EVENTS

How can we support SMEs to access, develop and retain the specialist technical skills they need to innovate, scale and compete?

Join this Innovation Insights session exploring Innovate UK’s work on Talent and Skills, with a particular focus on scaling technical talent in SMEs. The session will explore the roles which support innovation in SMEs, how we understand the impact of frontier technologies on workforce roles, and how we can build sustainable technical capability by working more collaboratively, making the most of student and graduate talent, and developing organisational cultures that support ongoing innovation.

Innovate UK plays a key role in strengthening the UK’s innovation workforce, translating the impact of frontier technologies as emerging capabilities, supporting businesses to access specialist skills, enabling talent mobility between academia and industry, and fostering inclusive, future-ready talent pipelines. This session will provide an overview of the evidence and opportunities to collaborate.

Key themes include:

• Strengthening the innovation workforce – understanding the roles which underpin private sector innovation and Innovate UK’s work on strengthening innovation skills
• Growing technical talent – working with Innovate UK’s Catapult Network to translate the impact of frontier technologies on workforce and talent development
• Student placements and early-career talent – working with higher education to support innovation-led growth in frontier technologies
• Building strong technical cultures – creating environments that retain talent and support innovation at scale

What you’ll gain:

• Insights into Innovate UK’s Talent and Skills priorities
• Practical examples of supporting SMEs to strengthen technical capability
• Opportunities to connect with partners and shape future activity

Meet the speaker

Debbie Johnson, Head of Innovation, Talent & Skills at Innovate UK

Debbie Johnson is the Head of Innovation Talent & Skills at Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. In this role, she leads efforts to strengthen the UK’s innovation ecosystem and shape talent strategy across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Debbie’s work centres on two core priorities: enabling businesses to access and develop the talent they need to achieve their innovation ambitions; and ensuring that the UK’s education and skills system evolves in step with frontier technologies. Her focus is on aligning workforce capability with technological change so the UK can fully realise the economic and societal benefits of innovation.

Before joining Innovate UK in 2020, Debbie spent eighteen years designing and delivering collaboratively funded, business-led skills programmes within the construction sector, supporting industry transformation and long-term workforce development.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical insights into the opportunities and challenges surrounding technical talent in SMEs.

Register your spot now