Anna Ambrose

Anna is co-founder and director of Workwhile – originally IPPR's initiative working with employers to create more good work and ensure everyone can access it. In April 2025 Workwhile became a fully independent charity,

She has led Workwhile’s strategy and operations from its inception in 2019 as the London Progression Collaboration, creating over 1,500 apprenticeships for low-paid, disadvantaged and marginalised Londoners. Anna also contributes to IPPR reports and is a commentator on work and skills with bylines for the New Statesman, FE Week and TES, as well as speaking extensively at conferences, panel events and roundtables.

Prior to joining IPPR in June 2019, Anna worked for education charity Ambition Institute. Until 2017 she was area director for the West Midlands and South West, supporting schools and multi-academy trusts to develop their workforce through a range of government-funded and traded programmes. Most recently, she was director of School Partnerships Operations, leading the operational delivery of Ambition's sales and account management function. Anna also led Ambition's staff equality, diversity and inclusion work.

Alongside professional interests in work, skills and education, Anna is a primary school governor close to her home in Staffordshire. She has a degree in music and an MPhil in musicology, both from the University of Cambridge where she studied at Girton College.