Learning the skills to recover

08 July 2020

The impact of COVID-19 on businesses, education and training will be the focus of this year’s Jersey’s Annual Skills & Employability Conference on Thursday.

The conference, which was held for the first time last year and is once again being organised by Skills Jersey, will bring together academics, business leaders and politicians to explore how Jersey can ensure its education system and work and training opportunities can support the Island’s recovery from the pandemic.

This year’s conference, entitled ‘Fit-for-future workforce’, will look at opportunities in the skills and employability sectors to inform Government decisions on developing a workforce that can overcome challenges in the wake of COVID-19.

In light of the pandemic, this year’s event on Thursday 9 July will be held virtually, allowing Islanders to watch the presentations on the Skills Jersey YouTube Channel at their leisure. Anyone tuning in can take part in discussions by posting comments.

The Minister for Education, Senator Tracey Vallois, who will deliver the conference’s opening speech, said: "With the Island, like the rest of the world, facing an uncertain future and finding ways to move forward in these unprecedented times, it is important to look closely at whether our education system and the wider opportunities on offer for learning can aid recovery. The conference will bring together a high calibre of diverse educators and employers to assist in our decision making on how we can develop a fit-for-future workforce for Jersey."

Debbie Reeve, who is a senior manager at Aztec Financial Services (Jersey) Limited as well as the Chair of the Student Sub-Committee of the Institute of Directors, Jersey, is this year’s keynote speaker. Her presentation, entitled ‘Working from home, the new normal?’ will look at how businesses have adapted technology and working practices as a result of COVID-19.

Other speakers include Senator Vallois, Minister for Education; Jeremy Maçon, Assistant Minister for Education; Adam Blackwood, Digital Creative Knowledge Exchange Lead and eLearning Consultant for the University of Kent; David Bailey, Chief Operating Officer of RBC Wealth Management International; Katy Grady, Learning Manager of RBC Wealth Management British Isles; Professor Janine Griffiths Baker, Dean of Institute of Law Jersey; Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey; David Roworth, Director of Digital, Technical and Vocational Skills at Skills Jersey; and Jo Terry-Marchant, Principal of Highlands College and UCJ.

More information about the Jersey Annual Skills and Employability Conference is available here and free tickets to watch the conference can be booked online.