At this year’s Liberal Democrat Party Conference, the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has partnered with Core Cities UK to hold a panel discussion on ‘What skills will we need in the UK’s urban future?’.
In 2019, almost 83% of England’s population lived in urban areas. Although London is the fastest growing area, cities across the country have a key role to play in fostering prosperity, driving economic growth and tackling societal challenges, including climate change, the future of AI and technology and the provision of equitable access to opportunities and services.
The role of the education and skills sector in meeting these goals cannot be underestimated. Employers currently report significant skills shortages leading to difficulty recruiting. There are thus major opportunities to build partnerships between education providers and regional employers to understand local needs and potential, build pipelines of talent and drive inclusive, place-based growth.
This panel will bring together policy makers, school leaders, employers and other stakeholders to discuss how we can unlock the potential of UK cities through the upskilling of the current and future workforce. The panel will consider what skills will be needed for the future; how to build sustainable, effective partnerships and the role of local investment in counteracting brain drain.
We are pleased to welcome Stephen Jones, Core Cities UK; Professor Juergen Maier, Northern Powerhouse Partnership; Polly Mackenzie, University of the Arts London and Christian Moon, Liberal Democrats to the panel. Natalie Perera, EPI’s Chief Executive will chair the session.
Core Cities UK is an alliance of 11 cities – Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield. Its mission is to unlock the full potential of our great city regions to create a stronger, fairer economy and society.
** Note: This event will take place in the conference secure zone. To access the secure zone you will need to obtain a pass directly from the Liberal Democrat Party.**
