Ms Philbin will be part of a panel which will take part in an interactive discussion at the inaugural Sheffield City Region Business Conference, hosted by the Chambers of Commerce with the City Region, which will take place on Friday 24 February at Barnsley Metrodome.

Formerly a presenter on the BBC science programme Tomorrow's World, Ms Philbin founded 'TeenTech' which runs interactive science and engineering events at which teenagers try experiments, design prototypes and learn about career opportunities.

She will be joined on the panel by the National Apprenticeship Service's Anthony Knowles, Mick Crossley from the skills debate sponsor Brinsworth Academy of Engineering and Ian Greenaway of Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce. 

The discussion will be chaired by Adam Marshall, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, and attendees will hear the panel's views on issues around demand-led skills and ensuring that the upskilling of the employment market is aligned with industry demanded skills.

Other issues around the skills agenda include the debate around employability skills, leadership and management, business investment in training and the information, advice and guidance for businesses to learn about the opportunities available to them.

Mick Crossley said: "The region must now shake its-self into positive action because the focus is no longer on business development but industry survival and, if we don't act quickly enough, maybe national survival.  Everyone needs to play their part in getting our economy back on its feet, as a region we can and must lead the way - we must embrace change, react quickly to it and learn to anticipate it to succeed."

The conference will see the launch of a Statement of Business Priorities including bullet point details on key themes - a campaign picking up on the key issues raised by the manifesto will be explored in more detail throughout 2012.