Westminster partners with Westminster City Council to deliver Skills Summit

The summit unfolded in two parts. The first was an online session that set the stage for discussion, followed by an in-person event held at the University’s Little Titchfield Street site, where ideas were refined and collaborations strengthened.

The first session took place on 10 September and focused on shaping the future of employment and skills across Westminster. It aimed to strengthen collaboration between key stakeholders to address sector-specific skills challenges and promote inclusive growth by advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. 

During the webinar, attendees explored how to match skills with labour market needs through partnerships, and how to promote good work by improving job quality in key sectors.

The session featured an in-depth panel discussion titled Minding the Gap: Joining up Skills Demand with Skills Provision in Westminster and concluded with a Q&A where attendees brought their questions to the experts. The panellists included Jessie Buscombe, Chair of the Education, Employment and Skills Board; Arinola Edeh CBE, Principal at the Westminster Adult Education Service; Ann-Marie Soyinka, Assistant Director of Skills and Employment Policy at the Greater London Authority; Kate Nottidge, Social Impact Director of Grosvenor Property UK; and Oliver Latham, Vice President of Strategy and Growth at Pearson. 

The second and concluding event then took place on 26 November and was opened with a welcome from Professor Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability at the University, and a keynote from Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development.

Professor Dibyesh Anand

Throughout the day attendees attended a range of breakout discussions exploring sector-specific challenges and opportunities, exploring the Hospitality, Construction and Creative industries. They also investigated the ways to work with employers to design training and employability initiatives that help their service users move into work.

Insights gathered throughout the summit will feed directly into the Council’s Westminster’s Skills Plan, alongside the Volterra Skills Report and resident focus groups, helping ensure their approach reflects the needs of employers, providers and residents.

Linsey Cole, Director of Business Engagement and Graduate Futures at the University of Westminster and member of the Education, Employment and Skills Board for Westminster City Council said: "At Westminster, we’re committed to building meaningful partnerships that unlock opportunities for our students and the wider community. By working closely with local employers and stakeholders, we can ensure our skills initiatives are responsive to real-world needs and help drive inclusive growth across the city." 

The University has a rich history of collaborating with organisations, charities, social enterprises and community groups to provide opportunities to individuals from marginalised communities. Through Zone29, Westminster’s new home for careers and enterprise, the University is set to build on this work further by helping organisations and individuals develop the skills they need for the jobs of the future. 

This event directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society. 

Discover more about the University of Westminster’s new careers and enterprise home, Zone29. 

Find out more about Zone29’s community impact and how organisations can get involved.

Photo credit: Westminster City Council