Opening Keynote Address from the Minister for Industry
Advancing Britain’s business with a focus on skills and employability
The impact of the levelling up agenda and its impact on regional growth
The intersection of Net Zero and the current skills market
Speakers
Lee Rowley MP
Minister for Industry
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Confirmed
9:40 am - 10:00 am
Opening Keynote Address from the Minister for Employment
The vision for transforming access to the labour market through skills
Adult training and reskilling opportunities to support access to employment
Integrating green skills for the workforce of today and the future
Speakers
Mims Davies MP
Minister for Employment
Department for Work and Pensions
Confirmed
10:00 am - 10:20 am
Championing Digital Leadership in FE
Putting skills and digital leadership at the centre of FE
Transforming and bringing innovation into the FE sector
Speakers
Robin Ghurbhurun
Managing Director - Further Education and Skills
Jisc
Confirmed
10:20 am - 11:00 am
Mind the Gap! The Scale of the Skills Shortage and How We Can Tackle It
Assessing the UK’s largest skills gaps
How HE, FE, employers, local and central government can collaborate to close the skills gap
Priorities for addressing the skills shortage- looking at apprenticeships, T-Levels, adult skills investment and the Lifelong Loan Entitlement
Chair
Bethan Staton
Public Policy Reporter
The Financial Times
Confirmed
Speakers
Craig Myers
Deputy Director - Higher Technical Education
Department for Education
Confirmed
Rachel Hewitt
Chief Executive
MillionPlus
Confirmed
Matthew Percival
Programme Director - Skills & Inclusion
CBI
Confirmed
Lewis Cooper
Director
Independent Commission on the College of the Future
Confirmed
Councillor Emily Smith
Leader of Council, Vale of White Horse District Council in Oxfordshire &
Vice-Chair, LGA People and Places Board
Confirmed
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Exhibition and networking
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
SPOTLIGHT on England: Responding to England’s Skills Gaps
Creating effective initiatives that respond to market needs and consider context
Employability and skills gaps specific to England’s labour market and the north/south divide
Looking at Lancashire’s local response with their skills pledge and potential solutions such as digital skills partnerships, the Escalate programme, and bootcamps