The Second Annual
Cappfinity Skills Symposium
What does it really take to prepare young people for the world of work and are we getting it right? This year's Skills Symposium brought the sector together for an honest conversation about the gap between education and employment, featuring case studies, employer insights, and the student perspective.
The Skills Symposium brought together leaders from education and enterprise — university faculty, career services, researchers, heads of future talent, students, and sector partners — to explore one of the most urgent challenges facing education and employment today: how we define, develop, and activate skills for young people in a rapidly changing world. You can now watch the full event on demand. Each session has been recorded and broken out below for ease of viewing.
Full Event Recording
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Watch the complete Skills Symposium in a single uninterrupted stream.
Event Sessions
SESSION 01
Welcome Message
An introduction to the Skills Symposium, outlining why the skills agenda matters now, what brought the room together, and what attendees could expect from the day.
Speakers:
Nicky Garcea, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Cappfinity
Abi Parker, Global Talent & Leadership Specialist, Cappfinity
SESSION 02
What Are Our Shared Problems with Skills?
A panel discussion that brought together perspectives from across the sector to unpack the real disconnects between what universities are developing and what employers are looking for. Drawing on the latest research, the discussion explored the structural challenges universities face in embedding skills development at scale, alongside honest reflections on the transition into work.
Speakers:
Dan Doherty, Head of Marketing & Creative Solutions - Emerging Talent, Group GTI
Katherine Billingham-Mohamed, Leadership & Engagement Director, Ipsos
Dominika Sadurek, Research Executive, Ipsos
Ali Orr, Director of Student Development & Graduate Success, Kingston University
SESSION 03
University of East London Case Study
A deep dive into UEL's award-winning personal development programme. This session explores how it was built, what it's achieved, and where it's heading next. A key part of their approach uses Cappfinity's Skills Discovery tool to benchmark their students against a wider population, helping them articulate student strengths to employers while identifying areas for development to feed back into their support offer. Cherise and Rebecca share what's worked, what's surprised them, and what other universities can take from their journey.
Speakers:
Cherise Basslian, Director of Careers & Student Enterprise, UEL
Rebecca Moodie, Associate Director, Careers Mentoring & Enterprise, UEL
SESSION 04
Employer Trends Connected with Skills and AI
Insight into how employers are responding to AI, with Sam bringing a unique perspective as both a candidate navigating recruitment and a student in the system. From hiring processes to workplace expectations, explore how universities can strike the right balance between the skills students need today and those that will matter tomorrow and also what it means to future-proof a curriculum when the landscape is shifting so quickly.
Speakers:
Nicky Garcea, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Cappfinity
Sam Littell, Aeronautical Engineering Student, University of Loughborough
Lucy Hodgson, Assessment Consultant, Cappfinity
SESSION 05
Activating the Skills Agenda: Ideas, Insights and Collaboration
A session exploring practical examples of skills solutions currently in action across the sector, alongside emerging aspirations and new directions in skills development. Victoria shares how the University of London Careers Service has approached the challenge of delivering impact at scale with a small team and how embracing AI as a collaborative tool has been part of the solution.
Speakers:
Victoria Wade, Director of University of London Careers Service, University of London
Abi Parker, Global Talent & Leadership Specialist, Cappfinity
Eva Chirosca, Electronic Engineering Student at King's College London
SESSION 06
Q&A Panel Discussion
A closing panel bringing the speakers together to reflect on the day's themes, share final thoughts, and answer any questions that didn't get the chance to be asked.
Speakers:
Ali Orr, Director of Student Development & Graduate Success, Kingston University
Sam Littell, Aeronautical Engineering Student, University of Loughborough
Abi Parker, Global Talent & Leadership Specialist, Cappfinity
Victoria Wade, Director of University of London Careers Service, University of London
Rebecca Moodie, Associate Director, Careers Mentoring & Enterprise, UEL
Katherine Billingham-Mohamed, Leadership & Engagement Director, Ipsos