It is our great pleasure to launch the full workshop list and tickets for our first-ever Tutorial Conference.

This in-person event takes place on Tuesday 20 January at the Novotel in Birmingham and offers practical workshops and expert-led discussions designed to provide delegates with really practical ideas, strategies and resources to take back to their own college.   It is also a great chance to meet peers from other organisations who experience the same challenges and understand the issues faced by Tutorial Teams across the UK.  The day is aimed at managers and operational staff responsible for planning, running and measuring the impact of Tutorial Programmes.

Our Keynote is from a Specialist Advisor for Ofsted and they will be talking about inclusion and participation and development in the renewed inspection framework   They will also be answering as many questions as they can from those submitted in advance via the delegates booking form.

Ticket prices:

£85 for named NAMSS members

£110 for colleagues at NAMSS member organisations

£195 for non NAMSS members

Find out more about the Tutorial Conference and book your ticket(s) here.   Please be aware that to complete a booking you will need:

1. To know which workshops each delegate wishes to attend
2. Any questions the delegate would like to ask our Keynotes or the Q&A Panel
3. The full name, contact details, dietary and access requirements of all delegates
4. A payment card (we are unable to send invoices for this event)

We are expecting this to be a very popular event so please secure your place as quickly as you can.

We are excited to announce that the full workshop programme and tickets for our fourth Student Engagement Conference (SEC26), on Wednesday 21 January at the Novotel in Birmingham, are both now available.

Following the success of the last 3 years and the ever-growing demand from our members we have again put together an exciting day of workshops, led by sector specialists and experienced NAMSS members, all with the aim of sharing practice and providing an opportunity for delegates to talk about the challenges they face and discuss ideas on how to approach them.   We are confident that you will find the day extremely useful wherever you are in your student engagement journey.

Ticket prices: 

£85 for named NAMSS members

£110 for colleagues at a NAMSS member organisation

£195 for non NAMSS members

To find out more about SEC26 and to book your ticket(s) click here*.   Please be aware that to complete a booking you will need:

1. To know which workshops each delegate wishes to attend
2. The full name, contact details, dietary and access requirements of all delegates
3. A payment card (we are unable to send invoices for this event)

If you have any problems booking places please email Nicola or call her on 07818 247 833.

All previous SECs have sold out quickly so please don’t delay, book your ticket today!

We hope to see you in Birmingham!

If you aren’t a member of NAMSS but would like to know more about the benefits of membership please click here.

This November, as part of National Care Leavers Month, we’re inviting all colleges to join us in Wanted Week, a collaborative campaign between NAMSS and the Care Leaver Covenant, celebrating and championing care experienced students throughout the NAMSS network.

National Care Leavers Month shines a light on the experiences and achievements of individuals who have experience of being “in care”. This year’s national theme, “Rising as Me” is a powerful reminder of self-worth, pride, and identity. It calls on us all to create spaces where care experienced students can rise with confidence, knowing they are seen, supported, and wanted.

What is Wanted Week?

Wanted Week is a week-long celebration (24 – 28 November) designed for colleges to get involved in a collective of raising visibility and awareness for care experienced students. You can take part in the full week or just choose the activities that best fit your setting. Every action helps build a collective message of belonging and opportunity.

Get Involved

Participation is completely flexible. The Care Leaver Covenant has put together a suggested plan for the week for institutions to take part in one activity or all (this was shared with all NAMSS members via jiscmail on 3/11/25)). The goal is simple: to show care experienced students that they are valued, visible, and wanted in further education and beyond.

If your college hasn’t yet signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant, this is the perfect opportunity. It’s a simple process that connects you to a national movement committed to improving outcomes for care leavers. You can find out more and sign up here

NAMSS are proud to be championing Wanted Week alongside the Care Leaver Covenant, as part of our shared commitment to inclusion, visibility, and opportunity for all care experienced students.

Thank you for everything you do to create environments where young people can truly rise as themselves.

