The Bedford College Group leaders appointed to Experience UK Future Talent Steering Group
Two senior leaders from The Bedford College Group, which has campuses across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, have been appointed to a national steering group working to improve career opportunities and strengthen links between education and the UK's experience economy.
Dr Robin Webber-Jones, Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Curriculum, and Anna Clarke, Executive Director of Regional Growth, have joined the Experience UK Future Talent Steering Group.
The group brings together representatives from education, industry and emerging talent to look at the skills employers will need and how more people can access careers in the sector.
The experience economy includes visitor attractions, tourism, heritage, entertainment and creative experiences. The steering group will work to improve connections between education providers and employers, identify skills gaps and help people understand the routes into these careers.
Robin brings experience in curriculum development and skills policy, and is a Council Member of Creative UK and Board Member of Royal & Derngate. He has also contributed to national skills initiatives, including the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor Skills Commission.
Dr Robin Webber-Jones said: “There are careers in this sector that many young people may never have considered, partly because they don't know they exist or how to get into them.
“We need to look at how education can better reflect the opportunities available and make sure students are developing skills that employers actually need.
“Having students and graduates involved in these discussions is particularly important. They're the people who will be entering the industry, so it makes sense that they should have a say in what comes next.”
Anna, who is also President of the Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce, has worked across further education, economic development and employer engagement, with experience of how education and business can respond to changing workforce needs.
Anna Clarke said: “Employers often talk about the difficulties they face finding people with the right skills, while people looking for work aren't always aware of the opportunities available to them.
“There's a lot we can learn by having those conversations together, particularly in an industry that covers such a broad range of jobs and businesses.
“I'm looking forward to hearing directly from employers and those starting their careers about what's working, what isn't and where we need to make changes.”
The steering group also includes representatives from King's College London, creative businesses and the attractions industry, alongside students and graduates who will contribute their own experiences.
Its work will help inform Experience UK's activities around skills, career pathways and closer links between education and industry.
For more information about Experience UK, visit https://www.experienceuk.org/