Since its inception, The 5% Club has staged best practice events to encourage and inform members with less, little or even no experience of how to run effective formal training programmes.

Members and participants showcase and share their experiences; how they operate their programmes; recruit their apprentices; and reach out to schools and their local communities.

More recently, our quarterly events have been further developed, to build on this good practice sharing but also to focus more fully on broader social issues in our sector such as social mobility, diversity and inclusion and outreach to schools and young people.

Various partnerships have been developed with other charities, stakeholders and organisations to ensure our events continually raise members’ performance standards in training and recruitment, and provide an opportunity for additional social responsibility issues to be fully discussed and shared.

We also run online events on specific topics.

All events are free to attend and are open to members, any organisations which have expressed interest in the work of The 5% Club, stakeholders and partners. (Please note – these events are not a ‘selling’ opportunity and are not open to companies attending for commercial purposes only.)

Please note – we run the majority of our events using the Eventbrite booking platform. For online events you will automatically be sent your event Zoom link in the emails from Eventbrite, including the option of saving the details to your calendar. Please check your junk email when you sign up to one of our events.

Events

Forthcoming events:

  • Wednesday 30 April – Demystifying the Government’s skills agenda, online
  • Wednesday 7 May (London) and Thursday 22 May (Manchester) – Taking Training and Skills Development to the Next Level, two in person events, more information to follow
  • Wednesday 3 June – The 5% Club Summer Reception, House of Lords (Cholmondeley Room and Terrace) – invitation only

Plus:

Accredited membership – employer audit 2025-26 briefing events – 30 April; 14 May; 28 May; 11 June; 17 June; 24 June; – all online, information below

—————————————————————————–

Demystifying the Government’s skills agenda. And how that’s driving the need for skills-focused strategies.

Session Overview:

The Government’s new approach to skills, policy, and funding is taking shape through multiple initiatives: the formation of Skills England, the recent Budget update, the ‘Get Britain Working Again’ plan, ‘The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy’, the ‘Devolution’ White Papers, and the evolving Skills and Growth Levy. For businesses, navigating these external influences to develop an effective skills strategy is becoming increasingly complex. This session aims to demystify the Government’s plans and their implications for employers, particularly regarding apprenticeships, higher technical qualifications, skills bootcamps, and T-level placements. We’ll explore how these changes are driving the transition toward skills-based organisations, and why this matters for your business. And how analysing talent, labour, and skills data can help organisations become more skills-aware and better understand both their current and future skills needs to maintain competitiveness.

Speakers:

  • Chair – Mark Cameron, CEO, The 5% Club
  • Nicki Hay, Director of Apprenticeship Strategy and Policy
  • Emma O’Dell, Skills and Capability Planning Director

To Book

  • Date: Wednesday 30 April
  • Time: 11am-12noon
  • Venue: online, zoom
  • To book: please register here

Audience:

Those involved in early career, earn and learn programmes and or skills strategy


Unlocking Skills for the Future: Strategies for Workforce Development – London and Manchester

Join City & Guilds and The 5% Club in London or Manchester for an informative and participative event

As the UK skills landscape continues to evolve, businesses face increasing challenges in attracting, developing, and retaining talent. Join us for an interactive and insightful event bringing together industry leaders, employers, and HR professionals to explore innovative learning and development (L&D) strategies. Through panel discussions, best practice sharing, and networking, this session will provide actionable insights to help organisations build a future-ready workforce.

What to Expect:

  • Gain expert insights on overcoming skills shortages and future-proofing talent pipelines
  • Hear from employers sharing real-world skills development journeys and best practices
  • Engage in interactive discussions to explore challenges and co-create solutions
  • Learn how accreditation and membership can enhance your organisation’s training impact
  • Network with like-minded professionals over coffee and lunch

This event is a must-attend for professionals looking to stay ahead in the evolving skills landscape. 

Agenda:

  • 9.30am-10am – registration and networking
  • Panel Presentation
  • Round table discussions
  • Event close 12-12.30pm

Speakers confirmed so far:

London

  • Matt Down, International Director, Ops Excellence & Training – Papa Johns
  • Joanne Gogerly, Head of Siemens Professional Education UK – Siemens Plc
  • Iain Lindsay, Head of Organisational Development – MCFT
  • Sam Marshall Davies, Talent Development Manager – MCFT

Manchester

  • Daniel Brooks, People Development Lead – JD Sports
  • Sarah Griffiths, Senior Learning & Development Business Partner – Your Housing Group
  • Karen Hughes, Group Talent Director – Genuit Group
  • Claire​​​​ McKay, Head of Learning and Development – Peel Ports Group

To book

  • London

Date: Wednesday 7 May

Time: 9.30am-12.30pm

Venue: City & Guilds, 5-6 Giltspur St, City of London, London EC1A 9DE

To book: please register here

  • Manchester

Date: Thursday 22 May

Time: 9.30am-12.30pm

Venue: The Manchester College, 60 Great Ducie Street Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M3 1LT

To book: please register here

 


The 5% Club Accredited Membership – Employer Audit 2025-26, briefing events

We will be launching our accredited membership, Employer Audit scheme post Easter – if you want to find out more – we will be offering briefing events on the following dates, booking links open now.

 

Wednesday, April 30, 9:30 – 10.30 AM – register

Wednesday, May 14, 11:00 AM – 12 noon – register

Wednesday, May 28, 12:00 noon – 1pm – register

Wednesday, June 11, 12:00 noon – 1pm – register

Tuesday, June 17, 1:00pm – 2pm – register

Tuesday, June 24, 12:00 noon – 1pm – register

Further information about The Employer Audit is available here

 


On-Demand replay of events

I came away from The 5% Club’s online webinar enthused and ready to make change happen. The speakers were engaging, insightful and spoke with real passion. I felt like I was in the room. I’d highly recommend taking part in future online events – I’ll see you there!

Shelley Lawrence
Cambridgeshire Lead, Women into Construction

Feedback from our members:

Such a pleasure to be at the inaugural 5% Club Scotland event – what a fabulous session it was, mc’d beautifully and networked marvellously. My thanks to all, the event from reception to departure was first class.

Helen Robertson
External Relations Director, eCom Scotland

Inspired by the Diversity and inclusion case studies discussed today from all the speakers. Proud to be here to hear the valuable and honest stories. Thank you!

Andrea Lund
Farrans Construction

I came away from The 5% Club’s online webinar enthused and ready to make change happen. The speakers were engaging, insightful and spoke with real passion. I felt like I was in the room. I’d highly recommend taking part in future online events – I’ll see you there!

Shelley Lawrence
Cambridgeshire Lead, Women into Construction

It’s great to meet so many knowledgeable, like minded and friendly people in one place!

Simon Openshaw
Apprenticeship Manager, ISS

Thanks for a brilliant event!  We enjoyed it from start to finish and came away buzzing with ideas.  Everything was so well organised.

Fiona Keady
Leidos - STEM Programme Lead, Career Ready

Thoroughly enjoyed the day – some great speakers & I learnt a lot about neurodiversity

Nikki Hawthorn FCIPD
Keepmoat Homes

Previous Events