Future Skills Conference 2026
In partnership with
21 May 2026, 09:00-13:00
200 Aldersgate Street, Barbican, London, EC1A 4HD
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Future Skills Conference 2026
Our third Future Skills Conference, organised in partnership with TheCityUK, took place on 21 May 2026 in central London. The event focussed on the skills challenges, and opportunities, facing UK-based financial and related professional services.
The conference brought together industry leaders, policymakers and emerging talent to explore how disruptive technologies are reshaping financial and related professional services, the skills required to harness this change, and the actions needed to secure the UK’s long‑term competitiveness.
Through keynotes, panels and fast‑paced learning labs, the conference engaged delegates in discussions on the pace and scale of innovation, how to adapt to it and practical lessons for the workplace.
Attendance at the conference was worth up to 3.75 hours of CPD points.
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The agenda
09:00 – 09:05
Welcome
- Miles Celic OBE, CEO, TheCityUK
09:05 – 09:15
Chair’s address:
- Mark Hoban, Chair, Financial Services Skills Commission
09:15 – 10:00
Panel session: How will disruptive technologies change our industry and workforce over the next 5–10 years?
- Deputy Caroline Haines, Elected Member, City of London Corporation, Chair, Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce (Panel chair)
- Pete Horrell, UK Chairman, Fidelity International
- Mark Jackson, Head of Future Workforce, Nationwide
- Sara Belchamber, Partner- People Consulting, KPMG UK
- Lauren White, Skills, Talent & Leadership Development Manager, Ageas UK
10:00 – 10:30
A Workforce Transformed: In conversation with HM Treasury
- Rohan Lee, Director of Financial Services, HM Treasury
10:30 – 10:55
Learning Lab – Skills in Action:
A quick-fire discussion with leaders, apprentices and industry talent leading the skills revolution
- Noel Helliwell, Lloyds Banking Group (Panel chair)
- Duncan Reynell, Group Talent & Development Director, Lloyds Banking Group
- Xin Wen, Senior Machine Learning & AI Engineer
10:55 – 11:25
Coffee and networking
11:25 – 11:55
In conversation
- Tessa Griffiths CBE, Joint CEO of Skills England
11:55 – 12:20
Learning Lab: Accelerating Adoption – using AI and technology to support skills transition.
An interactive panel style discussion to identify how the industry can increase adoption, innovation, and drive inclusive growth across the UK
- Louise Scott-Worrall, Partner, IGH Head of People Consulting & UK Head of KPMG Learning Services (Panel chair)
- Niale Cleobury, KPMG Global AI Workforce Lead
- Gregg Hutchings, Programme Director, Financial Services Skills Commission
- Further panellists to be announced soon
12:20 – 13:05
Panel session: Maintaining the UK’s competitiveness by managing disruption
- Sammy Shummo, Group Director Apprenticeships, London South Bank University
- Anita David, Head of Human Resources UK, Credit Agricole CIB
- Sarah James, Partner and Global Head of Adaptive, Simmons & Simmons
- Hayley Cole, COO, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Bloomberg
13:05 – 13:10
Closing remarks
- Claire Tunley, Chief Executive, Financial Services Skills Commission
13:10 – 14:00
Networking lunch
Future Skills Conference 2026 highlights
Chair's address: Mark Hoban, Financial Services Skills Commission Board Chair
A workforce transformed: In conversation with Rohan Lee, Director of Financial Services, HM Treasury
In conversation with Tessa Griffiths CBE, Joint CEO of Skills England
Learning Lab: Skills in Action - Upskilling for AI in a world of uncertainty
Learning Lab: Accelerating Adoption – Using AI and technology to support skills transition
Panel session: How will disruptive technologies change our industry and workforce over the next 5–10 years?
Panel session: Maintaining the UK’s competitiveness by turning strategy into action