In this episode of Let's Go Further, we continue our exploration of equity, diversity and inclusion across the skills and education sector, focusing on how art and creativity support learners' development, confidence and accessibility.

With creative subjects historically being squeezed out of the traditional curriculum, this conversation examines how a foundational belief in creativity can empower thought and drive meaningful change. Inspired by the seminal work of Sir Ken Robinson, the discussion highlights why limiting education to just literacy and numeracy risks damaging the future of the economy and stifling innovation.

Host Joe McLoughlin is joined by Annabel Cook, Co-Chief Executive Officer at the charity Artswork. As Co-Chief Executive Officer, Annabel strives to empower young people to work and lead in the arts and creative sectors. Evelyn, a young person who has directly benefited from the programme, now serves as a member of the Artswork and passionate advocate, helping to shape the future of the charity by ensuring the regular input of young voices into organisational plans.

Together, they explore the realities of turning good policies into good practice, the challenges facing educators and employers in under-pressure sectors, and the opportunities to create lasting, accessible environments that allow young people to thrive in whatever form suits them best.

In this episode of Let's Go Further, we continue our exploration of equity, diversity and inclusion across the skills and education sector focusing on how better support for neurodivergent learners and colleagues can create more inclusive environments for everyone.

With diagnoses of neurodiversity rising across the UK, and recent government plans to reform the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England, this conversation examines what meaningful support really looks like in further education and skills.

Host Joe McLoughlin is joined by Emma Eager and Emily Abbott, directors and founders of the Autism Wellbeing Project. Through their work providing therapy, social care, training and accreditation, they aim to raise awareness of autism and challenge misconceptions enabling individuals and communities to thrive.

Together, they explore the realities of turning inclusive policies into everyday practice, the challenges facing educators and employers, and the opportunities to create lasting, positive change for learners, colleagues, and wider communities.

Episode Guests

Emily Abbott

Emily Abbott is the co-founder and director of The Autism Wellbeing Project, bringing an extensive background in social care and a deeply personal connection to autism through her family. She is passionate about creating real opportunities for independence and ensuring autistic people can access the right support that adds value to their lives. Emily is also a trainer for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, sharing her knowledge to improve understanding and outcomes across health and social care.

Emma Eager

Emma Eageris also the co-founder and director of The Autism Wellbeing Project and has spent 15 years working as a teacher and leader in primary education and is a qualified counsellor and experienced trainer. She delivers the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training and the wider training offer from The Autism Wellbeing Project. Emma is dedicated to improving outcomes for autistic adults, bringing a mix of humour, honesty and compassion to her work. As someone who is diagnosed with AuDHD, she combines professional expertise with lived experience to create meaningful and relatable learning.

In this episode, we dive into the heart of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) to explore why these aren't just policy buzzwords, but the lifeblood of a thriving Further Education sector. We examine the positive case for strengthening EDI initiatives and discuss why the FE and skills landscape is uniquely positioned to drive social mobility and life-changing results for learners and their communities.

Joining us for the conversation are Ben Blackledge and Tonicha Roberts. Ben is the Chief Executive of Worldskills UK and has a wealth of experience in skills and careers policy. Tonicha is a Forensic Training Manager and Skills Champion who was the first person to represent the UK in the Chemical Laboratory Technology context at WorldSkills events.

In this episode we're looking at the FE and skills curriculum and asking what a new government needs to do to ensure it is fit for purpose and future-proof.

To do this we're joined by David Gallagher, CEO of NCFE, an educational charity and leader in vocational and technical learning, and Karen Spencer, Principal and Chief Executive of Harlow College. From the importance of Level 2 qualifications to the need for better relationships between employers and educators, and the need for Government to trust and respect the sector more, David and Karen outline their policy asks and hopes for whoever forms the next Government.

About Karen Spencer MBE

Karen is a highly experienced Principal Chief Executive Officer with a history of working in the further education industry. She was awarded an MBE in 2021 recognition of her contribution to Further Education and Aviation.

About David Gallagher

David is NCFE Chief Executive Officer and a Non-Executive Director of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, as well as Chair of the FAB Policy Board. He has worked for big and small businesses, in the public and private sectors, and have also established several start-up businesses.

Resources:

• Download the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, we're talking about the green curriculum and asking how we develop an education and training system that creates a skilled workforce for new and emerging industries. We're asking what role FE can play and what the next government can do to support colleges seeking to skill and reskill the workers needed to tackle the major global challenges from climate change to food security.

