University Centre Peterborough Hosts First Future Skills Summit to Strengthen Employer Collaboration

University Centre Peterborough (UCP) welcomed employers and partners from across the region for its first Future Skills Summit, bringing education and industry together to discuss the skills, talent and workforce challenges shaping the future.

Held at St Oswald’s Conference Centre ahead of UCP’s annual Graduation Ceremony at Peterborough Cathedral, the Summit created an opportunity for employers to share their experiences and explore how higher education can respond to the changing needs of businesses and their workforces.

Representatives from organisations including Caterpillar Inc., Perkins, Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, Athene Communications and Peterborough Cultural Alliance joined colleagues and partners from across Inspire Education Group (IEG) for the event.

Discussions explored some of the challenges facing employers when recruiting, developing and retaining skilled people, alongside the importance of ensuring education and training remains closely aligned with the needs of industry.

Connecting Skills, Talent and Employers

The Summit was led by James Whybrow, Vice Principal for Apprenticeships and Higher Education at Inspire Education Group, with discussions focused on how UCP and the wider Group can work collaboratively with employers to create opportunities for local talent while responding to current and emerging skills shortages.

Employers were encouraged to share the challenges they are experiencing within their own organisations and consider how closer collaboration with education could support workforce development.

The conversation also explored the changing higher education landscape, including more flexible approaches to learning and opportunities for people already in employment to continue developing higher-level skills throughout their careers.

Higher Education Shaped by Employer Need

Employer collaboration is an important part of UCP’s approach to developing higher education that responds to the needs of Peterborough and the wider region.

Through Inspire Education Group’s employer partnerships, businesses can engage in a range of ways, from helping to co-design curriculum and sharing industry expertise to offering placements, live projects and opportunities for students and graduates.

Employers can also work with the Group to explore opportunities to develop their existing workforce through higher education, apprenticeships and professional development.

The Summit provided an opportunity to strengthen these relationships and continue the conversation around how employers and education providers can collectively develop the skills pipeline needed to support future economic growth.

From Future Skills to Graduation

Following the Summit, attendees were invited to Peterborough Cathedral to watch the UCP Class of 2026 take part in the Graduation Procession, providing a fitting conclusion to a morning focused on developing future talent.

The Graduation Ceremony celebrated students completing higher education programmes across UCP and demonstrated the impact that accessible, locally delivered higher education can have on individuals, employers and communities.

UCP will continue working with employers and partners following the Summit to develop opportunities for collaboration and ensure its higher education provision remains responsive to the evolving needs of the region.

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