Ayden Sims FIEP

Former RAF Officer, now CEO at AKG UK and Board Member of ERSA. Views my own.

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

A challenge from Kevin that there are three things are happening happening at the same time causing employment challenges, not just ‘skills shortages’:
1) a labour shortage
2) skills shortage
3) talent shortage

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Today’s final keynote of the day, and for the first time in the history of the Summit, from an employer - Kevin Green from First Bus. Also in a break from today’s AI theme, this one is about how we attract and retain talent. #IEPSummit2025

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Third session of the day, furthering the conversation about AI. Very interesting reflections on the difference between the adoption of previous tech transformation, which was driven ‘top down’, to how it is with AI, where staff are using before organisations formally implement.

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Some really interesting reflections in the second session of the day, continuing the theme of AI. The point was made that there are many things that AI can already do better than humans, but some, such as addressing the social determinants of health, will always need people.

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Time to talk AI! Specifically, practical insights for the employability sector.

Bolaji highlighted that up to 97m new jobs could be created linked to AI in the coming years, with many more jobs impacted/changed to embrace it.

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Scott Parkin from @IepInfo kicking off this years conference. Looking forward to a positive day of discussion and connection. #IEPSummit2025

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Just spent a great session with my senior team on a leadership development programme, aimed at enhancing how we work together and helping us collectively achieve our mission to support more people in the communities we serve. Thanks to Maria from Bounce Global for facilitating 👍

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Great to be in my home town of #Birmingham today, where AKG UK alongside @Localis will be hosting a round table discussion exploring devolved employment support, and how areas can innovate to ensure local people get the help they need to thrive.

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Tony Carr from @4frontpartners and Ian Ross from Whitehead Ross kicking off the ERSA Awards. What a delightful looking duo!

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Elizabeth Taylor, @ersa_news CEO, wrapping up another excellent Conference. Great to hear from a diverse mix of speakers and learn from colleagues.

Thanks to all the ERSA team for the effort in putting today on. Looking forward to the awards later this evening.

#ERSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Sean Williams from @AutogenAI sharing his reflections on the impact AI could have on the work delivered in our sector.
Equating the impact of AI to the invention of the steam engine, the printing press & the internet in terms of how it changes things that are fundamentally human.

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Claudine Adeyemi-Adams from Earlybird kicking off the final session of the day, addressing the use of tools and technology in the delivery of employment support.

#ERSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Our very own Kevin Colborne from @Jobs22ltd, now speaking about the work that we are doing to create digital support for our teams to help deliver even more impactful support to participants. Shared as part of our commitment to ReAct.

#ERSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Powerful comment from Tammy Fevrier at DWP, when referring to the value of early careers advice, even to primary age children:

“We need to embed aspiration in young people, so they don’t need to come to us for support”

#ERSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Great to be working with Tom and NEF to explore how AKG and @Jobs22ltd can measure and enhance the quality of engagement between our teams and those we support.

#ERSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Tom Pollard from the New Economics Foundation reflecting on the white paper. Tom supports the framing of the white paper, with a focus on moving ‘compliance’ to a less dominant feature of future support and a greater focus on ‘engagement’.

#RRSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Next panel discussion talking about how we deliver growth as a country, and what needs to be done to achieve the Governments aspiration to achieve an 80% employment rate.

#ERSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Nick Butler from DWP, back at #ERSAConf24 after a couple of years away from employability.

“It’s like coming home!”

Nick stressed the need to have a range of providers involved in this next step in the journey of employment services and meet the needs of local communities.

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

After a short break, we’re back at it! Following on from the theme set this morning around the impact of localism, the next discussion is around how we ensure a consistent national footprint for employment support in a more devolved world.

#ERSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Lisa from DWP now sharing the timeline for the new framework, following some additional engagement with Local Authorities.

Headlines are engagement with the market in the Spring 2025 to clarify the approach, followed by procurement and go live for Oct 25.

#ERSAConf25

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Next up, we have a presentation from Cabinet Office and DWP on the Procurement Act and the future DWP employment commissioning framework.

#ERSAConf24

[Ayden Sims FIEP @AydenSims]

Good to hear about some of the benefits to suppliers from the new act, including a much greater degree of transparency on what’s being procured, requirement for prompt payment and a review unit to ensure regulations are followed.

#ERSAConf24