We are looking to develop a Leadership and Management Development Programme for Student Services professionals working in the post-16 further education and training sector in the UK.

More information about this exciting opportunity to scope and shape this programme can be found in our tender document. 

Closing date for submissions: 16:00, 12 September 2025.

As chair of the National Association for Managers of Student Services, I get to do some awesome things but nothing is more enjoyable than spending time with student leaders and today I have had the incredible privilege of attending Unloc & Reborn’s Destination Conference as part of the student governor programme at Burberry HQ in London.

A day spent celebrating the power of student voice with some incredible young leaders who have made a difference in their colleges and are now focused on their next steps.

Today was even more special for me as one of the speakers, and my fellow panelist, was Shelagh Legrave CBE DL who has been a huge part of my journey from student president to Associate Principal and has always passionately advocated for student voice.

Student voice is not just a tick box it is a fundamental part of every college and drives development, innovation and quality as well as creating our leaders of tomorrow!

Lisa

We were delighted to have be asked to participate in a round table on Non- qualification elements of post 16 education as part of the Governments’ Curriculum and Assessment review.

Our Chair, Lisa Humphries, along with colleagues from then NAMSS Executive and NAMSS members had the opportunity to meet with the Chair of the Review, Professor Becky Francis CBE and other key members of the panel to share examples of best practice, barriers to delivery now and, our hopes and wants for the future to ensure that every student gets access to high quality personal development.

It was a fantastic discussion and we believe we were able to highlight the importance of this element of college life and the huge impact it has.

We now wait with anticipation to see what is included in the final report in the Autumn term.

Read more about Review here.

We were delighted with the success of our first-ever 1-day conference focused on the often-challenging subject of Student Finance.

Held at the Novotel in Birmingham, the event attracted over 100 delegates who, being Finance people, all arrived bang on time!

The day started with a keynote from Andrew Thomas, Director of Funding and Financial Oversight at Operations and Infrastructure Group in the Department for Education.  This was followed by our own Executive Board member, Sharon Cousins, talking everyone through the key changes from this years Bursary Guidance.  Delegates then had the rare opportunity to ask DfE colleagues questions on the Guidance.

After a refreshment break and a chance for everyone to chat to others working in the same field across the country, delegates attended 3 workshops (with 9 to choose from) on subjects ranging from ‘Engaging students in financial education’, hosted by the Hyfa Foundation to ‘Bursary & Free Meals in FE audit process and common findings’ again hosted by the DfE.

Feedback from the event has been great* and proves that the work we are doing in this area is clearly needed and well received.

We are already talking about a possible 2026 event so watch this space for more information!

*100% of those who responded to our conference feedback survey would recommend a NAMSS conference to others.

Following a fantastic response to our Student Engagement Conferences over the past 3 years and many requests to establish a new dedicated network within NAMSS, we are absolutely delighted to be launching a brand new membership package which is specifically for colleagues working within Student Engagement/Voice. 

The Student Engagement Practitioner Network (SEPN) is open to any existing NAMSS organisation and, members of the SEPN will benefit from:

§  Individual login to a NAMSS Account

§  Membership of a dedicated chat forum to ask questions, seek clarification, collaborate on resources, share ideas and support each other

§  Access to NAMSS Knowledge – our online resource library

§  Discount on tickets at all NAMSS in-person events

§  Free access to all NAMSS online events including termly Professional Network sessions focused on Student Engagement

§  Free access to a termly online session specifically and exclusively run for SEPN members

§  Termly editions of our newsletter, NAMSS News

This exciting package costs just £125 per person (we don’t charge VAT).

Visit our membership page to find out more and join!

We are delighted that Andrew Thomas, Funding and Financial Oversight, Operations and Infrastructure Group at the Department for Education will be the Keynote at our Student Finance Conference in June.  Andrew and colleagues will also form part of our Q&A Panel which will give delegates a great opportunity to ask questions.

The 1-day conference will provide delegates with information on the newly released 25/26 Bursary Guidance along with 9 workshops hosted by sector experts including Hyfa and Refugee Education UK.  We will also have a youth led session from Unloc and insights from 2 member colleges – Middlesbrough College on Project S and Chichester College Group talking about their approach to student finance.

Tickets start from just £75.

Find out more about this event.