Skills for the Future: Basingstoke Business Week 2026 programme revealed

Partners have revealed the programme for Basingstoke Business Week 2026, running Monday 9 to Friday 13 November 2026 with the theme Skills for the Future. Across five days, events will cover networking, the green economy, AI and practical workshops, construction careers and a flagship Skills

Lifelong Learning Crucial to Tackling Youth Jobs Crisis

Urgently tackling the jobs crisis facing young people should be part of a wider rethink on lifelong learning, according to a new report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). With Alan Milburn’s final report into the number of young people not in education, employment

Why youth unemployment should matter to all of us in business – especially here in the Solent

Written by Jodi Fair, Regional Economic Growth and Partnership Manager at Solent Growth Partnership Jodi Fair, Regional Economic Growth and Partnership Manager at Solent Growth Partnership, explores why youth unemployment matters to every business – not just as a social challenge, but as a growth

End of term report: What three years of LSIPs have taught us, and why the next phase matters

Written by Luke Bonnici, Associate Director at Lichfields The latest wave of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) for 2026-29 has now been published by the Secretary of State for Education, marking a significant moment for England’s skills landscape. For the uninitiated, LSIPs are employer-led plans

AI Growth Alliance launched to champion Hampshire and the Solent’s AI future

New regional partnership publishes AI Leadership and Skills Strategy as its first major initiative The AI Growth Alliance (AIGA) has been formally launched at the Farnborough International Airshow to champion Hampshire and the Solent's AI future, bringing together businesses, universities, colleges, local authorities, public sector

Focus on skills, infrastructure and a simpler tax system that encourages investment and risk taking, Hampshire Chamber urges new Chancellor

Responding to the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor by incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Ross McNally, Chief Executive and Executive Chair of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The first priority is a stable, competitive and far simpler tax environment. Businesses understand the need for

Business-led ‘road map’ launched to boost Hampshire’s workplace skills

A three-year, business-led ‘road map’ has been launched to narrow skills gaps in the workplace, spotlight training opportunities including for NEETs and boost Hampshire’s regional economy. Commissioned by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce in partnership with firms, education providers, policymakers, charities and the public sector, the

Basingstoke is getting ready for the future. Are you?

Partners launched the run up to Basingstoke Business Week 2026 today, running Monday 9 to Friday 13 November 2026, with the theme Skills for the Future. The full programme will be announced between now and November, covering networking, workshops and innovation, with events for business

‘Growth Delivery Test’ Can Turn Ambition into Action

The President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on policymakers to introduce a ‘growth delivery test’ to help businesses turn ambition into action. A major new report, co-authored by Andy Haldane, says the UK can break through its decades long economic growth

Shaping Hampshire’s Future Skills: A Collaborative LSIP Refresh Driven by Business

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has produced a draft report for the LSIP Refresh for 2026, shaped by businesses and strengthened by partners coming together across Hampshire. Through key stakeholder engagement, sector-specific research and close collaboration with local authorities and HE/FE providers, we produced a body

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