ENERGISING INNOVATION!

I have just come back from delivering and facilitating the new Education and Training Foundation leadership development programme, Strategic Innovation for Skills and whilst our first two-day residential was full-on, I have come back feeling energised.?That energy came from the hugely talented FE and Skills leaders on the programme, the insightful expert witnesses, my co-deliverer and facilitator Sally Dicketts CBE (Activate Learning CEO) and the students and staff we met during our two days at the fantastic Barnsley College.

So what stood out about our first residential – well the participants, all leaders from the world of FE and Skills, were engaging, committed and open-minded. Our programme delegates came from a range of organisations including Capita Learning, West London College, York College, Central Beds College, Weymouth College, Hopwood Hall College, Activate Learning, Craven College, Lambeth College, Croydon College, Newham College and FE Associates.

Our first residential commenced with an engaging address from Barnsley College Principal and CEO Yiannis Koursis who spoke to us about what he and his team were doing to ensure Barnsley College is pointing in the right direction to meet the needs of the future. Yiannis really engaged with the programme and gave us a range of unique perspectives.

And then we had our learner panel – wow! We had a panel of three amazing young people who gave the most powerful testimony to us and were exceptionally open and authentic in what they had to say to us – we talked about these learners throughout the whole programme and they had a massive impact on all of us.

And our line up of expert witnesses was absolutely fantastic. Tom Richmond from EDSK shared his insights into the policy world, Peter France CEO of ASCO gave us an honest insight into what employers really want, Fabian Wallace-Stephens from the RSA introduced us to scenario planning and the amazing work he and his colleagues have done on the Four Futures of Work, Ben Owen from EMSI Burning Glass made us consider the importance of data and LMI in curriculum planning and Olly Newton from Edge gave us a fantastic presentation on developing a future curriculum.

The ideas being generated throughout the two days were truly energising and we are all now really excited about our second residential at Activate Learning where we will focus on leadership, pedagogy and excellence! Can’t wait.

To find out more about this amazing programme contact [email protected]??