LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, YA THRILLER Saskia Leach is a Junior Literary Agent at Kate Nash Literary Agency, where she has been working since 2021. She loves stories that features complex and dynamic characters and is fascinated by books containing document inserts or written from multiple perspectives. Saskia represents fiction for adults and young adults in the genres of crime, thriller, romance, historical/saga, horror, speculative and bookclub. She does not represent literary fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, non-fiction, action/adventure thrillers, non-fiction, picture books or chapter books for children younger than middle grade. Saskia is particularly looking for LGBTQIA+ romance, high concept psychological thriller with a unique hook or set in an unusual location, and bookclub fiction revolving around a moral dilemma - but she is open to reading submissions in all genres she represents. She is keen to hear from writers from underrepresented voices and perspectives. Saskia 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, Saskia 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 to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice given in your Agent121. The submission deadline is: Tuesday 20th May 2025
Going the digital experience research route? Learn how a human centric approach to digital transformation results in a positive experience for all involved.
Click to read more about this training, in which we demonstrate a live problem solving approach which is based on the active participation of family members. Course Category Inclusion Parents and Carers Behaviour and relationships Problem Solving Description In this training we demonstrate a live problem solving approach which is based on the active participation of family members. ‘Family Circles’ is an evolving new approach to problem solving with families and is based on our years of family work and the development and use of the Circle of Adults process. Inspired by our own Parent Solutions work and the Circle of Adults process as well as Family Group Conferencing and other Restorative Interventions we bring you Family Circles. Essentially the approach involves gathering a family together for a process that is facilitated but majors on the family members offering each other their wisdom and ideas. The approach is capacity focused, person centred approach to working with families rather than the dominant deficit oriented and ‘medical model’ of viewing and planning for or doing things to families. This training can be modelled with a group of professionals or better still with a family. In our work with families we develop the importance of naming stories or theories and seeking linkages and synthesis between what is found out and explored about the family situation and its history. We like participants to sit with the uncertainty, to reflect on the question ‘why’ but without judgement of each other. Deeper reflections may span a whole range of perspectives from ‘within person’ considerations, to situational or systemic possibilities. Health or emotional issues can be reflected on alongside organisational or transactional aspects of what is going on for the family. The better the shared understanding the better the strategy or actions which emerge from these meetings. Quality hypotheses with a close fit to reality lead to more effective implementation in the real world. We encourage ‘loose’ thinking, a search for connections, deeper listening, an ‘open mind’, speculation and exploration without moral judgements. From this stance self-reflection as well as reflection on the situation can produce remarkable insights. The quality of theories or new stories generated is directly influenced by family members’ experiences and the models of learning, behaviour and emotion, systems, educational development, change and so on that they have been exposed to. Learning Objectives To provide opportunities for: Shared problem solving in a safe exploratory climate in which the family will find its own solutions. Individuals to reflect on their own actions and strategies An exploration of whole-family processes and their impact Emotional support and shared understandings of issues at a child, parent, family, school and community level. Feed back to each other on issues, ideas and strategies that are agreed to be worth sharing with them. Who Is It For? Anyone interested in working with families in a way that builds and makes use of their capacities rather than focus on their challenges and difficulties. Social Care teams School staff Community organisers Educational Psychologists Course Content True family empowerment Deepening shared stories and understandings Facilitating groups Problem solving process Handling family group communication Allowing direct feedback and challenge between participants in a safe way Building relationships Process: Family members are welcomed: Introductions are carried out, ground rules and aims clarified whilst coffee is drunk. A recap from the last session is carried out: To follow up developments and reflections after the last meeting. One issue is selected for the main focus Issue presentation: The family member who raised the concern is asked questions to tell the ‘story’ of the issue or problem. Additional questions/information from the group about the problem are gathered: Ground rules may need to be observed carefully here. Individual participants need to be