About

The UK is sleepwalking into a low paid, low skills and low productivity economy. Productivity levels are behind G7 nations and still below the levels of the financial crash.

The Government has recognised the severity of the problem and responded by releasing the UK Industry Strategy and additional consultations. These changes will deliver a new world-class technical education system, boost the number of those choosing apprenticeships and have a greater focus on the needs of employers.

Learn more about these fundamental changes and discuss the next steps for UK skills with over 150 policymakers and practitioners at the 8th annual Skills Summit.

The leading event for engagement between educators, employers & government, Skills Summit 2019 will feature two streams specifically tailored to the needs of 1. Education, Skills & Training Providers & 2. Employers. With plenary sessions covering issues of interest to all, attendees will be able to adapt the programme to suit their requirements. Sessions at the event include:

Key topics will include:

Closing the skills gap, driving forwards apprenticeships schemes
Teenage apprenticeships: awareness deficit
The Industrial Strategy and skills after Brexit?
Understanding regional employer needs
Creating degree based apprenticeships
T-Levels, a new career pathway
Recruiting more apprentices
Improving workplace skills
National Retraining Scheme

Attend Skills Summit 2019 to:

Receive an up to date brief on Government plans for UK skills
Better understand the direction of travel
Learn more about current initiatives and how they will impact your organisation
Network with and engage colleagues from across the skills sector

Speakers confirmed for 2019:

Professor Steven McIntosh, Department of Economics, University of Sheffield, Centre for Vocational Education Research (CVER)
Mark Dawe, Chief Executive, Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP)
Dr Elnaz Kashefpakdel, Head of Research, Education and Employers
Sonali Parekh, Head of Policy, FSB

Previous speakers have included:

Angela Fairchild, Deputy Director, Technical Education & Qualifications Reform Division, DfE
Jonathan Mitchell, Deputy Director (Standards Development), Institute for Apprenticeships
Andy Headworth, Deputy Director Recruitment & Apprenticeships, HMRC
John Widdowson, Principal & Chief Executive, New College Durham
Lucy Sydney, Director of Strategic Relationships for VTQ, Ofqual
Stephen Radley, Policy Director, CITB

Who attends:

FE colleges - Independent skills & training providers - Employers (including HR, L&D and Workforce Development) - LEPs & local authority skills teams - Higher Education Institutions - Awarding bodies & regulators - Learning & training solution providers - Policy makers