Develop Training Ltd (DTL) has appointed maths lecturer Tracy Watkinson to boost its ability to deliver literacy and numeracy training, a vital part of apprenticeship programmes.

Ensuring students attain a set level of literacy and numeracy is a requirement made of apprenticeship providers by the educational watchdog Ofsted, and DTL has invested in technology and teaching to ensure that apprentices reach the levels they need. The company, which is an approved apprenticeship provider under the Government's levy scheme, delivers apprenticeship programmes for household names in construction and the utilities.

Tracy will work with candidates at DTL's seven training centres in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as delivering training on customers' own premises and remotely via telephone and Skype.

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Apprentices must achieve set standards for functional skills at Entry Level and at Apprenticeship Levels 1, 2 and 3 unless they have already have the necessary qualifications from school or college, otherwise they cannot complete their apprenticeships.

That can be an obstacle for many candidates. There have been reports of UK teenagers leaving school with poor maths skills, compared with those in other countries, but it is not only young people who can struggle with the subject. One of the challenges Tracy faces is engaging with older apprentices, many of whom have gone into the industries they work in because they didn't have a strong academic background. Now, however, those industries are becoming more technical, and the requirement for formal training, such as apprenticeships, is gaining in importance.

"People can sometimes find it challenging being back in a classroom, so I work hard to make it enjoyable for them and ensure they get something out of the experience beyond attaining the qualifications they need," Tracy explained.

Following 12 years in secondary education, Tracy worked for Learndirect and in an apprenticeship training role with a training company before joining DTL. Married with a daughter at university, she lives in Corby and enjoys live music and Marvel comics and films.