Insight:
Change is the new normal, how can we deliver a skills system for an economy in transition?

Ufi Deputy CEO Louise Rowland reflects on skills development in changing times as we begin the discovery phase of our VocTech Challenge: Skills for an economy in transition. 

"By creating a better skills system, we will address the challenges of the here and now, while creating capacity to adapt and deliver the skills we need for the future."

Last chance! Contribute to new research from AELP and Ufi 

Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), in partnership with Ufi, is undertaking a major piece of research.

The research will build a portfolio of support measures for the use and continuing development of digital solutions within our sector by gathering data on the use of technology in the FE sector and its future in work-based learning.

Now is the last chance to have your say as the survey closes tomorrow 17th February. 

Thank you! VocTech Activate grant fund closes for applications

Thank you to everyone who applied for the VocTech Activate grant fund. 

More than 600 people registered to attend a pre-application grant workshop and we've received a large number of applications to the fund.

We'll announce which projects have been offered grant funding in late April.

News:
Social Tech Amplifier unveil 11 ventures tackling youth employment

The Social Tech Amplifier announce the onboarding of 11 ventures each with a focus on developing and implementing tech solutions to help tackle youth employment.

The Amplifier is a partnership between Catch22, Social Tech Trust and Ufi. Its aim is to help ventures unlock opportunities in the public sector supply chain and prepare them for scale through development activities and access to investment.

Event:
Join Ufi at Bett 2023   

Alex Bishop, Ufi Ventures Senior Investment Manager, will be speaking at Bett 2023 about the trends, technologies and approaches that are transforming learning for work.

The session will also provide an opportunity to hear about our broader work and our current VocTech Challenge programme. Alex will be joined by David Bartlett, CEO of Purlos, to share his journey from ‘idea’ to ‘market’.  

You’ll find Alex and David on the Bett Futures stage at 15:45 on Thursday 30th March.

Investment news:
Ufi Ventures invest in TaskHer

TaskHer, the online booking platform helping homeowners book professional tradeswomen, has raised £200k in a pre-seed funding round from a trio of UK impact investors.

The investment from Bethnal Green Ventures, Resolution Foundation and Ufi Ventures will be used to develop the platform and to support and build the growing community of tradeswoman using TaskHer to access well paid, secure work.

Insight:
Key learnings from VocTech market activity 

Ufi Ventures and Tyton Partners are collaborating on an ongoing exploration of the opportunities for investors in EdTech and the Future of Workforce Development.

In this latest quarterly report we offer our review of current market developments and dynamics, including:

• Structural shifts in labour markets.
• Initiatives to re-skill across Healthcare, ICT, Hospitality, Construction, Public Sector, Transport and Education.
• Analysis of Q4 market movements.

Event:
The Digital Skills and Inclusion Conference 2023

Our friends at Digital Unite, Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) and Catch22 will be speaking at the Digital Skills and Inclusion Conference on 7th March 2023. The virtual event brings together a range of experts who will be sharing their knowledge about tackling digital exclusion. 

Emma Weston, Chief Executive and Founder of Digital Unite, will be speaking at the conference as well as Paul Finnis, CEO of DPA, and Kat Dixon, Director of Partnerships at Catch22. 

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