Thank you to everyone who joined us for an incredible day at our national conference on Thursday 20 November at the ICC, Birmingham. 

As a flagship event in the sector, the UVAC national conference brings together leaders and practitioners from across higher and degree apprenticeships, higher technical education, professional skills, and work-based learning.

This year’s theme our theme was “CHANGE: Creating and Adapting to Apprenticeship and Skills Policy – Past, Present and Future” and over 250 delegates joined us to discuss the shifting landscape of post-16 education and skills policy, and the critical role of higher education in driving innovation, inclusion, and growth 

If you’d like to revisit the sessions or catch up on anything you missed, slide decks from the day are now available. Access them by clicking the title of the session and continue exploring the ideas and innovations shared at the conference.

Keynote Workshop from Headline Sponsor, Aptem

High-Impact Progress Reviews in University Apprenticeship Provision

Sean Baker, New Business Sales Director, Aptem and Chris Cherry, Strategic Associate, SDN Mesma

Keynote Presentation 

Ready for Roll Out – practical realities of the renewed inspection framework for Higher Education

Kerry Boffey, Adult Learning Improvement Network (ALIN) & Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN)

Full Conference Workshop 

Region to be cheerful? Exploring the role for vocational HE and apprenticeships within English devolution 

James Farr, Director and Richard Guy, Senior Associate, THINK

Workshop Session A

World Skills UK endorsed competitions for Higher & Degree Apprentices

Professor Sarah Tudor, Head of Assessment and Progression, Director of the WorldSkills UK endorsed competition at the University of Exeter

Assuring Standards in Times of Change: Co-Creating a Blueprint for Quality,Consistency, and Change

Dr Nicky Westwood, UVAC Associate, Julie Stone, Consultant, Phil Sanders, Consultant

End Point Assessment – Out of the Melting Pot

Sam Moorwood, Associate Director of Skills, Sheffield Hallam University

Workshop Session B

Navigating Change: Empowering Insights around workplace mentorship through a World Café

Abigail Salter, Lecturer in Policing Organisation and Practice; Dr Sarah Bloomfield, Senior Lecturer in Work and Organisational Learning; Evelyn Mooney , Programme Leader, Open University

Navigating complexity with employers: Strategic workforce strategies in an era of change 

Mark Hayes, Director, Mike Craig, Head of Sales and Accounts, Think

Addressing policy misconceptions about mature learners and university approaches

Dr Trevor A Brown Reader in Strategic Practice and Apprenticeships, Richard Griffin , Senior Lecturer & Assessment Lead, Manchester Metropolitan University

Workshop Session C

The Evolving Apprenticeship Workforce: Navigating Change in Tripartite Roles

Dr Nicky Westwood, UVAC Associate, Dr Helen Charlton, Head of Executive Education, Northumbria University Business School, Dr Phil Power-Mason, Head of Strategic Management, Hertfordshire Business School

Not just another spreadsheet; Streamlining management

Dr Cliona O Dunlaing Dean, School of Apprenticeships, Lauren Spurling, Head of Apprenticeship Academic, Anglia Ruskin University

The constant in a shifting landscape: the value of work-related co-created practice development in DAs 

Jackie Whitehouse, Head of Work-based Learning, Laura Yetton, Programme Manager, University of Warwick

Full Conference Workshop 

From Policy to Practice: Reimagining Apprenticeships Through the Lens of Diversity and Inclusion

Pete Milsom, Shona Taylor, Business Engagement Manager: Early Careers and Apprenticeships, UCAS

Full Conference Workshop 

From Start-up to Scale-up

Gosia Lasota, Assistant Director, Dr Cliona O Dunlaing, Dean, School of Apprenticeships, Anglia Ruskin University

Keynote Workshop from Registration Sponsor BUD

Change is Here: How Technology is Shaping HE Vocational Learning Today and Tomorrow

John Ingram, CEO, BUD