James Lee

Experience

• 

  Volunteering

  Jan 1993 - Dec 1993

  Volunteer

  Based with a South African Indian church - community and youth work,study and maintenance.

• 

  Various

  Jan 1994 - Aug 1997

  Sales and marketing

  Media sales (display and classified).. Finance assistant in international development charity.

• 

  Kent English Turkey

  Oct 1998 - Aug 1999

  English language teacher

  Teaching English across levels to private students.

• 

  British Council

  Sept 1999 - Dec 2000

  English language teacher

  Teaching English across levels to private students and for British Council contracts in Gaza. Participated in British Council cultural activities, including sport, archaeology and film. (Post terminated due to Centre evacuation.)

• 

  Citylife

  Jan 2001 - Sept 2001

  Marketing Assistant

  Social enterprise marketing Employment Bond, a local/regional investment mechanism for creating jobs and skills training.

• 

  York College

  Oct 2002 - Jun 2003

  Further Education Tutor

  Designed and taught Key Skills’ modules on Modern Apprenticeships.

• 

  Refugee Council, Leeds

  Jun 2003 - Nov 2005

  Project Worker

  Adviser to clients during the asylum process • advocated successfully on behalf of clients to access asylum support• led on coordination with Barnardo’s initiative to access support for single adults who were HIV positive.

• 

  Leeds Metropolitan University

  Jan 2005 - Nov 2005

  Widening Participation Project Coordinator

  Coordinating project to widen participation of refugees studying in higher education. Established pre-entry study skills course with International English Language System (IELTS) training.

• 

  Refugee Council

  Nov 2005 - Aug 2011

  Policy Advisor, Employment and Training

  National lead on integration, in particular employment, education and equality, I represented the organisation and wider sector at senior level, including Europe. I worked across government and sectors, using Parliamentary actions, media, research and strong partnerships to effect change.

• 

  Greater London Authority

  Aug 2011 - now

  Leading on the Mayor's skills strategy developing:- Green skills and employment policy, shaping Mayoral skills funding and programmes to prioritise sets of jobs and skills important for meeting net zero. - leading on priority sectors across London, including for the Skills Bootcamps for Londoners programme and working closely with London's Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) partners.- Mayoral Academies Programme, including the Creative and Green- Mayoral skills funding opportunities, including the Jobs and Skills for Londoners- research and policy on reasons for non-continuation in London HE- innovative ESF higher level skills programmeRole includes line management responsibilities. Show less • Secretariat for the reconvened London Finance Commission for devolving greater fiscal powers to London; supporting wider devolution of powers to London government.• Lead officer on visa policy - economic and education.• Higher Education: policy role, identifying key opportunities for London universities to support innovation and growth, including access to European funding.• Initiated and managed analysis of Tier 2 and SMEs - https://oeservices.oxfordeconomics.com/publication/open/267026 Show less Immigration and Asylum:• Commissioned research into ESOL for employability and social inclusion. • Worked closely with key partners, DWP/SFA/Association of Colleges/National Careers Service, to improve the provision of ESOL support for jobseekers.https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/communities/migrants-and-refugees/english-language-training-why-it-important#Stub-81141 • Initiated and led on the successful £2m European Integration Fund application and subsequent commissioning of ESOL/EAL in schools. https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/education-and-youth/english-key-integration-london• Co-organised conference with Department of Health’s Regional Public Health Group on refugee and migrant health for commissioners, policy specialists and healthcare professionals. Keynote speakers from Royal College of GPs, London’s Chief Nurse and Royal College of Psychiatrists.• Line managed (competency-based performance reviews) colleague; led on drafting LSMP business plans and Home Office Grant Agreements, along with managing the team budget (2012-14). Show less

  • Principal Policy Officer, Skills Strategy and Policy

    May 2018 - now

  • Senior Policy Officer, Economic and Business Policy

    Apr 2014 - Apr 2018

  • Senior Policy Officer, Immigration and Asylum

    Aug 2011 - Mar 2014