This year, UVAC’s conference was a little more special than in previous years as we celebrated 25 years of championing higher level technical and professional skills programmes delivered by higher education providers including higher and degree apprenticeships.

I want to pay tribute to all the member organisations, board directors, chief executives, leaders and influencers past and present who have guided and supported our mission and vision and helped shape UVAC into becoming the most authoritative voice on all strategic and operational aspects of higher and degree apprenticeships and higher-level skills programmes. 

The theme of ‘back to the future in higher technical and professional education and skills’ implies something from the past being recycled in the present (think of Labour Government’s view of the purpose of apprenticeship and the move against level 7 funding) but it inevitably also means the importance of embracing change. I suggest that ’embracing change’ may well be the theme of UVAC conference in 2025 as we see Skills England emerge and decisions made about what to fund out of the Growth and Skills Levy to meet Government’s skills priorities and industrial strategy needs.

For now, though, we can reflect on the packed programme we delivered. UVAC’s sincere thanks go to our Emcee for the day – Simon Lederman, BBC journalist and broadcaster – for keeping us to time and maintaining a sunny disposition throughout.

UVAC also wants to thank all the conference sponsors, exhibitors, guest speakers, work-shop leaders and delegates for reflecting on and celebrating the achievements UVAC has made over a quarter of a century. It is true we cannot do the work on lobbying and advocacy without our membership or indeed make a contribution to the debate around the future of skills without the contribution from practitioners in terms of responding to policy, initiating new and innovative practice and carrying out research. So, thank you.

As my predecessor, Dr Adrian Anderson (honoris causa), said many, many times – UVAC is of greater significance to the HE sector now than any other time in the past 25 years. 

Dr. Mandy Crawford-Lee

Chief Executive

UVAC