Liz Obertelli, Career Transition

Liz has developed a career spanning 40 years across multiple sectors including Civil Service, Recruitment, Banking and Construction.

At present she is a woman in construction ambassador regularly shares her career journey to encourage more people and students to explore the opportunities the sector can offer, in particular those with transferable skills. She ensures progression and sustainable careers are promoted in a way that everyone can understand.

She joined the Employment Service and quickly grew a reputation for getting things done and delivering innovative solutions to meet employer’s needs. She was engaged to join the Jobcentreplus implementation team leading the Employer Agenda, which she successfully launched and rolled out.

Liz has developed employer-led sector-based pre-employment academies and collaborated with the National Employer Panel to launch the National Employer and SME agendas for Jobcentreplus.

While working as Head of Employer Agenda for Barnardo’s and Shaw Trust charities. She continues to support charities and small businesses pro bono.

After being asked to look into the skills shortage in construction by DWP in 2000, Liz’s passion for construction and the built environment sector was born, with her wider experience of Jobcenteplus customers needs she commissioned a number of pilots aligned to major projects such as Unilever House, Moore London, Battersea Power Station, The Shard, The Walkie Talkie, Westfields and The Olympics.

She has recently been appointed to the strategic Construction Skills Taskforce to develop employer-led pathways to engage young people, fifty plus and individuals disproportionately impacted by the Pandemic.