This week we join the nation in celebrating Trustees Week, supported by the Charity Commission, to showcase the incredible work of charity trustees!

At NAMSS, we want to give a huge, heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Executive Trustees. Their commitment, and the many hours they give voluntarily, are the driving force behind our organisation and our sector advocacy.

What makes them so exceptional? All our Trustees balance their essential work for NAMSS with demanding full-time senior roles in colleges across the country!

Thank you for your tireless dedication to Student Services:

Lisa Humphries, Chair

Joe Baldwin, Deputy Chair

Wayne Dewick, Treasurer

Aimey Adamson

Julia Breakwell

Kay Burton-Williams

Sharon Cousins

Sue Dafter

Lisa Hartley

Carla Hayes

Lloyd Perry

We are incredibly grateful for the leadership and expertise you provide! 🙏

We are delighted to announce that our first-ever Tutorial Conference will be sponsored by The Skills Network.

With 9 workshops and a Q&A Panel the conference, on Tuesday 20 January at the Novotel in Birmingham, is a fantastic opportunity for delegates to learn about really practical ideas, strategies and resources to take back to their own college.   It is also a great chance to meet peers from other organisations who experience the same challenges and understand the issues faced by Tutorial Teams across the UK.

The full programme of workshops and tickets for this event will be shared after half-term.

We’re excited to introduce Denise Olander, Deputy Director, Post-16 Education, Training and Skills, as our third keynote speaker!

Denise is a qualified teacher and holds a Master’s degree in Leadership and Management. Her career is defined by her incredible breadth of experience across the sector:

She previously managed a massive range of college faculties and complex provision, including:

• Foundation Learning & ESOL
• Provision for Children Looked After and NEET learners
• Adult Community and subcontractors

Now, as a key leader at Ofsted, she brings expertise from leading inspections across General FE, Sixth Form, and Offender Learning.

Join us to gain a holistic view of the sector from a leader with practical experience in every corner of FE.

We are honoured to announce that the Hon. Dr. Stuart Lawrence will be joining us as a keynote speaker!

Stuart Lawrence—award-winning speaker, author, consultant, and younger brother of Stephen Lawrence-dedicates his life to empowering young people to achieve their potential and become the voices that change society.

A specialist in Diversity, Inclusion, Grief, and Youth Engagement, Hon Dr Stuart Lawrence will share his powerful story and invaluable insights on fostering tolerance and celebrating difference.

Dr. Lawrence, author of Silence Is Not An Option and Growing Up Black in Britain, has received an Honorary Doctorate from Greenwich University and the MBCC Special Recognition Award for his work in equality.

This is a session that will challenge and inspire you to drive change.

The full programme and tickets for Annual Conference will be available at the end of the Autumn Term.

We are delighted to announce that our Annual Conference will be opened by the brilliant Dr Paul Redmond; one of the UK’s leading experts on generational change and the future of work.

Formerly the Director of Student Experience and Enhancement at the University of Liverpool, where he continues to lecture regularly, Paul has held visiting lectureships at various leading universities and has been responsible for guiding the careers of thousands of students and graduates. Paul’s research into

‘Generation Z,’ the post-Covid world of work, the rise of ‘Zombie Jobs’ (the theme of his TED talk), techniques for building excellent inter-generational communications, and ‘Helicopter Parents’ has garnered him praise and respect from a range of national and international organisations.

In recognition of his writing and research, Paul was awarded a Fellowship of the British Royal Society of Arts.

More information about our Annual Conference on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 March at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham, and the booking details will be shared nearer to Christmas.

Nominations for this year’s NAMSS Student Servcies Awards are now open and we can’t wait to read all the submissions.

The categories are:

– Student Services Team of the Year

– Inspirational Project of the Year

– Newcomer of the Year

Please carefully read the award criteria before completing the nomination form.

The closing date for all nominations and supporting evidence is 12noon on Wednesday 28 January 2026.

Successful nominees will be invited to attend our Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at 7pm on Monday 9 March at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham.