Please find below details on all the workshops running at the conference.
All bookings will require workshop choices so please have this information ready before buying tickets.
All bookings will require workshop choices so please have this information ready before buying tickets.
In this workshop, Gower College will share their experience of hosting a Green Summit, an event showcasing opportunities in the Green sector. With seventeen organizations participating, the event offered talks and interactive stalls for learners. We will cover event planning, promotion, securing support from organizations, successes, challenges, and lessons learned. This session is designed to provide educators and student leaders with practical tools and inspiration to host similar events, helping students explore careers in sustainability.
Laura Wilkins, Environment & Sustainability Advisor at Gower College Swansea will host this session at 10.15am
This workshop explores how to foster global citizenship and embed students and colleges in the local community through impactful social action. Attendees will learn about programmes and activities that encourage students and staff to address global and local issues, fostering a globally minded, socially conscious environment. The session highlights successful case studies from Hills Road 6th Form and Queen Mary’s College, showcasing cross-institution social action weeks that shaped students’ development while building strong connections with local communities and national charities. Discover how these initiatives create meaningful change, inspire leadership, and strengthen relationships between colleges and their surrounding communities.
Hayden Taylor, Chief Executive, and Tom Lloyd, Head of Partnership & Marketing at Unloc will host this session at 10.15am
Find out more about Unloc.
Join Think Pacific to discover how to maximize the UK Government’s Turing Scheme, a global mobility initiative that funds opportunities for learners to study or work abroad, promoting cultural immersion and skill development for personal and professional growth.
This workshop will guide you through identifying the best international partners, successfully bidding for DfE funding, and organizing impactful overseas experiences with ease. Whether you’re new to the Turing Scheme or looking to expand, this session will equip you with the tools to unlock transformative global opportunities for your learners, enhancing both their academic and professional futures.
Nigel Scott, Director at Think Pacific will host this session at 10.15am
Investing in young people’s social awareness, emotional intelligence, initiative, critical thinking, teamwork and mental resilience, is more important than ever. Delivering the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) can help learners achieve that!
Embedding IBM SkillsBuild in DofE delivery provides Award participants with digital learning in the tech and professional skills that are needed by employers, to support better employability and skills outcomes. In this session we explore how DN Colleges Group have successfully embedded employability and skills within their DofE delivery, through IBM SkillsBuild. We will also share how they have embedded DofE Delivery across the College and share case studies showing impact and outcomes for a range of learners.
The takeaways for attendees will include; how to access IBM’s FREE SkillsBuild, DofE delivery learnings and case studies from the DN College Group, delivering DofE within 16-19 study programme hours and details of funding available to support Colleges delivering DofE.
Stacey Blackwell (DofE Project Lead), Ian Hamilton (Director of FE Curriculum) from DN Colleges Group and Claire Shea-Simonds (Programme Manager – Post 16) from the DofE will host this session at 10.15am
Five Youth Social Action Apprentices from colleges will present the importance of youth social action in further education. The apprentices will showcase best practice examples from across the programme on the benefits of youth social action. They will include – student engagement, student development, community engagement and connectivity, sustainability and top tips for delivering youth social action. The presentation will include real life examples of student experiences across the programme.
Shcara Strudley-Smith, Project Manager at AoC, and 3 Apprentices and Mentors will host this session at 11.30am
At enrolment and onboarding at TSCG in September 2024, we offered ALL students the opportunity to register to vote. We introduced auto voter registration. In this workshop I will provide details of our experience and offer first hand details of potential challenges and how we overcame them. This offer will remain as part of our TSCG on boarding process to support political literacy, transition to adulthood, knowledge and understanding of rights and responsibilities and the numerous benefits of registering to vote at 16.
Michelle McLaughlin, Head of Personal and Professional Development at The Trafford & Stockport College Group will host this session at 11.30am
Barnet and Southgate College’s Student Ambassadors play a crucial role by supporting their peers in digital skills, wellbeing and safeguarding, green and youth social action. This peer support system enhances employability and fosters community engagement. We have established trusted processes to recruit, train, and monitor ambassadors, continually expanding our programme. This year, we are excited to collaborate with the Pears AOC YSA ambassador scheme. Join us to learn about our programme’s development and impact measurement.
