Taking time out for learning is something we always mean to do, but the pace of life today means that many of us just don’t get around to doing it. That is when events like conferences and workshops come into their own; setting aside a couple of learning events each year can be a valuable way to kick-start that learning process.

Each year, when we start to pull together the conference programme, we aim to find sessions that will be specifically relevant to our readers and their continuing professional development (CPD) aims – and this year we have a top-notch line-up of speakers and sessions to broaden your knowledge and hone your skills.

We will start the day with an opening address from Chris Humphries, the newly appointed CEO of the Commission for Employment and Skills: the organisation created as a result of the Leitch Review and tasked with delivering the skilled workforce suitable for a 21st century Britain. Humphries will outline the plans ahead and their impact on L&D professionals.

There are 12 sessions throughout the day focusing on improving your skills or giving you insight into other organisations’ techniques through case study presentations; there is plenty of individual choice about how you spend your day.

There’s a lot of talk about the benefits of coaching, but what does excellent coaching look like? In session 1A, Karen Frost will use a live coaching session, on a volunteer’s real-life work issue, to explore the components of coaching excellence so that attendees can set their sights on its achievement for their organisations.

Caroline Prendergast from the BBC will define and explain social learning and, in an interactive session, will show how it can lead to effective long-term learning; she will share some experiences and case studies.

What differentiates an ‘ordinary’ trainer from an ‘exceptional’ one? It’s a unique combination of style, flair, talent, content and delivery and, in this session, Tony Bray shares some of his ideas on how to transform a competent trainer into an exceptional one.

A lack of cultural awareness can have many levels of impact on a business - from an employee’s embarrassing faux pas to a failed international assignment or a lost deal. Drawing on a series of real-life case studies, Cathy Wellings will show how cultural awareness training enables organisations to become more culturally competent when working
internationally.

Occasionally we encounter people in the training room who seem to have just one purpose being there: to wind you up. In his entertaining session, Garry Platt will use Transactional Analysis (TA) to look at the purpose and intention of ‘game playing’, and how the trainer can deal constructively and positively with it.

In 2006 Graham Shaw wowed the conference audience so much with his session on using cartoons in training that we’ve invited him back for a repeat performance. So, if you missed him first time around, make sure you don’t miss him this year.

If you’ve entered the TJ Awards programme this year, you might like to register for the session entitled Awarding-winning L&D. Some of last year’s winners discuss the stories behind their award-winning entries with Peter Honey, reflecting on the problems they were trying to solve and the hiccups encountered along the way.

An outline of the programme is shown on the right and more detail can be found at www.trainingjournal.com/conference

As well as these great learning opportunities throughout the day, there are ample breaks to allow you time to network with other attendees, and there will be some short learning
bites on offer from the conference sponsors at lunch time.

The conference day will close with a look at personal and organisational wellbeing by Professor Binna Kandola. After the closing address, there will be a short break and refreshments available before the Awards ceremony
kicks off at 6pm.

The event takes place at the home of the Royal Commonwealth Society in Northumberland Avenue, London on Tuesday 24th June, 2008, and to book your place, or for further information, you should contact Peter Wright at peter.wright@trainingjournal.com or on +44 (0)20 7096 2936. It looks set to be another great conference and I look forward to greeting many of you on the day.

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