We’re delighted to announce some exciting changes at Progress Careers. Katie Tune has been appointed as our new Head of Operations, taking over the day-to-day running from Paula Thompson, former Managing Director. Paula has now stepped into a wider role as Chief of Operations across Progress Education but will continue to work closely with Progress Careers.
Katie has been part of Progress Careers since January 2022, and her journey with us has been nothing short of inspiring. With a background in teaching, Katie opted for a change and began her journey at Progress Careers as a Careers Adviser in Lincolnshire. She quickly progressed to Regional Coordinator, before being promoted to Operations Manager in 2023. Now, just two years later, Katie is stepping into her new leadership role. Reflecting on her career so far, Katie said:
“I feel really proud that I’ve been able to take my passion for supporting young people and grow it in different ways. Leaving teaching was daunting, but Progress Careers gave me the opportunity to find my niche. I’ve been really lucky to develop every year in a business that supports growth and change.”
Katie was first drawn to Progress Careers by the variety and flexibility the role offered, as well as the welcoming culture she experienced from day one, telling us that:
“I had my first chat with Paula, and it felt like such a breath of fresh air. That positive culture and the level playing field here really stood out, and it still does today.”
She went on to describe the supportive environment that makes Progress Careers unique:
“I think across the whole group there’s no sort of hierarchies, everyone is there for everyone. You can just kind of reach out to anyone, like Mel [Craven], she’s my backbone at the minute. There’s no sort of kind of heirs and graces of anything. It’s lovely.”
As Head of Operations, Katie will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities across Progress Careers. This includes supporting Operations Managers, Careers Advisers, and ensuring data, CPD calendars, and new projects all run smoothly. Crucially, her role also connects directly with the wider vision for Progress Education, embedding values and exploring new opportunities for growth.
“It’s a bit of everything, which I love! From supporting advisers in schools, to working with Paula on the bigger picture, and exploring new pipelines to help grow the business – no two days will be the same.”
Katie is especially excited about the opportunity to showcase Progress Careers to new partners and external organisations:
“As a Careers Adviser, I worked directly with schools that already knew us. Now I’m looking forward to going out to colleagues, councils and new schools to really shout about what we can do.”
She also highlighted the ongoing expansion of SEND support as a key area she’s looking forward to developing further. Katie says her proudest moments always come back to student impact:
“The best feeling is bumping into a student you once supported or receiving an email from them, and hearing what they’re doing now. That feedback, knowing you’ve made a difference, is always number one for me. With this new role, I’m excited to help make an even bigger impact on students’ lives”.
In describing her leadership style, Katie sees herself as inclusive, collaborative, and always looking for new perspectives. Katie’s own experiences across careers, teaching, and operations will be key to driving Progress Careers forward and have shaped her leadership approach. Having dyslexia has given her a unique perspective on learning and problem-solving:
“I’ve had to find different ways of doing things, and I still carry that now. It means I understand that not everyone learns the same way, which is something I bring into everything I do.”
When asked how she feels about stepping into this new position, Katie summed it up by saying:
“I’m ready for the challenge. I’m excited and nervous all rolled into one big package – but mostly, I can’t wait to get going. I really appreciate Paula trusting me with this new role and knowing I have her support means a lot! I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together and the new opportunities we can create for Progress Careers.”
Paula also commented on passing the baton to Katie:
“I’m delighted to hand over the day-to-day running of Progress Careers to Katie, which allows me to take on a broader role which will ultimately support more young people to thrive. Katie brings the passion, expertise, and drive that Progress Careers needs, and I’ll continue working closely with her as a first point of call. I have every confidence in her ability to lead the team to even greater success, and I’m excited to see the new directions and opportunities she will take us towards.”
We’re thrilled to see Katie take on this role and continue shaping the future of Progress Careers. Congratulations Katie!
