Held as part of the National Numeracy Day 2025 campaign, the event sought to increase awareness of the impact of low numeracy on social mobility, financial inclusion and employability, with a particular focus on the East Midlands – where an estimated 1.7 million people are affected by low numeracy skills.
Addressing a national issue through local action
The roundtable opened with a welcome and introduction from Helen Emmett, CFO at Experian, who set the scene with a stark statistic: Half of UK adults have numeracy skills no greater than those expected of a primary school child.
Helen highlighted Experian’s long-standing partnership with National Numeracy, which dates back to 2018, and most recently through Experian’s United for Financial Health programme. As founding members of the National Numeracy Leadership Council and lead supporters of both National Numeracy Day and Number Confidence Week, Experian has played a key role in driving change at both national and community levels. Their work has included working with National Numeracy to create the UK Numeracy Index and supporting the training of over 40 Numeracy Champions across the East Midlands – trusted individuals embedded in communities, delivering localised support for building number confidence and reducing maths anxiety.
The heart of the roundtable was a rich, thought-provoking discussion among attendees, who brought a wide range of perspectives from business, education, local government and the third sector. Together, they explored the deep-rooted challenges posed by low numeracy – particularly how it affects financial inclusion, job prospects and confidence in everyday life.
The East Midlands, leading by example
Conversations quickly turned toward action: how to raise wider awareness of the issue, how to support people in building their number confidence and how local employers could play a bigger role in creating inclusive, skills-based opportunities. There was a shared recognition that while the scale of the challenge is significant, the East Midlands is well-positioned to lead by example – especially with strong local partnerships already in place.
Attendees also discussed how numeracy intersects with other regional priorities, such as economic growth, social mobility and educational attainment. Many reflected on the potential of a more coordinated, place-based approach to numeracy, including the viability of forming an East Midlands Numeracy Leadership Council – a network of local stakeholders committed to driving long-term change in the region.
As the session drew to a close, the collective message was one of collaboration and momentum. There was a clear appetite to build on the discussions, deepen local engagement, and work closely with National Numeracy to continue developing practical, community-led solutions that can unlock potential and improve lives.
A powerful cross-sector gathering
The event brought together an impressive and diverse group of local leaders – each with their own lens on the issue, but united by a shared commitment to improving outcomes in the East Midlands. Attendees included:
- Alex Flint, Chief Executive, It’s in Nottingham Charity Foundation
- Anna Trojanowska, Finance Director, Experian
- Anthony Sumner, COO, Connected Data Company
- Chris Grocock, Head of Business Development and Partnerships, Futures Advice
- Iain Blatherwick, Partner, Browne Jacobson
- Marc Abrams, East Midlands Office Senior Partner, KPMG
- Matt Carter, Curriculum Lead Practitioner Adult Essential Skills (English, Maths & Digital) – Academy Transformation Trust Further Education
- Megan Powell Vreeswijk, Chief Executive, Marketing Nottingham
- Nicki Jenkins, Interim Corporate Director for Growth and City Development, Nottingham City Council
- Professor Andrew Noyes, Director, The Observatory for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham
- Richard Donovan, Global Head of Social Innovation & UK&I Head of Corporate Responsibility, Experian
- Sara Brophy, Senior Social Impact Manager, Experian
- Dr. Tom Hunt, Associate Professor in Psychology, University of Derby
Together, these leaders brought not only expertise but a clear appetite for change – laying the groundwork for what could become a transformative movement to boost number confidence, unlock potential and reduce inequality across the region.
