102 Cultural courses in Cardiff delivered Live Online

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Julie Gourinchas (she/they) is developing a selective list focused on upmarket and literary adult fiction across a wide variety of genres. Writers she represents have been nominated for the British Book Awards, the Hugo Awards, the BSFA Awards, and the Saltire National Book Awards, among others. In fiction, she's drawn to a uncommon voices, and striking, intelligent writing – whether vibrant and floral or tense, quick, and sparse – as well as texture in both tone and setting (particularly anything with a strong aesthetic). Above all, she is looking for hooky, high-concept work, but her taste can perhaps be best summarised as "the weird, dark, and gruesome." While literary-speculative is her sweet spot, she considers herself genre agnostic within upmarket/literary fiction, and remains open to compelling and well-executed genre overlap. These include: upmarket and literary horror: especially featuring feminist or cultural themes, body horror, mangled nature, or cosmic, Lovecraftian vibes and looking for a fresh, literary take on vampires. Think Mona Awad, Lucy Rose, Julia Armfield, Jade Song, Stephen Graham Jones. dark and spiky literary dramas with high emotional stakes - think Eliza Clark, Julia May Jonas. razor-sharp dark academia particularly with something to say about the complex and exploitative systems within academia, more The Secret History, less The Atlas Six. gothic fiction, specifically regional gothic anchored in an evocative sense of place in the vein of Alexis Henderson and Alix E. Harrow. grounded fantasy or otherwise speculative fiction with coherent, sharp worldbuilding that feels recognisable and familiar, or directly set in our world. Play with magic, faith, and technology in your story like Babel, or a more literary version like Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Blood Over Bright Haven, Metal From Heaven. Searing contemporary fiction centred on themes of identity and belonging: think Sally Rooney, Torrey Peters, or what Saltburn should have been. dark westerns, in particular any that play with the truth and false hopes of the American Dream. magical realism both whimsy with a touch of darkness, and darkness with a touch of whimsy. unhappy romances anything -punk: steampunk, solarpunk, silkpunk, clockpunk, dieselpunk, cyberpunk and more of these! Suffice to say: if you can successfully and smartly comp to Arcane, Julie wants to see it! character-focused historical fiction with a literary edge: think Lauren Groff, Anthony Doerr, Eleanor Catton, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries; including and indeed encouraging alternate history. Stylistically, Julie loves uncommon, thought-provoking experimentation with both prose and form, and anything spiky, toothy, and dark. Happy endings, to her, should feel earned. In all things, compelling character development should come first. First person narration is not impossible, but hard to sell. A smart genre blend is always welcome, as is any fresh-eyed approach to a well-trodden trope. Julie is also very much looking for her first romantasy – especially one that approaches this exciting new genre from a fresh, bold perspective. She is keenly interested in hearing from authors traditionally underrepresented in the industry, including but not restricted to writers of colour; queer, trans, and nonbinary writers; working class writers; disabled writers; etc. Her enduring favourite books include All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien, The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton, and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. More recent favourites include the masterful Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, Babel by R.F. Kuang, Detransition Baby by Torrey Peters, Matrix by Lauren Groff, Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt, Brother Alive by Zain Khalid, and Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield. In non-fiction, Julie is keen to read in the narrative and “big ideas” spaces, particularly in the realms of politics, history, and the social sciences. Please note: Julie is not looking for young adult, middle grade, and children’s books. Strictly no AI-generated content of any description. Please also bear in mind that, despite a deep and abiding love for all things Tolkien and Star Wars, she is not typically the right fit for epic or high fantasy, nor space-faring science fiction. She would also prefer to avoid pulpy crime and straightforward romance/romcoms. Julie 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, Julie 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: Tuesday 29th April 2025

A short course in Wellbeing Coaching for individuals who would like to develop coaching skills to support others in improving their wellbeing.

