The Skills and Education Group and WorldSkills UK have formed a new partnership to advance their shared agenda on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

The organisations have a mutual ambition to raise the bar and widen the gate for young people of all backgrounds to succeed in work and life, and to provide all young people with the skills required for the economy to thrive. Through this partnership, they aim to drive positive change for EDI in the UK skills sector.

The Skills and Education Group has been supporting the further education and skills sector for 110 years. The Group is dedicated to improving lives through advancing education and provides a range of services to help learners from all backgrounds to succeed. This includes qualifications for a variety of sectors and grant funding through a charitable foundation. Skills and Education Group also offers regular professional development opportunities for further education staff, including events and training programmes focused on EDI.

WorldSkills UK is an independent charity and a partnership between employers, education and governments. They aim to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education so that more young people, regardless of their background, get the best start in work and life. As part of their mission, WorldSkills UK aim to inspire action to drive EDI in the UK skills sector.

The partnership will involve the two organisations informing one another with insight, thought leadership and best practice in relation to EDI. They will use their platforms to advocate for change; will gather support from their respective networks; and will support each other’s future campaigns.

Various activities have been agreed. Skills and Education Group will be an Investment Partner for WorldSkills UK’s CPD event and a Headline Partner for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Heroes Awards. In addition, the Group will participate in WorldSkills UK’s EDI Advisory Group.

Furthermore, WorldSkills UK will support the Skills and Education Group Annual Conference in May 2023 and will co-develop content for the Group’s professional development events.

Commenting on the partnership, Paul Eeles, Chief Executive of the Skills and Education Group, said:

“This partnership brings together two organisations with a wealth of expertise in further education and skills, plus a mutual ambition to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in this sector.

“By working together, Skills and Education Group and WorldSkills UK can use our collective knowledge and platforms to drive forward this important agenda, so that all young people, whatever their background, can succeed in work and life.”

“I look forward to working closely with the team at WorldSkills UK over the coming months. Through this partnership, I am confident that we can effect positive change across the further education and skills landscape.”

Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE, CEO of WorldSkills UK, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Skills and Education Group on this partnership to raise the bar and widen the gate for young people of all backgrounds.

“Encouraging more diverse talent to join apprenticeships and technical education pathways is vital to help widen the pools of talent, so more employers succeed and more young people get the best start in work and life. If we can broaden the pool of young people who are well prepared for working life, we can help give employers more choice when recruiting and help create higher-performing workplaces.”

You can find out more about the Skills and Education Group’s work to advance EDI here.

For more information about WorldSkills UK and their work, visit their website.