Venue: NIACE, Renaissance House, 20 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP

Background: 

Parliament returns from its summer recess on Monday 8th October 2007 by which time Gordon Brown's ministerial team will have started to really make their mark within their departments. Already the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has injected a new tone to the public discourse on education and skills whilst the new Prime Minister has signalled those areas where he is setting a new agenda as well as those where he promises continuity.

This briefing follows the UK's three largest political parties' annual conferences during which NIACE staff will have been talking with national politicians and activists to assess the concerns, aspirations and challenges that will shape the education and training agenda for the year ahead.

The briefing will be led by Alastair Thomson, NIACE's Senior Policy Officer, who will offer an informed assessment of priorities for the coming period and other tips to help participants' organisations influence debate.

The briefing will focus on post -16 education and training - but Alastair will also consider how adult learning can contribute across a range of public policy arenas.

The event will seek to help all participants - whether learners, teachers, managers, policy-shapers or active citizens to better understand how to read and influence public debate.

It will be of special interest to:

• FE colleges
• Local Authorities
• Higher Education providers
• Sector Skills Councils
• Trades Unions
• Voluntary and community sector organisations
• Work based learning suppliers working with adults
• Employers
• Organisations and individuals considering future prospects for supplying adult learning or skills.

Building On The Briefing:

Participants who find this briefing of value can sign up to Alastair Thomson's e-mail newsletter about policy trends and developments in adult learning. They will receive advance notice of NIACE policy activities and intelligence from Whitehall and Westminster, drawing on our networks and activity nationally.

Participants will also be given priority attention for future NIACE policy Briefings.

Arrival and Registration is at 9.45am for a 10.15am start.
The seminar ends with lunch at 12.30pm.
The event fee is £50 per person.

For further details and to reserve a place, look up: http://www.niace.org.uk/conferences/Conferences.htm

Enquiries to Gurjit Kaur
Telephone: 0116 204 2833;
e-mail: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk