LOOKING FOR: MG, YA, GRAPHIC NOVELS Katie Blagden is a Literary Agent at The Ampersand Agency, representing authors and author-illustrators across various genres and age ranges. She previously worked with Arabella Stein at the Bright Agency, where she helped launch their Literary list. Her notable projects include the Arcana duology by Sam Prentice-Jones (Macmillan US / Hot Key Books) and The River Thief by Hannah Peck (Piccadilly Press). In all areas Katie seeks commercial, plot-driven ideas with a great hook. In adult fiction, Katie specialises in, and is drawn to, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Magical Realism and Horror. She is particularly looking for works that cross genre lines or subvert reader expectations. She loves Babel by R. F. Kuang; Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell; Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik; Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah; Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovich; The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers; The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin; Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree; The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters; Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel by Susanna Clarke; The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey; One Last Stop by Casey Mcquiston; Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao; The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch; The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern; The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo; Kindred by Octavia E. Butler; Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin; all and anything by Terry Pratchett! Graphic Novels favoured by Katie are across all ages and include the likes of Homebody by Theo Parish; Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe; Lumber Janes by N. D. Stevens et al; On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden; Through The Woods by Emma Carrol; The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen; Heartstopper by Alice Oseman; El Deafo by Cece Bell; Roller Girls by Victoria Jamieson; Skyward by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett; Faith by Jody Houser. For Graphic Novels, Katie is currently only considering Author-Illustrators (or Author/Illustrator pairings). In children’s, Katie specialises in Middle Grade, YA and Crossover Fiction, She is looking for fast, funny and action-packed Middle Grade. In YA, she is drawn to grounded or contemporary SFF, queer stories and fairytale or folktale inspired works. Examples of books in this area Katie loves are All That's Left in the World by Erik J Brown; The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness; Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas; Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi; The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave; Holes by Louis Sachar; Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo; Gone by Michael Grant; His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman; Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell; The Dark Lady by Akala; Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan; The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper; Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Katie is an advocate for centring traditionally underrepresented voices, and actively works to discover and develop authors and author-illustrators from diverse backgrounds. Katie’s previous experience includes marketing, bookselling and advertising. She also appeared as a contributor on the Graham Norton Book Club for Audible for all six seasons. When she’s not reading, you can find Katie playing Dungeons & Dragons, trying a new crafty hobby (before abandoning it for something new), or spoiling her dog Poe. Katie would like you to submit a covering letter, one page synopsis and the first three chapters (Max 5000 words) of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Katie 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: Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Improving Communications UK offers an Advanced Presentation Skills course designed to enhance public speaking abilities and improve the use of presentation software. This course provides delegates with the opportunity to refine their skills in a supportive environment. As delegates deliver their presentations, they are coached on key areas such as body language, posture, word choice, confidence, eye contact, volume, and reducing verbal tics and filler words. This comprehensive approach ensures that delegates can effectively engage their audience and convey their message with clarity and confidence. The course also focuses on enhancing content and visual aids, typically using software like PowerPoint. Delegates learn how to: Clearly state their purpose Reduce text on slides Create user-friendly messages Select impactful graphics to support their message By the end of the course, delegates will be able to deliver organised and engaging presentations that motivate audiences, craft streamlined messages, enhance their stage presence, and convince listeners with compelling evidence in speech and visuals. This course is ideal for those seeking to improve their presentation skills and make a lasting impact. The Advanced Presentation Skills course is a 4-hour interactive virtual class for up to six delegates. Upon registration, delegates will receive online login instructions prior to the class date. This format allows for a personal and interactive learning experience from the comfort of one's own home.
This one-day course introduces the field of user experience and provides an excellent entry point to our other specialised training courses. UX processes and practices have become a central component of product design, service design and web design.
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.
Duration 1 Days 6 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is designed for students who already have experience creating Modern SharePoint sites and populating them with content, who want to learn advanced features to extend SharePoint's capabilities, make information easier to find and manage, use SharePoint features to improve governance and compliance, and improve the security of information and services within the SharePoint environment. Overview Create a custom site template to reduce the time spent creating similarly configured SharePoint sites. Configure managed metadata, including custom term sets, content types, and metadata-based navigation. Control access through permissions. Improve overall security of sites, lists, libraries, folders, list items, and documents. Microsoft© SharePoint©, in conjunction with the Microsoft 365? productivity and office automation suite, provides tools to create and manage a corporate intranet, facilitate content sharing and collaboration, and enable users to create, access, store, and track documents and data in a central location. Users who already have experience as SharePoint site members and owners may be ready to move on to more advanced site-building tasks such as using custom site templates, custom themes, applying advanced permissions settings, improving security, and preparing sites to support governance and compliance. Advanced site builders may be ready to undertake more advanced site management tasks, working in conjunction with their SharePoint Administrator to create and use custom site templates, term sets and metadata, manage information governance and compliance, and get deeper into SharePoint security configuration. This course focuses on these advanced site-building and administration tasks. Prerequisites To ensure your success in this course, you should have SharePoint site user skills such as the ability to view and enter data in SharePoint lists and libraries, and to navigate a typical SharePoint site. You should also have intermediate site builder skills such as the ability to create a SharePoint site, apply a site template, populate sites with pages, create lists and libraries, and connect a site to a hub site. NOTE: This course was developed using Microsoft 365 Business Standard edition. If you opt to use one of the Enterprise editions, be sure to key the course activities before you deliver the class so you will be able to anticipate any differences that students might see with the edition you use. Lesson 1: Creating Custom Site Templates Topic A: Prepare a Site Script Topic B: Generate and Use a Custom Site Template Lesson 2: Managing Content Services Topic A: Plan and Configure Managed Metadata Topic B: Create and Manage Content Types Topic C: Use Managed Metadata for Navigation and Filtering Lesson 3: Controlling Access Through Permissions Topic A: Assign Permissions Topic B: Manage Permissions Inheritance Lesson 4: Improving Security Topic A: Manage Access at the Site Level Topic B: Manage Access at the Tenant Level
The candidate journey is the process job applicants go through when interacting with Noble Foods. It encompasses every interaction in person and online, from the moment a candidate first becomes aware of us to the final hiring decision – and even beyond. You play a key role in the successful recruitment of new starters. It’s important that you have the skills to navigate all stages of the recruitment process to give the candidates the best experience, hire top talent and ensure we remain legally compliant. What does the course cover? What is the candidate journey and why is it important? The role of the line manager Legal Compliance The Noble Foods Candidate Journey How to fill out a Requisition How to post a job Selection Process Interviews Flexible Working Requests
Train with us to facilitate Critical Incident Stress Debriefings. CISD are effective interventions that help care professionals to process stressful events in the workplace. A CISD helps restore well-being and protect from prolonged reactions. This excellent 2-day training will cover theory and practice, including lectures, videos, and small-group work. By the end you will be able to facilitate CISDs.
Inspiring, interactive and unique 4-hour CPD certified training on Communication and Co-production with Parents/Carers