Wednesday 19 November 2025 - Strand three breakout sessions (13:05 - 14:05)
3.01 - Job centre takeover
Executive room 1
Lead organisation: Weston College
Speakers:
- Gary Durant, Deputy Principal, Weston College
- Mike Hudson, Director of Student Recruitment, Weston College
Weston College Takeover at Weston Job Centre was a one day event where college staff transformed the Job Centre, setting up interactive stations representing various departments. We aimed to make it fun and engaging, with activities including free haircuts, manicures, and Virtual Reality experiences. Job Centre customers attended their usual appointments but were instead offered tailored course advice to support their journey back into employment. From confidence-building programmes for those struggling to leave home, to skills training for job ready individuals, we ensured every visitor had a meaningful pathway. This session will inspire other colleges to collaborate creatively with Job Centres to meet community and employability needs.
3.02 - Beyond boundaries: Shaping the future of digital skills through partnership
Executive room 6a
Lead organisation: Milton Keynes College
Speakers:
- Anna Clarke, Group Director: Employer Engagement and Partnerships, Milton Keynes College
- Maria Bowness, Group Director: Curriculum and Pedagogy, Milton Keynes College
- Tom Fox, Head of KPMG University Partnerships, KPMG
- Phil Kenmore FCIPD, CEO OU Worldwide / Director of Employers and Partnerships, The Open University
- Puja Patel, Director of University and Green Finance Division,
Santander - Cassandra Baxendale, Business Development Director, Metaverse Learning
Milton Keynes College panel with employer partners KPMG, the Open University, Metaverse Learning and Santander. Hear from Milton Keynes College and a panel of their employer partners about the importance of artificial intelligence literacy, general digital skills for all and the importance of using and experiencing emerging technology in the curriculum. The panel can explain how taking a city-wide approach to digital skills is important as well as working in partnership to ensure that students experience the latest thinking and technology to enhance their employability skills. The hosts and presenters can explain how they have engaged with each other to successfully support a number of digital developments.
3.03 - Empowering further education leaders to confront extremism and champion inclusion
Hall 6a
Lead organisation: Association of Colleges
Speakers:
- Solat Chaudhry, CEO, National Centre for Diversity
- Steve Davis, Principal and CEO, United Colleges Group
- Nikos Savvas, Principal, Eastern Colleges Group
- Lisa O’Loughlin, Principal, East Lancashire Learning Group
This discussion seeks to empower FE college leaders to identify, challenge, and dismantle the extremist influence; often masked by charismatic figures and viral misinformation. Participants will unpack how extremist narratives exploit fear, rewrite history, and scapegoat vulnerable groups to sow division and distrust. Through college case studies and discussion, leaders will develop practical strategies to: Expose and counteract disinformation, challenge divisive rhetoric with confidence and foster inclusive, critical conversations within their college communities. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped not only to protect their institutions from extremist ideologies but to actively cultivate a culture of critical thinking, unity, and resilience among staff and students alike..
3.04 - Stronger together: Building an effective governance triumvirate
Hall 11a
Lead organisation: East Coast College
Speakers:
- Wendy Stanger, Director of Governance, East Coast College
- Ra Hamilton-Burns, Director of Governance, Chelmsford College
- Heather Cross, Governance Consultant
Effective governance, as highlighted in Board Reviews and sector commentary, relies on a strong, balanced relationship between the Chair, CEO/Principal, and Governance Professional. This workshop explores the key success factors that make this triumvirate work, with a particular focus on the value and impact of the Governance Professional. Led by Wendy Stanger, Chair of the National Governance Professionals’ Group, alongside Ra Hamilton-Burns and Heather Cross, the session will offer practical insights, share lived experiences, and highlight common pitfalls. Open to governance professionals, Chairs, Principals/CEOs, governors, and those aspiring to these leadership roles or with an interest in Governance.
3.05 - Analysis, development and outcomes: A successful leadership journey
Hall 8b
Lead organisation: Croydon College
Speakers:
- Martin Silverwood, Deputy Principal - Curriculum, Croydon College
- Jane Holloway, Executive Director: Teaching & Quality, Croydon College
- Caireen Mitchell, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Croydon College
The session will share our story of rapid quality improvement from a grade 4 organisation to outcomes above national rates within 18 months and subsequent continued improvement. We will focus on how we brought about rapid quality improvement through the detailed analysis of the root cause, working on evidence-based teacher development programmes, rigorous management of student progress; and developing managers to become more inquisitive, curious and aspirational for their students. Delegates will take away strategies for: identifying risks to success, building a cohesive leadership team and developing communities of practice.
