James Norris
AELP Board member
James Norris is the Head of Skills and Employability within the Children’s Services Directorate at Walsall Council
James Norris is the Head of Skills and Employability within the Children’s Services Directorate at Walsall Council, where he leads the strategic development of skills, employment, and workforce initiatives across the borough. Working closely with internal teams and a wide range of external partners, James is responsible for shaping and delivering the Council’s approach to improving opportunities for residents and strengthening Walsall’s skills landscape.
With more than 16 years’ experience in the Further Education sector, James spent 14 years at Walsall College as an Assistant Principal, overseeing Adult Skills, Apprenticeships, Community Learning, and a broad portfolio of stakeholder and employer partnerships. His work has focused on aligning education, training, and employment pathways to local and regional economic needs.
James is an influential figure within the wider skills system. He serves as Chair of the Walsall Employment and Skills Board—a position he has held for over a decade—and is a Board Director at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP). He also contributes to strategic skills development at a regional level, representing Walsall Council on multiple West Midlands Combined Authority Skills and Employability groups. In addition, James sits as an Education Board Member for an Independent Training Provider.
Before entering the Further Education sector in 2008, James held senior director-level roles in industry and successfully ran his own business, bringing valuable commercial insight into his later leadership positions within education and public service.