How ready is the UK's workforce for the change already underway? 

The learning and development landscape is under significant transformation. Skills England's 2026 Annual Skills Report identified 150 priority occupations across ten sectors central to the government's Industrial Strategy, following machinery-of-government changes that brought skills and employment policy under single departmental ownership. National ambitions remain considerable: an 80% employment rate, two-thirds of young people in level 4 education or training by age 25, and reduced reliance on overseas labour to meet skills shortages. Alongside this, sector research shows AI has become learning and development's foremost investment priority for 2026, even as most organisations continue to report current or imminent skills gaps. 

For those working in learning and development, pressure remain high. Budgets remain constrained while expectations of measurable impact continue to rise. Teams are being asked to demonstrate genuine business outcomes, not simply training delivered. The pace of AI adoption is outpacing many organisations' ability to build the governance, capability and confidence required to use it responsibly. Across the public sector in particular, workforce planning must accommodate ongoing policy change, funding pressures, and growing demand for reskilling at scale. 

The Institute of Government & Public Policy has built a strong reputation for delivering insightful and impactful healthcare conferences. The Future of Learning and Development 2027 has been designed to bring together practitioners, policymakers and sector leaders to explore these challenges in depth, from AI fluency and skills-based workforce planning to demonstrating impact and leading through change, equipping delegates with the practical insight needed to support their organisation's workforce for the future.