We're joined by Charlotte Bonner, CEO of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, which seeks to lead and empower the post-16 education sector to make sustainability 'just good business', and Jeremy Kerswell, CEO and Principal of Plumpton College, in East Sussex, which uses its large estate to create real-life experiences for students, modelling best current and future practices in all aspects of sustainability and land management.

About Charlotte Bonner

As CEO of Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, Charlotte is responsible for the strategic leadership of the organisation. She has over fifteen years' leadership experience across membership and tertiary education organisations where she's focused on business development, transformational engagement and policy and advocacy. Before joining EAUC, she was the Education and Training Foundation's education for sustainable development (ESD) lead, and before that was a keystone of NUS' sustainability work, most notably project managing the UNESCO ESD prize winning Green Impact programme from its inception. She is one of the co-founders of Students Organizing for Sustainability International. She's previously held senior teaching associate positions at the University of Bristol and was a sustainability consultant working with private and public sector clients prior to her tenure at NUS. Charlotte has an MSc in energy and environmental technologies, is a Fellow of the RSA and a board member at Change Agents UK. She lives in Scarborough and is happiest when on her bike, travelling overland or cooking for friends.

About Jeremy Kerswell

Having worked across England's FE and HE sectors for 18 years, Jeremy became Principal of Plumpton College in October 2015. Originally from West Sussex, Jeremy grew up on a small holding, where his love of the countryside and interest in wildlife and animals began. He went on to study animal science at Reading University, and it was after a short period of employment in both the animal and agricultural industries, he decided to forge a career that would combine his passion for the natural environment with education. Plumpton attracts students from across the South East to study a range of land-based courses from entry to masters level.

Resources:

• Download the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, we're talking about Artificial Intelligence in Further Education and asking if it's something to be feared or celebrated. We're joined by Hull College Principal and CEO, and self-confessed digital optimist, Debra Gray MBE. We're also joined by Paul McKean, Director of Further Education, Skills and Training at Jisc, the UK digital, data and technology agency focused on tertiary education, research and innovation. A not-for-profit organisation, Jisc seeks to improve lives through the digital transformation of education and research.

About Debra Gray MBE

Debra Gray MBE is the current Principal and Chief Executive of Hull College, a position she has held since April 2022. Before joining Hull College, Debra worked in various leadership roles in the further education and skills sector. She is the former Principal and Deputy Chief Executive of TEC Partnership, where in 2017, she and her team secured an 'outstanding' Ofsted inspection, the only college in Lincolnshire and the Humber to do so. Debra was awarded an MBE for services to further education in the Queen's 2020 birthday honours.

About Paul McKean

Paul is Director of Further Education (FE), Skills and Training at Jisc. A key focus of his role is to ensure Jisc meets the needs of providers within the FE and skills sector. He also leads the team that provides Jisc's external training. An adult returner learner himself, Paul is a product of the FE sector. Before joining Jisc, he was a tutor, advanced practitioner, project manager and learning resources and ILT development.

Resources:

• Download the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, we're asking who is plugging the skills gap? To discuss this we're joined by Naomi Clayton, Director of Policy and Research at the Learning and Work Institute, an independent policy, research and development organisation dedicated to lifelong learning, full employment and inclusion.

We're also joined by Sam Tuckett, Associate Director of Post-16 and Skills at the Education Policy Institute. Sam has also worked as an analyst at the Department for Education for five years.

About Naomi Clayton

Naomi has extensive experience in policy and research with specialisms in employment, skills and labour market disadvantage. Prior to joining the Learning and Work Institute, Naomi was deputy director at the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, and policy and research manager at Centre for Cities where she was responsible for developing and overseeing programmes to support effective policy and practice. She has worked with partners across the UK to support them to use of evidence and demonstrate impact through the implementation of skills strategies, youth employment support and in-work progression pilots, and the development of local industrial strategies.

About Sam Tuckett

Sam joined the Education Policy Institute in January 2020, having worked for 5 years as an analyst in the Department for Education. His roles included leading analysis of key stage 2 and 4 accountability reforms and supporting the introduction of Progress 8.

More recently he has worked across government to link education data sets with sources held by the Department for Work and Pensions and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to expand the existing evidence base.

Sam has also supported projects at the Education Partnerships Group, an organisation supporting education policy reforms in developing countries.