Duration 0.5 Days 3 CPD hours This course is intended for Individuals and organizations seeking a foundational understanding of DevOps Overview Please refer to Overview This course brings a high-level understanding of DevOps, the cultural and professional movement that stresses communication, collaboration, integration, and automation to improve the flow of work between software developers and IT operations professionals. Course introductionWhat is DevOps? Why Now?Emerging DevOps PracticesCultureAutomationLeanMeasurement and MetricsSharingGetting Started: Implementing DevOpsNext Steps

The Professional Agile Leadership Essentials (PAL-E) is a 2-day hands-on workshop that uses a combination of instruction and hands-on exercises to help managers and other leaders who work directly with agile teams understand how to best support, guide, and coach their teams to improve their agile capabilities. Course Description Professional Agile Leadership Essentials (Scrum.org) Training ONLINE PAL E - Professional Agile Leadership Essentials Agile leadership has a lot to offer businesses today. Organizations have changed a great deal over the years and are no longer the static, structured entities they once were. Agile teams and agile leadership respond to these changes, offering a new way to achieve better results. PAL-E training is designed to help managers, and other leaders, understand how to approach an Agile transformation, and to guide teams to be successful.  Agile teams and leadership bring real benefit Agile organisations and teams thrive in unpredictable and changing environments. They are able to improve efficiency and react quickly to changing markets and customer needs. Achieving this is not something that just happens. The transformation to become an agile organisation is profound, requiring senior leaders, managers, and team members to change how they organise themselves and others, alongside how they work and measure results.  According to consultancy McKinsey: "the key to a successful Agile transformation is for leaders, particularly senior leaders, to develop substantially new mind-sets and capabilities." Scrum Training is a perfect first step in this. Professional Agile Leadership Essentials training The Professional Agile Leadership Essentials (PAL-E) course is a certified 2-day online workshop for team managers and leaders. It will show managers how to effectively develop, support, and guide agile teams to improve their performance. Agile teams are different from traditional structures. There is much more focus on continuous development and learning, as well as self-organisation. The course provides a foundation for managers' and leaders' roles in creating the conditions for a successful Agile transformation. Through detailed instruction and practical exercises, this course will teach leaders and managers how to form, support, and enhance Agile teams. It will guide them through the business, cultural and behavioural changes that must be made to take full advantages of the possibilities of Agile teams. PAL-E Course contents and key objectives The Professional Agile Leadership Essentials course will provide a solid grounding in the background and importance of agile leadership and how to apply it in leading teams.  The main content and learning includes: An understanding of what Agile is, the benefits and impact it can have on business, and the role a manager plays in achieving this. Challenges and techniques of Agile management, and the role management plays in an Agile organisation. How to develop and support Agile teams. How to measure and guide Agile product delivery, and an understanding of core problems in product development. An understanding of how to measure the benefits and impacts of agility in your organisation. Expected Outcomes from a PAL-E workshop PAL-E training highlights how Agile teams perform and the role of leaders and managers in establishing and developing their teams. Agile can help an organisation thrive through a framework that provides a flexible approach to challenges and problem solving. Thje Professional Agile Leadership Essentials course enables you to lead your teams and implement core Agile frameworks that deliver real business benefits. Who Should Attend This Course? Professional Agile Leadership essentials course is designed for leaders and managers in Agile organisations. It is suited to anyone responsible for setting up or establishing Agile techniques and for those managing teams and improving ongoing methods and techniques. After completing the course, participants can obtain industry-recognised certification. This will require passing a rigorous online assessment following the training. There are then plenty more courses that can take you further into Agile techniques. Scrum Master Training, for example, will guide participants through the industry-leading scrum framework for Agile practices. Your Professional Scrum Trainer Meet Jay, founder of Fractal Systems and a dedicated Professional Scrum Trainer. With over 20 years of experience in team and leadership roles, Jay is well-versed in delivering continuous value. His unique teaching approach involves zero PowerPoint and instead relies on engaging, experience-based sessions using techniques from Liberating Structures and Neuro Linguistic Programming. Jay's expertise lies in business transformations, offering training, mentoring, coaching, and consulting to foster success through collaborative efforts. Rapid learning and practical application are the hallmarks of his approach. Jay & the entire Fractal team are invested in your learning journey and are here to support you from start to end, including offering additional valuable support: Free practice assessments for certification success Free resource bundle to master Scrum Free exam revision sheets Free access to an exam simulator Free exam coaching sessions for first-time success Free 1:1 coaching to excel at work Our Clients Our Testimonials

