Annual Staff Conference 2025 Recap – Friday 19th September
Last Friday, 19th September, we hosted our Annual Staff Conference 2025 at the Department in Leeds. It was a fantastic opportunity for colleagues from across all teams and our three offices to come together, connect, celebrate our achievements over the past 12 months, and look ahead to an exciting year to come.
Key Highlights
Welcome Address – The day began with an inspiring welcome from Michael Feather, who opened the conference with a talk focused on celebrating success – recognising the progress we have made and the incredible work delivered across the business.
Company Values – Samantha Jevons presented our revised company values: Excellence, Inclusion, Integrity, and Creativity.
Team Videos – Each team created film content to showcase their team members, which premiered at the conference. Our teams brought creativity, inspiration and humour allowing each team to express themselves and talk about their project work.
Our Academy—our in-house team, led by Colin Briggs-Campbell and Rachel Knight, presented a film about the crucial role our Academy plays in supporting the next generation of learners to enter our industry and supporting our own people through their career journeys.
Workshop – on Unconscious Bias
We were pleased to welcome Kerry Lee, our guest speaker, who led a powerful and engaging workshop on Unconscious Bias. Her session encouraged us to reflect on our perceptions, understand the impact of unconscious bias in the workplace, and explore how we can create a more inclusive and equitable environment for everyone.
KPI Hero Recognition presented by April Marsden
A huge congratulations to our KPI heroes, who were recognised by our clients for their outstanding commitment to client care. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Well done to: Laura Baarda, James Barnes, Emma Black, Josie Brogan, David Kippax, Rachel Knight, Gerard Langley, Monika Lulczynska, Darren Hill, Stephen Haestier, Mark Hayton, Rebecca Jones, Joe Mills, Simon Rolley, Ian Scott, Robert Sharples, Chris Smith, Ben Stone, Sasha Theodoris and Antony Wright.
Thank you for going above and beyond.
Afternoon Activities – Wellness and Exploration
In the afternoon, we took some time to relax, recharge, and enjoy Leeds from a different perspective. Activities included: a private yoga session to unwind and refocus, paddleboarding on Leeds Dock for a refreshing dose of adventure, an art class to explore our creative sides and guided walking tour around Leeds’ scenic canals and rivers
It was the perfect way to round off an energising and inspiring day. Here’s to another successful and rewarding year ahead!