Party Conferences
City & Guilds is hosting the first-ever Skills Hub at the 2023 Conservative and Labour Party Conferences. In collaboration with the Future Skills Coalition, the Skills Hub will feature a programme of activities, including panel discussions, receptions, and roundtables from a range of organisations to advocate for the importance of skills. Explore the full programme below and join us at these events to champion skills.
Conservative Party Conference
Sunday 01 to Wednesday 04 October 2023, Manchester Central
Skills Hub – Exhibition Hall
City & Guilds events
Monday 02 October, 08.00-9.15
City & Guilds: What should any new Government be seeking to do in the first 100 days of office to support the skills education agenda?
Cobden 1 | Roundtable | Invite only. For further information please contact Clare Fraser on clare.fraser@cityandguilds.com.
Monday 02 October, 12.30-13.30
City & Guilds: Skills investment as the catalyst for improved productivity and economic recovery panel featuring:
- Faiza Khan MBE, Executive Director Corporate Affairs & Foundation, City & Guilds (Chair)
- Anthony Impey MBE, CEO, Be the Business
- Fiona Aldridge, Head of Insight – Economic delivery, skills and communities, West Midlands Combined Authority
- Naomi Clayton, Deputy Director, Learning & Work Institute
- Katie O’Donovan, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google
Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
Monday 02 October, 19.00-20.30
City & Guilds: Future Skills Coalition: Building a culture of lifelong learning for all.
- Dame Ann Limb DBE DL FCGI, Chair, City & Guilds
- David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges
- Nichola Hay MBE, Chair, AELP
- Mark Cahill, Managing Director, Manpower Group
Dirty Martini, 1 Peter Street, Manchester M2 5QR | Reception | Open to all
Skills Hub Programme
Monday 02 October
- 10.30-11.30 NCFE: Opportunities and challenges of qualification reform. Cobden 1 | Roundtable | Invite only
- 11.00-12.00 FED with DofE: Turbo charging the next generation: how enrichment and education can spearhead the workforce of tomorrow. Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 13.45-14.45 UCAS with Youth Futures Foundation: Apprenticeships: removing barriers for young people. Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 13.45-14.45 D&TA and Design Council: A curriculum for the 21st century: creativity and innovation. Cobden 1 | Roundtable | Invite only
- 15.00-16.00 Association of Colleges (AoC): How lifelong learning will plug the gap and revitalise the economy. Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 17.45-19.00 Youth Employment Group Reception: Establishing an opportunity guarantee. Midland Hotel – Tea Rooms | Reception | Open to all
- 19.15-20.30 WEA: Essential Skills for Work: tackling economic inactivity through adult community education. Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
Tuesday 03 October
- 09.30-10.30 World Skills UK: Can technical education propel the UK to the top of the G7? Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 11.00-12.00 Net Zero APPG: The Net Zero Challenge: Myth-busting Quiz. Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 12.30-13.30 NFER: The Changing Economy – Future skills needs. Location: Central 6 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 13.45-14.45 Edge Foundation: The Future of Skills and Schools – what changes do we need to see? Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 15.00-16.00 Nacro with Prince’s Trust: Learn without limits – supporting post-16 learners who leave school with low or no qualifications. Central 6 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 16.15-17.15 Net Zero APPG: Unlocking Net Zero: Bridging the Skills Gap. Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 17.30-18.30 St Martin’s Group: Skills – what is success? Skills Hub | Exhibition Hall | Panel discussion | Open to all
Labour Party Conference
Sunday 08 to Wednesday 11 October 2023, Liverpool
Skills Hub Zone – Stand 149 Exhibition Hall
City & Guilds events
Monday 09 October, 08.00-9.15
City & Guilds: What should any new Government be seeking to do in the first 100 days of office to support the skills agenda?
Skills Hub Zone – Stand 149 | Roundtable event with Shadow Skills Minister Seema Malhotra | Invite only. For further information please contact Clare Fraser on clare.fraser@cityandguilds.com.
Monday 09 October, 12.30-13.30
City & Guilds: Skills investment as the catalyst for improved productivity and economic recovery panel featuring:
- Kirstie Donnelly MBE, CEO, City & Guilds (Chair)
- Anthony Impey MBE, CEO, Be the Business
- Fiona Aldridge, Head of Insight – Economic delivery, skills and communities, West Midlands Combined Authority
- Stephen Evans, Chief Executive, Learning & Work Institute
- Katie O’Donovan, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google
Location: Skills Hub, Stand 149, Exhibition Hall | Open to all
Monday 09 October, 19.00-20.00
City & Guilds: Building a culture of lifelong learning for all – the key to personal, local and National prosperity.
- Dame Ann Limb DBE DL FCGI, Chair, City & Guilds
- David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges
- Nichola Hay MBE, Chair, AELP
- Mark Cahill, Managing Director, Manpower Group
Skills Hub Stand 149 | Reception | Open to all
Skills Hub Programme
Sunday 08 October
- 15.00-16.00 FED: Reimagining a future where skills development is at the heart of lifelong education. Skills Hub Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 16.00-16.30 FED: Reception/networking. Skills Hub Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 16.30-17.00 FED: In conversation with…Bridget Phillipson, Shadow Education Secretary. Skills Hub Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 17.30-18.30 LTE: Revolution or evolution? The future of skills devolution. Skills Hub Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
Monday 09 October
- 09.30-10.30 NFER: Changing Labour Market – Skills for the future. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 11.00-12.00 NCFE: Opportunities and challenges of qualification reform. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 13.45-14.45 D&TA and Design Council: A curriculum for the 21st century: creativity and innovation. Youth Zone – Stand 97 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 13.45-14.45 Labour frontbench: Biodiversity Skills with Shadow Minister Alex Sobel MP. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 15.00-16.00 Nacro with Prince’s Trust: Learning without limits post-16. Youth Zone – Stand 97 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 15.00-16.00 WEA: Essential Skills for Work: tackling economic inactivity through adult community education. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 16.15-17.15 Youth Employment Group: Establishing an opportunity guarantee. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Reception | Open to all
- 17.30-18.30 Association of Colleges: The role of colleges and lifelong learning in a fairer, greener Britain. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
Tuesday 10 October
- 9:30-10:30 UCAS with Youth Futures Foundation: Apprenticeships: removing barriers for young people. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 11.00-12.00 Edge Foundation: The future of skills and schools. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 12:30-13:45 WorldSkills UK: Can technical education propel the UK to the top of the G7? Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 16:00-17:15 Net Zero APPG: Unlocking Net Zero: Bridging the Skills Gap. Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
- 17:30-18:30 St Martin’s Group: Skills: what is success? Skills Hub – Stand 149 | Panel discussion | Open to all
Skills hub partners
Future Skills Coalition
Our latest partnership with AELP and AOC aims to drive a coherent and sustained model for future skills development and workforce investment. Find out more, make a pledge, and discover all of our partners.
Report library
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