AccessHE Conference- Growth For All
11/02/20269:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Our offices
The 2026 AccessHE conference will explore an integrated skills, talent and higher education access agenda for London. Widening participation in higher education and driving equitable economic growth are pursued as separate agendas, limiting their collective impact. Current approaches see universities working in isolation to meet Access and Participation Plan commitments, disconnected from local skills needs and career pathways that could drive regional prosperity.​
An integrated approach is needed, one that connects higher education access directly to London's economic development priorities. Aligned with the Westminster government's Growth and Opportunity missions and the GLA's London Growth Plan, the event will explore how strategic regional coordination can transform widening participation into a powerful driver of inclusive growth.
To coincide with the conference we will be launching a research report. This report will map out HE-led widening participation initiatives in London that directly contribute to city-wide skills and growth priorities.
Agenda Wednesday, February 11 9:00 AM Event Start 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Registration Coffee and tea will be provided. 10:00 AM - 10:05 AM Welcome from Queen Mary University of London 10:05 AM - 10:20 AM Keynote adddress from Rushanara Ali, Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney 10:20 AM - 11:15 AM Report launch and panel session The report will map out HE-led widening participation initiatives in London that directly contribute to city-wide skills and growth priorities. 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM Morning refreshment break 11:35 AM - 12:35 PM Breakout Workshops: Effective Practice Showcasing existing approaches to place-based working in London and exploring how these can be replicated Workshop 1: Exploring a joint HE-health initiative I-CAN (Initiating and Supporting Care Leavers into Apprenticeships in Nursing) is the University of Roehampton’s 12-month pilot initiative to support care experienced young people aged 18-29 to pursue a career in healthcare. Workshop 2: Exploring a growth sector-aligned approach 12:35 PM - 1:20 PM Lunch 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Breakout workshops: Joining the dots How to create the necessary infrastructure to move towards more joined-up approaches to place-based WP and inclusive growth. Commencing planning for using APPs to tackle regional skills/inclusive growth priorities Workshop 3: Examining pan-London data resources Workshop 4: Developing place-based APPs 2:30 PM - 2:35 PM All delegates to return to The Old Library 2:35 PM - 2:50 PM Second keynote address 2:50 PM - 3:35 PM Plenary Workshop: Telling the story - facilitated by AccessHE 3:35 PM - 3:50 PM Afternoon refreshment break 3:50 PM - 4:20 PM Plenary: Next steps discussion - facilitated by AccessHE 4:20 PM - 4:25 PM Closing remarks 4:25 PM - 5:30 PM Drinks reception 5:30 PM Event End
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