Resources:

• Download the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, we're speaking to Jane Gratton who leads on employment and skills for the UK's Accredited Chambers of Commerce and the 50,000 plus businesses they represent.

We're also joined by Nicola Drury, Head of Skills and Apprenticeships at Amazon, recognised as the top employer in the UK for 2024.

We're discussing the ever-growing skills gap and asking our guests what employers want and need from a new Government and what needs to change to achieve it.

About Jane Gratton

Jane is Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce. From schools and apprenticeships to lifelong learning, Jane is passionate about shaping an education and skills system that supports people to develop skills for great careers and that helps employers train and develop their workforce. Jane joined the BCC from the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce where she led the delivery of business support programmes – including training, exporting, start-up and scale-up – helping thousands of firms of all sizes and sectors.

About Nicola Drury

After joining Amazon in 2013, Nicola went on to lead the UK teams responsible for training thousands of associates each year on the processes which result in products being delivered to Amazon's customers. In 2017 she became UK Apprenticeship Manager where she has led Amazon's efforts to create over 1000 apprenticeship opportunities. Nicola's career in retail has also seen her working for other big names such as House of Fraser, Debenhams and Marks and Spencer where she has worked across roles in HR and employee development.

Resources:

• Download the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, we're speaking to the economist, academic, and life peer, Baroness Alison Wolf CBE, Non-Executive Director at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since 2023. Author of the Wolf Report which led to major reforms in vocational education for 14 to 18 year-olds, Baroness Wolf specialises in the relationship between education and the labour market and has acted as an adviser on skills and the workforce in the Number 10 Policy Unit.

We are also joined by Sir Michael Barber, a former teacher who went on to work at the National Union of Teachers before becoming the Government's Chief Adviser on School Standards. As well as heading up McKinsey's Global Education Practice, Sir Michael was also Pearson's Chief Education Adviser, where he helped develop their strategy for education in the poorest parts of the world.

We look forward to your company as we begin Series 4 of our podcast which is shining a spotlight on the education and skills policy issues that should take centre stage at the forthcoming General Election.

About Baroness Wolf

Baroness Wolf is the Sir Roy Griffiths Professor of Public Sector Management at King's College London. She sits as a cross-bench peer in the UK House of Lords. She specialises in the relationship between education and the labour market. She was the founding Chair of Governors of King's College London Mathematics School, and remains a governor and vice-chair.

Alison served in the Number 10 Policy Unit, as part-time adviser on skills and workforce to the UK Prime Minister, from 2020 to 2023. She was a panel member for the 'Augar Review': the independent Review of Post-18 Education and Funding chaired by Sir Philip Augar, which reported in 2019. In March 2011 she completed the Wolf Report which led to major reforms in vocational education for 14 - to 18 - year-olds, and she was also a member of the Sainsbury Review which led to the creation of T-levels.

About Sir Michael Barber

Sir Michael Barber trained as a teacher and worked in schools in Britain and Zimbabwe for many years before working at the National Union for Teachers. In 1997, he joined the UK Government to become the Chief Adviser on School Standards.

In 2001, Michael founded the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit in No 10 - the first of its kind in the world and something which has been since replicated across the globe. His team was responsible for ensuring delivery of the government's main domestic policy priorities including health, education, crime reduction, criminal justice, transport and immigration.

Whilst a Partner at McKinsey & Company, Michael headed up their global education practice. As Chief Education Advisor at Pearson, he led a worldwide programme of efficacy and research, playing a key role in Pearson's strategy for education in the poorest sectors of the world, particularly in fast-growing developing economies.

Resources:

• Download the transcript for this episode here.

Welcome to Series 4 of Let's Go Further, a podcast from the Skills and Education Group that aims to challenge the way we think about skills and education.

In this series, a collaboration with FE Week, we're shining a spotlight on the FE and skills policy issues that should take centre stage at the upcoming general election.

This series is presented by Shane Chowen, editor of FE Week and we'll be asking, 'What do we need from the next government? How does the next government get the right skills to the right people? What exactly needs to change to help providers step up on AI and the green economy, and how well is the sector positioned to fight for the resources that it needs?'

In a year that could reshape further education for decades to come, join us to get the inside track on the future of further education, skills, and apprenticeships.

Listen to the trailer or read the transcript here.

Episode 1 drops on March 26th.