Shaping the Future Workforce: Highlights from Our 2025 Training & Skills Summit

On Wednesday 30th of April, Oaklands College hosted its inaugural Employer Workforce Training & Skills Summit 2025, bringing together local employers, industry experts, and training providers to explore the region’s most pressing workforce challenges.

The event provided a vital platform for open discussion around current and future skills shortages, with employers sharing invaluable insights into the evolving needs of their sectors. These conversations help shape the direction of our training programmes and apprenticeships, ensuring they remain relevant and responsive to industry demand.

A highlight of the day was the keynote from Dr Katherine Bean PhD CEng, who delivered a powerful presentation on the transformative role of AI in the workplace. Her insights sparked important conversations around upskilling, automation, and the future of human–machine collaboration.

We were also proud to be supported by Mindful Education, whose sponsorship helped make the event such a success. Their continued partnership reflects the importance of flexible, high-quality learning options in today’s fast-changing landscape.

At Oaklands, we know that real progress happens when education and industry work hand in hand. Events like this reaffirm our commitment to being a proactive partner in shaping a skilled, future-ready workforce for Hertfordshire and beyond.