kept focused and prevented from leaping to premature conclusions or to making ‘helpful’ suggestions about strategy. Relationship aspects to the problem are explored. Metaphors and analogies are invited. How would a fly on the wall see your relationship? If you were alone together on a desert island, what would it be like? Impact of previous relationships/spillage from one relationship to another are explored. Eg what situation they are reminded of? For instance, does this situation remind you of any of those angry but helpless feelings you had with your other son when he was an adolescent? This provides opportunities to reflect on how emotions rub off on other people. The parent feels really frustrated, and on reflection we can see that so does the child System/Organisation factors (Family system/school and community systems and so on): What aspects help or hinder the problem? For instance, does the pastoral system of the local school provide space, or time and skilled personnel able to counsel this young person and work actively with their parents? Synthesis. At this stage the Graphic facilitator summarises what they have heard. They then go on to describe linkages and patterns in what they have heard. This can be very powerful. The person doing the graphic work has been able to listen throughout the presentation process and will have been struck by strong messages, emotions and images as they have arisen. The story and meaning of what is happening in the situation may become a little clearer at this point. Typical links may be ‘mirrored emotions’ strong themes such as loss and separation issues, or repeated processes such as actions triggering rejection. This step provides an excellent grounding for the next process of deepening understanding. What alternative strategies/interventions are open to be used? Brainstormed and recorded. ’Either/ors’ need to be avoided at this time also. This needs to be a shared session in which the family member who is presenting the concern contributes as much as anyone. Care is needed to ensure that this person is not overloaded with other people’s strategies. The final selection of strategy or strategies from the brainstormed list is the problem presenter’s choice. Strategies might include: a special time for the young person, a meeting with the child’s parents to explore how she is being managed at home and to share tactics, a home-school diary, counselling, or an agreed action plan that all are aware of, agreed sanctions and rewards and so forth. Strategies may productively involve processes of restitution and restoration, when ‘sorry’ is not enough. Making it right, rather than punishments or rewards, may then becomes the focus. First Steps. The problem presenter is finally asked to agree one or two first steps which they can carry out over the next 3-7 days. It can help to assign a ‘coach’ who will check in with them to ensure they have carried out the action they have named. This is a time to be very specific. Steps should be small and achievable. The person is just ‘making a start’. A phone call, or making an agreement with a key other person not present at the meeting would be ideal examples. Final reflections. Sometimes referred to as a ‘round of words’ help with closure for all involved. Reflections are on the process not the problem. In large families this is best done standing in a circle. In smaller groups all can remain sitting. Passing around a ‘listening stick’ or something similar such as a stone or light heighten the significance of the process ending and improve listening. Finally the problem presenter is handed the ‘Graphic’ this is their record of the meeting and can be rolled and presented ceremoniously by the facilitators for maximum effect! If you liked this course you may well like: Parent Solutions
Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for The introductory-level course is geared for software developers, project managers, and IT professionals seeking to enhance their understanding and practical skills in version control and collaboration using GitLab. It's also well-suited for those transitioning from another version control system to GitLab, or those responsible for software development lifecycle within their organization. Whether you are an individual looking to boost your proficiency or a team leader aiming to drive productivity and collaboration, this course will provide the necessary expertise to make the most of GitLab's capabilities. Overview This course combines engaging instructor-led presentations and useful demonstrations with valuable hands-on labs and engaging group activities. Throughout the course you'll: Gain a firm understanding of the fundamentals of Git and GitLab, setting a solid foundation for advanced concepts. Learn to effectively manage and track changes in your code, ensuring a clean and reliable codebase. Discover ways to streamline your daily tasks with aliases, stashing, and other GitLab workflow optimization techniques. Develop skills in creating, merging, and synchronizing branches, enabling seamless collaboration and version control. Equip yourself with the knowledge to use Git as a powerful debugging tool, saving time and effort when troubleshooting issues. Understand the basics of continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) in GitLab, helping you automate the software delivery process. Immerse yourself in the dynamic world of GitLab, a leading web-based platform for version control