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Can government reforms finally bridge the long-standing gap between academic and technical education in Britain?

In this bonus episode of "In Conversation With...", recorded at the Skills Hub during the Labour Party Conference and hosted by Emma Leary, leading voices from Parliament, youth advocacy and engineering explore the critical challenges facing young people, employers and the wider skills system.

The panel debates whether technical pathways at age 14 can create true parity with academic routes. Drawing on the Youth Voice Census, they spotlight a "missing middle" in work experience and careers advice, the barriers facing SMEs, and urgent demographic gaps like women in engineering. Closing with questions from the City & Guilds Learner Panel, the episode highlights that building confidence, resilience, and workplace readiness is just as vital as formal qualifications.

Episode talking points:

• The importance of starting early
• The work experience crisis
• Beyond academic qualifications

Whether you're an educator, employer, policy maker, or learner shaping the future of work, this episode is for you.

For further information about the material quoted in this episode visit:

• EUK Education
• Youth Voice Census
• Counting the cost: The UK’s Employability Skills Crisis

Special thanks to our guests Jonathan Brash MP (Chair of the APPG on Further Education and Lifelong Learning), Baz Ramaiah (Policy Director at Youth Employment UK), and Dr Hilary Leevers (Chief Executive of Engineering UK), alongside questions from the City & Guilds Learner Panel.

For more episodes from the series click here.

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"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 economic needs, turbocharging growth and providing meaningful opportunities for young people.

Join Patrick Craven, Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at City & Guilds, for an insightful conversation with Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships, recorded live at the Labour Party Conference 2025.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• How local leadership and industrial strategy can close skills gaps and attract investment.
• The evolution from blue-collar to green-collar roles, preparing the workforce for future technologies in construction, engineering, and green energy.
• Innovative approaches to apprenticeships, including initiatives supporting young people, returners, and those in prison, offering pathways to employment and social mobility.
• The importance of tailoring skills investment to local economies to deliver real impact and opportunity.
• How aligning national ambitions with local delivery can create a virtuous cycle of growth, opportunity, and prosperity.

Whether you’re an employer, provider, policymaker, or simply passionate about the future of skills and work, this episode offers a compelling look at how apprenticeships, industrial strategy, and devolution can shape a stronger, more inclusive economy.

For further information about the material quoted in this episode visit:

• Skills England
• HMP Highpoint
• All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships

For more episodes from the series click here.

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Please note: This offer is available to UK residents only.

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“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 Skills Board.

In this special bonus episode, Kirstie and Anthony unpack what the Chancellor’s announcements really mean for the skills system, employers, and the workforce of the future — with reflections recorded just hours after the Budget was delivered.

And yes… discover what being a lettuce picker and a young bus conductor have to do with this UK Budget episode. (You’ll be surprised — but it makes perfect sense.)

Be among the first to watch as they reflect on the key talking points from the Budget, including:

• What the announcements mean for skills policy and workforce development across the UK.
• Key implications for employers, training providers, and individuals navigating the skills landscape
• The top omissions from the Budget and their potential impact on the sector.
• How policymakers, business leaders, and the sector can work together to drive productivity and foster lifelong learning.

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