Our Team

Andy Smyth

Vice President of Policy, Products and Services

Best Career Advice Received:

Always have a plan and consider every situation to be an opportunity.

Andy is a world-renowned apprenticeship expert, having spent the past 30+ years developing and running apprenticeship programs in the United States and the United Kingdom. He is driven by the transformative impact that quality apprenticeship programs deliver for individuals, companies, and economies. That belief has propelled him to become an advocate for skills development, building a reputation for making change happen.  

As Franklin’s Vice President of Policy, Products, and Services, Andy is responsible for designing Franklin’s best-practice apprenticeship model as well as pioneering industry-leading work-based learning and training products. He also manages Franklin’s many successful relationships with workforce boards and funding partners to increase access to apprenticeships nationwide. His employer-first approach ensures program delivery exceeds client expectations as well as state and federal standards and regulations.  


Make a difference every day.


Before Franklin, Andy led the U.K. professional apprenticeship program for the TUI Group, an international leisure, travel, and tourism company. Andy directed the expansion of TUI’s apprenticeship program to cover 25 occupations ranging from tech support and cybersecurity, to accounting, customer support specialists, aeronautical engineering and, even, airline pilot. Throughout his tenure, he supported over 10,000 apprentices in total. Most notably, Andy’s improvements to TUI’s apprenticeship model increased the success rate from 26% to 94%. Additionally, his work in designing an integrated funding and learner management system became a commercial success. 

Andy voluntarily served for nine years as a Trustee of the City & Guilds of London Institute, a leading organization in vocational learning and skills accreditation formed in 1879. He also served as the Inaugural Chairman of their Industry Skills Board from 2014 to 2022, which works directly with the UK Institute for Apprenticeships and the UK Treasury and Skills Funding Agencies.   

Andy is a sought-after speaker and advisor on quality apprenticeship models and work-based learning programs. He has been recognized by several Apprenticeship Employer of the Year awards in addition to a host of individual, industry, and national prizes.  

Andy enjoys spending time with family and friends, and sports including squash, running and skiing. He loves traveling and visiting new places around the world.