Roundtable with Kalada Bruce-Jaja, Director, Industrial Strategy, DBT
Join this event to explore how industry can act on the opportunities presented by emerging Jobs Plans and help deliver the workforce needed for growth.
As part of the Industrial Strategy, Jobs Plans provide a framework for employers, trade unions, local partners and government to address the workforce needs in each of the 8 growth-driving sectors, and in the Construction sector, and deliver opportunities across the country.
This discussion will focus on the practical partnership between public sector and industry, from investing in skills and training to building stronger partnerships with education providers, that will turn ambition into delivery. The event will examine how industry commitments can build a skills system that is better aligned to future workforce needs, encourage economic growth and ensure more people can access high-quality careers.
Discussion points
- How can government and industry work together to secure practical commitments from across sectors to deliver the ambitions set out in Jobs Plans?
- How can employers work more effectively with education and training providers to build stronger talent pipelines into growth sectors?
- What would success look like in five years' time, and what actions are needed now to get there?
Kalada Bruce-Jaja became Director for Industrial Strategy in November 2025. He leads the unit in DBT charged with driving implementation of the Government’s Industrial Strategy. He has worked in central Government for 15 years, spending most of that time working to support economic growth and enable British businesses to trade. Most recently, he was Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. His roles prior to that were in trade policy, including early work with industry on ‘carbon leakage’ and developing Government’s strategy to remove £20 billion worth of non-tariff trade barriers facing UK exporters. Earlier in his career, Kalada worked to deepen the UK’s economic and political ties with Latin America and the Caribbean in HM Diplomatic Service, including as Deputy Consul General in Rio de Janeiro.
Please note attendee numbers at roundtables are strictly limited to ensure everyone is able to contribute to the conversation. Invitees are carefully selected in line with WIG's charitable purpose, to bring a range of views and perspectives. If you or a colleague would like to be considered for future roundtables in this series, then please feel free to email us at [email protected].
Please note all attendees must register in advance to attend WIG events.
By attending our events, delegates agree to adhere to our terms of engagement. All data collected will adhere to our Privacy Policy.
Event places are non-transferable, but colleagues are welcome to email us at [email protected].