Positioned as a central convening body, the Alliance will act as the industry’s authoritative voice to awarding organisations, government departments and policy stakeholders. Its remit includes improving training quality, supporting providers, and encouraging greater investment in skills development. It will also serve as a platform for sharing labour market intelligence to inform long-term workforce planning.

IOR President Lisa-Jayne Cook FInstR said the launch directly responds to feedback from across the sector. “Stakeholders have highlighted the need for a trusted convening space where employers and providers can co-design solutions to workforce challenges. The IOR Industry Skills Alliance responds directly to this need, providing a physical, regular forum to strengthen collaboration, influence training quality, and build sector-wide trust and alignment.”

The Alliance will hold its first meeting in March 2026 at an in-person event hosted by the IOR. Quarterly meetings will follow, alternating between strategic discussions, working groups and networking sessions.

Employers, apprenticeship and training providers, awarding bodies and careers professionals are being invited to participate. The Alliance will be coordinated by IOR Education Outreach Project Manager Matt Harvey, who is already working with the IOR Education Committee, the BRA Training Section and BESA education specialists to align activity and encourage broad engagement.

Early discussions will draw on findings from the IOR’s recent future skills survey, with priority topics expected to include apprenticeship quality, skills shortages, trainer recruitment and development, and career pathways. The aim is to codevelop solutions, share best practice and coordinate national initiatives.

Those interested in joining the IOR Industry Skills Alliance can click here.