Baker Dearing was thrilled to attend the Make UK National Manufacturing Conference on Tuesday 3 March at the kind invitation of Make UK CEO Stephen Phipson CBE, Chairman of Baker Dearing.

During a Q&A with the Business Secretary Peter Kyle MP, Baker Dearing CEO Kate Ambrosi asked the minister what has the government been doing to ensure the skills pipeline starts at school, which was an ambition of the Industrial Strategy.

The minister responded:

I feel very passionately that vocational pathways are what mainstream schools should be embracing and that is what [Education Secretary] Bridget Phillipson is taking forward and has rolled out… this is not just a moment of challenge for skills but for the opportunity that our country has with the incredible jobs that have been created in manufacturing throughout the country.

Kyle mentioned how Skills England is mapping the needs of the economy, reform to the Apprenticeship Levy, and the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

Baker Dearing also attended the conference’s breakout skills session, facilitated by former skills minister, long-time UTC supporter and Baker Dearing International Chairman Robert Halfon.

Overall, the day was a much-appreciated opportunity to spread the message of how Baker Dearing’s model of high-quality, technical education prepares young people to fill crucial skills gaps in industry. But it was also a fantastic opportunity to understand current the business and regulatory environment for manufacturers and to hear from employers and other stakeholders what is needed from schools and students.

Pictured top (clockwise from top-left): Kate Ambrosi, Peter Kyle MP, Robert Halfon, Stephen Phipson.