Make a Difference - operational staff training day

Mark Roberts, entrepreneur, author and Red Kite trustee will explore how organisations can approach problem solving and use innovation and creativity to forge collaborative solutions. Drawing on his entrepreneurial experience and deep research in writing his new book, The Entrepreneur Within, Mark will help us develop an Innovator’s Mindset. Mark will look at how large organisations work together in this way and bring examples from within the schools and academies sector. A chance to work creatively together.

Unlocking Efficiency and Excellence with Technology

Jonny Wathen is a digital transformation expert and former senior executive within multi-academy trusts, having served as both Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO). With a strong background in strategic leadership, Jonny has successfully led the integration of digital technologies across large, complex, and fast-growing educational environments. His work is grounded in research and focused on using innovation to drive educational outcomes and operational efficiencies. Jonny now supports trusts nationally to deliver impactful, future-ready digital strategies.

Colleagues will be given the opportunity to select from the following workshops:

• Exploring Neurodiversity in the Workplace - Ria Tomlinson, HR Director
• • This workshop explores neurodiversity in the workplace and how to support colleagues through better understanding, communication, and reasonable adjustments. We’ll cover inclusive practices, supportive tools for line managers, and ways to foster an inclusive culture. Ideal for anyone interested in inclusivity or supporting neurodivergent colleagues more effectively.
• What is coaching? And how to have a coaching conversation - Julie Wellacott, HR Partner, Red Kite Learning Trust
• • This bitesize workshop introduces coaching, focusing on key theories, skills, and how to have effective coaching conversations. Learn practical methods to support and develop colleagues, whether through performance or challenging discussions. Ideal for anyone wanting to explore coaching, develop their style, and build confidence in workplace coaching conversations.
• Using AI to Save Time and Boost Productivity - Emma Johnson, Marketing Manager, Red Kite Education
• • Discover how to harness the power of AI to reduce workload, generate ideas and speed up everyday tasks. This practical workshop is ideal for those new to AI and will introduce AI tools, demonstrating how they can support a range of school-based tasks. You’ll leave with real examples and ideas you can apply immediately.
• Get hands-on with Pivot tables - Steve Howell, Commercial Director, Red Kite Learning Trust
• • Learn how to utilise this powerful function in Excel to analyse and present your data. Participants will get hands-on with Pivot tables and gain a basic understanding of why, when and how to use them. Perfect for anyone with some experience and confidence in Excel.
• Specialist Pension Advice - Chartered Adviser, St James's Place Wealth Management
• • Explore how to make the most of Specialist Pension Advice and implement Financial Wellbeing support in your workplace. With 80% reporting financial stress impacts mental health and 40% noting reduced work performance, this session highlights the importance of proactive support. Start making positive changes for a healthier, more productive future.

Colleagues will be given the opportunity to select from the following workshops:

• From Vision to Value: Delivering Operational Impact Through Technology - Jonny Wathen
• • This practical workshop explores how multi-academy trusts can turn digital strategy into real-world impact. Jonny Wathen shares examples of how technology enhances efficiency, collaboration, and operations across Trust functions. Ideal for operational leaders, IT strategists, and executives aiming to align digital investments with core mission and measurable outcomes.
• Intermediary Excel - Samantha Hirst, Financial Controller, Red Kite Learning Trust
• • Discover how Power Query in Excel can save hours each month by automating repetitive tasks like copy-paste, fixing columns, and broken VLOOKUPs. This session introduces a simple, built-in tool to clean, combine, and refresh data. Ideal for staff who use Excel but aren’t yet working with dashboards.
• Power query in Excel - Thi Nguyen, Red Kite Learning Trust
• • Learn how to save hours each month by automating tedious Excel tasks with Power Query. This session introduces this built-in tool to stop repetitive copy-pasting, fix broken VLOOKUPs, and clean, combine, and refresh data automatically, perfect for people who use Excel regularly but not dashboards yet.

Stephen Morales will share his perspective as Chief Executive of the Institute of School Business Leadership. Stephen and his team work closely with thousands of school business leaders and their teams and advocate for operational, business and finance staff at all levels. Stephen will update us on the latest national themes and share his vision for continuous improvement, professionalisation and “Operational Excellence”. Encouragement for all operational staff!