IEP Basecamp 2026

IEP Basecamp 2026 - Sponsored by CCC - Powered by Asuria

Headline Sponsors - CCC Powered by Asuria

Human Fuel Sponsors - The Digital College

Drinks Reception Sponsors - Elevate Employment Services

Lanyard Sponsors - Cognisoft 

Award Sponsors - Cognisoft , Elevate Employment Services, Serco , NCFE, The Digital College, CCC Powered by Asuria

Please note this is an invitation-only event - Only people with prior confirmation of a space and/or tickets will be admitted on the day. We are operating a waitlist for additional spaces, please register your interest in attending with angela.ramage@iemployability.org.

Looking to discover new and innovative ways to deliver better outcomes for your programme participants? Then IEP Basecamp is the perfect event for you!

This dynamic conference, kindly sponsored by Ingeus, is designed to provide frontline employability practitioners and first-line managers with practical learning takeaways that you can put into use straight away.

At IEP Basecamp, you'll have the opportunity to connect with your sector colleagues and like-minded individuals and learn from subject matter experts on a range of topics, all designed to help you be the best you can be. You'll gain valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices for supporting participants and you'll leave feeling empowered to make a real difference to their lives.

The event takes place at the Trent Conference Centre on Thursday 8 October 2026 and will feature some amazing speakers and panellists drawn from across the employability and skills sector and beyond to share knowledge, exchange ideas and encourage debate. The day’s format is made up of four seminar sessions with networking and refreshment breaks built in to help all present to connect and learn from each other, to enhance your professional practice.

Itinerary and Seminar Programme - our day is hosted by Jonty Rooke FIEP

09:00 Doors open - Registration, Coffee and Networking - Sponsored by The Digital College, Human Fuel Partners

09:50 - 10:00 - Welcome from IEP - Scott Parkin FIEP | Group Chief Executive Officer | IEP

10:00 – 10:10 - A word from our sponsors - Kevin Browne FIEP | Chief Executive Officer | Asuria UK & Chair of Connected Communities Consortium (CCC) Powered by Asuria Board

10:10 - 10.40 - Fliss Miller | Director of Employment & Skills | East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA)

No Wrong Door: Creating Joined-Up Support That Works

People rarely face just one challenge, so why should services work in isolation? In this thought-provoking session, discover how commissioners are bringing partners together to create seamless support journeys, stronger local partnerships, and better outcomes for the people who need them most. Gain an insider's perspective on how local services are designed, commissioned, and measured.

10:40 - 11:30 Seminar 2 | There Is No Script: One Participant. Five Decisions. 200+ Employability Professionals

Led by the IEP Learning Academy team, get ready for an interactive session for delegates to experience a thought-provoking experience that recognises your expertise, encourages peer discussion, and will leave you reflecting on your own practice.

11:30 - 11:50 Refreshments and Networking - Sponsored by The Digital College, Human Fuel Partners 

11:50 – 12:30 Seminar 3 | Employment Adviser 2.0: Less Admin, Better Relationships & More Impact 

Join the Earlybird team for an interactive, practical workshop exploring the evolution of frontline employment support. As AI technology advances, the adviser role is shifting from admin-heavy casework to high-impact, human-centered guidance. In this fast-paced session, you’ll dive hands-on into what "Employment Adviser 2.0" looks like in practice. 

Come ready to share your frontline experience and shape a future where technology does the heavy lifting so you can focus on what matters most - changing lives.

12.30 - 12.40 - The Mindset Mentor - Lorenzo Hall FIEP | Managing Director | Transform and Achieve

Unlock the power of mindset to achieve greater success, resilience and impact in both your professional and personal life. This bite size session is ideal for employability professionals looking to maximise their effectiveness and help others reach their full potential.

12:40 – 13:40 – Networking Lunch – Sponsored by The Digital College, Human Fuel Partners 

13:40 – 14:20 – Seminar 4 | Employer Engagement - Partnership in Practice: Connecting Practitioners and Employers - Sarah Brogan | Divisional Managing Director | CTRG & Nic Moss | Head of Social Recruitment Framework | PeoplePlus & Ricky Singh | Growth & Performance Manager | PeoplePlus

STOP FILLING SHIFTS. START BUILDING CAREERS.
An employer's perspective on creating genuine progression pathways that unlock talent, retain people, and build stronger businesses. Turning entry-level, high-volume roles into real routes upward rather than just filling shifts. 

Who are CTRG - As a leading recruitment and workforce partner to major employers including Amazon, Tesco and GXO, CTRG Limited brings a unique employer perspective on talent, progression and workforce development. Their experience of supporting large-scale recruitment and retention programmes offers valuable insight into how employability professionals can better connect participants with sustainable careers.

Sarah Brogan - With over 25 years' experience in recruitment across logistics, warehousing, retail and e-commerce, Sarah has progressed from onsite operations to director-level leadership. She now leads client strategy and workforce solutions for major employers including Amazon, Tesco and GXO, helping organisations build sustainable talent pipelines and effective employment pathways at scale.

