Dive into our dynamic programmes and build real-world skills to lead, teach, and inspire. Practical. Powerful. Inclusive.
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Murphy is a proud father of four with a deep passion for supporting children and young people in their educational journey. His youngest son, who has severe autism and is non-verbal, attends specialist provision, giving Andrew invaluable first-hand experience of the challenges and rewards involved in providing high-quality support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
With 25 years of experience in education, Andrew has built a career founded on his commitment to enhancing the learning experience for all students. Throughout his career, he has developed a strong understanding of the importance of inclusive education, where every learner, regardless of their individual needs, is given the opportunity to thrive.
This passion led Andrew to establish Seed Skills, where he and his team deliver tailored apprenticeship programmes designed to equip the next generation of educators and leaders, with a particular focus on the Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship and inclusive leadership development.
Head of Curriculum & Training
Heather Traynor is a qualified secondary English teacher, Executive coach, and passionate advocate for inclusive, lifelong learning.
With a background that bridges education, psychology, and leadership, Heather holds a Master’s degree in Psychology, where her research focused on motivation in adult learners through Self-Determination Theory. During her PGCE, she specialised in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), particularly autism, a focus that continues to shape her commitment to making learning accessible for every individual.
As Head of Curriculum and Training at Seed Skills, Heather leads the design, development and delivery of innovative apprenticeship and commercial programmes in leadership, education, and SEND, including the pioneering SEN Leadership and Leading Diverse Teams pathways. Her approach combines academic rigour with experiential learning and real-world relevance, ensuring every learner not only meets standards but grows in confidence, self-awareness, and purpose.
Heather is deeply passionate about developing leaders and educators who see learning as a lifelong journey, empowering people to lead inclusively, think critically, and create lasting change.
At Seed Skills, we offer education-specific apprenticeship programmes, with a particular emphasis on the Teaching Assistant & Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship programmes. We believe that apprentices must gain both the knowledge and practical skills required to make a real difference in the classroom, particularly when supporting students with additional needs.
Through our programmes, I aim to empower and support aspiring education professionals by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in a career that’s both meaningful and impactful. We offer a hands-on, personalised approach to training, and our apprentices gain valuable real-world experience that prepares them to work with children who require specific support and care.
My journey as a parent, educator, and business owner has shaped my vision for a more inclusive educational environment, where every child can reach their full potential. Whether it’s through one-to-one support, inclusive classroom strategies, or specialist knowledge in SEND, I am committed to creating a legacy of excellence in education training and development.