This course will explore what we mean when we say someone has dementia. The course will challenge you to think more about how we can best care for and support people with dementia.

Course Outline: What is “Diversity and Inclusion”?  The Cultural Contact Lens - understanding different people's experiences  The Social Ecological Model - understanding how individual elements sit within and impact upon social change  Finding your ‘why’, and the Business Case for D&I  Going above and beyond the Law - the Equality Act (2010) and protected characteristics  Becoming comfortable with feeling uncomfortable  Privilege, power, and the Cycle of Oppression  An introduction to allyship  Summary and questions

Give your staff market-leading delivery skills and intercultural communication techniques with our unique course. TILT has been delivered to military and commercial clients and is seen as best-practice for those training internationally.

Excelling in GCSE Religious Studies! At GLA Tutors, we are dedicated to helping students succeed in their GCSE Religious Studies examinations. Our experienced tutors are passionate about the subject and committed to providing comprehensive support aligned with the AQA examination board's specification. Let's explore the breakdown of the AQA GCSE Religious Studies specification: Paper 1: The Study of Religions: Beliefs and Teachings This paper focuses on the study of two religions, such as Christianity and Islam. Our tutors will guide students through the fundamental beliefs, teachings, and practices of these religions. We delve into topics like the nature of God, religious texts, worship, and the impact of religion on individuals and society. Through engaging discussions and thought-provoking exercises, we help students develop a deep understanding of religious beliefs. Paper 2: Thematic Studies This paper explores ethical and philosophical issues, as well as the influence of religion in the modern world. Our tutors will delve into topics like crime and punishment, human rights, life and death, and religion and society. We provide in-depth analysis, case studies, and perspectives from different religious traditions to enable students to critically examine these issues. We also emphasise the development of strong argumentation and evaluation skills. Paper 3: Study of Religion: Textual Studies In this paper, students will explore religious texts and their significance. Our tutors will guide students through the study of sacred texts, such as the Bible or the Qur'an. We help students analyse and interpret these texts, understand their historical and cultural context, and explore their relevance in contemporary society. We provide comprehensive guidance on textual analysis and the application of religious teachings to real-life situations. At GLA Tutors, we foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment, where students can explore and deepen their understanding of religious studies. Our tutors provide personalised one-on-one sessions, group discussions, and access to a range of learning resources to cater to each student's unique needs. Beyond the specification, we encourage critical thinking, empathy, and open-mindedness, enabling students to engage with complex ethical and philosophical questions. We also focus on developing strong exam techniques, essay writing skills, and effective revision strategies to maximize exam success. Join us at GLA Tutors and embark on a transformative journey in GCSE Religious Studies. Our tutors are here to guide you towards academic excellence, a deep appreciation for religious diversity, and the ability to apply religious teachings to real-world contexts. Feel free to explore our website for more information or reach out to us with any questions you may have. Let's embark on this enriching educational adventure together! We can provide assistance for everything you need to prepare students for exams, including: past papers, mark schemes and examiners’ reports specimen papers and mark schemes for new courses exemplar student answers with examiner commentaries high quality revision guides

