Meet the Employability Services Team || The Sheffield College

The Employability Services Team are responsible for supporting local employers and buisiness to establish their academy sponsorship package, assisting with site visits and work placements, as well as recruiting students to the academies.

If you would like more information about becoming an academy sponsor or have any further questions please contact employerskillsacademies@sheffcol.ac.uk.

	Rachel Topliss - Director of Student Employability Services Rachel joined the FE sector 15 years ago after returning to live in the UK, having spent 13 years working as an Overseas Operations Manager for a global corporation. Rachel is passionate about driving forward employer and student partnerships within the Sheffield City Region to bring together the college's educational offer in line with Sheffield’s own business need. Heading up the colleges Employer Skills Academy Strategy, Rachel is keen to hear from employers who want to be part of the development of the workforce of tomorrow.
	Shani Clifford - Head of Student Employability Shani has worked within the education sector for almost 11 years and has a strong background in employer engagement. Shani manages our Employer Skills Academies and Sponsor a Student programme, working within the City and beyond to build an innovative and engaging offer to enhance our learner’s journey. Shani’s passion comes from her own personal educational experience and she is focussed on being able to develop a student offer that’s a little bit different to mainstream education, to allow our students to build resilience and strive to go further in their careers.
	Neil Wragg - Head of Curriculum Employer Partnerships Neil manages our Employer Relationship Coordinators within the College and is helping to drive the T Level strategy. Neil has worked in the FE sector since August 2012 in a mixture of private training providers and local colleges. With significant experience in the Engineering and Construction sector, Neil works with small to large employers to help recruit and train their next generation of staff. Neil and his team are working to equip all of our students with relevant industry placements to give them real life experience of work which will give them the right skills to find employment in their chosen field. Working with companies to understand their business and to see how The Sheffield College can help them is a passion of Neil’s to ensure the placement is valuable for everyone.
	Sarah Braddon - Employer Relationship Coordinator Sarah is an Employer Relationship Coordinator working within Creative Industries, Hair & Beauty, Catering & Hospitality and Business. "I am proud to be part of a team dedicated to empowering young people with the skills, confidence, and knowledge they need to be work-ready. Having been a student here myself, I know first-hand how impactful this college can be. With experience across multiple sectors, I’ve built strong relationships with various local companies, giving me valuable insight into the unique needs of our business community. I am committed to providing an exceptional experience for both employers and students and believe that working collaboratively with local businesses is key to driving the success of our city."
	Michael Rhodes - Employer Relationship Coordinator "I have worked with the business community of the Sheffield City Region since 2009 and I am delighted to be able to continue to engage with these businesses as part of the employer skills academy team. Having been both a student of Sheffield College and an employee of heritage brands within the city, I understand the importance of obtaining work experience in helping prepare the workforce of tomorrow. The rewards that the work based programme can offer both students and employers within the region are mutually beneficial. I am passionate about communicating these rewards to businesses and helping students fulfill their own potential to the benefit of everyone involved".
	Caroline Norton - Employer Relationship Coordinator “I’m really excited to be part of the Work Related Activity Team, working with local businesses across the Sheffield City Region and obtaining relevant opportunities for our students, enabling them to build upon their work skills in their chosen sectors. From personal experience, I understand how important it is to have suitable work experience alongside your studies and therefore I am passionate about building relationships with employers to encourage students to achieve their full potential. I have worked with and have an understanding of business needs across various different sectors, recognising the benefits for both the employers and students to engage in work related activity with The Sheffield College.”
	Claire O'Hare - Employer Relationship Coordinator "I have 15 years of experience with a well-known national retailer, where I held a senior role in the Micro Space planning department. This experience has given me skills in strategic planning, relationship management, and project coordination, which will be invaluable to the team. I am looking forward to learning more about the education sector and building meaningful relationships with employers to support students with their T Level qualifications. My extensive background will enhance the team's ability to develop strong partnerships and deliver exceptional support to students and employers alike."