Annual Conference 2024
We were delighted to welcome so many delegates to the SUSE Annual Conference 2024, which took place at the Golden Jubilee Conference Centre on Tuesday 21st May.
The theme Creating our Future: How Supported Employment can diversify Scotland’s workplace aimed to give delegates some food for thought:
- what’s the economic and policy outlook for the year ahead as we approach a General Election?
- Is our sector diverse enough and how can we attract people from all parts of our community?
- What’s happening next with the Supported Employment Review recommendations?
Our conference anticipated a UK General Election, as it happened, this was announced the following day.
The discussion topics were prescient and confirmed our desire to be ready for potential policy changes at UK level and how this will impact the employability sector.
Our panel discussion focused on Where are we now? How is No One Left Behind (NOLB) supporting disabled people to achieve their potential?
The programme was about facing the challenges ahead; about being prepared for a future that is changing.
Conference Overview Report
The 2024 Conference Overview Report highlights the key topics, emerging themes and workshop summaries.
The report has been sent to all delegates and a copy is now available here:
Download the SUSE-Annual-Conference-2024-Overview-web.pdf or view it in your browser: SUSE Annual Conference Overview 2024
Alternatively, if preferred, you can download the text only version in Word: SUSE-Annual-Conference-2024-Overview-TEXT-version.docx
To make the day as inclusive, engaging and interactive as possible we welcomed the support from our Conference Sponsors:
- Values Into Action Scotland
- DFN Project Search
- The Open University
- SCLD
- Brett Nicholls Associates
- Unite Glasgow Not for Profit Sector
- Cole AD
- 50 Degrees
- Fife Council’s Supported Employment Service
Agenda:
9.00 | Registration Opens / Workshop Selection |
9.15 | Morning Refreshments |
9.45 | Welcome – David Cameron, CEO of SUSE |
9.50 | Economic Outlook – Adam McGeoch, Bank of England |
10.05 | Supported Employment Review – Boswell Mhonda, Scottish Government |
10.30 | Keynote Speaker – Macdonald MacMillan Training |
10.45 | Breakout Session – Workshops 1-3 |
11.45 | Refreshments |
12.00 | Panel Discussion – What has NOLB meant for disabled people? |
13.00 | Lunch and Networking |
14.00 | Afternoon Plenary & Speaker – Why you askin’? Campaign |
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:
- Boswell Mhonda, from the Scottish Government’s Employability Division, will be providing an update on the Supported Employment Review.
- Adam McGeoch, Deputy Agent for Scotland with Bank of England, will be presenting an economic and employment outlook.
- Gary Macdonald and Diarmid MacMillan, Directors of Macdonald MacMillan Training will be providing our keynote speech.
Panel Discussion:
Where are we now? How is No One Left Behind (NOLB) supporting disabled people to achieve their potential?
Ian Bruce chaired the panel of experts as they discuss what NOLB has meant for disabled people and what’s next.
Joining Ian were:
- Charlie McMillan, Chief Executive, SCLD
- Susie Donkin, Employability Partnership Manager, Improvement Service
- Sarah McCulley, Service Manager, Falkirk Council Employment & Training Unit
- Anne Shiels, Tackling Inequalities Lead, Scottish Government Employability Policy Team
- Ashley Ryan, Director, Enable Works.
Workshops:
There were 9 workshops available during the Conference. Each delegate could choose 3 to attend.
Workshops were run by:
- The University of Strathclyde
- Diversity Scotland
- Fraser of Allander Institute
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (CMHW)
- The Open University
- Age Scotland
- 50 Degrees
- CBTS Ltd.
Following the success of last year, we also held a Trailblazing Employers panel discussion. Delegates had the opportunity to listen to diversity and inclusion in practice directly from employers.