Help shape the future of Cambridge workforce & skills base at gamechanging showcase
The showcase brings together a diverse audience of educators, employers, policy makers and government officials through an array of talks, panel discussions and debate, seminars and networking, including lunch and refreshment breaks.
Anne Bailey, Form the Future CEO and co-founder, says: “Whether you're a headteacher or careers leader, a CEO, social value manager or HR director, an economic development professional or skills lead, a current or prospective Form the Future Ambassador, there will be a range of opportunities providing the latest information views and insights into preparing young people for a career in a high-growth community.”
The overall theme is how high growth areas, like Greater Cambridge, can collaborate to improve outcomes for young people and supply the growing economy with the right talent and skills.
Working at the intersection of education, business, and politics, the event will explore the critical themes shaping the future – from the transformative potential of AI to the imperative of fostering equity in education and employment, particularly with respect to STEM.
Global greats Arm and Illumina as well as Innovate Cambridge and Cambridge Science Park provide panellists while Oli de Botton, CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company, is delivering a keynote.
Four panel discussions focus on:-
Places & Spaces: What are the workplaces of the future? What do high growth regions look like? What are the needs and how are these fulfilled? How do we build in a way that creates opportunities for local people?
People & Talent: What’s the balance between importing talent from elsewhere and growing our own? What skills will be needed and how do we make sure young people can benefit from opportunities on their doorstep?
Inclusive growth: The UK is one of the most unequal countries in terms of income and wealth, and Cambridge is top for income inequality in the UK. What does this mean for access to opportunities, community cohesion and productivity? How do we ensure that a rising tide lifts all boats?
Cambridge Ahead will lead a panel exploring the unique contribution that Cambridge makes to the UK economy and beyond and consider what this means for educators, employers and young people.
Each panel will have a representative from education, employment, and policy, a sponsor and a Form the Future host.
Some of the speakers confirmed to date include Cllr. Elisa Meschini of Greater Cambridge Partnership, Kathryn Chapman of Innovate Cambridge, Jane Hutchins from Cambridge Science Park, Orianne Wightman from Arm, Hollie Church from Illumina and Lynn Walters from Pure Executive.
The panels also feature Ross Renton from ARU Peterborough, Nikos Savvas of Eastern Education Group, Ryan Kelsall of Eastern Learning Alliance and Mark Kirby of Olive Academies representing schools and colleges in the region.
Matthew Poole, Director of Programmes and Grants at Youth Futures Foundation is also taking part and Shaun Grady – recently appointed UK chair of AstraZeneca – will deliver the welcome.