Zoe Waites

Head of Product Development

About your role at 3aaa

I am the Head of Product Development at 3aaa Apprenticeships, ensuring that we are anticipating market changes and client needs as we develop new programmes. The other significant part of my role is to ensure we have the correct resources available to meet demand. I work closely with many areas of the business, to understand our client’s needs, from SMEs through to large levy-paying organisations and developing programmes that not just meet, but exceed these expectations.

Your Background Prior to 3aaa

Before I joined 3aaa, I worked as an Accountancy Trainer for an FE College, where I worked closely with Apprentices and partnering employers, ensuring that the programme was fit for purpose and met their needs accordingly.

I then had a career break to have my children before re-joining the College and getting promoted to the position of Programme Manager for the Accountancy Department. I then became the Lead for the Accountancy and Business department where I oversaw the Travel & Tourism department, the Business School, the Accountancy department and the Work-Based Learning that was taking place within the FE College.

Within this role, I saw that there was a growing opportunity to be able to work in partnership with local businesses, trying to help young people to gain work experience through Apprenticeships, as well as completing their qualifications and receiving the valuable experience that they need to progress. I was dedicated to making a difference and to growing the Apprenticeship provision within the FE College.

I then met the team at 3aaa Apprenticeships and I was enthralled by the excellent opportunity to make a difference to the lives of people across the country. I started by working at the Milton Keynes Academy as an Accountancy Trainer before being promoted to the position of National Accountancy Lead within a year of being with the company.

I then progressed my career with 3aaa to become the Head of Professional Services, before moving into my current role of Head of Product Development late last year.

How my roles adds value to our partnering clients.

We are able to provide programmes and the appropriate resources to give a quality experience to our Learners and Employers, ensuring that the training fit’s their needs and is effective on a day to day basis.

What we do as a team helps to shape the learning environment that the Apprentices have, and we work closely with our partnering employers to understand their requirements and contextualise the programmes accordingly.

We also work closely with employer groups to help design the Apprenticeship standards, taking part in various Trailblazer groups to find out exactly what employers across the country want. This then informs and shapes how the programmes look from the offset; from the design and creation of the standards, right the way through to the actual implementation of them.

What are your interests outside of work?

My family are my main interest and I love spending time with them as much as I can. I also enjoy keeping fit and going to gym as well as having tea and biscuits with friends. My main passion is going out shopping with my two daughters.

3 words that best describe you:

  • Passionate
  • Driven
  • Approachable