UVAC is pleased to announce the programme for its Innovation Exchange: Advancing Equity, Celebrating Diversity – Inclusive Visions and Innovative Solutions, taking place on 10 February 2026 (9.30–4.30) at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry.

This in-person event brings together colleagues from universities, institutes of technology, colleges, independent training providers, employers, professional bodies, research organisations, policy, and wider stakeholders, to explore how education and industry can work together to build a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready workforce, to enable realisation of UK’s growth ambitions.

With the UK facing significant skills shortages- particularly in engineering, manufacturing and priority STEM  industry sectors, the Exchange recognises the urgent need to widen participation and create inclusive technical pathways to grow the talent pipeline- all ages and levels, focusing on growth driving industry sectors (IS-8). Persistent regional disparities, changing workforce needs, and under-representation continue to limit opportunity and productivity, making collaboration across the wider skills ecosystem more important than ever.

Aligned with Government ambitions for post-16 education reform, skills-led productivity and workforce sustainability, UVAC’s Innovation Exchange will champion flexible, high-quality technical, vocational and professional learning. Including the vital role of higher technical education, Levels 4 and 5, degree apprenticeships and work-integrated learning in supporting economic growth.

We will be celebrating the positive impact of apprenticeships on individuals, businesses and the wider economy as the Exchange is taking place during National Apprenticeship Week, with a theme for 2026 of-

                                             Skills for Life: It all starts with skills.

The programme features keynote speakers, practical case studies, interactive workshops and panel discussions, offering insight into effective practice, policy direction and employer-led innovation. Attendees will gain actionable ideas and tools to help strengthen talent pipelines, advance equity, celebrate diversity, and inspire inclusion across their organisations and communities.

                                     ‘Strength lies in differences, not in similarities’

                         ‘Diversity is about being invited to the party; Inclusion is being asked to dance’

DOWNLOAD the full agenda

REGISTER your free place today!

More speakers to be announced soon, and to date presentations include:

Welcome, introduction and context setting

Connecting tertiary education and building inclusive pathways to raise standards, champion future skills, and deliver UK further and higher technical skills excellence

Dr Mandy Crawford Lee- Chief Executive, UVAC

Engineering Futures: From Pipeline to Workforce- Meeting the UK’s Skills Needs

 Speaker TBC

Advancing Equity, Celebrating Diversity: Inclusive Visions and Innovative Solutions

Cerian Ayres- UVAC Associate-International

Fiona McGarry- Sector Engagement Manager, Enginuity

Rosa Wells- FE Principal and Dean for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, University College Birmingham, Chair National Network of Institutes of Technology

Workforce Foresighting to build capacity and meet industry needs: People and Technology Roadmaps Bringing education and industry closer together to co-design innovative solutions, raise standards, and champion future skills. Positive impact examples will be shared- people and place!

Emily Brenan- Communications Manager, Manufacturing Technology Centre, Workforce Foresighting Hub

Satchin Duneeka Semage- Future Skills Advisor, Workforce Foresighting Hub, Manufacturing Technology Centre

Pete Osborne -Professor of Advanced Manufacturing, University of Sheffield AMRC and Director of Innovation Launchpad

Inclusive digital transformation solutions in education, and key industry growth sectors

Steve Mariadas- Director, South West Institute of Technology

Professor Stephen Hilton- Professor of Chemistry and Enabling Technologies, University College London

Dr Blanka Hilton- Lecturer, VR Lead and School Deputy Director of Graduate Research Studies for Natural  Sciences University of Kent

Panel- Leveraging diversity and inclusion to address the UK’s skills challenge

1 million Engineers and 900,000 Skilled Workers Needed: Can Inclusive Strategies Close the UK’s Skills Gap by 2030?

Chair-Jeff Greenidge, Association of Colleges

Dr Mandy Crawford Lee- Chief Executive, Universities Vocational Awards Council

Professor Rosa Wells- FE Principal and Dean for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, University College Birmingham, Chair National Network of Institutes of Technology

Alison Morris- Director of Policy, Skills Federation Foundation

Lydia Amarquaye CEng MIMechE- Education and Skills Policy Lead, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IET)  tbc

Derek Cockfield -Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager, WorldSkills UK

Sophie Hall – Research Manager, Youth Futures Foundation

People and place: Creating ladders of opportunity so that no one gets left behind

Darran Marks-Operations Director at Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology

Hamidreza Jafarnejad- HE Curriculum Leader Engineering, South Yorkshire Institute of Technology

National Network of Institutes of Technology

Supporting and growing talent from Early Careers onwards, a whole organisational approach

George Jenkins- Advanced Technology Project Lead -Skills, National Composite Centre

From Green Confetti to Green Mindset

Explore the impact of a Green Changemaker’s approach to systems and culture change and how it’s leading to sustainable transformation in workforces. This session will enable you to awaken your own inner changemaker and provide you with practical strategies for changemaking work

Dr Lou Mycroft-Green Changemaker, Author, Researcher, TEDx Speaker and Mentor

Enhancing learning opportunities to inspire skills excellence

Rachel Bradford- Specialist Inclusive Learning Coordinator, MTC Training

Rana Elfana- SITEC Project Lead, ETF and Royal Commission Technical Teaching Fellow, North Hertfordshire College

Plenary, evaluation and next steps!

Staying at the forefront of innovation- turning great ideas into reality.

An opportunity to visit the Innovation Hub at MTC (NB. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please read the requirements regarding security)

Join us to be part of a national conversation shaping the future of technical and vocational education — advancing equity, celebrating diversity and inspiring inclusive innovation.