SKILLS 25 – Our Inaugural Cross-Sector Skills Summit

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SKILLS 25—our inaugural Cross-Sector Skills Summit – took place at The Mercure Great Danes Hotel, Maidstone on Tuesday 18th March!

300 attendees from local business, education, government, local councils and supporting bodies came together for an inspiring day focused on the skills needs, challenges and solutions in Kent & Medway.  There were dynamic panel discussions with expert speakers and engaging sector seminars that truly fulfilled our mission to Collaborate, Innovate, and Succeed!

A heartfelt thank you must go to:

· Tudor Price, our expert host and CEO of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

· The Welcome Address from Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council

· Lucy Druesne of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and Jonathan Shaw of Kent Further Education, our fantastic facilitators

· Our brilliant panellists: Lauren Edwards MP, Anthony Gardiner from G’s Group, Tammy Fevrier from DWP, Lara Pool from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, Melanie Collins from Skills England, James Moon from the Careers & Enterprise Company, Pauline Smith from CXK, Jo Simovic from Amazon, Jude Farrell from KCC, Jim Scott from Alltask and Sarah Nurden from KCC.

· Our amazing Steering Group Members who ensured the summit’s success – Carol Ford of Ford Synthesis, Celine McGeown from CITB, Sarah Wren of KCC, Penny Lawlor from KCC, Pia Rathje-Burton from Skills for Care, Jamie Cater from Make UK, Mike Rayner of The Education People, Brad Levy from The Kent & Medway Careers Hub, Mel Phelps and Dan Ratcliff from Medway Council

· The speakers for our Sector Seminars across Construction, Manufacturing & Engineering, Social Care, Creative Industries, and Fresh Food & Horticulture.  Topics covered included tackling skills shortages in Construction with CITB funding, social value in procurement, the future for food supply and growing in Kent & Medway, outlining the real value of a career in creatives and where the skills gaps are, investing in the future creative workforce, the impact of the Industrial Strategy on manufacturing, the benefits of flexi-work patterns in social care, sustainability, employment law and how care leavers can be the answer to your skills needs.

· Our Marketplace exhibitors: Medway Council, The Education People, Kent & Medway Careers Hub, Kent Association of Training Organisations, Canterbury Christ Church University and The T-Level Ambassador Network

· The fantastic students from MidKent College who supported us with Front of House duties and photography

· Everyone who joined us, participated and engaged in meaningful discussions and networking

Together, we’re shaping the future of skills in Kent & Medway! Let’s keep the conversation going!

SAVE THE DATE! SKILLS 26 – Wednesday 18th March 2026, The Mercure Great Danes Hotel, Maidstone – add it to your calendars now!