ABOUT
Meet the team
The people behind CoTrain, supporting apprentices, hosts and training providers across the South East.
Charmaine Holland
Charmaine joined SECBE in May 2024 as Programme Development Director and is responsible for driving improvement and the successful delivery of the CoTrain programme and the new development of the People Development Strategy Services. She previously delivered the Green Skills Programme for Mayors Skills Academy and the Greater London Authority/Groundwork within pan London, promoting and encouraging talent into the sector. Charmaine has also worked closely with employers and training providers to future proof training within the sector.
Mark Pope
Mark joined CoTrain in 2019 as an Apprenticeship Manager. Mark had been working for CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) for ten years, with eight of them as an apprenticeship officer in the Southampton area and his last two years as the CoTrain Shared Apprenticeship Co-ordinator. Mark completed a four year Electrical Apprenticeship in the early 1980s and went on to study for an HND in Heavy Current and Electronics. The electrical training helped Mark follow different career paths, working for an electronics production equipment company for 15 years as an installation engineer, sales engineer and commercial & training manager. This allowed him to travel with work, and he has lived and worked in New York, California and Australia.
Sarah Hall
Sarah joined CoTrain in August 2024 as an Apprenticeship Manager, bringing over 30 years of experience in education. In this role she manages apprentices, training providers and hosts, while also leading the recruitment and onboarding of new apprentices alongside Helen Banning. With a strong background in teaching, management and consultancy, Sarah has spent her career training, coaching and mentoring educators. Known for her creativity and passion, she is a motivational leader who excels in advising and inspiring others. In 2010 her expertise led to her involvement with Teachers Media, where she planned and featured in two training films focused on innovative coaching and teaching methodologies. Sarah is widely recognised as a versatile and innovative role model in her field.
Helen Banning
Helen joined the CoTrain team as an Apprenticeship Manager in August 2024. Along with Sarah Hall she is responsible for managing existing apprentices, training providers and hosts, as well as leading on the recruitment and onboarding of new apprentices. After nearly thirty years in education, initially working as a class teacher and then as Head of Department in schools both in the North West and the South East, Helen has guided and supported hundreds of young people to become the best versions of themselves. As an outstanding practitioner she has mentored trainee teachers from Reading University and has also devised and delivered training programmes for local authorities for newly qualified teachers and teaching assistants.
Jenny Lawton
Jenny plays a key role in the day-to-day running of the business, overseeing office administration while supporting the team with apprentices’ timesheets, expenses and general operational coordination. With a strong background in finance, HR and office management, Jenny brings a wealth of experience gained across both the public and private sectors, including local government and HM Revenue & Customs. She also successfully ran her own business for more than 13 years, developing a practical, people-focused approach and a strong understanding of business operations. Although new to the construction industry, Jenny is enthusiastic about expanding her knowledge of the sector and is already proving to be a valued member of the team.
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