Carole’s Welcome Thank you Emily. On behalf of the AoC Board and staff it is a real pleasure to welcome you to this year’s conference and exhibition. Our speakers include politicians, representatives from sector organisations, the FE Commissioner, three eminent professors, a political correspondent and, on Thursday morning, an actor, writer and comedian – very well known to those of you who are fans of QI. As with any conference, we need to bear in mind the context in which it is taking place. A lot has happened over the last year and we have a very exciting and challenging year ahead. The last 12 months has seen a new Education Secretary and a new Minister for Skills and continued political interest in apprenticeships. The pressure on college funding has continued with both FE and sixth form colleges coping with yet more cuts. Criticism of careers advice for young people intensified, with the CBI joining the chorus of complaints. In colleges, we are being asked to ensure everyone without maths or English GCSEs takes them again. Curriculum reforms are now taking effect with colleges finding their way through the myriad of changes. Yet the demand for highly skilled people continues to grow, and colleges continue to successfully respond to that demand. It is our students who will service our growing economy. The General Election looms large with only 169 days to go until polling day. Over the course of this conference you’ll have chance to hear from the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems and question them about their education and skills policies. Our President, Richard Atkins, in his keynote speech on Wednesday, will be setting out what AoC would like to see from the next Government. The theme of this conference is ‘Creating Futures Together’. Our shared aim of providing all our students with excellent education and training is clear, and something absolutely central to everything we do. However, we also have to seek to ensure that students who will be arriving in college in 2020 or 2025 have the maximum opportunity to succeed too. Much of that will be shaped by the next Parliament. Therefore, I would like to encourage to you to question the politicians closely about what they say, or perhaps more importantly, what they don’t say. This is your opportunity to find out exactly what they will do if elected in May. Don’t pass it up. I very much hope you enjoy the conference, plenary and breakout sessions, and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the next three days.