Wednesday 8 October 2025, Hilton Birmingham Metropole
Conference Agenda
The Energy & Utility Skills Conference is dedicated to sharing knowledge, collaboration and excellence in the energy and utilities industries with a specific focus on the skills and job roles required as the UK seeks to achieve its Net Zero ambitions.
Immerse yourself in engaging conference sessions covering industry-wide topics and expert panel discussions. Listen to keynote speakers and take advantage of the opportunity to network with industry leaders.
Arrival and Welcome Speech
Guests can arrive at The Hilton Birmingham Metropole from 10.00 and network with other guests over tea and coffee. At 10:45, the conference will begin with opening remarks from Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive, Energy & Utility Skills.
Keynote Speech
We are delighted to announce that The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State (Minister for Skills) and Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities), is our keynote speaker for this year’s conference and will be discussing the situation of the energy and utilities sector from a political perspective.
Launch of the 2025 – 2030 Energy & Utilities Skills Strategy
Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive at Energy & Utility Skills, will be presenting a brief overview of the Skills Strategy. The discussion will focus on the workforce challenge, the factors affecting the future of skills and the priorities to be addressed over the next 5 years.
Sector Attraction & Retention
Join us as we discuss the evolving challenges associated with attracting, recruiting and retaining the workforce of the future. We’ll be discussing aging workforce and succession planning, industry perception, EDI, technological disruptions, regional disparities, engagement and retention, regulatory and policy uncertainty and wellbeing.
Apprenticeships: Future Talent for our Sector
The Apprentice panel will highlight the vital role apprenticeships play in shaping the future of the sector’s workforce. Apprentices will share insights into their journeys, the challenges faced, and accomplishments achieved within the energy and utilities sector.
The panel will be moderated by Stephen Barrett, Director of Membership and Strategic Engagement, Energy & Utility Skills.
Leading a Sustainable Tomorrow
As the energy and utilities sector faces increasing pressure to decarbonise, industry leaders are embracing innovative solutions to drive sustainability while ensuring reliability and affordability. Our expert speaker will share insights on how companies can navigate regulatory challenges, adopt circular economy principles, and leverage emerging technologies to create a more sustainable and resilient energy future.
Enabling an Effective Skills System
Engage with panellists from across the UK skills system as they discuss the demands of the system and its requirement to evolve and support industry’s current and future workforce demands.
The panel will be moderated by Stephen Barrett, Director of Membership and Strategic Engagement, Energy & Utility Skills.
The Implications of Technology and Digitalisation on Energy and Utility Networks
This panel will explore how technology and digitalisation are reshaping energy and utility networks, with a particular focus on what this means for workforce resourcing and skills. Through real-world insights and forward-looking perspectives, the session aims to inform how the sector can prepare for future skills demands, workforce transformation, and innovation readiness.
Closing remarks from the CEO
The conference will finish with some closing remarks from the CEO and end at 17.00.
Our awards event will take place in the same venue, beginning at 19.00.