This training sessions is part of Workforce for the Future, which Weston College is delivering on behalf of the West of England Combined Authority in collaboration with other regional partners. The West of England Workforce for the Future programme has received £4m of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information, click here.

Delivered by James Short, Leonard Cheshire and Nick Elston at The Hive in Weston-Super-Mare, 10:00 – 17:00.  

After the success of their first workshop, they’re back to deliver another fantastic Leadership workshop!

10:00am – 11:30am: Leadership Essentials with James Short CB OBE:  

James Short is a Director of HGKC Ltd and formerly a Chief Executive in the Army, retiring in the rank of Major General. He set up and led a mentoring consultancy for 8 years before sailing across the Atlantic and spending 5 years exploring the Caribbean and South America. James specialises in strategic planning, leadership and change management. His focus is on developing innovative problem-solving teams in inclusive, multi-discipline organisations. His Living Leadership programme is based on his wide operational command and leadership experiences.  

11:45am – 1:15pm: Communicating and Engaging with Impact with Inspirational Speaker Nick Elston:  

Nick Elston is a leading inspirational Speaker on the Lived Experience of Mental Health. Nick’s talks, seminars, coaching, workshops and mentoring programmes are designed and delivered to achieve the maximum positive impact on you, your teams, and your organisation. “BIG man, BIG heart, BIG story, BRUTAL honesty – a speaking masterclass! Utterly engaging 10/10” Brad Burton, the UK’s #1 motivational business speaker.

‘Living Leadership’ is a bespoke programme specifically aimed at transforming individual leadership skills, based on the premise that we can all improve our leadership skills, at whatever level we are. This brief overview of the programme looks at visualising what success could look like for your business, matching your Vision for the future of your organisation with an agreed ‘direction of travel’ and creating a successful Strategy. The presentation will look at Transformational Planning and how to turn your thinking into achievement. And by looking at the building blocks for successful Leadership, it will enable you to make your leadership style work effectively. It will also suggest a way to turn your “words” into an achievable Action Plan.  

1:45pm – 3:15pm: Disability Inclusion with Angelina Linker from Leonard Cheshire:  

Leonard Cheshire support individuals to live, learn and work independently, whatever their ability. They support over 70,000 disabled people around the world to fulfil their potential.  

This session will focus on how employers can be more inclusive, increasing capacity, knowledge and understanding of disability, to become disability confident.

3:30pm - 5:00pm: Managing Difficult Conversations in the Workplace:

This session is primarily aimed at SME owners, leaders and HR professionals who may have to face difficult discussions with individuals and teams and want to be braver in having and handling difficult performance conversations.

This will ultimately help your people grow and your business to reach its full potential.

Difficult conversations aren’t for everyone, in this session you’ll learn how to:

• Prepare for a difficult conversation, by using a simple framework for planning and holding the meeting and conversation
• Improve communication by asking the right questions, whilst honing questioning and listening skills
• Observe without judgement, find common ground and deliver feedback that lands
• Banish your nerves and remain calm and in control no matter how difficult the conversation
• Learn what triggers you and discover how to overcome those feelings to facilitate crucial conversations
• How to create a culture of honest conversations that drive individual and team improvement
• Create new habits and learn how to collaborate to make positive changes that last
• Take the time to practice your new skills so you feel ready and prepared.

Lunch and refreshments to be provided throughout the day.