Business Breakfast with Mark Thurston: supporting skills and workforce development in Fenland

Last year’s Fenland networking breakfasts brought together businesses, education providers and community organisations to explore how stronger partnerships could support long-term change across the district. Conversations focused on improving connections between employers and education, increasing visibility of opportunities for young people, and building a more joined-up local approach to skills and workforce development. The response from partners highlighted a clear appetite for continued collaboration and a stronger bridge between the business and voluntary sectors.

Building on that momentum, Support Fenland worked in partnership with the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce to help shape and champion this year’s event — with a clear intention to bring businesses and the voluntary sector together alongside education providers. By creating a shared space for these conversations, the event aimed to move beyond discussion and into practical action, strengthening relationships and ensuring local opportunities are shaped collaboratively for Fenland’s workforce and communities.

Marija Lysak, Fenland Development Officer at Support Fenland, said:

Last year’s networking breakfast highlighted several key themes that continue to shape our work — particularly the need for greater engagement and awareness around work experience and volunteering, tackling low aspirations, and strengthening collaboration between community organisations and local businesses.

We also recognised the importance of providing practical experience and training opportunities, while ensuring inclusion and diversity remain central to our approach.

When these themes come together, they create a more inclusive and collaborative environment where businesses, schools and community organisations can work side by side to provide meaningful opportunities for young people, volunteers and those facing barriers to employment.

 

Fenland businesses, education and the voluntary sector recently came together for an important and collaborative conversation about skills, workforce development and what comes next for the local economy.

Hosted alongside the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce at the College of West Anglia’s Wisbech campus, the event featured Mark Thurston, CEO of Anglian Water Services. The event brought employers, educators and community partners and the voluntary sector into one space to share insight, experience and practical ideas.

Mark Freeman, CEO of Support Cambridgeshire, said:

Getting the right skills, finding the right opportunity and securing employment looks different for everyone. When employers, education providers and the charity sector work together, we are far better placed to ensure that individual needs are understood and that people are supported to fulfil their full potential.

For some of those who feel furthest from work or learning, volunteering can be an important first step — helping to build confidence, develop transferable skills and create a pathway forward. This is one of the many ways in which local charities play a vital role in supporting individuals to move closer to opportunity.

 

One of the standout moments of the morning was the apprentice panel, where a group of young apprentices truly stole the show. Speaking openly and confidently, they reflected on the transition from school into the workplace, describing the clear difference between classroom learning and hands-on experience. They talked about the sense of independence and responsibility that comes with earning while learning, the freedom to apply their skills in real environments, and the motivation that comes from knowing they are building a genuine career pathway. Their insights brought the skills conversation to life, demonstrating how apprenticeships are not just filling gaps in the workforce, but actively enabling young people to pursue careers they are passionate about while contributing meaningfully to Fenland’s future economy.

Low skills levels remain a significant challenge across Fenland. More than one in five working-age adults locally (20.9%) do not hold a Level 2 qualification — equating to almost 12,000 people. Local employers are already feeling the impact, and future workforce needs will only increase the urgency to act.

The event created space for discussion, connection and practical thinking, helping bridge the gap between education and employment and supporting businesses to recruit, develop and retain talent locally.

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of Anglian Water, said: 

I was delighted to support the event at the College of West Anglia. We’ve invested £2 million, alongside our alliance partners, to support the new Green Skills Academy. Water is critical to enabling economic growth, so the Green Skills Academy is one crucial way that we’re investing in these skills now, to provide a pathway for local people to get involved in really important work that will benefit our region’s environment for years to come.