Education - Government Events

Ending Youth Homelessness: The Role of Schools and Local Councils

6 minute read

Feb 2026

Last year, around 118,000 young people presented themselves to their local authority in need of housing support. This is a worrying statistic. Yet it is one that with proactive steps, can be greatly reduced. It was one of the big topics at the recent National Homelessness Event 2026, which brought together industry experts and passionate speakers to explore how we can support the homeless and reduce the rate of people entering homelessness in the UK. It was a powerfully moving day, where great conversation, networking and learning took place. One of the stand out sessions was Stephen Elder’s case study, ‘Preventing Youth Homelessness Before It Happens – Working in Schools to Identify and Support Children at Risk’.

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Building Resilience in the Age of AI: Lessons from Industry Experts

12 minute read

Feb 2026

We recently hosted the Cyber and AI Preparedness Free Webinar, which brought together 3 incredible speakers from different industries. The webinar saw a lively discussion between Isabel Scavetta, a multi-award-winning cyber and diversity advocate; Matthew Forshaw, a senior advisor for skills at The Alan Turing Institute and AI researcher at Newcastle University; and James Tumbridge, an intellectual property and data regulation lawyer at Keystone Law who also chairs digital services for the City of London Corporation. As AI rapidly reshapes every industry, the UK’s public sector faces a critical moment. How can public bodies embrace innovation without exposing themselves to new risks? AI offers incredible potential, but how do we ensure that the workforce is prepared for this revolution?

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Practical Cyber Security Checklist for SMEs

5 minute read

Feb 2026

Cyber security is no longer just a concern for large corporations. In the UK, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly targeted by cyber criminals precisely because they are often less protected. From phishing emails to ransomware attacks, the risks are growing - but the good news is that strong cyber security doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. This practical cyber security checklist, brought to you by the Public Sector Cyber Security Conference, is designed to help UK SMEs strengthen their defences, reduce risk, and build a more resilient organisation.

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The Hidden Cost of Youth Violence: What Communities Lose When Young People Slip Through the Cracks

6 minute read

Feb 2026

Youth violence is often discussed in moments of crisis. A headline. A police cordon. A court appearance. What’s rarely discussed is the costs this violence has on communities, individuals and economies. Behind every incident is usually a young person who didn’t suddenly 'go wrong', but gradually slipped through a series of cracks: in education, mental health support, youth services, housing, and community connection. The topics discussed in this article directly relate to the National Tackling Gang Crime, Violence and Weapon Crime Conference 2026, which was held on the 29th January 2026.

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Embedding Biodiversity and Community Into the Heart of Development: Lessons from The Land Trust

10 minute read

Feb 2026

As the climate crisis deepens, sustainability has shifted from a niche concern to a core pillar of business strategy, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is redefining how the UK thinks about land use, planning and community development. Yet while legislation and metrics can guide the what of environmental policy, it’s the people and organisations behind implementation that bring the how to life. BNG is an approach to development that makes sure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development. It requires developments to result in at least a 10% increase in biodiversity compared to the pre-development state. This can be achieved on-site, through green infrastructure, off-site or a combination of both. Importantly, BNG is a mandatory requirement for most planning permissions in England.

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Developing a More Diverse and Modern Construction Industry: The CITB Case Study

8 minute read

Nov 2025

Construction is one of the most male-orientated industries in the UK. Only around 15% of the construction workforce are women. CITB expects 251,500 extra construction workers will be needed by 2028 to meet the expected levels of work, so a push to engage more women in the industry will lead to a more efficient and diverse workforce. Julia Stevens from the CITB recently attended our Women in Construction Conference. She called for a renewed effort to break down the barriers and drive inclusion in construction. This article explores her keynote, the challenges women often face and the changes companies can make to more effectively engage and retain women.

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Financial Pressures at University: How Small Changes Can Make Big Differences

9 minute read

Nov 2025

Life at university can be extremely stressful. Academic expectations are very high and rising house, food and transport costs are putting additional weight onto the burden of students. Financial issues have increased drastically alongside inflation and the cost of living crisis is impacting students deeply. In this article, Chloe Lockett, who works at the Students' Union at Bournemouth University - SUBU, explores her own experiences working at a major UK university and how the financial strains are impacting students' mental health. The work done by SUBU to support its students is commendable and highlights how change doesn’t need to cost a fortune - sometimes just having guidance can change people's experiences.

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AI Image Generation and Children: Protecting Our Most Vulnerable from AI

8 minute read

Nov 2025

For most, AI image generation has been nothing more than a way to experiment and wonder at a powerful new tool, creating images that are often pretty or amusing. However, underneath this powerful tool is something sinister. The intersection of AI generation and sexual abuse is being exploited by offenders who are using it to create and distribute malicious content. According to the UK National Police Lead for AI, the largest criminal use of AI is by offenders creating child sexual abuse (CSA). The Preventing Child Abuse Conference took place on the 24th of June, and one of the impressive speakers in attendance was Hannah Swirsky from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), who detailed how the Internet Watch Foundation is devoted to stopping this harmful practice.

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Supporting Disadvantaged Students: ‘IntoUniversity’ and the Challenges of getting into Higher Education

8 minute read

Aug 2025

How can we truly level the playing field for disadvantaged students? At our Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference, Dr Emily Magrath from IntoUniversity shared powerful stories and practical solutions for breaking cycles of disadvantage. From early intervention to local collaboration, her insights reveal what’s working, where challenges remain, and how universities, charities and […]

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Tackling Extremism and Creating Connections: The Groundswell Project’s Three-Tier Approach

7 minute read

Aug 2025

The UK saw a 41% rise in terrorism-related arrests in the UK from 2023-2024. This sparks the need for prevention and change. The Preventing and Tackling Extremism in the UK Conference looks at this in detail.

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Interview Series: Meet the Chair, Michael Sanders

3 minute read

Jul 2025

We recently held the Local Government Technology Conference, in Westminster, London. It was an exciting day of learning, networking and interesting conversation. As most of our conferences are online, when we do get to meet people face-to-face, and host speakers in a physical space, it is a wonderful feeling. Seeing all of the conversations, the […]

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Interview Series: Sitting Down With Mandy Sanghera

5 minute read

Jul 2025

We recently held the Local Government Technology Conference, in Westminster, London. It was an exciting day of learning, networking and interesting conversation. As most of our conferences are online, when we do get to meet people face-to-face, and host speakers in a physical space, it is a wonderful feeling. Seeing all of the conversations, the […]

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