Apprenticeships & Skills Group - Newsletter - March 2026
- Newsletter
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
Adult Skills Conference 2026
The Adult Skills Conference 2026 is a full-day event bringing together providers, employers, Combined Authorities, and sector leaders to explore the key issues shaping adult learning and skills. Across interactive sessions, panel discussions, and practical insight-sharing, attendees will hear perspectives from providers, employers and gain clarity on the evolving funding landscape from Combined Authorities. Whether you’re looking to connect with peers, share your experiences, or take away practical ideas to put into practice, the day is designed to inform, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations.
Date: 10 June 2026
Location: Millennium Point, Birmingham
Confirmed Sponsors:
🏆 Headline Sponsor: Magn8
🏆 Strategic Partner: NOCN Group
🏆 Accommodation Sponsor: ServAce
Confirmed Exhibitors:
🥇 Drake Lane Associates
🥇 The Institute of Employability Professionals
🥇 S Knights Recruitment
🥇 Athena Spectrum
🥇 CogniSoft Ltd
🥇 Magn8
🥇 ServAce
🥇 NOCN Group
Conference Chair:
🎙️ Jim Carley - Shaw Trust
Confirmed Speakers:
🎙️ James Norris - Walsall Council
🎙️ Fliss Miller - East Midlands Combined County Authority
🎙️ Samina Iqbal - LMP Group
🎙️ Laura Savage - PeoplePlus UK
🎙️ NOCN Group
EP/AO Conference 2026
(Apprenticeship Assessment)
The EP/AO Conference is about bringing together professionals across the Assessment, Awarding & Apprenticeship Sector to share real-time insight and innovation. It provides a space to challenge, debate and understand upcoming changes in policy, funding and practice. Explore opportunities to collaborate, grow, and shape the future of Apprenticeship Assessment across the UK.
Date: 10 Sept 2026
Location: Millennium Point, Birmingham
Confirmed Sponsors:
🏆 Headline Sponsor: Skilltech Solutions
🏆 Strategic Partner: NOCN Group
🏆 Accommodation Sponsor: ServAce
🏆 Workshop Sponosr: progress minded
🏆 Badge Sponsor: NQual
Confirmed Exhibitors:
🥇 sAInaptic
🥇 S Knights Recruitment
🥇 ServAce
🥇 NOCN Group
🥇 EP/AO HUB
🥇 progress minded
🥇 Pathway Group
🥇 Skilltech Solutions
🥇 NQual
Apprenticeships Conference 2026
The Apprenticeships Conference on 24th February 2026 was our biggest conference yet! It was a day filled with insight, connection & collaboration. Will you be joining us at the Apprenticeships Conference 2027? Tickets to go on sale soon!
"The Apps conference is worth attending to gauge views and opinions of the sector from notable speakers and industry insiders" - Cidori
"Amazing way to network with likeminded organisations who are striving to make the sector the most effective and impactful that it can be" - The Better Health Generation
"One of the most valuable conferences I have attended with excellent speakers and all topics very current and relevant" - WD Consultancy
"Insightful and worthwhile day speaking with sector colleagues and like-minded peers. Excellent value for money!" - Ashton Consultancy
A big thank you to our partners:
Sponsors
🏆 Headline Sponsor: risr/
🏆 Event App Sponsor: Strata by Orbital Software Solutions Ltd
🏆 Workshop Sponsor: Aptem
🏆 Badge Sponsor: progress minded
🏆 Brochure Sponsor: Magn8®
🏆 Media Sponsor: Occupational Awards Limited
🏆 Drinks Sponsor: Skilltech Solutions
🏆 Bag, Pen & Pad Sponsor: EduBase Academy
🏆 Catering Sponsor: ACE360
Exhibitors:
🏅Athena Spectrum by Cleverclogs Multimedia LTD
🏅ServAce
🏅Drake Lane Associates
🏅NQual
🏅CogniSoft Ltd
🏅The Better Health Generation
🏅CENTURY Tech
🏅arrangeMY
🏅ICONI Software
🏅QDP Services Ltd
🏅Pass
🏅SDN Mesma Group
🏅NOCN Group
Speakers
🎙️Dan Howard - Lifetime - Conference Chair
🎙️Carmel Grant - Skills England
🎙️Simon Ashworth - AELP
🎙️Lucy Hunte - NHS England
🎙️Jo Simovic - Amazon
🎙️Anne-Marie Warham - Primark
🎙️Helen L Russell - The Right Track Consultancy
🎙️Paul Lewis QFP - Pitman Training
🎙️Dr Barbara Van der Eecken - BVDE Quality Solutions
🎙️Lou Doyle FIEP - SDN Mesma Group
🎙️James Love - Aptem
🎙️Tad Chapman - risr/
🎙️Caleb Alabi - Mondelēz International
🎙️Romario Ellis - OuterCircle
🎙️David Lockhart-Hawkins - Lockhart Hawkins
🎙️Sarah Hattersley - Association of Apprentices
🎙️Clare Finch - HTFT Partnership
Tutor/Trainer Conference 2026
The Apprenticeship Tutor/Trainer Conference on 16 March 2026 was designed for Tutors, Skills Coaches, and Trainers who want to sharpen their practice and drive learner success. We had some fantastic sessions and everyone took away some practical tips for their organisations. Will you be joining us at the next one?
"Hearing from others having same frustrations and discussing how to overcome them reenergised my passion for my role" - Holland & Barrett
"The conference helped build my confidence whilst leaving with some new ideas on improvements that can be implemented" - Floorskills
"A good opportunity to network and validate our own processes and learner experience" - Holland & Barrett
A big thank you to our partners:
Conference Chair:
🎙️Dr Barbara Van der Eecken from BVDE Quality Solutions Ltd
Speakers
🎙️Rachael Smith, kamaldip kaur & Joanne Causer - Walsall College
🎙️Sara Morton & Debra Winder - Lifetime
🎙️Neel Mistry - althaus
🎙️Peter Pavitt & Jemma Light - Specsavers
🎙️Kerryann Kelly - SCL Education Group
🎙️Robert Herriot - NQual
Our Sponsors & Champions:
🏆NQual - Session Sponsor
🏆SCL Education Group - Session Sponsor
🏆progress minded
🏆S Knights Recruitment
🏆EP/AO HUB
🏆Pathway Group
🏆The Institute of Employability Professionals
🏆Walsall College
🏆Specsavers
🏆BVDE Quality Solutions Ltd
🏆Lifetime
🏆althaus
All 2026 conferences
All 2026 conferences:
🗓️ Apprenticeships Conference – 24 Feb
🗓️ Tutor/Trainer Conference – 16 March
🗓️ Adult Skills Conference – 10 June
🗓️ EP/AO Conference – 10 Sept
🎟️ Book early. 🤝 Sponsorships – first come, first served.
Thank you
Thanks for being a part of our monthly newsletter community! We appreciate your support and can't wait to bring you even more exciting news and insights next month. Keep an eye out for our next edition!
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