Franca Marchese, Student Tutorial, Enrichment and Personal Development Manager and Christie Bodourian, Student Voice, Welfare and Enrichment Lead at Barnet & Southgate College will host this session at 11.30am
Designed specifically for managers of student services, this highly engaging and interactive session will explore innovative strategies to amplify student voices and foster leadership skills within your college. We’ll dive into practical approaches for enhancing student engagement, building effective student-led initiatives, and creating a culture where every voice is heard. Whether you’re looking to increase student involvement in decision-making or enhance leadership development programmes, this workshop will provide actionable insights and tools to help your students thrive. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower the next generation of changemakers!
Hayden Taylor, Chief Executive, and Tom Lloyd, Head of Partnership & Marketing at Unloc will host this session at 11.30am.
As the only college in Wales with a Student Union President, Gower College Swansea is at the forefront of empowering student voices. This workshop explores the critical role of the Student Union President in advocating for learner rights, driving impactful campaigns, and leading initiatives that enhance the student experience. Discover how this unique position strengthens student engagement, promotes inclusivity, and fosters a culture of collaboration between learners and the institution. Join us to learn more about the power of student leadership and its transformative impact.
Joshua Jordan, Learner Engagement & Personal Development Lead at Gower College Swansea will host this session at 1.30pm
Join us for a workshop designed to guide students through the highs and lows of college life, focusing on the essential role of social and emotional support. Discover how to build resilience, manage stress, and find the right resources to support your wellbeing. Through real-life scenarios, we’ll explore students’ challenges and demonstrate practical strategies to navigate them. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or want to support others, this workshop offers valuable insights into the student journey and how to thrive emotionally and socially.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, share, and connect with others!
Aaron Denton, Vice Principal – Student Experience and Pastoral Support and Jill Hounslow-Eyre, Resilience Coordinator at the Derby College Group will host this session at 1.30pm
This workshop focuses on methods for demonstrating the value and impact of student engagement and enrichment activities. Attendees will explore effective ways to collect, analyse, and present data that highlights how enrichment contributes to academic success, personal growth, and student well-being. The session will provide practical guidance on aligning evidence with institutional goals and Ofsted criteria. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with strategies that clearly show the benefits of their student engagement initiatives.
Pippa Allner, Personal Development Manager, and HollyTyack, Student Engagement and Enrichment Lead at The Bournemouth & Poole College will lead this session at 1.30pm
Built upon solid foundations of 30 plus years of the Award Scheme in Plymouth, the last 3 years has seen City College Plymouth grow its delivery of the DofE, having particular success in delivering the Award within their Skills Development programme for learners with additional needs.
In this session, Chaz Talbot (Student Experience Manager) and Michael Dugdale (Programme Manager for Outdoor Learning and Enrichment) share their learnings on how they’ve made the DofE programme accessible to learners with additional needs and how the programme has supported better employability outcomes for learners.
Chaz, Michael and Claire Shea-Simonds from the DofE share the impact DofE has had on student engagement through sharing some of their learner’s journeys at 1.30pm
Equip yourself with a toolkit of strategies designed to foster deep student involvement. From interactive activities, engagement strategies, and easy to use technology, you’ll learn how to build instant rapport, stronger connections and active participation with students; in and outside of the classroom.
Kheron Gilpin, Engagement Lead/Speaker/Facilitator and Ella Harris, Creative Researcher/ Facilitator at Progress Today will host this session at 2.30pm
In this session two colleges (including an Outstanding provider) that have recently been inspected will share their experiences of the questions Ofsted asked and the data they wanted to view concerning college enrichment provision.
Chris Rowe, Co-founder of Navigate will host this session at 2.30pm
This workshop will support attendees to gain insight into the approaches BMet has taken to work with external partners to develop a strong and vibrant student voice in relation to areas of ED&I. Workshop attendees will be able to gain a real view of the highs and lows of implementing a whole college approach across multiple colleges and student demographics.
Kathleen Rennie, Deputy Director Student Experience at BMet will host this session at 2.30pm.
In this session, educators will learn how to inspire and engage their students in entrepreneurship by emphasising the importance of personality and personal connections over pure innovation. Loud Speaker will challenge traditional beliefs about enterprise, showing how personality can be a game-changer for young entrepreneurs. Through engaging discussions, personal storytelling, and strategies on personal branding, educators will discover new ways to encourage their students to build businesses that are approachable, relatable, and authentic. Key topics will include leadership with personality, fostering team dynamics, and helping students overcome the fear of being authentic. By the end, educators will be equipped to make entrepreneurship more accessible and engaging for their students.
Calvin Akotuah, Brand Director at Loud Speaker will host this session at 2.30pm
