Send us a text "Every single one of the government’s big ambitions – from building 1.5 million new homes to achieving net zero – has one thing in common: a skills shortage in this country." In this episode, Andrew Pakes MP explores the critical role of skills in driving national priorities – from building 1.5 million new homes and achieving net zero, to rebooting manufacturing and retrofitting the economy. He explains how devolution and metro mayors can match local talent to local econo...

Send us a text “The NEET number should be a real national concern — nearly a million — and I think it’s actually higher, because it’s not capturing young people in zero-hour or gig work.” — Anthony Impey, MBE Set against the backdrop of the 2025 Autumn Budget, City & Guilds CEO Kirstie Donnelly MBE sat down with Anthony Impey MBE, Chief Executive of Be the Business—the organisation championing productivity across UK businesses. Anthony also chairs the City & Guilds Industry Skil...

Send us a text How to equip people with the right skills to thrive in a rapidly changing economy. Be among the first to listen to this special edition of In Conversation with..., recorded live at the Skills Hub during Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, City & Guilds CEO Kirstie Donnelly, MBE is joined by Seema Malhotra MP, the newly appointed Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in what is her very first interview since taking on the role. Seema...

Send us a text Collaboration: How the UK can bridge the Construction Skills Gap As one of the UK’s biggest economic drivers, the UK construction industry contributes over 6% of the UK’s GVA. Yet despite this being a key UK sector, the construction industry has been identified as one with the most acute skills gaps in the UK, with deficits in traditional trades, green skills and digital skills. To explore how this valuable sector can develop the skills required to meet current and future...

Send us a text How can we better equip young people with essential, future-ready skills? Why are nearly a million young people in the UK not in employment, education, or training, and what role do "durable skills" play in this persistent problem? Join us as we welcome expert guests Andrea Barry from Youth Futures Foundation and Ema Marinho, Early Careers Lead at William Hare, for a candid discussion. Discover: Why there's a perceived "disconnect" between education and employers, even when you...

Send us a text Tackle the industry's skills shortages and stay ahead of the curve by listening to this critical episode of Future skills! Whether you're a professional working in the construction and infrastructure industry or an SME looking to access training support, or a large employer needing to collaborate more effectively with providers, this episode is packed with fresh thinking on how to better tackle workforce shortages and future-proof businesses. The panel also look ahead to ...

Send us a text As the green skills gap in the UK widens, how can organisations adapt quickly enough to meet the growing demand? In this episode of Future skills, hosts Bryony Kingsland and Gavin O'Meara delve into the realities of the green skills shortage and how collaboration between employers and education providers can bridge this gap. With insights from experts Stephen Knight of MCS Certified and Mark Buckton of Opergy, the episode reveals how traditional trades like mechanical and elect...

Send us a text Worried about AI use in your organisation? Discover the safeguarding steps every FE provider can implement today. As AI transforms the workplace, 74% of UK workers express concerns about using AI at work, while 18% of adults lack essential digital skills. In this episode of Future skills, hosts Bryony Kingsland and Gavin O'Meara explore the realities of AI adoption in further education with experts Rebecca Bradley, and Richard Foster-Fletcher. From AI governance to contin...

Send us a text Dirty Hands or Digital Minds? Redefining Engineering for the AI Era The UK’s engineering sector is at a crossroads—facing a critical skills shortage, rapid technological advancements, and an aging workforce. In this Future Skills mini-series, we dive into the urgent need for a more agile qualification system, stronger employer engagement, and improved careers guidance to bridge the gap between education and industry. Our expert guests, Rhys Morgan (Royal Academy of Engineering)...

Send us a text This is the time for apprenticeships to fly." Andrew Pakes MP shares his vision for rebuilding Britain's skills system. In this conversation, Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships, discusses the critical role of apprenticeships in the UK, with host Kirstie Donnelly MBE. He emphasizes the need for a robust apprenticeship system that aligns with the industrial strategy and addresses the skills gap in the workforc...

Send us a text Have we fully unlocked the potential of apprenticeships? Apprenticeships are often hailed as a game-changer for skills development, but are we truly making the most of them? From funding shortfalls to accessibility barriers, are we limiting their impact? In this special National Apprenticeship Week episode of Navigating the UK Skills Challenges, host Bryony Kingsland sits down with Jagdeep Soor (The Pathway Group) and Donna Kenny (The West of England Institute of Te...

Send us a text In partnership with the Lifelong Education Institute, City & Guilds recently published its Productivity report, ‘Making Skills Work’, which included research revealing that a significant number of working-age adults and senior business leads identified skills gaps which hampered productivity gains, and did not feel they had the skills required to meet future industrial challenges. To explore the role of lifelong learning in helping people remain employable and product...

Send us a text "Apprenticeships are a great way to establish a career." In this episode, Patrick Craven, Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships, and Stakeholder Engagement, at City & Guilds speaks with Peter Bedford, the newly elected Conservative MP for Mid Leicestershire about the importance of providing equal opportunities for all, particularly through apprenticeships and professional and technical training. They discuss the need for a cultural shift in how society views educatio...

Send us a text This episode explores the importance of supporting menopause in the workplace, urging employers to create supportive policies, educate staff, and normalise discussions. It addresses common misconceptions, the impact on family dynamics, and practical steps organisations can take to foster inclusivity. The role of leadership and the need for women to educate themselves about their health are also highlighted. Episode takeaways include: · Men...

Send us a text ‘Green skills’ is a collective term for the specific knowledge, abilities and values needed to promote the reduction of negative environmental impact in the workplace. But despite Local Skills Improvement Plans prioritising green skills, and the topic moving steadily up the agenda at many organisations, there is limited clarity about what this could mean in terms of growth, career pathways and skills . There are also challenges linked to how these should be delivered, both at ...

Send us a text Employability skills – including effective communication and other workplace behaviours, are now essential for those aiming to find employment and progress their careers. The need for employability skills is consistently highlighted by employers, but young people entering the world of work often lack professional skills, and have limited knowledge of their importance at work. In the second of two podcasts exploring this topic, Bryony Kingsland and Eric Oliver are joined ...

Send us a text Employability skills – including effective communication and other workplace behaviours, are now essential for those aiming to find employment and progress their careers. The need for employability skills is consistently highlighted by employers, but young people entering the world of work often lack professional skills, and have limited knowledge of their importance at work. In the first of two podcasts exploring this topic, Bryony Kingsland and Eric Oliver are joined b...

Send us a text Welcome to the City & Guilds Insight Podcast series, where we embark on a journey to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing the UK today: bridging the gap in our nation's skill shortages. At City & Guilds, our mission is centred on empowering individuals, organisations, and economies through skills development. In this 2024 Insight podcast series, we delve into the heart of the post-16 technical skills sector with a bold question: Is it truly possible to overcome...

Send us a text Welcome to City & Guilds’ special Labour party conference 2023 podcast, 'In conversation with...' hosted by Kirstie Donnelly MBE, CEO of City & Guilds. Recorded on location on board the Walton Youth Community Project bus, Kirstie is joined by the former Secretary of State for Education and Employment, Lord Blunkett as she dives into some of the issues raised during #Lab23 and events elsewhere. Listen as one of the UK's most renowned champions of the importance of sk...

Send us a text Welcome to City & Guilds’ Youth Misspent podcast series, a monthly podcast in which we dive into some of the issues raised in our research report of the same name. The research found that the odds are being stacked against young people’s futures and career aspirations – particularly the most disadvantaged. So in this series, we want to showcase the work that various industries are doing to integrate young people into their workforces and explore how we might resolve the m...