3.06 - West Midlands and Warwickshire's green skills roadmap
Hall 10a
Lead organisation: Fircroft College
Speakers:
- Lowell Williams, Executive Chair, Colleges West Midlands
- Neil Thomas, Senior Consultant, Colleges West Midlands
A greener future means green jobs, green jobs need green skills, and green skills need colleges to deliver green courses. As the demand for green jobs rises, so does the need for colleges to adapt and innovate their learning and skills offer. Recognising the imperative, this Green Skills Roadmap has been collaboratively developed by colleges in the region with the support of the UK Government’s Department for Education Local Skills Improvement Fund. The roadmap is designed as a tool for college leaders and their Boards, curriculum and estates planners, teachers and support staff, employers, funders, partners, learners, and communities, and anyone else interested in further education and green skills.
3.07 - Building a further education workforce fit for the future
Hall 5
Lead organisation: Gateway Qualifications and FutureDotNow
Speakers:
- Holly Chate, CEO, FutureDotNow
- Paul Saunders, Commercial Director, Gateway Qualifications
- Mark Emmerson, Vice Principal (Information and Digital Transformation), Colchester Institute
- David Ackeroyd, Principal and CEO, Barnsley College
- Jerry White, Principal and CEO, City College Norwich, Paston College and Easton College and Chair of the AOC Workforce Strategy Group
46% of the education workforce can’t complete all the digital tasks essential for today’s workplace. This doesn’t just impact our ability to teach digital skills; it is holding back colleges’ innovation, data analysis, cybersecurity and efficiency. This session, designed for senior leaders seeking to drive transformation through staff development, highlights the urgency of digital upskilling for our sector and showcases practical approaches to workforce development. The session will reveal the compelling financial gains employers can make by closing this gap as well as showcasing new research into the essential AI skills every worker needs. Attendees will hear from Trafford College Group, City College Norwich, Colchester Institute, Barnsley College and FutureDotNow about how to understand, measure and close the workforce digital skills gap and ensure your college is ready to reap the productivity benefits of a digitally confident workforce.
3.08 - Co-creation and collaboration – Creating a SEND solution
Hall 7a
Lead organisation: The Sheffield College and Sheffield Local Authority
Speakers:
Sarah Le-Good MBE, Assistant Principal – Inclusion, Learning Support & Bloom Specialist Curriculum, The Sheffield College
Maria Swift, Post 16 SEND Lead Officer – Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities, Belonging Directorate - Children Services Portfolio - Sheffield City Council
The Sheffield College, Sheffield Local Authority and local special schools are collaborating to tackle one of our most pressing challenges: how to design and deliver sufficient and suitable post-16 curriculum offers for young people with a wide range of SEND and complex needs. This session will showcase innovative approaches and practical solutions, while offering space for honest discussion. Attendees will take away five top tips: embed Preparation for Adulthood in everything we do, use data to spot trends, foster honesty, build collaborative partnerships, and enable safe professional challenge.
3.09 - Innovation literacy: Equipping apprentices for real-world change
Hall 6b
Lead organisation: Oldham College on behalf of GMColleges
Speakers:
- Richard Caulfield, Senior Policy Manager, GMColleges
-
Dave Murat,
Innovation Literacy Delivery Manager, GMColleges
- Lisa Liddy, Assistant Principal for Apprenticeships and Skills, Oldham College
This session introduces an accredited, challenge-led innovation training model developed by GMColleges and tested with over 100 apprentices and 70 employers across Greater Manchester. We'll outline how other providers may contribute to future delivery, and benefit from Innovate UK funding to expand innovation capacity in apprenticeships. Participants will hear how the programme helps apprentices develop creative problem-solving skills, confidence, and productivity through practical techniques and collaborative challenges. Attendees will gain insight into how digital badges, alignment with the new Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship skills framework, and flexible delivery models can enhance apprenticeship outcomes and increase employer productivity.
3.10 - From classrooms to clinics: How T Levels are solving workforce gaps and driving system leadership
Hall 7b
Lead organisation: Association of Colleges
Speakers:
- Stephanie Crane, Delivery Lead - T-Level Programme, Association of Colleges
- Leah Palmer, Principal and CEO, New College Swindon
- Lucy Hunte, National Programme Manage - Apprenticeships, NHS England
This session is aimed at senior college leaders seeking to position their institutions at the centre of the UK’s industrial and workforce transformation. With T Levels now embedded across technical education, we will explore how the health, science, and digital routes align with the Government’s Industrial Strategy IS-8 sectors, particularly health & life sciences and digital & data technologies. The session will examine the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and demonstrate how T Levels and foundation year programmes provide scalable, employer-led solutions to skills shortages. A speaker from the Department for Education will provide a national policy overview, setting the scene for case studies showcasing innovation, partnerships, and progression.
