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14 January 2026

Minister for Skills Baroness Jacqui Smith to deliver opening keynote at ATC

The Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, will visit the Apprenticeships & Training Conference and deliver a keynote address on day one of the conference.

Baroness Smith will speak during the opening plenary, providing delegates with the opportunity to hear directly from government at a critical moment for apprenticeships and workforce development. Her address will set the tone for the conference and outline the government’s priorities for skills, training and employer engagement.

The Minister for Skills holds a unique cross-government role spanning both the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions. This dual responsibility places Baroness Smith at the centre of policy development across apprenticeships, post 16 education, workforce participation and economic growth, making her contribution particularly significant for ATC delegates.

Her keynote will offer insight into the government’s approach to skills reform, the future direction of apprenticeships and training, and how policy is evolving to better meet the needs of learners, employers and providers.

Baroness Smith’s attendance reinforces ATC’s position as the leading national forum for apprenticeships and training, bringing together policymakers, employers and education leaders to shape the future of skills in the UK.

Further details on the opening plenary and agenda can be found here.

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