and collaboration, through our intensive two-day course, GitLab Quick Start. Version control systems, such as GitLab, are the backbone of modern software development, enabling teams to work cohesively and maintain a structured workflow. By mastering GitLab, you can improve efficiency, encourage collaboration, and ensure accuracy and reliability within your projects, adding significant value to your organization. Throughout the course you?ll explore various aspects of GitLab, starting from the fundamental principles of source code management to advanced concepts like rebasing and continuous integration/design. Key topics covered include Git and GitLab basics, reviewing and editing commit history, mastering GitFlow and GitLab Flow, branching and merging strategies, and understanding remote repositories. You'll also learn how to utilize Git as a debugging tool and explore the power of GitLab's built-in CI/CD capabilities. The core value of this course lies in its practical application. You'll learn how to effectively manage changes in code with GitLab, allowing you to maintain audit trails, create reproducible software, and seamlessly move from another version control system. Then you?ll learn how to enhance your workflow efficiency using aliases for common commands, saving changes for later use, and ignoring build artifacts. You?ll also explore GitLab's CI/CD, which will enable you to automate your software delivery process. These hands-on labs will walk you through creating, merging, and synchronizing remote branches, configuring Git, troubleshooting using Git as a debugging tool, and setting up GitLab Runner for CI/CD. Each lab is designed to simulate real-world projects, offering you a first-hand experience in managing and contributing to a version control system like GitLab. Introduction to Source Code Management The Core Principles of Change Management The Power to Undo Changes Audit Trails and Investigations Reproducible Software Changing code-hosting platform Moving from another version control system Git and GitLab Introduction and Basics Introduction to Git GitFlow GitLab Flow Trees and Commits Configuring Git Adding, Renaming, and Removing Files Reviewing and Editing the Commit History Reviewing the Commit History Revision Shortcuts Fixing Mistakes Improving Your Daily Workflow Simplifying Common Commands with Aliases Ignoring Build Artifacts Saving Changes for Later Use (Stashing) Branching Branching Basics Listing Differences Between Branches Visualizing Branches Deleting Branches Tagging Merging Merging Basics Merge Conflicts Merging Remote Branches Remote Repositories Remote Repositories Synchronizing Objects with Remotes Tracking Branches Centralizing and Controlling Access Introduction to GitLab Git Repositories on GitLab Daily Workflow Reviewing Branching and Merging Branch Review Merging Basics Rebasing Rebasing Basics Rebasing with Local Branches Rebasing with Remote Branches Interactive Rebasing Squashing Commits Getting Out of Trouble Git as a Debugging Tool Using the Blame Command to See File History Performing a Binary Search Continuous Integration / Continuous Design (CI/CD) How to install GitLab Runner Adding to our example project Breaking down .gitlab-ci.yml Adding .gitlab-ci.yml to our example project Deconstructing an advanced .gitlab-ci.yml file GitLab CI/CD web UI Optional: Resetting Trees Introduction to Resetting Resetting Branch Pointers Resetting Branches and the Index Resetting the Working Directory Making Good Use of the Reset Command Optional More on Improving Your Daily Workflow Interactively Staging Changes Optional: Including External Repositories Submodules Subtrees Choosing Between Submodules and Subtrees Workflow Management Branch Management
Participants gain a foundational understanding of the UX design process, tools and techniques through an engaging mix of theory and practical application exercises.
Update and renewal option for Geopace Training Certificate holders Update and renew your existing certificate ... Recommended certificate renewal after 18 months Nationally Recognised Dual Accreditations Open College Network Accredited (Advanced Level) CPD Accredited (The CPD Certification Service) Recaps phlebotomy theory incl. legislation Updates your certification and compliancy Awards cumulative credits and CPD points awarded Basic understanding of English language required Download a certificate on completion of your online course APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE COMPLETED AN ACCREDITED INTRODUCTION TO PHLEBOTOMY COURSE
For new users and the curious. Hello, For new users and the curious. IMPORTANT: Firstly, once you are signed up, send us your requests on what you would like to see within the demonstration and learn on the course. We will then cater for your needs and answer them during the session. This is designed to be an introduction into how to start a room by room survey using the Heat Engineer app, then sending this survey to the online dashboard. We will then go through the different steps to complete this heat loss report. Optional pages will also be worked through and shown. Examples of how to select the flow temperature and the heat source (heat pumps and boilers) will be presented once the heat loss result is completed.
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
Gain robust techniques for obtaining feedback from end users throughout product design, and learn how to identify new opportunities for design improvement.