AELP CEO Ben Rowland visited Hull to discuss apprenticeships, skills development, and employer engagement, reinforcing the city’s commitment to a responsive and innovative local skills ecosystem.
We were pleased to welcome Ben Rowland, CEO of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers - AELP, to Hull yesterday for a strategic discussion on the future of apprenticeships, adult skills, and workforce development.
The visit was hosted in collaboration with Hull Training Adult Education and led by Head of Service Sharon Gamble, Deputy Head of Services Rachel David, and Senior Lead for Business Development and Contracting Adam Wilson.
Key discussion points focused on strengthening employer engagement and ensuring training provision aligns with local workforce needs. The group explored the barriers SMEs face in supporting apprenticeships, including financial pressures and administrative challenges. There was also a strong emphasis on expanding modular learning and bootcamp pathways to offer more flexible development routes. National policy reform and funding stability under the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) were discussed, alongside the evolving role of HEYCA in fostering local collaboration and employer-led curriculum design. Finally, the conversation addressed youth engagement strategies, including post-16 pathways and approaches to re-engaging young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
This important dialogue reinforces Hull’s commitment to shaping a responsive, innovative, and collaborative skills ecosystem.