The House of Commons Hears from Chelmsford College Staff Member

Claire Wood FSET, Chelmsford College’s Teaching, Learning and Skills Coach, was awarded one of seven highly competitive Technical Teaching Fellowships back in March of 2025. As a result, Claire was delighted to attend the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons on the 28th January 2026.

Claire’s Fellowship focuses on enhancing employability skills in T Level learners using digital technology, helping to make them more competitive in the job market. Due to this and her close involvement with T Levels at Chelmsford College, she was invited by the ETF to discuss her research into “What are the employability skills gaps that exist in T Level learners, and how can practitioners teach these skills using digital technology?” Presenting back her interesting findings, Claire found from both learner and employer feedback that the main gap is not in technical skills, as these can be developed on the job. Instead, the gap lies in human communication and confidence skills, including making phone calls, presenting, teamwork, conflict resolution, building relationships, networking, developing resilience and responding to change.

Summing up her research, Claire said "Employers are not asking for more technical skills – they’re asking for stronger human ones. Confidence, communication, resilience and adaptability are the real employability gaps, and as practitioners we have a responsibility to teach these just as deliberately, using digital tools to support that development."

As well as discussing her own work, Claire heard from MP Helen Hayes, Chair of the Education Select Committee, who highlighted the positive actions already being taken to support the further education (FE) and skills sectors.

Overall, the night proved encouraging and insightful with valuable contributions on the future of FE. Chelmsford College would like to congratulate Claire for her amazing work so far and looks forward to continuing to see the impact of the discussions held at The House of Commons involving the FE sector!