Future-Proof Your Workforce: Tackling the Tech Skills Challenge for SMEs
The pace of technological change is forcing businesses of all sizes to rethink how they attract, develop and retain talent. As demand grows for skills in AI, cyber security, data and digital transformation, many high-growth startups, scaleups and SMEs are finding it increasingly difficult to compete for experienced technology talent.
Join leading workforce, skills and recruitment experts for a practical discussion on how growing businesses can build the skills and capabilities needed for the future.
We'll explore the technology trends shaping workforce demand, the realities of today's recruitment market, and the strategies successful SMEs are using to attract, develop and retain talent.
We'll cover:
How AI and emerging technologies are changing workforce requirements
The skills businesses will need over the next 3-5 years
What successful SMEs are doing differently to attract and retain talent
Where employers may be overlooking valuable talent pools
How organisations can balance hiring, upskilling and workforce planning to support growth
Attendees will leave with actionable insights on workforce planning, practical recruitment strategies and fresh perspectives on how to build resilient, future-ready teams without relying solely on traditional hiring approaches.
We will be joined by our Speakers:
Deborah O'Neill- Partner at Oliver Wyman and Co-lead of the UK Performance Transformation team, where she leads complex technology transformations. She helps organisations build the capabilities and infrastructure needed to embrace new technologies, make better use of data and prepare for AI.
Sinead Chandler - Government Go-to-Market Lead for Homeland Security at Sanderson, driving growth across the public sector through strategic client engagement, market development, and solution delivery. She develops strategic relationships with government clients, consultancies, and service integrators, helping position Sanderson to support critical UK transformation and operational programmes with specialist talent and capability.
Christina Sotherden- Go-to-Market Lead for International Security and Public Services, with over 16 years of experience supporting public sector organisations through people-focused solutions, driving transformation, workforce capability, and service delivery outcomes.