THE organisation responsible for promoting skills development in England, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), has announced a new management structure with the appointment of regional directors.

The new structure will allow the LSC to improve its work, developing key partnerships at a local level.

Former teacher Margaret Coleman, 53, executive director of the West Yorkshire LSC, based in Bradford, has been appointed as regional director for Yorkshire and Humberside.

Although she will still be responsible for West Yorkshire, Mrs Coleman will also be responsible for the performance of the LSC across the region, with three sub-regional centres, among them North Yorkshire, reporting to her.

She said: "My position as director of the region will enable me to work locally, regionally and nationally to meet the skills challenges of the 21st Century.

"I will have a close working relationship with the other executive directors across the region, including David Harbourne, at the North Yorkshire LSC.

"They have all made a significant contribution to the LSC's success and together we will create a winning team."

Mrs Coleman said the aims and aspirations of the LSC in Yorkshire and Humberside, mirrored those of the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

"Like Yorkshire Forward, we want to develop and retain skills across the whole region, to the benefit of the economy," she said.

"In relation to North Yorkshire I will be looking at how the LSC performs overall, and how much the North Yorkshire sub-region contributes."

She said: "In North Yorkshire we need to improve participation of both youngsters and adults in education.

"There are significant issues with the level of numeracy and literacy among the adult population, which is constantly raised by employers and trade unions.

"One of my first priorities is raising the number of people attaining level two qualifications, equivalent to five GSCE passes."

She continued: "The LSC is also committed to continuing to develop the 'localness' of our operations, and my appointment strengthens the role of local LSCs, such as North Yorkshire.

"It will allow for a more streamlined and responsive structure, giving more strength and confidence to local decision-making.

"This should lead to local leadership delivering local solutions where they are needed."

Mrs Coleman, originally from Derbyshire, moved to Yorkshire in 1968 to study English at Leeds University.

She said: "I fell in love with Yorkshire and I have lived here all my adult life. I cannot imagine living anywhere else.

"I might originally be from Derbyshire, but I know what this region is all about because I have been here so long.

"I share the same aspirations as its people and understand their culture."

Mrs Coleman can also draw on her experience of working in industry for her new role in the LSC. Before attending teacher training college, she spent nine months in a personnel role at Butterly Engineering, in Derbyshire.

She said: "That was a real education to me. At the time, I was not sure if I wanted to go into a business field or education."

Following six years at university, studying as an undergraduate and post graduate student, Mrs Coleman taught English .

She said: "By the mid-1980s, I had moved into further education, in particular Keighley College, where I was head of business, involved in apprenticeships and the bespoke training needs of companies."

Before joining the West Yorkshire LSC in November 2000, in the run-up to its official opening in April 2001, Mrs Coleman was principal of Huddersfield New College, a sixth form college.

She said: "I originally joined the LSC because I wanted to improve social inclusion in business and education.

"I hope to continue that in my time as regional director, helping to raise participation and attainment through high-quality education and training."