As we approach International Women’s Day on 8th March 2025, we at NQual want to take the time to celebrate and showcase the incredible women within our network. This year’s theme focuses on empowerment, leadership, and recognising the achievements that shape not only our workplaces but the wider business world.
Our Managing Director, Ashley Robertson, envisioned a meaningful way to highlight the strength, dedication, and impact of the women we collaborate with beyond our own organisation. She invited them to reflect on three key questions—designed to encourage them to consider their accomplishments, aspirations, and the ways they uplift those around them.
Today, we are proud to amplify the voices of some of the inspiring women at Aspirations Academies Trust. Their responses offer a powerful glimpse into their leadership styles, their approach to empowering others, and the milestones they cherish most.
What impact do you strive to make within your organisation and beyond?
“My focus has always been to enable those without a powerful voice to be heard above the crowd, to walk beside those who are most disadvantaged in our schools, communities or our workplace to achieve their goals... I am passionate that all voices contribute to success, no matter what their role and that leadership is about maximising opportunities for all those we work with - with drive, empowerment and most importantly, humanity."
How do you empower and support other women in your organisation?
"My current focus is the Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship and I strongly believe that this apprenticeship has the power to secure opportunities for those who are among the lowest paid in our organisations, who work with our most vulnerable young people to might not otherwise have access to qualifications or experiences that this provides, the large majority of our cohorts are women, diverse in age, ethnicity and experience... these are the individuals that want success and if we can support that then we feel privileged to do so."
What achievement are you most proud of?
"The achievement of our apprentices and our trainers. We are relatively new to apprenticeships and all our apprentices so far have been very successful, and in a large part to our staff also working so hard to support achievement, and on a personal note. still focused on learning myself, gaining a doctorate three years ago, still makes me smile..."
What impact do you strive to make within your organisation and beyond?
"I strive to create an environment where everyone feels empowered and supported in reaching their full potential and developing professionally. In my role, I focus on supporting teacher training and apprenticeship courses by ensuring they run smoothly. This allows both students and staff to concentrate on their personal growth and development. Beyond my organisation, I hope to influence more people to join the education sector, whether as teachers or support staff, by showcasing the value and impact of education on society."
How do you empower and support other women in your organisation?
“I believe it’s important to listen to the needs of other women and offer support in a way that is meaningful to them and they feel heard, understood, and valued. I strive to be someone they can turn to for help, advice, or guidance. I encourage them to share their ideas and challenges, and I actively work to create opportunities for their growth and advancement within the organisation.”
What achievement are you most proud of?
“I am most proud of successfully managing the behind-the-scenes coordination that ensures everything runs smoothly, allowing meaningful educational experiences to take place. Recently, we had our first cohort of apprentices go through their End-Point Assessment, and I’m thrilled to say that they all performed exceptionally well. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their hard work and our efforts pay off.”
Leadership, Confidence And Celebrating Women's Success
The women at Aspirations embody leadership, resilience, and empowerment. Their stories serve as a powerful reminder that, regardless of your role, your contributions make a difference.
We hope their words inspire others to recognise their own achievements and to step forward with confidence in their professional journeys.
Let’s continue to celebrate, support, and uplift women—not just on International Women’s Day, but every day.
To learn more about Aspirations Academies Trust, visit their website linked below:
To learn more about International Women's Day, visit the website provided below:
Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll be spotlighting some more of the incredible women within our network, whom we are proud to work alongside.
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