Conference Workshops

Technology is reshaping the world of work at an unprecedented pace. The rapid interplay of advancements in automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics are transforming industries, redefining job roles, and altering the skills required for employment. Yet, these shifts have not always led to more equitable outcomes for workers—particularly for disabled individuals, who continue to face barriers to meaningful and sustainable employment.

As Scotland strives for a more inclusive labour market, it is essential to critically assess how technological advancements are built on visions of a human centric approach without giving workers a voice, and how this impacts disabled workers. How can we ensure these innovations break down barriers rather than reinforce them? How can disabled individuals actively contribute to shaping workplace technologies?

This session will explore these questions, offering practical steps for employers, policymakers and support organisations to harness technology for more inclusive and accessible workplaces. By centring the voices and experiences of disabled workers, we can move beyond merely adapting to change—we can actively design work environments that maximise the potential of new technologies while ensuring accessibility, flexibility, and fairness. We discuss how harnessing technology appropriately can shape a future where innovation drives inclusion rather than continued exclusion.

Facilitated by:

Dr Kendra Briken: A sociologist, who focuses on work, employment, and technology. She is particularly interested in developments around digitalisation of work, decision-making processes around the invention and implementation of new technologies, and workforce outcomes. She is expert in emerging varieties of automation, related power structures, and their impact on work and life.

Dr Jo Butler: A chartered Occupational Psychologist whose interests cut across areas of work and organisational psychology, specifically, human resource development in public sector organisations. As a practitioner psychologist and academic, her research and knowledge exchange focus is two-fold: (1) the design of employability and education services for a variety of learners and (2) the people strategy that underlines the effective delivery of those services.

Dr Jen Remnant: A disability studies researcher, focusing of the experiences of disabled people in the labour market and individual workplace. She is interested in how and why employers make decisions regarding to the management of disabled employees and employees with long term health conditions.

In this workshop, we will explore key factors for achieving success in implementation, best practices in Supported Employment, and sustainable outcomes.

Join our session to discover the valuable opportunities that technology provides, all while upholding the essential principles of Supported Employment.

SUMETO Employment will showcase a modernised and digitised workflow aimed at enhancing practical work and ensuring quality assurance.
Don’t miss this chance to learn how to succeed in Supported Employment with SUMETO!

Facilitated by: Annika Malm, SUMETO AB

Chronic pain is not just a medical diagnosis, it’s also a long-term personal experience that significantly impacts physically, emotionally and socially.

Chronic pain is best described as a whole person situation or a knot of issues that people get tangled up in.  Common strands or issues include: heightened stress, anxiety, poor sleep and an attempt to beat pain by pushing to the limit and then booming and busting.

This session will show how we can learn to deal with chronic pain.  It is possible to break out of the cycles of booming and busting and pain and stress; but it takes time, effort and support.

The tools demonstrated help people come to terms with change and learn to react to limitations differently.

Facilitated by: Professor Sonia Aitken, Director of The Pain Association Scotland

Phil Sizer, Lead Health and Wellbeing Coach at The Pain Association Scotland

Explore the growing need for Supported Employment services for young people at the transitions stage. This interactive workshop offers a platform for sharing best practices, innovative ideas, and collaborative learning. Discover “Compass,” a cutting-edge digital transitions planning tool designed to empower young people, their families, and practitioners.

Learn from lived experience facilitators, engage in hands-on activities and gain practical strategies to better support young people on their journey to employment.

Facilitated by: Tracey Francis, ARC Scotland and Alexander Warren, APJ Dreams

In this session we will discuss what forging effective partnerships with Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs) can look like. This workshop will outline the differences between LEPs and Local Authorities and examine the insights, strategies and tools needed to collaborate successfully, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services. Discussion will focus on how to navigate challenges and maximise opportunities to build lasting relationships that drive positive outcomes for the people we support.

Facilitated by: Pegs Bailey, National Third Sector Employability Partnership Engagement Manager, TSI Scotland

“A diverse workforce can only succeed and positively impact your organisation if they are truly included.”

This session will look at how to create an equitable, inclusive, productive and fair working culture. Dive into interactive activities like the Privilege Wheel Exercise and Barriers Brainstorm to uncover hidden biases and explore actionable strategies for fostering diversity and inclusion. Learn practical tips to empower others, challenge barriers, and create more equitable workplaces and communities.

Facilitated by: Thiago Carmo, Managing Director at Passion4Social and Dr Athina Frantzana,  EDI Consultant.

Following on from Andy’s morning presentation on the main stage, this workshop will give delegates the opportunity to delve further into AI in action. This session will look at specific examples of AI’s role in service delivery and how it can be harnessed to benefit local authorities and third sector organisations.

Facilitated by: Andy Bell, CEO of HelpFirst

Communication is a gateway to everyone’s human rights – but we all communicate differently. Most of us will experience sensory impairment in our lifetimes.

This workshop will outline The ALLIANCE’s new Scotland-wide campaign to improve inclusive communication. It will outline key findings from campaign research and development and offer opportunities for participants to discuss current and future practice on how to support people with sensory impairments in employment.

What participants will gain from the workshop:

• An understanding of the value and importance of inclusive communication.
• Evidence on the current provision of inclusive communication in Scotland, and people with sensory impairments’ experiences.
• The opportunity to discuss how to improve support for people with sensory impairments.

When we get inclusive communication right, everyone benefits.

Facilitated by:

Dr Hannah Tweed, Scottish Sensory Hub Manager, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)

Dr Amy White, Senior Sensory Hub Officer, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)

This session will examine how to involve diverse voices and people with lived and living experience in co-producing services that meet their needs. This is a practical session giving hints and tips on best practice in involving people in meaningful ways.

Facilitated by:

Dawn Brown, Development Manager, Scottish Community Development Centre