Growing opportunity and unlocking potential in a changing workforce

Our Employment and Skills Convention returned to Manchester on Thursday 2 July 2026.

As the world of work continues to change, we asked the key questions: how can we create and connect young people to opportunity? How is demand for skills evolving as technology reshapes jobs? And how can workers and employers be supported to thrive in a changing economy?

This major annual event for the employment and skills sectors brings together delegates from across central and local government, employers, providers, and third sector organisations to tackle key issues in policy and practice.

With thanks to our sponsors: Maximus UK, Edge Foundation, Ingeus, Youth Futures Foundation and City & Guilds.

Watch recordings from the event

View slides from the convention

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View slides from our keynote speech by Rt Hon Lord Willetts

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8 Medi 2026

Adult Skills Fund spending on English and Maths, 2016–24

This briefing explores the trends in investment in adult (19+) English and maths provision in England in the first five years of Adult Skills Fund devolution between 2019/20 and 2023/24.

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7 Medi 2026

UK must make training the ‘go-to’ response to skills needs, or risk holding back growth, new report warns

The Government’s plans to get the economy growing risk falling short unless it takes action to reverse sharp falls in the training employees get at work, new analysis warns.

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7 Medi 2026

Understanding employer investment in skills

This is the third and final report of our project funded by the Nuffield Foundation looking at employer investment in skills, and how employees are responding to the need to upskill and retrain in a transitioning economy.

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27 Awst 2026

Responding to the latest NEET data, August 2026

Learning and Work Institute Deputy Director Elizabeth Gerard responds to the NEET data released on 27 August 2026.

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18 Awst 2026

Labour Market Briefing: August 2026

Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 18 August 2026.

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18 Awst 2026

Labour market dashboard

Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.

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18 Awst 2026

Labour market stats response, August 2026

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.

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12 Awst 2026

Small employers, big opportunities: apprenticeships for young people

Olly Newton, Executive Director at Edge Foundation, reflects on key messages from the Edge Foundation-sponsored workshop at Learning and Work Institute’s Employment and Skills Convention, exploring how small employers and local partners can support more young people into apprenticeships.

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11 Awst 2026

Delivering local work and health programmes: Top tips

Developed as part of the Labour Market Evidence Programme, these top tips share practical lessons on designing, delivering and evaluating local work and health programmes.

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