BMet hosted the pilot “Human Intelligence in Artificial Intelligence: Skills for the Future Workplace” (HI in AI) conference this week at Matthew Boulton College during Birmingham Tech Week, bringing together high-profile employers and around 100 16-to-19-year-old students from BMet’s Greater Birmingham Professional Services Academy (GBPSA) and related business, digital and IT sectors. The event examined why human capabilities such as commercial thinking, data interpretation and authentic communication remain irreplaceable in an increasingly automated world.
Human Intelligence in AI: conference format and purpose
The one-day, deliberately interactive conference moved away from traditional presentations to engage students in live debates, ethical case studies and practical workshops. Sessions were designed to show how young people can critically combine AI efficiency with human judgment, and the event formed a direct link to Monday’s Future Leaders Conference to create a week-long narrative on the responsible use of AI and its role in modern recruitment.
Speakers and session highlights
Alex Zarifeh (Futures Readiness) opened the conference by exploring why human skills like adaptability and leadership are essential as AI evolves. Chris Weston (NashTech) led the commercial thinking session, challenging students to identify where AI “runs out of road” and human judgment must take the wheel. Ann Ramsay (One Advanced), alongside colleagues Hasan Idrees and Evjehiya Fedoseeva, demonstrated how human oversight solves problems when algorithms fail. Vita Woods (BNP Paribas Personal Finance) trained students to spot patterns, errors and biases in incomplete data. Craig Matthews (WAA Chosen) focused on refining and adapting AI-drafted content for diverse professional audiences. Julia Von Klonowski (Digital Skills Consulting) provided guidance on using AI responsibly to support job applications without losing an authentic voice.
Employer panel and recruitment message
The conference concluded with an employer panel exploring the traits businesses seek in future recruits, including curiosity, resilience and integrity. The panel featured Clare McKee (WM5G) alongside Chris Lake and Porchevi Kihela-Polesa from Gateley. Porchevi, a former BMet student and GBPSA alumnus now working at Gateley, illustrated how professional services academies can bridge education and regional employment. Panelists emphasised the shared theme with the Future Leaders Conference: while AI can assist in drafting CV’s, employers value genuine human insight, evidence and accountability.
Student reactions and next steps
Students responded positively to the interactive format and practical focus. Zachary, Business Student, said: “The event changed my opinion of AI and taught me a lot of things that I wasn’t aware of before. As a result, I can now implement such knowledge effectively when it comes to preparing for interviews and creating CV’s that are likely to attract employers.” Mariam, Digital T Level Student, said: “It was a very interactive event that enabled me to hear different perspectives on a range of current topics relating to AI. We heard how to AI can be used positively and negatively and the importance of critical thinking.” Taha, Engineering T Level Student, said: “I learned that AI is a good tool, if used sensibly. It has many benefits that can help people to progress, but we shouldn’t rely on it. AI has improved a lot over the years and will continue to in the future.” Roya, IT Student, said: “The event was amazing and I was able to learn many new things. I now have a stronger idea of how AI can play a part in gaining employment. I liked how the day was broken up into different parts and offered various sessions to widen our knowledge of AI and see how it can give us new opportunities.” Kawtar, Business Student, said: “It was a very interesting event, which reinforced a lot of what I already knew, whilst also enabling me to discover how best to use AI whilst using human thought and creativity. I particularly liked the question-and-answer session with the expert panel.”
Following the success of the pilot, BMet plans to roll out this conference framework across its other college campuses, tailoring future iterations to explore the intersection of human intelligence and AI in regional industries such as engineering, healthcare and medical sciences. BMet continues to place significant value on T Levels and STEM subjects and maintains partnerships with likeminded organisations in the region and beyond.
