Andy Burnham sat in front of Kate Ambrosi before a black curtain background.

Baker Dearing mixes with ministers and mayors at Labour Conference 2025

Baker Dearing met the new Schools Minister as well as the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham at the 2025 Labour Conference, to push the agenda of the trust and University Technical Colleges.

CEO Kate Ambrosi met Schools Minister Georgia Gould MP at a reception hosted by exam body AQA, before meeting with Andy Burnham and Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram at a signing event for the two Labour politicians’ new book, Head North: A Rallying Cry For A More Equal Britain.

Four people - Rotheram and Burnham sitting, Kate and Nicolas standing - smiling and posing together, holding a book in front of them for a group photo.
Left to right: Steve Rotheram, Andy Burnham, Kate Ambrosi, Nicolas Heslop

Baker Dearing is working with Burnham’s Greater Manchester Combined Authority to explore how our UTC Sleeve initiative, which would develop an employer-led technical education pathway within a mainstream school, could support the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate. The MBacc is intended to open more technical and vocational pathways for students in the Manchester region.

Kate and Baker Dearing’s Public Affairs Adviser Nicolas Heslop also attended multiple panel discussions, including one hosted by Make UK that included Skills Minister Baroness Smith as well as Make UK CEO and Baker Dearing Chair Stephen Phipson. During the event, Stephen highlighted how the 44 UTCs pipe young people into apprenticeships and that they have a track record of working with employers. In response to a question about technical education in Barrow-in-Furness schools, Stephen highlighted the ongoing discussions about developing a UTC Sleeve in the town.

Four people seated on chairs, talking in front of a plain wall.
Baroness Smith (in the pink jacket) talking at a panel discussion run by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

Kate and Nicolas attended another panel with Smith, hosted by Baker Dearing’s long-time supporter the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and a Make UK Defence event to hear a speech from Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin, who is also a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Education Secretary. Nicolas also crossed paths with Scunthorpe MP Sir Nic Dakin, a senior government whip and strong supporter of Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire.

A woman stood speaking at a podium before a Make UK Defence banner.
Amanda Martin MP speaking at the Make UK Defence reception.
Two men stood outside facing the camera.
Nicolas meeting with Sir Nic Dakin MP.
Two women stood before an AQA banner in the foyer outside a bar area.
Kate meeting with Schools Minister Georgia Gould MP.
Andy Burnham sat in front of Kate Ambrosi before a black curtain background.

Baker Dearing mixes with ministers and mayors at Labour Conference 2025

Baker Dearing met the new Schools Minister as well as the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham at the 2025 Labour Conference, to push the agenda of the trust and University Technical Colleges.

CEO Kate Ambrosi met Schools Minister Georgia Gould MP at a reception hosted by exam body AQA, before meeting with Andy Burnham and Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram at a signing event for the two Labour politicians’ new book, Head North: A Rallying Cry For A More Equal Britain.

Four people - Rotheram and Burnham sitting, Kate and Nicolas standing - smiling and posing together, holding a book in front of them for a group photo.
Left to right: Steve Rotheram, Andy Burnham, Kate Ambrosi, Nicolas Heslop

Baker Dearing is working with Burnham’s Greater Manchester Combined Authority to explore how our UTC Sleeve initiative, which would develop an employer-led technical education pathway within a mainstream school, could support the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate. The MBacc is intended to open more technical and vocational pathways for students in the Manchester region.

Kate and Baker Dearing’s Public Affairs Adviser Nicolas Heslop also attended multiple panel discussions, including one hosted by Make UK that included Skills Minister Baroness Smith as well as Make UK CEO and Baker Dearing Chair Stephen Phipson. During the event, Stephen highlighted how the 44 UTCs pipe young people into apprenticeships and that they have a track record of working with employers. In response to a question about technical education in Barrow-in-Furness schools, Stephen highlighted the ongoing discussions about developing a UTC Sleeve in the town.

Four people seated on chairs, talking in front of a plain wall.
Baroness Smith (in the pink jacket) talking at a panel discussion run by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

Kate and Nicolas attended another panel with Smith, hosted by Baker Dearing’s long-time supporter the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and a Make UK Defence event to hear a speech from Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin, who is also a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Education Secretary. Nicolas also crossed paths with Scunthorpe MP Sir Nic Dakin, a senior government whip and strong supporter of Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire.

A woman stood speaking at a podium before a Make UK Defence banner.
Amanda Martin MP speaking at the Make UK Defence reception.
Two men stood outside facing the camera.
Nicolas meeting with Sir Nic Dakin MP.
Two women stood before an AQA banner in the foyer outside a bar area.
Kate meeting with Schools Minister Georgia Gould MP.

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