Our next Good Work, Health and Skills Forum

Delegates taking part in workshops at a skills event.

Thursday 26 March 2026
The Milner York (formerly The Principal York)
Station Road
York
YO24 1AA

Registration from 9:30am for a 10am start
Event close: 3pm

Who is this event aimed at?

Organisations with an interest in developing and delivering work, health and skills support. This support enables more people across York and North Yorkshire to enter, remain and progress in good quality and secure work that supports healthy and thriving communities and businesses.

What can I expect?

Hosted by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, our agenda for the day is:

9:30-10:00am Registration.

10:00-10:10am Welcome. Leigh Mills - Head of Skills, Education and Employment, York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA).

10:10-10:45am Work Health and Skills: a data led approach. Rachel Baillie Smith, Deputy Director for People NHS, Humber & North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

10:45-11:20am Connect To Work - Launch. Simon Staves, Delivery Officer & Amy Shepherd, Contract & Relationship Officer (YNYCA) - Overview of Connect to Work and introduction of delivery partners.

11:20-11:35am Comfort Break.

11:35am -12:05pm Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Update. Tracy Watts, Skills & Employability Manager, YNYCA; Evaluation and Learning Partner Update - Jonathan Buzzeo, Institute for Employment Studies, Sarah Churchill, Social Finance - early evaluation findings and collaborative learning.

12:05-12:45pm Trailblazer Project Showcase. Colette Gray, Strategic Manager at York Learning - Great partnerships: How innovative projects get off the ground. Ange Crossland, North Yorkshire Council, Head of Healthier Lives, Community and Economy; Flash Talks – snapshots of North Yorkshire Trailblazer projects.

12:45-1:15pm Lunch.

1:15-1:25pm Andy Kerr, Director of Economy at York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

1:25-2:10pm Launch of the Work and Skills Interchange. Adrian O Neill, Work and Skills Interchange Co-ordinator, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Workshops - (Work & Skills Interchange ) feedback on the new Work & Skills Interchange website.

2:10-2:25pm Adult Skills Update. Vicky Wright, Adult Skills Manager, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

2:30-3:00pm Close, Tea, Coffee and networking.