EAL’s Managing Director Alison Parkes joins The St Martin’s Group

We are proud to announce that Alison Parkes, Managing Director of EAL, has been formally invited to join The St Martin’s Group as a member from 1 February 2026. 

The St Martin’s Group is a unique UK skills sector membership organisation bringing together senior leaders from employers, training providers and awarding organisations to champion a sustainable, quality-focused and employer-led apprenticeship and skills system. Its members work collaboratively to influence policy and drive improvements across the UK skills and apprenticeship ecosystem, representing a strong cross-sector voice for high-quality skills delivery. 

Alison’s appointment to the Group reflects EAL’s deep commitment to excellence in vocational education, technical qualifications, and robust assessment practices, principles that mirror the core priorities of The St Martin’s Group. 

Alison commented: “I’m incredibly proud to be joining The St Martin’s Group. EAL’s mission has always been to ensure learners, employers, and educators have access to high-quality qualifications and assessment solutions that support skills development and economic growth. Joining St Martin’s Group provides an exciting opportunity to contribute even more to shaping a system where quality, employer engagement, and meaningful skills outcomes are at the heart of what we do.” 

The St Martin’s Group was established to foster collaboration across the skills sector, elevate employer leadership, and advocate for policy that prioritises quality and accessibility in apprenticeships and wider skills training. Its aims include increasing participation in employer-centric skills programmes, influencing policy for a stable and responsive skills system, and strengthening engagement between key sector stakeholders. 

Alison’s role within the Group will further amplify EAL’s voice in national skills conversations, particularly around quality assurance, assessment integrity and learner outcomes, all areas that sit at the centre of both organisations’ missions. 

We congratulate Alison on this exciting opportunity and look forward to the positive impact her insight and leadership will bring to the broader skills and apprenticeship landscape. 

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