Essential Skills for North-West Growth: A unified approach

Businesses and education providers in the North West have a role to play in helping young people reach their full potential and preparing them for the ever-evolving workplace. By working together, we can better support the next generation as they enter the workforce and create a talent pipeline that benefits our region for years to come.

The question is: How?

Join us in Penrith on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, for a collaborative event dedicated to empowering the next generation of talent in Cumbria and creating clear pathways for them. The key to thriving businesses and a flourishing workforce is closing the skills gap between education and employment. The solution lies in embedding essential skills at every stage to prepare the workforce of the future.

Brought to you by Skills Builder Partnership in collaboration with Enterprising Cumbria, this event is an opportunity to:

• Foster Networking & Collaboration: Connect with local businesses and other educators to bridge the gap between education and industry, sparking dialogue and partnerships to enhance essential skills development for your students.

• Introduce a Unified Language: Learn about the Universal Framework, a common language for understanding and building essential skills effectively in diverse educational settings.
• Promote Capacity Building: Explore proven support programs from Skills Builder, including the Accelerator programme, successfully delivered to hundreds of schools and colleges, to help you embed essential skills development within your curriculum.

This event is designed for both employers and educators in the North West. We welcome business leaders, CSR professionals, school and careers leaders, as well as HR and L&D professionals involved in skills development.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, 24th September 2025
• Time: 10:00AM - 2:00 PM
• Venue: Penrith Rugby Club

Agenda: 

10.00 - 10.30: Arrival and welcome refreshments

10.30 - 10.45: Framing the regional skills landscape (Enterprising Cumbria)

10.45 - 11.15: Introducing Skills Builder and the Universal Framework for essential skills

11.15 - 12.00: Spotlight speakers from regional businesses and education settings

12.00 - 12.45: Networking Lunch

12.45 - 13.45: Workshops: How to get started in your setting (Optional)

13.45 - 14.00: Wrap up & close