Region’s Skills Commission growing in size and influence as major employers join

A commission established to fill skills gaps in financial and professional services in Yorkshire and the Humber is growing in size and influence.

At its latest meeting, the Yorkshire and the Humber Financial and Professional Services Skills Commission heard employers speak about the skills challenges they are facing and how they are adapting their skills plans to meet their needs, in light of the work of the Commission. 

The meeting, held at Border to Coast Pensions Partnership in Leeds, heard from representatives from Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, KPMG, Yorkshire Building Society and WTW.  

They said they are receiving high numbers of applications for jobs but are struggling to find candidates with the right skills needed for the future. They emphasised the importance of data literacy, analysis and coding, the growing impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having on the sector, whilst reiterating the importance of people skills, including communication, leadership and collaboration.  

In 2023, Yorkshire Building Society founded the Commission, alongside the Financial Services Skills Commission, the City of London Corporation and TheCityUK, with the aim of identifying the skills challenges facing the sector in the region, and how to address them to maintain a strong supply of skills. The Commission is made up of a range of public, private and educational organisations. 

A recent report by TheCityUK found nearly 150,000 people in Yorkshire and the Humber work in financial and professional services and the sector contributed £13.9bn to the economy.

John Heaps, Chair of the Commission, said: “We brought together employers from across financial and professional services to focus on the skills our sector needs. The message was clear: employers are not short of applicants, but of the right skills. Demand is rising for data and digital capability — including AI and mathematics — alongside human skills such as responsibility, resilience and effective communication.

“In May education providers will lead a discussion on what employers require to align curricula and expand work-based learning. 

“I’m pleased the Commission is growing in influence and membership, with a range of major institutions, regulators and employers actively participating in the work of the Commission.”

Louise Bryan, Chief People Officer at Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, said: “We were pleased to host this employer-focused session, where we made progress by sharing success stories and analysing the challenges that we all face in the region when it comes to growing and retaining the key skills we need as future-facing businesses. 

“Our own progress, working with partners such as Girls Are Investors (GAIN), Progress Together and Leeds Maths Schools – combined with insights from other major businesses across Yorkshire and The Humber – will help the commission keep our regional employers at the cutting edge of the skills debate and better meet future skills challenges.”

Over the past year, a range of new organisations have joined the Commission, including the Bank of England (Leeds Office), BPP Education Group, the Financial Conduct Authority (Leeds Office), Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest Group.

William Hague, Head of Leeds Office, the Financial Conduct Authority, said: “We’re delighted to become a member of the Commission. This partnership gives us a fantastic opportunity to champion the region’s strengths and help shape the future skills that will drive the financial and professional services sector forward. By working closely with employers, educators and local leaders, we’re deepening our commitment to regional growth and investing in the talent that will power the sector in the years ahead.”