Your conference is a huge investment: not just in time and money, but in reputation too.
Get it right, and your reputational capital will increase, but if you get it wrong...
“I wish to thank you for your expertise and enthusiasm, which helped to make our [event] such a success.”
Shaun Durkin, Surrey Learning & Skills Council Event Organiser
Mike Clayton can help you to make your conference a success:
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Chairing a platform discussion or Q&A.
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Facilitating breakouts and plenary conversations.
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Coaching speakers to prepare them to excel.
Chair Discussions
“The whole event was a far greater success than I could have hoped for and this, in no small part was down to you.”
Peter Sadler, Principal, Bicton College
Mike's abilities to think quickly, to listen deeply, and clarify complex ideas make him an excellent choice for chair and moderating panel discussions, and for conducting Question and Answer sessions with the audience.
Mike is more than a confident platform speaker. His breadth and depth of knowledge, coupled with his commitment to background research, means he will be on top of his brief before setting foot on the platform. Let him bring the best out of the panelists of your interactive session.
Facilitate Conversations
“One’s choice of facilitator can make or break a day like this, and we are really pleased with our choice!
We felt that you really created a very good atmosphere for the day, and one where people felt relaxed and happy to contribute.”
Louise Richards, Chief Executive, War on Want
Mike is an accomplished facilitator. He can help you to design a successful conference that will achieve the change you want, host your conference, or facilitate workshop sessions.
Mike has the ability to design process that get results. Whether it is a breakthrough in thinking, a set of ideas and solutions, or a sound decision that you need, let Mike work with you to create and deliver an event that people will talk about positively for a long time to come.
Coach Speakers
“On behalf of the team, I would like to thank you for the excellent training which you gave to us, which directly contributed to the success of the day. As you know, this was very much a signature event in our annual seminar programme and we were under pressure to make it a success, particularly given the number and profile of the attendees. We all feel that we gave more polished performances with the benefit of your help. Thank you once again.”
Partner at an international Law Firm based in the City of London
Mike is a professional speaker, an experienced coach and trainer, and author of How to Speak so People Listen.
The best way to prepare your speakers for their big event is training, rehearsal and coaching with an experienced presenter. Mike will help you and your team to:
- Sharpen up your message
- Give your visuals more impact
- Improve the clarity of complex arguments and information
- Upgrade your platform skills
- Boost your confidence
Conference Case Study
Here is a case study of how Mike helped Action Energy, a part of The Carbon Trust, to design and develop their conference.
The Client
The Carbon Trust is an independent, not for profit company set up by Government with support from business. Its remit is to 'take the lead on low Carbon technology and innovation in the country and put Britain in the lead internationally'. Within the Carbon Trust, Action Energy provided businesses, industries and public sector organisations with free, practical and impartial help and advice on how to cut their energy costs. The programme is an integral part of the UK Government's climate change programme, aimed at meeting the UK's Carbon reduction obligations.
The Brief
Action Energy wanted to create an engaging, informative and motivating away day conference to support the launch of its 2003 - 2006 plan. This plan signalled major change: an improved way of working to meet its customers' needs and a more collaborative approach to co-ordinating the many partners, through whom Action Energy delivers its services. Mike was asked to support the team in designing and structuring a conference for 80 members of staff, and representatives from six principal delivery partners.
The Design Process
Mike worked with a planning team to define three clear outcomes. These were as much changes to the mind-set of the participants as they were content-based. With those objectives in mind, the conference took participants on a journey from past successes, through the need for change, to the key elements of the new plan. The day ended with one of Action Energy's key customers endorsing the new plan. Integral to the design were a series of activities that engaged every participant in discovering the plan and creating ways to refine it. The final activity focused on communicating the message back to colleagues who were unable to attend the day.
The Feedback
What participants said:
- "A great day for team-building; event was fun and very well organised; excellent content and outlook"
- "The day was well organised, varied, and ran to time; very beneficial exercise that should be repeated"
- "Brilliant day"
- "Events of this kind generates enthusiasm which feeds back into working practice"
- "Helped to make the team more enthusiastic and motivated"
- "Very useful - great for team-building"
- "The programme you prepared for the day and the way in which you involved the whole group ensured that it was lively and stimulating for everyone present"
Garry Felgate, Action Energy's Director, said:
"This was a well planned and well organised event. The objective was to build one team with a common vision and to develop a sense of belonging.
The event was very successful in achieving this.
The whole Action Energy programme has been improved by this programme."
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