Jennifer Coupland - Honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv)
Jennifer Coupland is a leader in education reform whose career has been defined by opening up opportunities to talented people regardless of background. Guided by her belief that “talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” she has transformed England’s apprenticeship and technical education landscape.
In 2012, Jennifer spearheaded reforms following the Richard Review of Apprenticeships. She put employers in control of setting training standards, introduced rigorous end-point assessments, and established a funding model that empowered businesses to invest directly in skills. What began with eight employer “trailblazer” groups has grown into more than 700 apprenticeship programmes covering 70% of jobs in the economy, with over one million people trained. She also drove the establishment of degree apprenticeships, now offered at 90 universities, including the Russell Group, bringing world-class employers such as Google, Jaguar Land Rover, and the NHS into the system.
As CEO of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, Jennifer oversaw the introduction of T Levels, taken by 30,000 students, and the strengthening of higher
technical qualifications. A passionate advocate for equity, she developed national diversity strategies, with ethnic minority participation in apprenticeships now exceeding labour market averages.
In September this year Jennifer took at post as the CEO of the Chartered Institute for Legal Executives, where she continues to champion social mobility and access to the professions by opening up alternative routes into the legal profession.
Her personal journey underpins her mission. Growing up on a council estate in North London as the first in her family to attend university, Jennifer experienced firsthand how education can transform lives. Today, alongside her leadership roles, she is a trustee of WorldSkills UK and Youth Employment UK, continuing to inspire the next generation.