Asi Panditharatna MBE

Asi joined The Forward Trust in June 2018. Asi has over 20 years’ experience as a manager and leader in the post 16 skills, apprenticeships, training and employability sector.  Since joining Asi has taken Forward Trust into new areas of work including Information, Advice and Guidance, Adult Education Budget and apprenticeships.  In 2020, Asi and his team also secured the prestigious Matrix Standard for Information, Advice and Guidance and highly commended in the ERSA Employability Awards.

Prior to joining Forward Asi was Director of Apprenticeships and Employability at Catch22 where he secured its first ever Ofsted Grade Good in apprenticeships and skills, as well as securing its first apprenticeship levy customers. Asi was a member of the Mayor of London’s Skills for Londoners task Force that developed the inaugural skills strategy for London. Asi is a member of the AELP London Advisory Board and former chair of the ERSA Youth Employability Forum. In his spare time Asi is a School Governor with lead responsibility for Special Education Needs, Trustee for Think Forward and mentor with apprenticeships provider Multiverse.   

Asi was awarded an MBE in 2023 as part of the King’s birthday honours list for his work to help people access employability support and fulfil their potential.