ALP conference first to bring SFA, YPLA and NAS publicly under one roof

The Association of Learning Providers’ (ALP) Forum for Employment & Skills boasts a huge line-up in a two day conference (July 14-15) at the Riverbank Plaza in Central London.

Graham Hoyle, chief executive for the ALP, said: “The post-election timing of ALP’s annual conference should make this a really interesting event with a new set of ministers keen to set out their agendas.

“The employment and skills sector is facing significant challenges in a much tighter fiscal climate and whichever political party is in power, the conference will present an excellent opportunity for funders and frontline providers to exchange views on how providers can deliver more for less.”

John Hayes, the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, will be speaking to delegates to outline his vision for the future of the sector under the new coalition government, as will Lord David Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform.

In their first public appearance together, Geoff Russell, chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency, Simon Waugh, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, and Peter Lauener, chief executive of the Young People’s Learning Agency, will also be addressing the packed conference.

Workshops from across the vocational skills landscape will be held over the two days, including contributions from: BIS, DWP, YPLA, UKCES, CESI, and SFA.

At the end of tomorrow’s conference there will be a free drinks reception, followed by a Gala Dinner, which should provide excellent networking opportunities. Hosted by the BBC’s Susanna Reid, the event is shaping up to become one of the most important conferences in the FE sector this year.

Full details of the agenda, accommodation, speakers, workshops and an online booking facility are available here.

The first day is already booked up, but there may still be some limited space for Thursday’s event.

ALP spokesman Aidan Relf said: “It will be a lively debate about how the employment and skills system can deliver more against the backdrop of a tight spending system.”

John Hughes