As reported in the 19th Annual Global CEO survey (January 2016) , 72% of CEOs are concerned about the availability of finding staff withkey skills, particularly with 48% planning to increase headcount in the coming year.

So how can policy makers assist business in reducing the skills gap?  At EU level, Education and training 2020 (ET 2020) is the EU framework for cooperation in education and training which was established by the Council conclusions of  May 2009 .The strategy covers learning in all contexts and amongst the four strategic objectives of ET2020 are innovation and entrepreneurship.This is complemented by the EU Agenda for new skills and jobs which , as part of the EU's overall strategy – Europe 2020,  aims to help the EU reach its employment target for 2020 of having 75% of the working-age population in work.

In order to raise awareness on the economic benefits of investing in the skills of young people and share best practices, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)  and PwC, in collaboration with MEP Martina Dlabajova, and under the patronage of the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU, are organising an event in Brussels called 'Educationand training 2020 - giving today's young people the workplace skills they will need'. The conference will identify the economic benefits of investing in skills training and address how to make sure that education and training systems promote the employability, skills and innovation young people  need, and increase social mobility and equality.

A panel debate, composed of distinguished experts from the European Commission; the European Parliament and Council; the education/qualifications and training world; from the employer’s and the youth side will consider, in particular, the economic and societal benefits of inclusive education; promoting equality and diversity; how to make sure that education and training are relevant to the actual and future workplace; and transparency and recognition of skills

Please RSVP by 16 May to cecile.bonino@accaglobal.com

Draft agenda

12.00am Registrations and sandwich lunch
12.30pm Welcome speech Mary Bishop, Director of Learning, ACCA
12.35pm  Key note speech, Martina Dlabajova  MEP
12.45pm Panel discussion, moderated by Mary Bishop
·     MEP Dlabajova
·     David Tran, Associate, PwC & author of the Young Persons Index
·     Detlef Eckert, Director, Skills,  DG Employment, Social Affairs and inclusion, European Commission
·     Peter Coenen, CEO of JA Belgium in Flanders (Vlajo)
·     Liliane Volozinskis, Director Social Affairs, UEAPME

13.45pm Q&A
14.10pm Concluding remarks, Mirko van Muijen, Chair of the Education Committee at the Council, Counsellor, Dutch Presidency

14.25pm Conclusions,  Neil Sherlock, Head of Reputational Strategy,  PwC UK