As we move toward the Skills Summit, we’re sharing a set of theme papers exploring the capabilities that will shape the next era of growth across the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor. These papers – focused on Green Skills, Science & Technology and Creative Skills – bring together insight from industry, educators and national experts to help us understand where the region’s greatest opportunities and pressures lie.
The Corridor will require 403,000 additional knowledge-intensive roles by 2050, alongside new pathways for upskilling and reskilling, if it is to meet its full economic potential. These theme papers delve into three sectors that are central to that ambition, examining the shifting skills landscape, barriers to growth, and the reforms needed to create a system that is more agile, inclusive and aligned to real industry demand.
- Green Skills explores the transition to net zero, with the Climate Change Committee estimating up to 725,000 new low-carbon jobs by 2030 – led by Prof Aled Jones, Global Sustainability Institute, Anglia Ruskin University.
- Science & Technology examines the skills required for a high-growth innovation ecosystem where hybrid capabilities, AI fluency and lifelong learning are becoming essential – led by Sarah Haywood, Advanced Oxford.
- Creative Skills spotlights one of the region’s fastest-growing sectors and the urgent need for more flexible, industry-connected training pathways to match how creative work actually happens – led by Dr Steve Partridge, University of Hertfordshire.
Together, these papers form part of the evidence base for a new, coordinated skills strategy – one led by the proposed Skills Commission and supported by a shared Opportunities Hub to connect learners, employers and providers more effectively across the Corridor.
As we build toward the Summit, we invite partners from education, business and local government to engage with the insights, share their perspectives and help shape the next phase of work.
