Honorary Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) member Phil Smith CBE, a respected technology industry leader, has been named chair of Skills England. He will be joined by Sir David Bell, the former University of Reading Vice-Chancellor, Ofsted chief inspector and DfE permanent secretary, as vice chair.
Given the availability of skills is key to the aspirations of local businesses and to the future competitiveness of the Thames Valley, having thought leaders of this caliber is a huge step forward in driving change in a complex system of skills policy.
Labour set up Skills England in shadow form shortly after winning July’s general election. It will work across government to advise ministers on skills and funding policy, and co-ordinate strategy.
Commenting on his appointment, Phil Smith said:
I am delighted to be appointed to this important role given how important a vibrant skills system is to our economy. I look forward to continued constructive collaboration with the Thames Valley Chamber.
Paul Britton, CEO, TVCC said: “We extend our congratulations to Phil. Phil brings a wealth of experience and his appointment is a huge boost to employers seeking positive change in a complex skills system. As a long-standing supporter of the role of Chambers of Commerce in co-developing solutions, we are delighted that he will be instrumental in shaping the future of the UK’s skills policy. We are excited to see the impact he will have in this new role and wish him every success in the journey ahead.”
Phil was previously the chair of TechSkills.org, Innovate UK and Cisco, which he also led for over two decades as CEO, and until last month was chair of semiconductor materials supplier IQE plc. He is a former CEO and chair of Cisco UK & Ireland, spending over 20 years with the company and has worked closely with TVCC as an advocate for the business community. He was awarded a CBE in 2019 for services to technology, business and skills.
Having facilitated Chamber Technology Conferences, and other flagship events in recent years, Phil will be welcoming local businesses as event chair for the Thames Valley Growth Conference, which is taking place on May 14th at Syngenta’s impressive Headquarters in Berkshire.
