AOC Annual Conference - reflections

We were delighted to attend this year’s AoC Annual Conference on 18–19 November 2025 at The ICC in Birmingham.

This year’s programme highlighted the pivotal role colleges will play in delivering the new Government’s five missions to rebuild Britain. With a strong line-up of keynote speakers and sessions examining the latest policy developments, the conference offered rich insight into the priorities shaping Further Education today - from the transformational potential of FE and the impact of artificial intelligence, to evolving workforce needs (with new employment legislation on the horizon keeping our SK team on their toes), and the increasingly vital role of colleges as system leaders and community anchors.

It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces across the two days, including:

Bill Jones, soon to take on the role of CEO at Luminate Education Group - I’m excited to see what he has planned; he brings great ideas and an unwavering smile, and we need more of that!

Nikos Savvas DL CEO of Eastern Education Group - hearing about the next stage of the Group’s evolution was genuinely inspiring. Nikos and his team have already achieved so much, and I’ve been fortunate to witness their journey (while growing older alongside them!) His ambition never slows; I honestly can’t keep up with him, but I’m certain the world needs more people like him. 

And, Keith Smith from HRUC (Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges) who has just launched the National Innovation Challenge for the sector - another leader thinking not only about their own college but about the wider system.

Phil Hastie, COO of Education Training Collective. The college has recently become Ofsted Outstanding (rightly so). Their work with employers such as BP - and the impressive partnership Jason Faulkner  has developed - deserves serious attention and recognition.

Dr Sam Parrett CBE of London South East Colleges – an exemplar leader who always seems to be one step ahead in her thinking. It was good to catch up with Sam and Jennifer Pharo.

One of the things I value most about our FE community is its strength and continuity. Even after retiring, many leaders return as consultants, continuing to offer invaluable mentoring and guidance - people like Ian Pryce CBE, former CEO of The Bedford College Group. 

And of course, the evening social was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to unwind. I had a wonderful time with the brilliant teams from Hull College and Education Training Collective, enjoying wine produced by one of the colleges - a perfect way to end the day, if not quite the perfect way to start the next!