Are you ready to unlock new opportunities for your business?

Join this interactive event for valuable insights, including how to upskill your team, connect with emerging talent and navigate the latest funding and support available for workforce development.

Reserve your place at the 2026 Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference – taking place during National Apprenticeship Week.

In focus this year: discover future talent

This year, we shine a spotlight on your future workforce needs and the role our education and training partners play in developing the talent your business can benefit from. Connect with students and recent graduates who are ready to make an impact.

You’ll also learn about the funding available to upskill your workforce and how you can access it.

What to expect at the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference

• Expert insights: Hear from advisors and industry leaders about the latest developments in employability, skills support, and funding
• Meet your future workforce: See first-hand the incredible talent and ambition emerging, ready to meet local labour market demand
• Explore new state-of-the-art facilities: Take a tour of the new Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences Centre at Chesterfield College
• Interactive round table sessions: Back by popular demand, these sessions offer direct engagement with experts on workforce development and funding opportunities.
• Education-employer collaboration: Strengthen ties with local education providers to help ensure school leavers are work-ready and equipped to thrive in their hometown.

Delivered by the Chesterfield Skills and Employment Partnership in association with Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield, this conference helps you build a stronger, more skilled workforce.

Speakers and Agenda

• Breakfast and skills exhibition: 08:00am – 08:30am

See this year’s list of exhibitors at the bottom of this page.

• Conference: 08:30am – 10:30am
  

• Welcome – Celebrating 10 years of developing skills and talent in Chesterfield

Cllr Tricia Gilby

Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of the Chesterfield Skills and Employment Partnership

• Building an integrated skills and employment system across the East Midlands

Fliss Miller

Director of Skills and Employment at East Midlands Combined County Authority

• Nurturing future talent

Students from Chesterfield College

• Interactive employer round table

Delegates and students from Chesterfield College

• Close

Diane Beresford

Chair of the Skills Partnership Board and Deputy Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber

• Pre-booked tours of the new Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences Centre centre at Chesterfield College and further networking: 10:30am – 11:00am

Please note the above agenda is subject to change in structure.

Key elements of this year’s conference in brief

• Visit the exhibition to meet skills advisors and network with industry leaders
• Learn about the latest in skills policy and training initiatives
• Reach out for tailored skills support
• Access the best and brightest future talent
• Find out about new funding and how you can access it
• Support the refreshed Apprentice Town marketing campaign
• Take part in an interactive Round Table

Please note this event is open to a maximum of 2 delegates per organisation.

Further information – accessibility and photography/videography

Organisers are keen to ensure you have the best possible experience at the event, if you have any accessibility, dietary or other specific requirements, please tick the accessibility box when booking and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a member of the team before booking, please either email jodie.scott@chesterfield.co.uk or call 07436 125902 to speak to Jodie.

As Destination Chesterfield is keen to promote all of its activity, naturally we need to advise you that in booking on to this event, you are granting us all rights to photographs and recordings that we & our representatives may take of you or your associates at the event. This includes (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications. However, rest assured that if you would prefer not to be photographed or recorded, contact us prior to the event or if not possible on the day before the start of the event.

By booking, you give consent for Destination Chesterfield to contact you regarding this event and to your details being stored and used as per our privacy notice.