Steve Edmonds started out as a contracting plasterer over 30 years ago. Following the recession in the 90's, he retrained as an administrator, working for a local training supplier, before working his way up the ladder until he reached Contracts Manager, responsible for managing a Modern Apprenticeship contract with Hampshire and I.O.W Learning and Skills Council, as well as successfully managing a multi partner ESF contract worth over a million pounds. Part of his responsibilities included providing Health and Safety advice to employers taking on apprentices in Hampshire and I.O.W.
Upon joining Solent EBP, a local Education Business Partnership, back in 2004, he began by running the community side of the Ford Partnership Centre in Swaythling where he began his teaching qualification as an IT teacher. He later became involved as the senior manager responsible for setting up and running vocational skills centres in Thornhilll and Millbrook, later moving back to Ford, and eventually moving the training provision to the old Ashtrim Garden Centre in Bishopstoke. Steve helped setup the Riverside Community Garden CIC in 2015, which was later taken over by Youth Options in 2016, and he continued with the project until August 2018.
Edmonds Learning and Development (EL&D) Limited now works closely with schools in South West Hampshire, working in partnership with Solent Youth Action. "The Routes" Skills Centre is based at Horton Heath. The centre needs a lot of work, which is great for the students to be able to get involved with and take pride in it as they see it develop over time AND learn an accredited qualification along the way.
Aside from his teaching qualification, he is also a qualified Internal Verifier, holds a NEBS Management Diploma, a NEBOSH certificate and a Level 3 Advanced Forest School Leader Award, as well as previously being a First Aid Instructor. From a hobbies perspective, he is also a black belt at traditional Kung Fu.
