The Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, Ministers and MSPs control legislation, policy and spending decisions directly impacting upon the activities of all organisations and people in Scotland. Informed, good decision making is important in good times, but absolutely critical in bad times. These are bad times. War in Ukraine, a weakening domestic and global economy, high inflation, constitutional uncertainty, volatile UK Government and its stark consequences for public finances and public spending - all while still in the after effects of pandemic - require the best judgement. So, in the midst of wave after wave of uncertainty buffeting Scotland's public services, private sector and third sector, it is essential to understand how to effectively influence, inform and connect with the key decision makers as they respond to the challenges ahead.

This conference will take place online.

Scotland needs a vibrant, joined-up, reliable transport system to fuel economic success and nurture thriving, stable communities. However transport provision and future development now face threats from post-COVID adjustment, new work patterns, outcomes of war-driven economic uncertainty, global inflation and the likely spending consequences of high public debt. So what really lies ahead for transport and where and how should we plan and invest for resilience, reliability and growth in our transport systems and services? How does Scottish transport deliver on demand, affordability and net zero when faced with both a climate of global uncertainty and global uncertainty on climate?

This conference will take place online.

How we care for our older people is one of the most basic indicators of whether a society and its services are functioning well. However in less than twenty years 25% of Scotland's population will be 65 or older and those over 70 will be living with an average of three chronic conditions. So, are we caring for our older people well now? Are we prepared for the increased demand ahead? What can we learn from current trends and good practice and what needs to happen next in spending and service evolution to prepare for both the challenges we face now and those that are imminent?

This conference will take place online. 

Scotland’s railways have a critical role to play in supporting the wider economy, our communities and Scotland’s push for Net Zero. However, the impact of the past two years presented a fundamental challenge to the scope, viability and purpose of rail as passenger numbers plummeted and travel patterns altered. What therefore needs to happen next to ensure rail in Scotland’s long-term sustainability?

This conference will take place online.

The Scottish Government’s Bill to establish a Scottish National Care Service has now been published. However, original discussion and proposals have now grown to cover adult, child, justice, substance misuse and some mental health services – and this new service would be accountable to Ministers. So what do you or your organisation need to understand about what’s in the Bill in order to plan and prepare for what is coming next with the creation of the Scottish National Care Service?

This conference will take place online.

Everyone wants to be able to motivate, focus and present themselves as effectively as possible in any situation, both in person and online. Being able to do so directly affects how we are perceived at work and is also important for personal relationships. Therefore, understanding how to unlock your confidence, positivity and self-belief is an essential tool in setting and reaching professional and personal goals.

This webinar is online.

Access to an affordable home and the ability to live in it without financial anxiety is one of the most basic needs for any individual or family. However, in Scotland we face a dual crisis - insufficient supply and lack of affordability in housing coupled with a spiralling energy cost emergency. The housing crisis is driven by structural failures in supply. The energy cost crisis results from massive price rises, energy company failures and instability in energy markets. The combination of both of these is toxic to the finances and life chances of families and individuals throughout Scotland. How do governments, local authorities and housing and energy suppliers act to fix this?

This conference will take place online.

The Scottish Government wants to partner with Scottish councils and others to deliver 20 minute neighbourhoods in Scotland. Its intent to do so is included in the 2020-21 Programme for Government and many places in Scotland do seem to have the building blocks needed to become 20 minute neighbourhoods. However the same is also true of many other communities globally – and yet few have so far succeeded. So what does it take to move from just proposing 20 minute neighbourhoods to really delivering them on the ground in Scotland?

This conference will take place online.

Every public sector body wants and needs satisfied service users. People happy with the services they receive attach value to both the services and the organisation delivering them. However a negative experience can mean service users have toxically different views from the producer’s perception. Left unaddressed, complaints become grievances which cost time, money and potentially severe reputational damage. So what should organisations do to develop positive relationships with their service users? Is your service protecting itself effectively by valuing service users, fostering person-centred engagement and then intervening fast and well when complaints arise?

Online

Scotland’s care system is in desperate need of overhaul - capacity, funding, staffing and quality of care are all stretched beyond limits. The Scottish Government wants to address these challenges by creating a Scottish National Care Service. The proposals now cover adult, child, justice, substance misuse and some mental health services. And this new service would be accountable to Ministers. Is this the right approach, what exactly is being proposed, what would it mean for the delivery and quality of care services and what are the implications for your organisation?

Online