The UK’s rapidly evolving skills landscape presents both challenge and opportunity. With the engineering sector alone facing a projected shortfall of up to 1 million engineers by 2030, driven by a retiring workforce, talent shortages, skills mismatch and diversity challenges. There’s a clear call to action. 

A diversity gap persists even though the UK is home to an increasingly diverse population of over 69 million people (ONS), spanning different genders, ages, socio-economic backgrounds, races, sexualities, religions and beliefs. There is enormous, untapped potential, particularly in priority STEM and wider industry growth sectors.

The Youth Futures Foundation highlights that women (26%) and ethnic minority workers (13%) remain under-represented in engineering, compared to 51% and 18% nationally — meaning valuable talent remains underutilised. The Social Mobility Commission’s State of the Nation report published in December 2025, explored international comparisons to identify what drives or hinders mobility across occupations, income, education, housing and wealth. The report highlighted that extreme regional disparities are a leading cause of entrenched inequality, with many rural and coastal areas, more than half a century later, still living with the long-term impacts of deindustrialisation. The evidence base demonstrates that in 2026 historic shifts continue to influence opportunity, education pathways and local labour markets today. 

There are signs of positive change, with innovation hubs and opportunity areas emerging across the UK, as providers, employers and stakeholders collaborate, focusing on local skills improvement plans, aligned to national priorities, helping to attract international business, generate local jobs and revive regional economies.

Industry demand for diverse talent is rising because it delivers results — diverse teams generate 19% higher innovation revenue (Deloitte, 2025). Employers recognise the need to tap into the full breadth of the UK’s skills and workforce potential for increased productivity and sustainable economic growth.

When education and industry work together to break down barriers to opportunity and skills excellence, individuals of all ages and levels can develop the capabilities that improve both their work and life chances, while strengthening the UK’s workforce and economy.

UVAC’s Innovation Exchange event Advancing Equity, Celebrating Diversity: Inclusive Visions and Innovative Solutions on 10 February 2026, 9.30-4.30 pm at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry responds to the challenges by bringing together colleagues from universities, institutes of technology, colleges, independent training providers, wider tertiary education providers, employers, research institutions, policy influencers and stakeholders, to share insights, effective practice and experiences, tools and resources, to help strengthen the bridge between education and industry — advancing equity, celebrating diversity and inspiring inclusive innovation. Aligning to the Government’s ambitions around Post-16 education reform, skills-led productivity, inclusion and workforce sustainability, the Exchange will champion flexible, high-quality technical, work-based vocational and professional learning — from inclusive higher technical qualifications to degree apprenticeships — and the vital role of Levels 4 and 5 in powering skills for economic growth.

Together we will explore how to widen participation, build workforce capacity, and co-develop inclusive pathways that ‘unlock’ talent at all ages and levels.

What’s on Offer?

 A rich, forward-looking CPD programme featuring:

• Thought-provoking keynotes from national voices across education, industry and policy
• Practical presentations and effective practice insights from universities, higher and further technical vocational education providers and employers
• Interactive workshops to share tools, strategies, approaches and solutions
• Panel discussions unpicking the challenges and opportunities helping to shape the skills ecosystem

Colleagues attending will gain insights, inspiration, resources and actionable takeaways to help them drive positive change within their own organisations and communities — improving accessibility, strengthening talent pipelines, and advancing equality, diversity and inclusion.

Why It Matters

• Manufacturing alone needs 173,000 new workers every year until 2030 (Engineering UK, 2024)
• Women and ethnic minorities remain under-represented in engineering and wider STEM industry sectors, despite being a strong national talent pool
• Regions still feel the legacy of deindustrialisation, affecting opportunity, mobility and skills access
• Industry needs curricula that is responsive to needs, and clear career progression pathways that are more inclusive, more connected and fit for purpose

 The Innovation Exchange offer will focus on how to:

• Build inclusive talent pipelines and technical pathways
• Co-design curriculum aligned to real industry skills needs, current and future, by workforce foresighting
• Boost workforce resilience through upskilling and reskilling
• Leverage technology to increase flexibility, accessibility and participation
• Embed global best practice in work-integrated learning
• Enhance social mobility by breaking down barriers to opportunity, and explore ‘in-flow education and training to support inclusive workforce capacity building

Who Should Attend?

Colleagues from Universities, Higher and Further Technical Education providers- Institutes of Technology, Colleges, Independent Training Providers, Employers, Professional Bodies, and key stakeholder partners. Colleagues who are committed to strengthening the UK’s skills system and widening participation.

Join Us

Be part of a national conversation shaping the future of technical, vocational and professional education in the UK. Help inform, influence and drive positive change — inspiring inclusion, boosting innovation, and building a workforce ready for the future. It’s all about the journey, and together we are stronger!

Register to attend 

We do hope that you’ll be able to join us and the conversation