SUSE Annual Conference

Setting the Standard: Driving Quality in Specialist Employability Support.

SUSE Member and General Delegate Tickets Available Now

Tuesday 20 May 2025
Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling.

This year’s theme is Setting the Standard: Driving Quality in Specialist Employability Support.

The SUSE Annual Conference 2025 is an unmissable event for anyone working in or passionate about Supported Employment. The Conference promises a day packed with expert insights, practical strategies, and innovative ideas to improve the quality and impact of Supported Employment and employability services.

Key topics to be explored include:

Quality in Specialist Employability Support: Explore how to elevate standards and make a measurable impact in your work.
Addressing Increased Demand for Services: Discuss solutions to meet the growing need for employability support without compromising quality.
Meeting the Needs of the Employability Workforce: Examine effective strategies for supporting the people who deliver employability services, ensuring they are equipped, motivated, and empowered to succeed.

The conference will feature leading industry experts, inspiring speakers, and networking opportunities with like-minded professionals. Whether you’re an employer, a service provider, or a policymaker, this is your chance to contribute to the conversation on shaping the future of Supported Employment and specialist employability support and fostering an inclusive workforce.

Join us in shaping the future of employability in Scotland.

Early Bird tickets have now sold out!

SUSE Member and General Delegate tickets available now via Eventbrite.

SUSE Members can also purchase tickets directly from SUSE by contacting Mandy Reid, Business Manager, mandy@susescotland.scot

Agenda:

9.00	Registration Opens / Workshop Selection
9.15	Morning Refreshments
9.45	Welcome – David Cameron, CEO of SUSE
9.50	Keynote Speaker: Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Employment & Investment
10.20	Speaker: Andy Bell, CEO of HelpFirst on AI in Action: AI’s role in service delivery
10.30 10.40	Presentation: Early Action to Sustain Employment Speaker: Jenny Marshall on Co-production of Employability Support
10.45	Breakout Session – Workshops 1-3
11.45	Refreshments
12.00	Panel Discussion – What does success look like for the new Specialist Employability services?
13.00	Lunch and Networking
14.00	Afternoon Plenary & Speaker: David MacDougall, Managing Consultant, 50 Degrees, Pathways to Work: Implications for Scotland
14.15	Breakout Session – Workshops 4-6
15.15	Refreshments
15.30	Breakout Session – Workshops 7-9 (Conference closes after final session)

Speakers:

We are delighted to announce the following speakers:

Keynote Speaker: Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Employment and Investment
Andy Bell, CEO of HelpFirst. HelpFirst uses AI to help improve service delivery and increase efficiency in organisations that look after vulnerable people at scale, across social services, special needs education and large charities. Andy will be discussing the role and use of AI in service delivery.
Alan MacKillop and Ian George from Alliance for Inclusion along with Fiona Walker, SUSE Marketing and Communications Manager, will be presenting on a new project at the forefront of self-management activities. The team will be discussing a new tool which facilitates early action to sustain employment.
Jenny Marshall, Head of Operations at Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living, will be discussing DPOs and the Co-production of Employability Support
David MacDougall, Managing Consultant from 50 Degrees will be discussing the Pathways to Work Green Paper and the Implications for Scotland.

Panel Discussion:

What does success look like for the new Specialist Employability services?

Ian Bruce will chair a panel of experts as they discuss the new Specialist Employability services and what success looks like around quality, impact, choice, co-production, equity and resources.

Joining Ian will be:

Pegs Bailey, National Third Sector Employability Partnership Engagement Manager, Scotland
Cameron Smith, Development Worker with Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities
Arlene Callan, Director for Scotland with People Plus
Chris O’Hanlon, Head of Employability Policy and Strategy, Scottish Government
Ruth Cooper, Economic Development Manager, Renfrewshire Council