An evening of mindful stargazing practices, focussing on contemplating our place within the cosmos and our connections to it – scientifically, energetically and spiritually.
LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Amanda Preston has been a literary agent for over 20 years and co-founded LBA in 2005. She won the RNA Literary Agent of the Year award in 2018. She represents commercial and reading group fiction, as well as a range of narrative non-fiction and memoir. She loves working with authors, championing them every step of the way, and works with them and their publishing teams to build them into brand names and award winning and bestselling authors in the UK and internationally. Whether commercial or reading-group, she loves innovative and well-written stories that hook her in from the start and whose voice stays with her. She is looking for novels that demand to be talked about and shared, whatever their genre, and that she is still thinking about days after finishing. She is on the hunt for a high-concept thriller which is character and plot driven, but also has a discussable issue at its heart i.e Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey and Girl A by Abigail Dean. She loves thrillers where the location is as integral to the plot as the crime i.e The Dry by Jane Harper and The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse, and would love a good locked-room thriller but is only looking for fresh and unique ideas in this area. She is also on the hunt for a glorious book club love story that is doing something a bit different and special i.e Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus or anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid or Liane Moriarty! Or smart, contemporary, observant romcoms with a very strong emphasis on diverse / own voices. Finally, she would love a historical that vividly brings that period to life as well as having a stunning plot i.e, The Familiars by Stacey Halls and The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal. Amanda would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the opening three chapters (max 5,000 words). (In addition to the paid sessions, Amanda is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 1st September 2025 by 12 noon UK BST
Target Audience Mid-to-senior level business professionals currently in or transitioning into Business Partnering roles in functions such as Finance, HR, L&D, IT/Digital, Commercial / Marketing and Legal whose role is to provide advisory and consultative solutioning cross-functionally to drive organisational outcomes with or without formal authority. Duration 2 Days Course Overview In today’s complex and matrixed organisations, functional expertise alone isn't enough and silo'd orgnaisations are dangerously constrained from innovation. Business Partners are expected to operate as strategic integrators and collaborators—connecting insight with influence to co-create value. This two-day masterclass equips participants with a powerful, evidence-informed model for impactful partnering, blending systems thinking, consulting principles, commercial acumen, and relationship intelligence. Drawing on a universal partnering lifecycle, the course explores tools and frameworks adaptable to any business context to lay out a thorough yet personable approach. Participants will work through real-world scenarios, peer dialogue, case studies, and partner simulations to apply new insights and shape their unique partnering stance. This course is designed by highly qualified learning design experts, assisted and guided by a Doctoral & Masters level leadership team. Working closely with subject matter leaders with extensive domain experience, this course is built on sound academic rigour and applied real world experience. Run in a cohort-based, activity-led format, it goes beyond theory to provide practical methods and frameworks that you can immediately apply in your workplace. Key Outcomes Define the evolving role of a Business Partner and differentiate it from functional, support, and transactional roles. Adopt a universal Partnering Lifecycle Model that moves from alignment through insight, challenge, co-creation, and enablement. Build strategic relationships with stakeholders based on trust, credibility, and mutual accountability. Use data and insight to influence decision-making beyond the numbers or policy. Navigate tensions and trade-offs between strategic alignment, operational delivery, and stakeholder expectations. Leverage systems thinking to identify root issues and interdependencies. Communicate with executive presence using influence strategies, visual storytelling, and structured consulting language. Operate with adaptive influence—knowing when to coach, consult, challenge or co-create. Create a personal action plan to uplift your partnering practice and reposition your role.
