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Highlights from TheCityUK and Financial Services Skills Commission Future Skills Conference 2026

Conference

Organised in partnership with:

The Future Skills Conference took place in London on Thursday 21 May 2026.

Organised in partnership with Financial Services Skills Commission, the 2026 conference brought together over 200 industry leaders, policymakers and emerging talent to explore how disruptive technologies are reshaping financial and related professional services, the skills required to harness this change and the actions needed to secure the UK’s long‑term competitiveness.

Through keynotes, panels and fast‑paced learning labs, the conference engaged delegates in discussions on the pace and scale of innovation, how to adapt to it and practical lessons for the workplace.

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Watch the highlights from the conference below:

Chair’s address

Mark Hoban, Financial Services Skills Commission Board Chair

A workforce transformed: In conversation with HM Treasury

Rohan Lee, Director of Financial Services, HM Treasury

With Mark Hoban, Financial Services Skills Commission Board Chair

In conversation

Tessa Griffiths CBE, Joint CEO of Skills England

With Claire Tunley, Chief Executive, Financial Services Skills Commission

Learning Lab: Skills in Action - Upskilling for AI in a world of uncertainty

A quick-fire discussion with leaders, apprentices and industry talent leading the skills revolution.

  • Noel Helliwell, Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Lloyds Banking Group (Chair)
  • Duncan Reynell, Group Talent & Development Director, Lloyds Banking Group
  • Xin Wen, Senior Machine Learning & AI Engineer, Lloyds Banking Group

Learning Lab: Accelerating Adoption – Using AI and technology to support skills transition

An interactive panel style discussion to identify how the industry can drive adoption, innovation, and inclusive growth across the UK.

  • Louise Scott-Worrall, Partner, IGH Head of People Consulting & UK Head of KPMG Learning Services (Chair)
  • Niale Cleobury, KPMG Global AI Workforce Lead
  • Gregg Hutchings, Programme Director, Financial Services Skills Commission

Panel session: How will disruptive technologies change our industry and workforce over the next 5–10 years?

  • Deputy Caroline Haines, Elected Member, City of London Corporation, Chair, Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce (Chair)
  • Sara Belchamber, Partner, People Consulting, KPMG UK
  • Pete Horrell, UK Chairman, Fidelity International
  • Mark Jackson, Head of Future Workforce, Nationwide
  • Lauren White, Skills, Talent & Leadership Development Manager, Ageas UK

Panel session: Maintaining the UK’s competitiveness by turning strategy into action

  • Sammy Shummo, Group Director Apprenticeships, London South Bank University (Chair)
  • Hayley Cole, COO, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Bloomberg
  • Anita David, Head of Human Resources UK, Credit Agricole CIB
  • Sarah James, Partner and Global Head of Adaptive, Simmons & Simmons 

Platinum sponsors:

KPMG 200X100 Lloyds 200X100

Gold sponsor:

Nationwide 100X50