Course Information This highly interactive course will provide guidance on why and how to implement a quality system successfully into the research laboratory. By doing so, you will position your innovation for the success it deserves. But leave things as they are and there is a good chance that your science will not realise its full potential should success, and its consequences, come your way. A quality system in your research laboratory is the most effective and efficient way to: Help scientists work more efficiently Ensure discoveries can be defended Protect the value of intellectual property. This course is particularly aimed at those working in early phase research environments which are not constrained by the regulatory requirements of the Good Practice regulations but are producing intellectual property, testing and/or products for the therapeutic market. For organisational reasons, rather than regulatory ones, this is a place where you need to get it right. The programme is delivered by leaders in the field who, quite simply, ‘have done it’. Whether delegates are at senior management level seeking strategic direction, a laboratory head wishing to deliver science that will stand the test of time or a quality professional thrown in at the deep end, this course will provide key insight and practical guidance to underpin future success. Based on risk based systems, tried and tested over many years in the workplace, the programme will help delegates to define, train, implement and monitor the quality of their research, irrespective of field or discipline. Delegates will learn how to help position their organisation for success. Course content: Delegates will be guided thoughtfully through each key component of the process in a stimulating learning environment. The course probes all avenues of the research quality arena, from an initial understanding of the cultural aspects of the scientific discovery environment, to managing quality in outsourced research programmes. Computer systems and e-data security in the research environment will be discussed and pragmatic solutions described to help manage the ballooning cloud of e-data. In addition, the ever blurring boundary between the regulated and non-regulated research environments will be discussed and delegates given perspective on future developments in the field. With this knowledge, delegates will be able to get it ‘right first time’. Is this course for you? The course is designed for all those involved in the research laboratory quality arena and it has been tailored to meet the needs of scientific management, bench scientists and quality professionals alike. Delegates get immediate access to highly experienced tutors who will share their wisdom and insights in an area where few others have been successful. The course is linked with the RQA guidance which builds on years of experience and forms the foundation of the programme. Tutors Tutors will be comprised of (click the photos for biographies): Louise Handy Director, Handy Consulting Ltd Sandrine Bongiovanni Associate Director in Research and Quality Compliance, Novartis Programme Please note timings may be subject to alteration. Day 1 09:00 Registration 09:10 Welcome and Introductions 09:20 History and Overview of the Field Examples of business and regulatory risks and the consequences of low quality in research. A look at the standards and guidelines that exist. 10:00 The Culture, the Politics and the Scientist's Perspective Understanding research environments, the drivers and the challenges. 10:30 Break 10:45 Workshop - Risk Management Thinking about risk management and prioritisation. Looking at the critical factors for the implementations of a successful quality system. 12:15 Workshop - Feedback 12:45 Lunch 13:45 Personnel, Plans, Procedures, Facilities, Equipment, Materials and Reagents Looking at planning the work, defining procedures in a way which promotes robust science without compromising brilliance and ensuring that all these elements are demonstrably fit for their intended purpose. 14:30 Workshop - Assay Validation How much validation is required at what stage? What do we need to validate an assay? 15:00 Workshop - Feedback 15:15 Research, Work Records, Archives and Research Review Data and records which are accurate, attributable, legally attestable and safe to permit reconstruction experiments and studies. Looking at aspects of the work where there is a chance to review, correct or improve the science, the data and the processes. 16:15 Continual Improvement and Quality Systems Reviewing implementation of a quality system, finding opportunities for improvement, understanding culture change. 16:45 Questions and Answers 17:00 Close of Course Extra Information Course Material This course will be run completely online. You will receive an email with a link to our online system, which will house your licensed course materials and access to the remote event. Please note this course will run in UK timezone. The advantages of this include:   Ability for delegates to keep material on a mobile device Ability to review material at any time pre and post course Environmental benefits – less paper being used per course Access to an online course group to enhance networking. You will need a stable internet connection, a microphone and a webcam. CPD Points 7 Points   Development Level Develop

