It was a day filled with energising discussions, valuable insights, and a shared commitment to building a fairer, greener, and more prosperous Britain. 

Putting Skills at the Centre of Labour’s Vision

Our Chief Executive, Graham Hasting-Evans, took part in two key panel discussions on Monday, both of which explored how skills policy can help deliver on Labour’s ambitions for the country.

At 3pm, Graham joined The Skills Revolution: Equipping Britain for the Future – Delivering on Labour's Promise, hosted in partnership with SME4Labour and SPL Strategies. The panel featured MPs Terry Jermy and Juliette Campbell, alongside Mike Blakeley from Exeter College, Mark Williams from City Training Group, and Chris Claydon from JTL Training. Together, they explored how vocational education, apprenticeships, and green skills development can drive economic growth and social mobility.

Graham emphasised the need to address skills gaps across three groups: young people entering the workforce, those not in education, employment or training (NEET), and the existing workforce needing upskilling - particularly in areas like green technologies and AI. He also highlighted the importance of aligning skills development with employer needs and the industrial strategy.

A key takeaway from the session was the importance of starting early: ensuring that schools support young people for whom traditional academic routes may not be the right fit. Vocational qualifications and apprenticeships must be positioned as valuable, aspirational pathways, especially in rural communities where opportunities can be harder to access.

Later in the evening, Graham joined a second panel discussion in collaboration with The New Statesman ‘How can the government turn the tide on skills to achieve its mission of a high-productivity, high-growth economy?’. This session focused on supporting NEETs and developing the existing workforce, with a strong emphasis on the need to celebrate apprenticeships more widely.

The session closed with a clear message: cross-government collaboration is essential, and we must shift the focus from academic achievement alone to a broader, more inclusive vision of success through vocational education.

Both panels echoed a similar message - how to better support young people aged 14–19 - a group often overlooked in policy discussions. There was a strong call for more mentorship opportunities, greater recognition of vocational routes, and a commitment to listening to young people’s voices in shaping their own futures.

Devolution and Skills: Unlocking Local Potential

Earlier in the day, we also attended a thought-provoking panel on devolution and skills, chaired by Professor Eunice Simmons from the University of Chester. The panel featured Peter Swallow MP, Justine Greening, and Andy Westwood, who brought a range of perspectives on the UK’s centralised system and the potential of devolved approaches.

The panel explored the recent shift of skills policy from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions. This change presents a real opportunity to rethink how we connect skills development with employment outcomes and local economic needs.

Justine Greening made a compelling case for “letting a thousand flowers bloom” - encouraging local innovation rather than centralising opportunity.

Higher and further education institutions were recognised as critical players in this landscape; longstanding anchors in their communities with the relationships and insight needed to make devolution work.

Our forthcoming report will explore these themes in more detail, drawing on the insights shared during this session and others throughout the week.

Looking Ahead

As we continue through the conference, we’re excited to keep engaging with colleagues, partners, and policymakers across a range of events. Day 1 has already shown the power of collaboration and the importance of putting skills at the heart of our national conversation.