of an academic o...

In this second part of his conversation with Jade Pearson, New Talent Manager at Severn Trent, Saf and Jade explore good leadership and how to manage your own career. Jade draws on her own experience to explore culture and management styles, how to address performance, progression, challenges, and conflict at every level in the company. They look at the importance of how you can take control of yo...

In the first episode of this new series, (Series 5) of the Canny Conversations Podcast we hear Safaraz in the first half of his conversation with Jade Pearson, New Talent Manager for Severn Trent and member of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance. Their conversation explores apprenticeships as an important career option for young people, including practical advice and information about how to...

In this week’s episode we take our final look back at some of the topics we have covered in the latest series of Canny Conversations, We have taken the important elements from these subjects and brought them down into a selection of bullet points for you to easily digest and guide you to the expanded versions in the relevant episode. We start with, where does emotional intelligence sit in your org...

In this week’s episode we take another look back at some of the topics we have covered in the latest series of Canny Conversations, Strategic Overview, Change has Changed Pt.1, Change has Changed Pt.2 and Lean, Agile and Responsive. We have taken the important elements from these subjects and brought them down into a selection of bullet points for you to easily digest and guide you to the expanded...

In this week’s episode we take a look back at some of the topics we have covered in the first four episodes of this series, Who What Why, What We Deliver, Core Values and 15 Skills and Traits. We have taken the important elements from these subjects and brought them down into a selection of bullet points for you to easily digest and guide you to the expanded versions in the relevant episode

In this episode Safaraz looks at, what we mean by focus and resilience and how important do we think these qualities are. There are occasions where you may have lost focus in your business life and here, he looks at ways to help you regain and remain focused. He also talks about how you would you define business resilience and can resilience result in stubbornness and failure to live in the real w...

In this episode, Safaraz is in conversation with journalist Adrian Kibbler. They look at culture in all its forms and its effects on the way business is done, both for good and bad. They also look at how ethnic culture can affect career paths and busting some common myths regarding ethnic minorities and higher education.

In this episode we once again move away from our usual format in order to focus on Saf’s Canny Bites business books. We hear extracts from the introductions from three of the Canny Bites audio books, read by Saf himself, 52 Bites of Business Wisdom, Another 52 Bites of Business Wisdom and finally Attract retain and grow your team to grow your business. Remember all these titles are available from...

In this episode Saf talks about his Beliefs, views and methodology and how they relate to not only business but life too. Looking at yourself using the mirror approach helps avoid blame and excuses and enhances accountability for your own actions; how your reaction when things go wrong impacts on the people around you, both to the good and bad, and how knowledge, in the wrong hands can be detrimen...

In this episode we step away from our normal format with a session recently recorded at the National Liberal Club in London in front of a live audience. Here Safaraz speaks with journalist Adrian Kibbler about the apprenticeships and skills landscape. He explores the impact of under representation of Black and Asian minorities within the apprenticeships route and how to address this in order to in...

In this episode Safaraz takes a look at the value of feedback from external stakeholders. Pathway regularly gets feedback from stakeholders and quality standard frameworks such as Investors in People, Matrix Standard, Awarding Organisations and funding and regulatory bodies, which Pathway Group review and act on. Here Safaraz explores the process and actions Pathway Group takes using examples of r...

“When one person teaches two people learn” In this episode, Saf touches on the power of coaching in the development of individuals from new insights to new perspectives, peer learning is an important part of supporting colleagues and teams. Here he explores how powerful questions, the follow up questions and the role of peer support delivers stronger people, both individually and collectively.

Building trust in the workplace is essential for the success of the company. Being able to build strong relationships that you can rely on is at the core of every professional relationship. Trust is the currency and is absolutely necessary in order to establish not only your own reputation but that of your department and grow a strong network of people who will help you throughout your career. No...