The UK Skills Convention. Skills for Jobs and Growth

The UK Skills system is going through a significant realignment at a time both of economic upheaval and intense change in Government policy.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills is focussed on the goal set out in Ambition 2020 to secure the UK in the top 8 of skilled and qualified workforces by accepted international standards. The UK Commission recognises that the system has to adapt quickly to a difficult economic climate.

This four nations conference brought together senior leaders of large stakeholders and opinion formers from the skills and training world, the dialogue and ideas generated will help form part of the UKCES decision making process.

The conference was set out over 2 days, with the first focussing on the global skills challenge and successful policy responses to that challenge from across the world and the second interrogating the practical learning from this for future policy innovation in the UK.

A new simplified, demand led system, agile and flexible to respond to employers needs and ready for the jobs of the future is emerging. It has significant implications for existing providers, employers and individuals. This event will map out its shape and implications for strategic players.

Across two days of intense policy presentation and discussion the convention will provide essential insight about insight into the global skills challenge and the ways in which the UK’s skills policy should respond to this challenge through seminars, networking, policy dinner and skills exhibition delegates will cover all aspects of skills and training, provision. Through plenary discussions, policy seminars, interactive debate, and networking, delegates will actively participate in shaping and understanding the future of the UK’s skills policy.

Attendance is by invitation only drawn from key leaders and policy makers in HR and Training from employers, skills providers in further and higher education and the independent sector, professional and trade bodies, statutory organisations, Local authority and civic leaders, civil servants, qualifications bodies, trade unions, academics, think tanks and voluntary organisations.

Click here to read the agenda for Day 1

Day one, Mapping the Skills World:

Maped out the changes in the global economy, accelerated by current economic events and how this will impact on the jobs and skills for the future that UK working people will need to deliver
Highlighted international examples of policy innovation in response to this challenge
Showcased best practice and cutting edge thinking from across the world including: the USA, Australia, Finland, Singapore, India and China, as well as valuable overview from speakers from the OECD and the European Commission.
Built connections between international skills leaders
Demonstrated what is needed for leadership in the
international arena

Click here to read the agenda for Day 2

Day Two: Facing the future

**Day two, UK skills facing the future:**

Set out the agenda for policy innovation from the UK Government and across the skills system
Set out and showcase the knowledge base on successful skill strategies
Set out the implications of a demand led model for individuals, employers and providers
Provided models, and leadership ideas for implementation
Provided a network opportunity for key policy and decision making players in the skills world
Spread an understanding of changes required
Promoted and influenced the discussion and debate across all the stakeholders in skills delivery