SDN Mesma Group at the Apprenticeships & Training Conference 2026
Leading the Conversation on Skills Reform and Workforce Growth
Next month, on the 2nd and 3rd March, SDN Mesma Group will be joining sector leaders, employers, and training providers at the Apprenticeships & Training Conference as Exhibitors and will be involved in two workshops.
As the Government’s Skills Reform agenda continues to reshape apprenticeships and training, SDN Mesma Group is proud to be part of conversations about quality, collaboration, and workforce growth.
Session 1: Championing High-Quality Apprenticeship Assessment
In partnership with the Federation of Awarding Bodies, Chris Cherry (Associate) from SDN Mesma Group will be contributing to an expert panel exploring evolving expectations for apprenticeship assessment.
This session will unpack the latest assessment reforms and define what “good” looks like in today’s system, and how it must continue to evolve. Through practical examples and policy insight, the panel will examine how awarding organisations, training providers and employers can collaborate more effectively to ensure assessments are valid, consistent and reflective of real workplace performance.
Delegates should leave with:
- A clear understanding of current and emerging assessment reforms
- Practical guidance for collaborative assessment design
- A quality-focused checklist to strengthen partnership working
- Insight into how employers can actively shape meaningful assessment models
Session 2: Driving Quality – First Employer Engagement
Lou Doyle, Director and Co-Founder at SDN Mesma Group will be getting involved with a practical, research-informed workshop focused on transforming employer engagement in apprenticeship and training provision alongside Jagdeep Soor FIEP, Managing Director at Queen Alexandra Charity and Dena Wyatt, Head of Apprenticeships at Specsavers.
Built around six proven business-to-business principles, this fast-paced session challenges volume-driven recruitment approaches and instead promotes sustainable, quality-led employer partnerships. The workshop will explore how providers can strengthen employer conversations from initial contact through to long-term retention, while embedding inclusive practices that support diverse apprentices and learners.
Participants will gain:
- A diagnostic tool to benchmark their current employer engagement practice
- Clear, actionable improvement priorities
- Strategies for inclusive workforce development
- Practical techniques to convert conversations into lasting partnerships
Shaping the Future of Skills
With over 80 workshops, high-profile keynote speakers, an Employer Summit, interactive exhibitions, and a Gala Dinner & National Awards Ceremony, ATC 2026 promises to be a defining moment for the sector.
We look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the apprenticeship and training community, sharing expertise, learning from partners, and helping shape a flexible, employer-led skills system that drives productivity, growth and opportunity.
Buy your tickets here – https://apprenticeshipsandtraining.com/tickets/
