Foreword:

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How the nature of work will evolve due to AI, emerging fiscal policies, and the mental wellbeing crisis, is a topic that each and every one of us has thought about at least once. These three core aspects of the change will reshape the landscape of the commercial world and reorient the purpose, value, and identity of the workforce of the future. The Wilberforce Society’s 2026 Conference sets out to assess this topic from the shoes of both young and ambitious students about to enter the working world and experienced workers considering how their current roles might be affected. It is imperative to fuse both perspectives in evaluating this matter. Younger generations lie at the forefront of change and in the case of tech transformation, are likely more adapt to making most use of it, while older generations hold the real-world knowledge and experience to guide these transformations.

 

Proposed programme:

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The Conference will aim to provide a macroeconomic outlook, discussing and proposing policies that would be favourable for the UK government to implement, while also providing some ideas for what corporations and workers can do on a more individual level. This transformation will reshape strategies at all levels of government and business and so our conversations must address decision-making and policies on every scale.

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Panels:

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1.​ 

Emerging technologies, AI, and their strategic corporate adaptation

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Can governments play a role in ensuring that the implementation of AI does not massively increase structural unemployment?
What is the trade off against falling behind other countries on the tech progress? How should the government work with companies to adapt their HR training strategies, and re-education programs ensuring that human capital aligns with AI- driven operations?

Should the UK continue encouraging the development of STEM skills?

 

Which skills should individuals aim to develop? What kinds of tasks will bring together artificial intelligence with human intelligence rather than replace it?

How will emerging technologies reshape the corporate strategies of leading firms, from workforce planning to long-term competitive positioning?

How should corporations motivate the non-displaced employees who would have to work increasingly more with AI rather than other humans? What should one do on a personal level?

 

Discussing personal motivation, it is important to evaluate the current state of mental health of the work force.

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2.

The mental wellbeing of the labour force

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Should governments impose policies to set necessary standards defining working cultures? Should the number of working hours within competitive industries such as banking and consulting be capped?

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To what extent do workplace cultures and production models affect (and possibly harm) mental wellbeing among workers? Does a Patagonia inspired friendly working culture improve productivity?
How should corporations be organised with mental wellbeing in mind?

Are the benefits of stronger worker well-being greater than the costs of funding such schemes?
How have social media and the information overload that is difficult to control effected mental health?

What can be done on an individual level to keep one’s mental health strong and productivity high? Where does the work-life balance lie in the evolving working world?

 

Considering this, are there any other ways of incentivising human productivity to rise, can well- structured tax policies play that role?

 

3. 

Fiscal Policies of the Future

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Which fiscal policies should the UK government implement in light of the UK being outcompeted on the industrial production and technological innovation fronts? Should taxes be lowered? Could that act as the necessary incentive for entrepreneurship, and industrial organisations to return to the UK and boost the economy?

What fiscal policies should be established in the light of the biggest transfer of wealth that we are undergoing? Should inheritance taxes be increased or decreased?
On the government spending side, is UBI in the case of AI-caused structural unemployment, inevitable?

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If fiscal policy doesn’t change, should migration be a route to consider? Which cities could be potentially attractive for relocation?

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Tickets can be bought here.