LOOKING FOR: YA/NA FANTASY, SFF, HORROR, ADULT FICTION John Baker (he/him) joined the Bell Lomax Moreton agency in 2019, cultivating a list shaped around his passion for science fiction, fantasy, and horror, though has lately also branched out into action/adventure fiction. John focuses on authors writing in the Adult, New Adult, and YA spaces. John leads the wider agency's film & TV desk, is the Secretary of the Association of Author’s Agents, and the co-chair of the AAA’s Bridge Committee. He also serves on the Kingston University MA Publishing Advisory Board. Under the umbrella of speculative fiction, John is looking for fantasy, science fiction, horror, romantasy, or literary speculative fiction. He has built a reputation as a champion of underrepresented voices and stories, be it from creators hailing from the global majority and their diasporas or neurodiverse authors, and naturally gravitates towards this kind of storytelling. In short, if he’s never read a story like yours before, he wants to see it. Adult fantasy: John loves beefy epic fantasy, especially non-Anglo Christian-inspired. Give him an immersive world, a fresh magical or mythic system, and an exciting cast of characters and he’ll be happy. He is a broad church in the genre so loves a political fantasy, swords and sorcery, courtly intrigue, monster hunting and dastardly villains. John is keen to find an urban fantasy that feels fresh and fun and he’s a sucker for a heroic quest narrative. He’s also very open to fantasy that isn’t easily categorised, but it is playing in that world. John is keenly hunting for more historical fantasy, especially inspired by modern history. He’s had fun with mythological retellings in the past, but as ever, let’s make sure it’s shining the spotlight on new stories. He would also love fantasy that centres on types of relationships less celebrated in fantasy, such as established and secure married couples, or siblings. NA/YA fantasy: In this genre, most importantly, John wants to have a good time, whether it’s swoon-worthy kisses in lush ball gowns, or gruesome gore and monsters, so send him pacy, plot-filled adventures. He’d love more books that teenage boys would love: Skullduggery Pleasant forever! Romantasy: The thriving new romantasy genre comes with its own set of challenges, so John wants to know what makes your romantasy different; what will set it out from the (very crowded!) market. Give it completely barmy stakes, cool and unique new settings, or a love story that will make your jaw drop. To be clear, he’s happily sorted for a human person meets a fae creature in the spooky woods. Also, cosmic romance is the genre of the future. Give him romantasy in space. Easy. Horror: John and horror are old friends. He loves horror inspired by myth and folklore, subversive weird horror that leaves your eyebrows in your hairline, historical horror that pulls from ghastly true stories, and anything that you’ll be reading with the light on. He also loves a gothic element and is particularly looking for horror with a strong romantic throughline, fun YA horror, and female & NB horror authors. Science fiction: SF is coming back! And John has been shouting about that. He loves to see an adventurous found-family romp through space or an epic, crunchy space opera. Speculative near-future is fun too, in the vein of Black Mirror’s more uplifting episodes, (e.g. San Junipero). He loves YA science fiction as well; the more creative the better. Literary: John is open to finding more rich magical realism or something character-led yet supernatural and would love a high-concept mystery, in the vein of Stuart Turton. He also loves spec fic that uses the speculative lightly as a way of confronting a deeper truth in society today. Weird stuff: John wants books that will blow people’s minds and defy categorisation. This is hard to describe, but think Gideon The Ninth, The Library At Mount Char, This Is How You Lose The Time War. John loves a pitch that leaves the editors baffled but intrigued. Action/Adventure, Historical Adventure, Espionage: John is branching out into non-speculative adventures, such as John Le Carré, Lee Child, Ian Flemming, and Mick Herron. More as his taste develops, but the hunt is on! Not looking for: military sci-fi or hard SF, or anything with biblical “character wakes up in purgatory/heaven/hell” narratives. The right comedic fantasy has yet to hit his inbox, but please don’t comp Douglas Adams or Sir Terry. John would like you to submit a covering letter, 1-2 page synopsis and the first three chapters (or 5,000 words whichever is longest) of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, John 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 12th May 2025