14:20 – 15:00 – Seminar 5 | Daniel Zimmer FIEP | Executive Director | Asuria, Australia

Beyond NEET: Unlocking Potential, Creating Futures
Young people are facing an increasingly complex route into employment. In this thought-provoking session, Daniel Zimmer shares international perspectives on youth employment, exploring common challenges, innovative solutions and emerging trends from around the world. Discover what is working globally and how employability professionals can apply these insights to create more effective pathways into work for young people.

Daniel Zimmer FIEP - Daniel is Executive Director at Asuria Australia, where he leads employment and community services that help people access meaningful work and opportunities. With extensive international leadership experience in employability and workforce development, Daniel is passionate about improving social and economic outcomes through innovative, people-focused solutions.

15:00 - 15:20 - Refreshments and Networking - Sponsored by The Digital College, Human Fuel Partners

15:20 - 15:50 - Winners announced for IEP Awards - hosted by Jonty Rooke FIEP 

IEP Member Ambassador of the Year | IEP Member of the Year | IEP Learner of the Year | IEP Learning Impact Award | IEP Learning Ambassador of the Year | IEP Collaborative Learning Champion | IEP Emerging Talent in Learning Award

15:50 – 16:00 – Basecamp Closing Remarks | Jonty Rooke FIEP on behalf of IEP 

16:00 - 17:00 – Celebration Drinks Reception kindly sponsored by Elevate Employment Services

Thanks to the generosity of our headline sponsors at Connected Communities Consortium ( CCC), IEP Basecamp is FREE to attend, inclusive of lunch and refreshments, which is supported by our ‘Human Fuel’ sponsors at The Digital College, for all IEP Members who are either frontline practitioners or first line managers.

We will be announcing the winners of our IEP Learning Awards towards the end of the day. The Awards will celebrate practitioners who have qualified through IEP learning plus those organisations that deliver, coach, accredit, award and mentor learners through the vast range of IEP learning. IEP Basecamp offers something for everyone. With engaging workshops, inspiring speakers, and a supportive community, this event is the perfect way to take your learning to the next level. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and connect!

A WORD FROM OUR HEADLINE SPONSORS - CCC Powered by Asuria

Connected Communities Consortium (CCC) – Headline Sponsor of IEP Basecamp

Investing in People. Strengthening Communities. Transforming Futures.

The Connected Communities Consortium (CCC), is delighted to be the Headline Sponsor of IEP Basecamp Nottingham.
As a consortium of organisations comprising of Asuria, PeoplePlus, Standguide Ltd, The Better Health Generation, Earlybird and Transform & Achieve, committed to supporting people into sustainable employment, improved wellbeing, and brighter futures, we are proud to support an event that brings together employment, skills, careers, health and inclusion professionals from across the sector.

At a time when the challenges facing individuals, communities and practitioners are becoming increasingly complex, the importance of professional development, collaboration and innovation has never been greater. The UK continues to face significant social and economic challenges, including over one million young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), rising levels of economic
inactivity, growing demand for support for people with mental health conditions and disabilities, and increasing pressure on services to deliver meaningful outcomes with limited resources.

Those working across employability, skills, health and social inclusion programmes are at the forefront of addressing these challenges every day. Their knowledge, expertise and commitment are critical to helping individuals overcome barriers, build confidence, develop skills and progress towards fulfilling and sustainable futures.
That is why events such as IEP Basecamp are so important. By bringing together practitioners, leaders and innovators from across the sector,
Basecamp creates an opportunity to share best practice, explore new ideas, learn from one another and strengthen the collective impact we can have on the people and communities we serve.

As headline sponsors, we hope attendees leave the event with:

• Fresh insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the employment and skills landscape.

• Practical tools, techniques and approaches that can be applied immediately within their roles.

• A deeper understanding of how collaboration across sectors can improve outcomes for participants.

• Increased confidence in supporting individuals with complex needs, including mental health conditions and disabilities.

• Renewed motivation and inspiration to drive positive change within their organisations and communities.

Most importantly, we hope delegates leave feeling empowered, equipped and energised to continue making a difference to the lives of the people they support.

About the Connected Communities Consortium (CCC)

The Connected Communities Consortium brings together six leading organisations, with a shared commitment to delivering high-quality employment, skills, health and wellbeing services across the UK:

• Asuria People Services

• PeoplePlus

• Standguide Ltd

• The Better Health Generation

• Earlybird

• Transform & Achieve

Together, we employ over 2,500 staff and combine extensive experience in employability, skills development, health interventions, employer engagement, AI/technology innovation and community support to help individuals overcome barriers, access opportunities and achieve sustainable outcomes.

Through collaboration, innovation and a person-centred approach, CCC works to create stronger communities, support economic growth and ensure that people furthest from opportunity are given the support they need to thrive.

We look forward to meeting you at IEP Basecamp Nottingham.