3.11 - Achieving outstanding careers education – A village of collaboration and support
Executive room 8
Lead organisation: The Careers and Enterprise Company and Waltham Forest College
Speakers:
- Alison Sadler, Education Development Consultant, The Careers & Enterprise Company
- Amir Ahmed, Vice Principal, Waltham Forest College
This session will focus on strategies for achievement of outstanding careers education, including the village of collaboration and support through employers, partnerships and stakeholder engagement. Delegates will hear from the Education Development Team at the Careers and Enterprise Company and Waltham Forest College, this year's Excellence in Careers Beacon Award winner, an Outstanding College, with 100% engagement in work experience and powerful learner journey stories. Attendees will take away tools, resources, inspiration and connections to support achievement of high quality careers education.
3.12 - Navigating Devolution: Local Skills Solutions for a Changing Funding Landscape
Hall 9
Lead organisation: NCFE
Speakers:
- Emzi Mills-Frater, Product Manager, NCFE
- Andy Barton, Product Manager, NCFE
- Suzanne Slater, Commercial Director, NCFE
The ongoing shift from national to devolved adult skills funding presents both opportunities and challenges for colleges, learners and employers. In this interactive session, attendees will deepen their understanding of how ASF devolution impacts operations and opportunities for growth and practical strategies for aligning provision with regional skills needs and MCA funding streams.
Drawing on the experiences of professionals who have navigated regional skills delivery this session will support attendees with insight and actionable approaches to strengthen their organisation’s local skills offer within the devolved funding landscape.
3.13 - Enrichment in colleges
Hall 8a
Lead organisation: Association of Colleges, Harlow College and Runshaw College
Speakers:
- Derin Adebiyi, Head of External Affairs, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
- Florence Smith-Drayson, Regional Enrichment Co-ordinator: Yorkshire and Humber, Luminate Education Group
- Dan Webber, Student Futures Manager, Harlow College
- Clare Russell, Principal and CEO, Runshaw College
The government is developing a new framework for enrichment which will include 16-18 year olds. How can the college sector build on existing initiatives and partnerships to further enhance the enrichment we offer our students? This session will introduce AoC’s Regional Enrichment Co-ordinator pilot and showcase the successful enrichment strategies of two colleges.
3.14 - Power up your teaching: Competition-based learning in action
Executive room 7
Lead organisation: WorldSkills UK and Kendal College
Speakers:
- Jason Turton, Principal & CEO, Kendal College
- Rebena Sanghera, High Performance Skills Coach, WorldSkills UK
Discover how WorldSkills UK’s (WSUK) Benchmarking for Excellence model and local skills competitions can transform classroom practice and align provision with employer demand. This interactive workshop will showcase practical strategies for embedding competition-based learning across the curriculum, driving innovation, enhancing assessment practices, and empowering students to embrace challenges. Delegates will see how competitions strengthen peer collaboration, improve outcomes, and provide clear progression routes into industry. You will leave with actionable insights, access to WSUK resources, and ready-to-implement approaches to enrich learning and workforce readiness.
3.15 - Rewriting the number narrative: Equipping learners with real-world numeracy skills
Executive room 2
Lead organisation: AQA
Speakers:
- Natalie Wilson, Junior Product Manager, AQA
- Katy Finch, Head of Research and Evaluation, AQA
With 10 million people in the UK deemed as ‘financially illiterate’, numeracy is a national skills concern. Approximately half the adult population have the number skills that we expect of an 11-year-old. Only 2/5 of young adults are financially literate and 61% do not recall receiving financial education at school. At AQA, we want to improve the nation’s numeracy skills. We know that developing real-world numeracy and focusing on practical life skills such as budgeting and understanding more about money are skills that continue into adulthood and underpin lifelong confidence. In this workshop, Sarah Young and Katy Finch will discuss the findings from the research undertaken by AQA, exploring how young people have directed contributed and played a key role in designing a potential solution. They will also comment on wider opportunities for reform as part of this work, for example in relation to resits
3.16 - The happiness project - Reimagining student experience through joy and belonging
Hall 11b
Lead organisation: Southport Education Group
Speakers:
- Rachael Brownhill, Assistant Principal – Learner Development and Careers, Southport Education Group
- Vickie Hayes, Director of Learning Support and Inclusion, Southport Education Group
What makes students truly thrive? The Happiness Project is a college-wide initiative that places joy, connection and wellbeing at the heart of the student experience. Developed in response to student feedback, the project empowers learners to co-create a positive culture through activities, events and spaces that celebrate what makes them feel good. From student-led campaigns to kindness initiatives and creative expression, this session will share practical strategies for embedding happiness into the DNA of your college. Join us to explore how happiness can be a powerful driver for engagement, identity and community.