Learning and Development course timetable

Great team work and individual working relationships are what we all want, but things don’t always run smoothly. We may find ourselves disagreeing with someone over work or behaviours. We may want to tell them how we feel but don’t quite know how to go about it. Sometimes we decide not to have the conversation at all, which can lead to a small problem escalating in to something bigger, more persistent and harder to resolve.

Having honest and open conversations is not always easy and can sometimes lead to a misunderstanding, bad feelings and resentment. On this workshop, using forum theatre with a scenario acted out, we will explore what can go wrong and how to put right. With your interactions, we will help you develop techniques for a constructive conversation that helps to build long-lasting effective relationships and to build trust within the team.

Leadership Essentials is a key programme suitable for those with responsibilities for the work, behaviour and development of others. The programme aims to help managers refresh and build their skills and experience in this area, as well as clarifying key responsibilities of manager and leader. It focuses on critical areas, such as giving and receiving feedback effectively and handling challenging conversations, using leadership styles and models to support individuals and teams. The programme incorporates tutor input; opportunities for discussion, case studies, reflection and sharing of good practice with others with similar responsibilities. It also includes curated e-learning resources to support managers with their ongoing learning and development.

Participants are required to attend both full day sessions.

Values are what makes you you. They are the things that drive and motivate you. Being more aware of them can help you to make better decisions at work, leaving you more fulfilled and happy. They can help you make good choices and provide a guiding force to point you in the right direction at times of uncertainty. This session gives the opportunity to join with a small group of colleagues to explore your values. You will be guided through an exercise by an experienced facilitator from the Organisational Development team.

This is an interactive session, so please join the call from somewhere where you feel comfortable to talk and participate fully in group activities.

Mentoring can be a really effective tool in helping people to develop their professional lives and careers, in both roles of mentor and mentee.

This interactive workshop is designed to give an overview and introduction to mentoring, informing participants about what mentoring is and giving them the opportunity to explore the key benefits for mentors and mentees. There will be the opportunity to learn some key skills needed to both mentor and be mentored effectively, and to become familiar with some simple models, tools and techniques to support the mentoring partnership to maximise its value and impact.

This interactive session aims to support our mentees to find a mentor. A selection of our currently available mentors will introduce themselves and share a little bit about their background, knowledge, and experience. It offers the opportunity for mentees to get to know some of our available mentors and consider whether they may be a good potential match. There will then be time for questions so that you can consider which potential mentors could best support your growth, learning, and career development.

Please take advantage of this chance to connect with mentors willing to share their experiences and assist you in achieving your goals. Sign up now and start your mentorship journey!

This full day specialist bespoke training equips Wellbeing Advocates to be powerful champions for wellbeing. The training is designed to establish the roles and responsibilities of a Wellbeing Advocate and to support you with the knowledge, skills, and experience to develop in your role.

Training Outcomes:  

• The fundamentals of physical, psychological and social wellbeing 
• The role of the Wellbeing Advocate 
• The importance of healthy boundaries 
• Interpersonal skills for Wellbeing Champions 
• How to lead effective wellbeing and health campaign 

Please Note: Once you have booked on the course, click on Add to Calendar to start the process to import the course appointment into your calendar. This contains the link to the MS Teams course meeting under Joining Instructions that you will use to join on the day of the course.

Please note these are stand-alone training sessions and participants should only attend one session.

This webinar will explain what mental health is, support you to recognise causes and signs of poor mental wellbeing, and give tips on how to start a supportive conversation.

Please Note: Once you have booked on the course, click on Add to Calendar to start the process to import the course appointment into your calendar. This contains the link to the MS Teams course meeting under Joining Instructions that you will use to join on the day of the course.

This workshop provides an opportunity for academic staff to understand the recruitment and selection process and how to create the conditions where you can recruit the best candidate and avoid common pitfalls. It includes an overview of the recruitment and selection process and identifies the key principles to ensure practice is fair to all candidates at each stage.

The course is primarily aimed at academic staff involved in making selection decisions for academic roles and those with responsibility for coordinating academic recruitment procedures.

You've heard of a book group, but how about one for podcasts? In these sessions we will focus on a different episode from the wonderful Squiggly Careers Amazing If podcasts, which includes over 300 episodes on career based topics ranging from coaching and confidence, to strength and values.

Before each session you will be sent a link to a podcast episode to listen to and reflect upon. During the session you will be led through a selection of tasks/exercises recommended in the episode Pod Sheet. You will have the opportunity to work on these individually and then reflect back as a group.

Session 17: How to make the most of your 121's

121s are a common way to connect with your manager and your colleagues at work. However, they can sometimes feel more like a hindrance than a help! In this episode podcast hosts talk about how to make the most out of your 121 and share lots of practical ideas for action you can experiment with at work.

