Future of Work Summit in economic growth collaboration pledge

Published by

Tom Kilkelly

Southampton’s business community has pledged to make their ambitions for the city’s economic growth a collaborative effort.

The formation of this collaboration has been attributed to the success of Southampton City Council’s Future of Work Summit, which was held on January 31 at MAST Southampton.

The Summit’s focus on creating more sustainable work environments inspired its attendees with ambitions of working together in helping the city thrive in the age of digitisation and the race to Net Zero.

Leader of Southampton City Council Satvir Kaur said: “The Future of Work summit was a great event that brought together businesses of all shapes and sizes, organisations and partners, to discuss how we not only navigate an ever-changing economic landscape, but collectively find solutions, take advantage and maximise on the opportunities the future world of work can bring to our city.

“It was clear that Southampton is well-placed to become leaders in future growth areas, from maximising our marine and maritime, becoming a destination city, to bringing the skills and jobs of the future here through the green economy.

“We are rightly an ambitious city and to tackle the problems of today, we have to look to the future, equip our businesses and people to be ready for it, while ensuring that local growth benefits are felt by local people, creating more jobs, skills and prosperity for all to take advantage of.”

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The Future of Work Summit brought over 100 of the city’s innovators, academics, businesses, and community leaders together to listen and participate in panel discussions and sprint sessions.

Speakers included Chief Executive of the Centre for Cities Andrew Carter who discussed the factors that would shape Southampton’s future; Southampton’s Director of Public Health Dr Debbie Chase who focused on People, Place, and Prosperity; Head of Business and Law at Solent University Claire Hughes who spoke on A ‘Future Ready’ Southampton.

There was also a panel discussion on ‘The Global Marketplace for Skills’ comprised of Founder and Chief Executive Officer at ProFinda Roger Gorman, Director of Hays Technology Martin Pardey, Southampton based Ocean Infinity’s Head of Sustainable Logistics Andy Tourell, Executive Director at GAN Global Nazrene Mannie, and the Director from the Institute for the Future of Work Anna Thomas.

Southampton City Council’s Strategic Skills Manager Sajid Butt was a driving force behind organising the event. Ed Gould, Creative Director at Carswell Gould, chaired the event with Nella Pang, Founder and MD of Omega RE.

Ed Gould said: ‘’There are moments in time where their right people, ideas and ambitions come together – The Future of Work summit is one of those moments. I was proud to be a part of it and look forward to seeing how things develop as we move forward.’’

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Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022. During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan). His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.