As the UK pursues a more connected and skills-driven education and employment ecosystem, the technology helping adults gain and maintain skills for work is emerging as a catalyst for productivity, economic renewal, and workforce transformation. Join us as we explore how FE, rooted in place, can drive local economic growth through smarter use of technology. We will examine how digital badging, AI and emerging learning technologies help connect learners, providers and employers, and how learning providers can act as an anchor in a more coherent, place‑based skills system. Drawing on insights from college leaders, local authorities and innovators, the discussion will highlight practical ways to connect a fractured skills landscape and unlock new opportunities for communities.