This session will set the scene for those moving in to a role with professional responsibility for other members of staff at the University, supporting their work, behavior and development. As we all know from our personal and professional experience, leaders and managers play a critical role in ensuring a productive, motivating and inclusive working environment.

This interactive session will explore the responsibilities of a manager or leader at the University, introduce tools to support the performance of your team, and provide pointers to where to find important information and further development as needed.

It is aimed at staff across all areas, disciplines, staff groups and levels of responsibility, including staff who are:

• new to managing one or more others
• new to leading a service or research area
• new to Cambridge, either as a new manager or with previous experience

The Briefing aims to address key information required for Heads of Institution with regard to finance. Daniel Benham, Director of Finance will cover the following topics:

• Planning, budgeting and investment decision making (today and tomorrow)
• Introduction to key Financial Regulations and operational procedures
• Current key transformational initiatives
• Where to go for help and support

Please note that this session will be recorded and details will follow after the session. There will be an opportunity to discuss points and ask questions once the recording has ended.

Click here to view the full Leadership Briefing Series

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2025!

Are you interested in apprenticeship programmes and keen to learn more? Would you like to explore how they can benefit you or your department, or do you have specific questions you’d like answered?

Join our webinar, hosted by Apprenticeship Manager Colin Long, for expert guidance on all things apprenticeships. This session will address key topics such as: • How to enrol existing staff in apprenticeship programs. • Understanding apprenticeship funding.

Apprenticeships offer valuable opportunities for individuals of all ages and career levels (including postgraduate qualifications) to develop the skills and knowledge needed for a fulfilling career.

A link to join the webinar will be sent with the joining instructions when your booking is confirmed.

This programme aims to support participants’ career progression within the University, as well as providing key skills to support further development in the Higher Education Sector. It draws on the expertise of senior colleagues in the University at focussed development workshops where participants will be able to input and take part in discussions.

No previous qualifications are required to take part in this programme. For some this programme will act as a feeder programme for the existing Administrator Development Programme.

The Continuous Improvement team provide a number of services to staff at the University. Come along to hear who they are? What they do? and most importantly, how they can help you make things easier/better/faster.

Continuous Improvement is the term used when looking at how we can make our processes and activities quicker, easier, and better on an ongoing basis. At Cambridge, the Continuous Improvement team uses a range of tools and techniques to train and support colleagues across the University, enabling them to concentrate their efforts on the things that add the most value.

Springboard is for women staff and graduate students, and those who identify as women, who want to take control, become more assertive, increase their confidence & build themselves a more positive attitude in both their work and home lives.

The programme gives you the time to reflect, share and most importantly, set achievable personal and professional goals for now and the future.

Key areas covered include communication skills, assertiveness, self confidence, improving your work/life balance and developing positive skills and attitude. If you want to progress and develop, then this programme is for you.

The programme comprises four days over a three-month period and a workbook to be completed between sessions.

This programme aims to support participants’ career progression within the University, as well as providing key skills to support further development in the Higher Education Sector. It draws on the expertise of senior colleagues in the University at focussed development workshops where participants will be able to input and take part in discussions.

No previous qualifications are required to take part in this programme. For some this programme will act as a feeder programme for the existing Administrator Development Programme.

Emma Rampton, Registrary, will host a panel discussion for professional services staff on Thursday 13 February at Sanders Hall in Eddington.

The event will allow professional services staff to get to know leaders better, hear more about changes underway in professional services, and ask questions. There will be time for informal networking after the main discussion.

This session is an opportunity for you to ask questions and to find out more about the development opportunities that Cambridge is offering you – for both the Team Leader Level 3 and the Operations Manager Level 5 (Leadership and Management).

We are looking to explore what interest there is at this current time in both apprenticeships and hope that there will be sufficient interest to establish University-wide cohorts. By establishing University-wide cohorts, we are looking to encourage more departments to use apprenticeships as a way to provide focused professional development for staff. Participants will have the advantage of a peer group to work through the programme with Cambridge University Press and Assessment who are potentially interested in joining in with this.

Charlotte Monkhouse of Corndel, our approved training provider for these programmes will present and be available to answer any questions or concerns that you may have before submitting an expression of interest.

Programme details of each apprenticeship can be found via the links below:

Team Leader Level 3

Operations Manager Level 5 (Leadership and Management)

There is a minimum of 18-20 people required for each programme, for a cohort to run. Depending on the level of interest shown, it is intended that these apprenticeship cohorts will start in June 2025. However you will also have the opportunity to join an open (public) cohort if we are unable to reach sufficient numbers for a closed cohort. Entry to these cohorts will be by application and is open to all University employees who meet the eligibility criteria.

A link to the session will be sent with the joining instructions when your booking is confirmed.

Further information from the provider, Corndel.

Apprenticeship guidance.