Derby's Employer Summit: Rethink Recruitment 2026

About This Event

Whether you are currently recruiting, experiencing skills shortages, or planning for future workforce needs, this free Employer Summit will bring together employers and industry experts to share innovative recruitment solutions, practical insights and funding opportunities that can help your business access new talent pools, build a sustainable workforce pipeline and support future growth.

Why attend?

· Learn how local employers are successfully tackling recruitment and skills challenges

· Hear about funding, grants and incentives that can reduce the cost of recruitment and workforce development

· Understand how inclusive recruitment approaches can widen your candidate pipeline

· Access free recruitment support to help attract, shortlist and recruit candidates

· Gain insight into apprenticeships, placements and workforce development programmes

· Connect with employers, education providers and employment support organisations

· Leave with practical ideas and contacts that can support your workforce ambitions

Keynote speakers

MP Baggy Shanker – Born and raised in Derby, Baggy is a passionate advocate for the community as the Labour and Cooperative Member of Parliament for Derby South. He is leading on collaboration and creation of opportunities to enable young people to develop skills, confidence and successful careers thought his launch of and support of the Derby Promise initiative: Supporting every young person to achieve their potential.

Laura-Jane (LJ) Rawlings MBE – Founder and CEO of Youth Employment UK, LJ is one of the UK's leading voices on youth employment, skills and social mobility. She will share national insight into future workforce trends and practical actions employers can take to attract, develop and retain emerging talent.

Choose Your Workshops:

The event will feature a programme of interactive workshops (see below). Please choose 3 to attend on your order form

1. Building Your Future Workforce Through Journey to Work

Learn how Leonardo Hotels and Derby City Council are using the Journey to Work programme to identify, develop and recruit future talent. With over 70% of placements progressing into employment, the programme offers a low-risk way to assess potential candidates while supporting local people into sustainable careers.

2. Unlock New Talent Pools Through Inclusive Recruitment

Learn about tailored recruitment support, candidate matching, guaranteed interview schemes, sector-specific training and cohort-based CSR recruitment programmes that are helping businesses access motivated, job-ready candidates and tap into new talent pools.

3. Reduce Recruitment Costs Through Funding and Incentives

Could financial support help you recruit and grow your workforce? Delivered in partnership with the DWP, this session will highlight available grants, wage incentives and support programmes, including Jobs Guarantee initiatives, Jobs Grants and Access to Work funding.

4. The Value of Apprenticeships

Learn how apprenticeships can help address skills shortages, grow your own talent and future-proof your workforce. Hear directly from employers including Rolls-Royce and East Midlands Rail and EON about the lasting business benefits they have achieved through investing in apprenticeships.

Who Should Attend?

If you are responsible for recruitment, workforce development or business growth, this event will be for you.

• HR Managers
• Recruitment Leads
• Operations Managers
• Business Owners
• Workforce Planning Leads
• Apprenticeship Leads
• Social Value Managers

Whether you're a small business recruiting your next employee or a larger organisation looking for new approaches to finding talent, you'll leave with new ideas, useful connections and practical options to explore.

Ready To Recruit Differently?

Derby's Employer Summit 2026 is free to attend, but places are limited.

Register now to secure your place.

Light breakfast will be available on arrival

Accessibility:

We aim to make our events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any concerns about accessibility of any kind, please contact [email protected]

Organisers: The Employment and Skills Hub

This event is organised under the umbrella of Derby Promise; supporting every young person to achieve their potential.

Derby City Councils Employment and Skills Hub helps employers to recruit thier talent and jobseekers to gain the confidence and skills to move into employment. To learn more about The Employment Hub, contact [email protected] or our Business Support Webpages: Business support and advice - Derby City Council

Event venue & nearby stays

Pride Park Stadium, Pride Park Stadium, Derby, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →

Discover more events by tag