Ufi Community Newsletter

Highlights include: 

• Get ready for the Week of VocTech 2026;
   
• Ufi CEO shares preview of new grant funding and support programme;
   
• Ufi join judging panel for national education awards; and more...

Join us on Monday for Week of VocTech! 

The Week of VocTech 2026 kicks off on Monday, bringing together the skills, education and technology community for five days of conversations, events and practical insights focused on how vocational technology can improve access to learning and work.

The week features a mix of online and in‑person activity led by Ufi and partners from across the UK skills ecosystem. From sector deep‑dives to hands‑on sessions and live events, the programme showcases what’s working – and what’s next – for VocTech adoption. 

The week culminates on Thursday evening with the Ufi VocTech Showcase in London, the highlight event of the Week of VocTech, bringing the community together to explore demos, hear new announcements and connect with others shaping the future of skills. Book your free ticket now. 

News: Ufi CEO shares preview of new grant funding and support programme

Rebecca Garrod-Waters, Ufi CEO, shares a preview of VocTech Together, our new £2.85m programme to accelerate the adoption of vocational technology across the UK.

Vocational technology is already helping adults access learning that fits around their lives and supports progression at work. But too often, what works well stays local. VocTech Together is designed to change that by focusing on confident adoption and helping organisations embed, sustain and scale proven approaches.

The programme will be formally announced at the Ufi VocTech Showcase in London on 19 March, during the Week of VocTech.

Congratulations: Hull College receive Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education

We were proud to see Hull College recognised with a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education. Debra Gray CBE, Principal and CEO of Hull College, and Deb Millar OBE, Executive Director of Digital Transformation, received the awards presented by Their Majesties The King and Queen at St James’s Palace.

The award celebrates the work of Hull College’s ESOL team, supported by Ufi, and the impact of Silent Voices, Vivid Stories – an innovative, digitally enabled programme helping refugee and migrant learners rebuild confidence, regain their voice and progress into further study and employment.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education is the highest national honour a Further Education college can receive, recognising work that demonstrates the power of education to transform lives, communities and society. Congratulations to the whole team at Hull College for this well-deserved recognition. 

News: Ufi join judging panel for NCFE's national education awards

Anthony Painter, Director of Strategic Engagement at Ufi, will join a panel of influential figures from education, skills, and the media to judge NCFE's 2026 Aspiration Awards.

The Awards are a nationwide celebration of individuals and organisations making an outstanding impact in learning. They shine a light on the accomplishments of learners, apprentices, educators, and providers across the UK. 

Anthony will be judging the Centre of the Year Award and winners are anticipated to be announced in June. 

Insight: Building low‑carbon skills for the next generation

During Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026, Ufi-supported BE‑ST delivered specialist training to more than 140 apprentices and pre‑apprentices across Scotland, helping build the skills needed for a low‑carbon future. 

The hands‑on sessions took place in Glasgow and Dumfries & Galloway and brought together apprentices from City Building and Mears, alongside pre‑apprentices at Dumfries & Galloway College. 

The programme supports a more skilled, net‑zero‑ready construction workforce across Scotland. Through their project with Ufi, BE-ST are developing a platform which provides pathways into training and work by aligning employer needs, learner needs, and training courses.

Listen: Navigating EdTech - inclusion, investment and student safety

A recent episode of The EdTech Podcast, recorded live at Bett 2026, explores how education systems can adopt AI responsibly, with a strong focus on inclusion and student safety. The discussion reflected a shift away from excitement about new tools towards questions of governance, accessibility and real‑world impact.

If you're interested in similar discussions, during the Week of VocTech we will be bringing together investors, founders and sector leaders to explore how technology can better support skills, work readiness and progression into employment. Led by Ufi Ventures, EdTech meets employability: Investing in job readiness will take place on 19th March in London from 4:30pm. Book your free ticket here.

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