16/04/2025
We are thrilled to announce Rob Taylor FIEP, Head of Delivery Assurance at Serco, is our 300th IEP Fellow!
Rob transitioned from a successful retail management career into the Employability Sector, discovering a passion for coaching and development that led him to roles in training and quality assurance. His journey has evolved into a vocation, driven by a deep commitment to supporting individuals into sustainable employment and contributing to positive community outcomes.
“My decision to become an IEP Fellow comes at a time where the employability landscape is changing, with a greater focus on devolved commissioning and integration between employment, skills, career and health provision,” Rob said.
“In a landscape of change and complexity, the one constant that remains is the passion and dedication of the people who come to work each day to help change peoples lives. The IEP represents these individuals with passion and pride and works relentlessly to ensure they are equipped to continue to support people as we transition into uncertain times. As a Fellow I look forward to being able to network, collaborate and share ideas with passionate individuals, helping to raise standards and improving best practice, to ensure as a community of Employability Professionals we continue to deliver positive impact and outcomes.”
Rob said that, like many people, his career path was by no means linear and he found himself stumbling across the Employability Sector following many years spent as a retail manager, first cutting his teeth as a graduate manager for Sainsbury’s.
“I soon found that my passion as a manager lay in coaching and developing people and I harnessed these skills to retrain as an Apprenticeship Assessor, going on to work for a number of training organisations. My first role in the Employability Sector as a Quality Assurance Assessor with Serco came at the beginning of the Work Programme[TC1] , after finding myself facing the possibility of redundancy and looking for ‘Assessor’ roles, and I can honestly say I have not looked back since.
“What started off as a job, soon turned into a vocation, and that is a direct result of working with some very experienced and knowledgeable individuals whose commitment to supporting people to move into employment was inspiring. I am genuinely proud of the track record this sector has in supporting people to progress into sustainable work and having a positive impact in the communities we serve.”
The IEP’s global influence and community continue to grow
IEP Group CEO Scott Parkin FIEP said that reaching our 300th Fellow is a huge milestone for the IEP and a powerful reminder of the strength and dedication within our community of Employability Professionals.
“I’m incredibly proud to welcome Rob Taylor FIEP as our 300th Fellow – his journey and commitment to improving lives through sustainable employment truly embodies what IEP Fellowship is all about,” he said.
“As our global network continues to grow – with recent highlights including IEP Australia closing on 100 Fellows and our first two Fellows in Canada[HE2] – so does our collective ability to share knowledge, raise standards and drive real, positive change across the Employability Sector.”
What IEP Fellowship means to our Fellows
Liz Millington FIEP, Senior Programmes Manager at Central London Forward (CLF)
“Since becoming a Fellow I have seen first-hand how effective the platform is for supporting all of us as dedicated professionals, to shape future provision and ensure our voices are heard. Through training and sharing good practice, webinars and events, the IEP provides an opportunity for us all to join together to be a powerful force for the good. Providing membership for all our central London boroughs means we can now share the platform even more widely and really have a positive impact on front-line provision.”
Lily Jin FIEP, National Manager – Performance & Compliance at Mission Australia
“The Fellowship offers a platform to collaborate with like-minded professionals, share best practice, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our field.”
Ross McLatchie FIEP, IEP Senior Advisor of Growth in Australia
“The beauty of the IEP Fellowship network is the ability to establish peer-to-peer connections, enabling access to a wider range of resources and information. It is through greater collaboration and the sharing of proven person-centred practice that we will have the greatest impact on the lives of some of our most disadvantaged Australians.”
Chris McMillan FIEP, General Manager of Work Pathways at ReadyTech
“Embarking on this journey as an IEP Fellow is deeply rooted in my passion for empowering individuals on their path to meaningful work. With over two decades of experience in the Employment Services, Apprenticeships, and Training Sectors, I’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of collaboration and shared best practice.”
For me, Fellowship is about actively contributing to the mission and vision of the IEP, not just locally but on a global scale. I see it as an opportunity to bridge gaps, connect with fellow professionals, and drive the professionalisation of our sector forward, while ultimately supporting others in gaining, progressing, and retaining employment.”
Ania Mendrek FIEP, Founder and Managing Director of Crafting Civic Change
“Being a Fellow of the IEP empowers me to stay at the forefront of employability services, ensuring that I can bring the most innovative and effective solutions to organisations who work with people in need of those services. It enables me to collaborate with professionals and Thought Leaders from across the sector, enriching my work and enhancing the impact we can make together. This Fellowship is not just a recognition; it’s a responsibility that I cherish, driving me to continually advocate for and implement policies that support and uplift vulnerable populations through meaningful employment opportunities.
Michael Högberg FIEP, psychotherapist specialising in cognitive behavioural therapy, Method and Programme Developer for the IEP Learning Academy
“The IEP and its Fellowship are an excellent platform to increase precisely the affinity and knowledge sharing with competent colleagues from different but related fields. By learning and taking support from each other, we increase our conditions to develop and maintain motivation, create meaning and can thus be even more effective in meeting our various customers and target groups.”
Caroline Bostock FIEP, Director of Employability and Community Services at Palladium
“I am honoured to be an IEP Fellow, and I am committed to promoting the further professionalisation of our sector to ensure the life-changing work we do is properly supported, recognised and rewarded.”