Understanding and applying the rules on means assessment and providing the right evidence can be difficult given the many various circumstances that must be accounted for with each client. This course will discuss the key aspects of the LAA’s Means Assessment guidance, with discussions on topics such as whose resources should be considered; rules on income, deductions, and capital; evidence requirements - and common errors that are made; rules on allowances (e.g. subject matter of dispute; and how to find and interpret guidance for less common circumstances (e.g. self-employed clients). Means Assessment Guidance is often the same for controlled work and licensed work, but there are some subtle differences on occasion, and the course will highlight some of the main differences in rules. Target Audience This course is aimed at anyone involved in making civil legal aid applications or assessing civil legal help work for financial eligibility. Resources Course notes will be provided to all delegates which may be useful for ongoing reference or cascade training. Please note a recording of the course will not be made available. Speaker Steve Keeling, Consultant, DG Legal Steve joined DG Legal after leaving the Legal Aid Agency in August 2016. In his 17 years at the LAA, he worked in the audit team as both auditor and manager and was a Contract Manager for several years. Steve is also a certified SQM auditor and undertakes audits on behalf of Recognising Excellence as well as running training sessions for the SQM Audit Team periodically.
LOOKING FOR: MG, ADULT FICTION Jo Williamson has been in publishing for over 25 years. Having worked in Children’s books PR for Dorling Kindersley, HarperCollins and Orion, she started as an agent with Antony Harwood in 2008. She feels very privileged being with authors at the very start of their publishing journey and enjoys close working relationships with all her clients. From editorial help, general advice on the publishing world, guiding careers long-term and general cheerleading, she feels she has the perfect job. Although nothing is off limits and she loves being surprised by submissions. In middle grade children's fiction, Jo is particularly looking for books with heart, epic adventures with voice-led characters, and younger funny fiction with series potential. In adult fiction, page-turning Commercial Women’s and Book Club fiction are right up Jo's street, including psychological suspense, thriller, cosy crime and books that don’t quite fit the mould. Above all, she wants stories that linger long after the final page has been read. Jo is not the right fit for police procedurals. Jo would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Jo is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Qualitative Face Fit Testing is a method for checking that a tight fitting facepiece matches an individual’s facial features and can provide an adequate seal to the wearer’s face. This Face Fit Train the Tester course will provide those who require it, the knowledge of how to conduct face fit testing using the Qualitative method. If you provide respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to your employees or are responsible for Health and Safety within your organisation, then it is essential that fit testing is carried out correctly and documentary evidence is recorded to demonstrate the RPE is suitable for the wearer and has passed a fit test. Please note: even though these training courses are referred to as "train the trainer" they are only to provide training to allow the attendees to conduct Qualitative face fit testing, not to enable them to teach the subject themselves. Aims The aim of the Face Fit Train the Tester course is to train people on how to conduct face fit testing so that they can carry out their own face fit tests to a high standard. Course Content • Background to Qualitative Face Fit Testing • Legislation and Guidance, HSE282/28 • Set-Up of Equipment • The Sensitivity Test • Fit Test Protocols • Pass Levels • Practical Face Fit Testing • Troubleshooting & Problem Solving • Fit Test Failures and Re-Tests • Planning & Managing a Fit Testing Program. Prerequisites None – The course is intended either as an introduction or as an update. Assessment Delegates will be required to complete a short multiple-choice test at the end of the training and will be assessed during the practical element of the training. Certificate This course is covered by certification and is valid for 3 years. Duration 2-3 Hours - dependent on class size Instructions Please note: Delegates are required to bring their own Face Fit Testing Kit and a suitable RPE Mask with them on the day of training. More information will be in your confirmation email. Directions Location Map
The Emergency Lighting BS 5266 one day course is based upon BS5266:1 (including latest amendments), BS5266:7 and BS5266:8. Emergency lighting is essential for the safety of building occupants. It is vital that the emergency lighting automatically operates in the event of normal lighting failure. The illumination levels and period of time the illumination can be sustained should be sufficient to allow the building occupants to evacuate safely and locate both fire alarm, fire fighting and first aid equipment. The Emergency Lighting BS 5266 course provides the necessary information to designate emergency escape routes and design and commission an emergency lighting scheme to BS 5266. The morning of the Emergency Lighting BS 5266 course is spent reading through and interpreting the relevant parts of BS 5266. The afternoon takes the form of a practical workshop where a system is designed and the participant is then introduced to the practical issues of commissioning, inspection and testing, certification and reporting.