Vice-Chancellor: Working together to bridge the skills gap

Last week, the University of Reading hosted a Future Skills Roundtable, bringing together business leaders, educators, and policymakers from across the Thames Valley. Chaired by our Chancellor, Paul Lindley, the event was a powerful reminder of the strength of our region, and the urgency of the skills challenge we face.

I was delighted to welcome back my predecessor, Sir David Bell, who is now Vice-Chair at Skills England, and is eager to have an open and honest dialogue with key stakeholders.

The skills gap is not new, but it is evolving rapidly. From AI to sustainability, employers need agile, adaptable talent. Universities must respond with equal agility by rethinking both what we teach, and how we teach it. That means embedding soft skills, work experience, and problem-solving into every stage of education.

At Reading, we are proud of our strong relationships with local employers, such as the international food science company RSSL, and the Thames Valley AI Hub. These partnerships are helping us co-create curricula, deliver experiential learning, and broaden access to careers. But we must go further.

The roundtable made clear that collaboration is key, between universities and business, and across government, regulators and local authorities. We need a system that is stable enough to build trust and flexible enough to respond to change.

Currently, the regulatory environment is fragmented and overly complex, placing a heavy burden on providers and employers. Frequent changes to oversight and funding rules create uncertainty and discourage long-term investment in skills development. We need to make the argument for a more coherent framework, which recognises the value of employer-led training, supports small businesses, and encourages universities to innovate. This does not need to be a rigid framework, but means creating space for flexible, responsive collaboration that can evolve with the needs of our economy. The pace of change in fields such as Artificial Intelligence show the importance of agility in skills provision.

We are fortunate to be based in one of the UK’s most productive regions, with a wealth of innovation and expertise. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues and partners in the Thames Valley to address these issues through regular discussions leading to action.

The University of Reading is committed to playing a leading role in shaping the future skills agenda, for our students, for our community, and for the wider economy and society.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor